INFO-18-208 Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade

November 16, 2018

Dan Carter Mayor-Elect and Oshawa Council 50 Centre Street South Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Dear Mayor-Elect Carter,

We are writing to confirm the Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade’s opposition to the Superlinx proposal from the Region Board of Trade (“TRBOT”). While there are issues with transit and transit funding, we do not believe Superlinx is the solution.

Over the past year, TRBOT has advocated for the uploading of public transit in the “Toronto-Waterloo Corridor” to the province, under a new entity known as Superlinx. Further to its advocacy, at the 2018 Chamber of Commerce (“OCC”) AGM this past spring, TRBOT introduced a resolution to upload transit. In the week leading up to the OCC AGM, TRBOT reached out for the first time to seek the Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade’s input on Superlinx and our support. The Joint Chambers refused to support the resolution and at the OCC AGM the resolution failed to carry. Indeed, at the OCC AGM, multiple Chambers and Boards spoke out in opposition to the resolution, expressing concern about regional representation, pilfering neighbours, and labour costs.

Since the OCC AGM, we have had multiple discussions with the OCC, TRBOT, and municipal, regional, provincial, and federal government representatives on the subject. Our opposition to uploading remains the same and our concerns have not been addressed.

Any decision to upload, must be done with a fulsome and independent assessment, including the consideration of improving Metrolinx versus replacing with a larger and more cumbersome organization. Amalgamating something of this size will not only take years but cost millions, has that been factored in? An Environics poll of 1,000 adults was marketed exceptionally, but the detailed results and methodology was poorly communicated. It is a marketing tool not a business case. Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade

Metrolinx itself is still a work in progress. Harmonizing collective agreements will be very challenging and wages are likely to rise system-wide. There are concerns that the creation of a new agency would create an unwieldly bureaucracy, potentially diverting more attention and dollars to administration instead of actually delivering transit or delivering on promised efficiencies.

Metrolinx already has an unprecedented capital program to deliver over the next ten years (Regional Express Rail) that will transform regional transit in the GTHA. It was created by the Province to provide leadership through co-ordination, planning, financing, development and implementation of an integrated, multi-modal transportation network. How would Superlinx differ? The focus should remain on the delivery of this program without the distraction of a major restructuring that will result in further delays.

A current challenge with Metrolinx is that they are only accountable to the province. Municipal representation on the board was removed in 2009. Their Board never has to face questions from the public about fares or services in the way that municipal transit authorities do. Local accountability and access to decision makers is critical to those who rely on local transit to meet their daily needs. A large, centralized agency will not be as responsive to customer needs, particularly if the focus of the new agency is expanded to include land and housing development.

The notion of a “corridor” does not fit with references to the GTHA, including Durham and Hamilton. Metrolinx currently delivers service also to , Niagara, and within the corridor. Is the intent that those local transit systems would also be uploaded?

Uploading all transit services to one agency “will bring greater returns” for whom? Measured how?

The proposal references peripheral transit agencies being able to opt in to a “better funding arrangement of proportionate value” to that of the Corridor. What does that mean? Value of what? Calculated how?

The big question for smaller communities pulled into a transit delivery mechanism of this size is how will service and funding be allocated? If it is based on ridership and population, without a major influx of new funding earmarked for 905 and 705 communities, Toronto will always get the lion’s share of funding and services, at the expense of all the smaller communities. These communities will have no voice and no influence with a provincial transit agency.

Similarly, would the Superlinx agency have the authority to levy its own development charge for transit? If not, who would cover the shortfall in funding?

Issues addressed above are not comprehensive and highlight the need to clarify the geographical scope of the uploading, ensuring regional representation, uploading costs & associated timelines, labour cost parity issues for rural regions and collective agreements, conflicts in planning between uploaded and non-uploaded services, and the business case of Superlinx vs an improved Metrolinx.

Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade

We trust that before supporting what effectively amounts to an overhaul and expansion of Metrolinx, the Ontario Government will ensure a business case outlining the true costs, accurate public opinion and timelines for amalgamation be assessed.

It is vital that the Ontario Government adopts the best approach for addressing costs concerns, integration concerns, etc. in regards to the movement of goods and people in the GTHA and beyond.

Regards,

The Heads of the Durham Region Joint Chambers and Boards of Trade; Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Interim Executive Director, Nicole Gibson, Brock Board of Trade President, Christine Dukelow, Board of Trade Executive Director, Sheila Hall, Newcastle & District Chamber of Commerce President, Jane Black, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce CEO, Nancy Shaw, Scugog Chamber of Commerce Executive Director & General Manager, Kenna Kozak, Whitby Chamber of Commerce CEO, Natalie Prychitko, Uxbridge Chamber of Commerce President, Kevin Alexander

CC: Premier Doug Ford Jennifer French, MPP for Oshawa Transportation Critic City of Oshawa Council, Rod Phillips, MPP for Ajax and Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, and Treasury Board President, Gerri Lynn O’Connor, Durham Regional Chair, John Henry, Durham Regional Chair-Elect, , City of Pickering Mayor, Steve Parish, Town of Ajax Mayor, , Town of Ajax Mayor-Elect, City of Pickering Council, Town of Ajax Council, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce