October 18, 1999-12-23
To: Planning and Transportation Committee
From: H.W.O. Doyle
City Solicitor
Subject: Mississauga Transit Buses on Burnhamthorpe Road
Purpose:
To inform the Committee of the response from the Minister of Transportation to the draft by-law submitted for his
approval in the above-noted matter.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report.
Recommendations:
That this report be received for information.
Backgroun:
At its meeting on April 13-15, 1999, Council adopted a recommendation of the Urban Environment and Development
Committee that a by-law be enacted prohibited Mississauga Transit buses from using Burnhamthorpe Road east of
Highway 427 and that the Minister of Transportation be requested to approve the passing of such a by-law.
On May 17, 1999, the City Solicitor wrote to Mr. Tony Clement, then Minister of Transportation, to seek his approval for
the by-law. A response was never received.
On August 20, 1999, the City Solicitor wrote to Mr. David Turnbull, the new Minister of Transportation, to re-iterate the
earlier request. The Minister's response is outlined below.
Comments:
The Minister has refused to approve the by-law on the grounds that it is not in the best interest of either the City of Toronto
or the City of Mississauga to approve such a by-law at this time. The Minister has suggested that the Greater Toronto
Services Board could assist the parties to arrive at a workable solution to this matter. The Minister's response is attached.
Contact Name:
Rob Billingsley
Solicitor
Legal Services
Phone: 392-7249
Fax: 392-1017
H.W.O. Doyle
City Solicitor
September 28, 1999-12-23
H.W.O. Doyle
City Solicitor
Legal Services
City of Toronto
100 Queen Street West
14th Floor, West Tower, City Hall
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2N2
Dear H.W.O. Doyle:
Thank you for your letter of August 20, 1999, concerning the use of Burnhamthorpe Road by Mississauga Transit.
Unfortunately, there is no record of your letter of May 17, 1999, arriving by this office.
I also refer to Noving Wong's letter of April 20, 1999, advising that Council of the City of Toronto had adopted a
recommendation from the Urban Environment and Development Committee to utilize the provisions of Ontario's Public
Vehicles Acat to enact a bylaw to prohibit the use of Burnhamthorpe Road by Mississauga Transit. As you are aware, this
proposed bylaw requires the approval of the Minister of Transportation.
I do not believe it is in the best interest of either the City of Toronto or the City of Mississauga to approve such a bylaw at
this time. It is my view that discussions between Mississauga and Toronto should continue and that a workable solution
can be found to address the concerns of both transit passengers and local residents.
The newly established Greater Toronto Services Board (GTSB) should be of assistance in facilitating these discussions.
The GTSB, in addition to its mandate to operate GO Transit, is also responsible for coordinating transportation
decision-making among GTA municipalities. At its meeting of April 23, 1999, the GTSB agreed that the integration of the
GTA municipal transit systems is one of its priorities in its first year of operation.
I am confident that the GTSB's Chairman, Mr. Alan Tonks, would be pleased to assist Mississauga and Toronto in
resolving this matter.
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
Sincerely,
David Turnbull
Minister
cc: His Worship Mayor Mel Lastman
Her Worship Mayor Hazel McCallion
Alan Tonsk, Chairman, GTSB
Novina Wong, City Clerk, City of Toronto
