Well I learned something interesting about Connect Scarborough. Turns out they are funded by Oxford Properties - the owner of Scarborough Town Centre. The spokesperson of Connect Scarborough, Ryan Singh, is a registered lobbyist for Oxford Properties. He told a Star reporter that the initiative was his idea in conjunction with the mall’s management
. He also acknowledged that he represents Oxford Properties and that Oxford is funding the group and paying him to lobby councillors.
I should also mention that the president & CEO of Oxford Properties donated to the Tory campaign. Here's a video clip of him praising John Tory:
link
At the Tuesday executive committee meeting, there were at least 4 deputations from Connect Scarborough members, in addition to Oxford and STC speaking on their own behalf. Here are a few of the notable statements and deceptions they perpetrated at the meeting.
- "We need to continue to ask ourselves, what is going to allow the property to thrive?"
- "1.6 million square feet [and] there's no subway"
- LRT would be full in 15-20 years, forcing new transit debate (staff ridership projections do not support that)
- SSE will "significantly reduce" commute time for residents. Someone claimed 15-20 minutes, another said 30 minutes (again, this is contradicted by staff report)
- They took issue with this being called a "one stop subway" extension, which is exactly what it is
In another interesting exchange, a deputant criticized the subway saying that the 6 km long stretch without a station was too long.
- John Tory rudely responded:
"Are you prepared to accept the fact that business people came in here, the business community, and they talked about the people who would be coming in… it’s not as though there will be tumbleweed rolling down the platform".
- She replied:
"What I saw was their interests – their business interests took the forefront, ahead of our residents that need to be serviced first. That’s what I saw today.”
Tory also said of Connect Scarborough:
"I think I shook their hand once in a mall, they were at a booth and I think I shook their hand". This is a lie, because here he is mingling with the group in at least two separate occasions. He will also be doing a town hall with them next week to promote his transit plan.
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John Tory's involvement with Connect Scarborough has been noted by several people and is now subject to complaints to city watchdog for their ties to developers. Just a "handshake"? I don't think so.