Greens would get people moving with $2.18 billion for cycling and walking | Unpublished
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Toronto, Ontario
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The Green Party of Ontario is independent yet is philosophically aligned with other green parties in Canada and around the world. The GPO is fiscally conservative, socially progressive and environmentally focused, and begins with the basic premise that all life on the planet is interconnected and that humans have a responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world.

The Green Party of Ontario (GPO) became an officially registered political party in 1983, and has been developing in size and sophistication since that time, expanding its membership and rising in the polls. We have increased the number of candidates in successive provincial elections. In the 1999 provincial election, we fielded 58 candidates, and became the fourth largest party in the province. In 2003, we fielded our first nearly-full slate, 102 out of 103 candidates, and received 2.8% of the vote. The 2007 election saw Ontario voters support Green Party values with unprecedented enthusiasm. The GPO, for the first time in history, had a full slate of candidates and garnered over 8% of the vote.

In the 2018 election GPO leader Mike Schreiner became the first Ontario Green to be elected to Queen's Park. The party now has two seats and polls between 4-8%. 

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Greens would get people moving with $2.18 billion for cycling and walking

May 28, 2018

GUELPH, ON -- On Bike To Work Day in Guelph, Mike Schreiner announced the Green plan to make a real investment in safe streets for active transportation by dedicating 5% of the transportation budget to cycling and walking infrastructure, a total of $2.18 billion over four years. ​

“I think Ontarians would be surprised to learn that 0% of our transportation budget goes towards people-powered ways of getting around. If our goal is to make it easier for people to choose healthier, lower carbon options for their commutes, we need to dedicate permanent, long-term funding for this,” said the Green Party Leader. Schreiner, a regular cyclist, joined a group biking from Franchetto Park to City Hall today as part of Bike to Work Day in Guelph.

More and more people are choosing to walk or cycle. The problem is that infrastructure was built around the car culture to the exclusion of other options. The Green plan will provide municipalities with infrastructure funds to make streets safer for all users, including wheeled mobility devices and other accessibility needs.

Greens will also require all new and resurfaced highways to have paved shoulders for safe cycling and establish commuter cycling networks across Ontario. We would also look at improvements to GO stations to provide more convenient pedestrian access and cycling facilities.

“We need a transportation strategy focused on moving people, not just cars and trains. I talk to so many people who want to bike to work, but are concerned about safety. If we can start fixing this, we’ll have a healthier population, connected communities, more affordable transportation options, and cleaner air,” said Schreiner.

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Contact:

Jason LaChappelle

Press Secretary, GPO

jasonlachappelle@gpo.ca

437-929-1792