This was recorded before the charter challenge court hearing (which I hope succeeded for the sake of all vulnerable road users).
It was raining in waves, so had to use the improvised rain shield to prevent damage to equipment. Audio was not affected, surprisingly.
It was raining in waves, so had to use the improvised rain shield to prevent damage to equipment. Audio was not affected, surprisingly.
Category
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LearningTranscript
00:00Nice to see everybody.
00:02We're going to get started really soon.
00:04I'm just sort of checking out our mic here.
00:06Can everybody in the back hear me?
00:09Nice.
00:09Whistle if you can hear me.
00:12No, I'm just going to whistle the floor.
00:15How's everybody feeling about tomorrow?
00:20I'm feeling positive myself.
00:22So a couple housekeeping things.
00:24We're going to get started with the speeches in about five minutes.
00:26I'm Taylor from Cycle Toronto.
00:28Nice to see everybody out tonight.
00:30And thanks for coming out.
00:35We've got a big sort of mosh pit forming right here.
00:39If everybody wants to take one giant step forward,
00:42then some of the folks in the back can get a little closer and tight
00:44and hear the speeches a little better.
00:47And I know that there were some volunteers who wanted to come up to the front
00:52and proudly show off their signs.
00:56So those folks could come up.
00:58Thanks a lot.
01:00We've got a lot of great speakers for tonight.
01:05If you take any great photos or videos,
01:07post them online and tag us,
01:09Cycle Toronto, on Instagram.
01:11You might have our other accounts on the other social platforms.
01:14That would be great.
01:14And like I said, thanks for coming out.
01:18And I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
01:21Coming out for the Rally for Justice to save our bike lane.
01:35Before I begin, there are lots of folks here.
01:38We do see MPP Chris Glover here.
01:40I want to thank you for coming out.
01:41My name is Michael Longfield,
01:45and I'm the Executive Director of Cycle Toronto.
01:47We're a member-supported charity
01:49that's been working to make Toronto a more vibrant cycling city since 2008.
01:53We're also one of the applicants on tomorrow's charter challenge
01:56against the province's arbitrary and reckless anti-bike lane legislation.
02:01I just want to give a...
02:02Yeah, shame on that.
02:04I want to give a huge thanks to the legal teams at Ecojustice
02:07and Pallier Rowland who are leading this charge.
02:13I also want to thank you for being here tonight.
02:17Your presence and your voice are powering this fight.
02:20Honestly, on behalf of everyone that's working on this,
02:23thank you so much.
02:24It is so inspiring to see so many people out right now.
02:27Thank you, thank you, thank you.
02:31So, since rumours of this legislation first served in Houston in September,
02:35we've been pushing it back against this unprecedented jurisdictional overreach,
02:39one that undermines local democracy
02:41and threatens the health and safety of our streets.
02:44Let's be clear.
02:46Toronto is a great cycling city.
02:51But instead of embracing that,
02:53the province has tried to scapegoat bike lanes
02:56for its own failings to deliver solutions to fight urban gridlock.
03:01And voters didn't buy it.
03:03In the recent provincial election,
03:05the government lost its seat in Etobicoke Lakeshore.
03:11The Premier now has zero MPPs along the Bloor-Yonge and University bike lane corridors.
03:18This government has no authority on this issue.
03:21You're standing here tonight is proof that riding a bike is not a fringe activity.
03:28It's how thousands of us get around every day,
03:30conveniently, affordably, and efficiently,
03:33when there's a safe, connected, and protected network to do so.
03:37And here's the kicker.
03:39The province knows this too, and they have known it all along.
03:42Internal documents revealed as part of this case show what we've been saying all along,
03:49that ripping out these bike lanes won't reduce traffic or solve congestion.
03:53There is no mythical network of secondary side streets to replace them,
03:57and it will put lives at risk.
03:59And too many of us know that firsthand.
04:05Just two days before we launched this challenge,
04:08I was doored while riding my bike by a passenger exiting a rideshare vehicle.
04:13I was in an unprotected painted bike lane.
04:17The collision fractured my femur and required major surgery,
04:20and there were now a dozen pins holding my leg together.
04:2218 weeks later, I'm still in physio three times a week,
04:26and my timeline for getting back on a bike is still uncertain.
04:30It could have been worse, and it has been for far too many.
04:34I just want to say this isn't about drivers versus cyclists
04:37or waging a bad faith culture war.
04:39We all know that.
04:41And it's because at the end of the day,
04:42we all just want to get home safely.
04:45And this fight isn't just about cycle corona.
04:49We're here today because we also want to hear from some of the other voices
04:52that are lending their voices to this fight.
04:55And so I want to introduce you to some of the applicants,
04:58applicants, and interveners.
04:59Three words I didn't know before we launched this legal challenge
05:02and what the difference between them were
05:04who have bravely added their name to this fight.
05:07And so I first want to call up Dr. Suzanne Jackson,
05:10who's with the Canadian Public Health Association,
05:12one of the interveners on the case.
05:19Hi, everybody.
05:19We're here because public health matters.
05:25I'm not sure if you know about all the things we're interested in,
05:28but the things that connect to the bike lanes
05:30are that we're interested in preventing injuries,
05:33we're interested in the fitness that goes with bicycling,
05:36we're interested in the environmental benefits of cycling,
05:41and that it makes the city a livable urban area,
05:49and it's a healthy city because of that.
05:52And most importantly, we're interested in the equity issues
05:56because we don't want harm to come to some of the most disadvantaged people
06:00who use our bike lanes.
06:02So the government of Ontario wants to remove
06:06the protected bike lanes on three of our busiest streets.
06:12They're not just lines of paint.
06:15They're lifelines for those who are cycling,
06:18and it makes it possible for us to have a healthy, safe mode of transport.
06:22Removing them puts cyclists at a much greater risk of injury and death,
06:30and I'm glad that you weren't on that second consequence.
06:36But the government hasn't even justified any of the reasons
06:40why they want to take these lanes away.
06:43We know cycling improves heart health.
06:47We know it supports mental well-being.
06:49We know it reduces pollution.
06:50We know it reduces traffic congestion.
06:53And all those things are the cornerstones of healthy urban living.
06:57And yet, instead of expanding access to cycling and safe cycling,
07:03the government of Ontario is taking it away,
07:05effectively choosing to punish people
07:07who are choosing or needing to cycle.
07:11So, let's be clear about who will be hit hardest.
07:17It won't be those with the luxury of choice.
07:19So it'll be those who cycle because they must.
07:23Like you.
07:24Yeah, there you go.
07:25Low-income Torontonians, newcomers, students,
07:29older adults, people with disabilities,
07:31many of them rely on cycling
07:32because it's the only affordable and accessible option.
07:36When you remove the protected infrastructure,
07:39you're not just taking away safety,
07:40you're taking away their mobility,
07:42their health, and their dignity.
07:45For someone who needs these lanes,
07:48it can make the difference between cycling
07:50and not being able to participate in community life at all.
07:55The government of Ontario's own traffic safety manuals
08:00and planning documents recognized that physically separated bike lanes
08:05improved safety, encouraged cycling,
08:07and enhanced access for people in low-income communities.
08:11Despite this, the decision to remove the lanes
08:14was made without public health justification,
08:18without equity impact assessments,
08:20and without consulting the people who would be affected.
08:23So it's not just bad policy to ignore evidence,
08:27it's bad governance.
08:28So we're asking for evidence-based decision-making here.
08:37We're asking for infrastructure that protects, not excludes.
08:41So we're asking for the right to health and safety
08:43that it's not reserved just for those who can afford alternatives.
08:47It's about fundamental fairness,
08:50it's about public health,
08:52and it's about refusing to let the most vulnerable among us
08:55pay the highest price.
09:01The Canadian Public Health Association
09:03is proud to stand alongside
09:05Cycle Toronto, Ecojustice,
09:09and other applicants in this case.
09:11We're calling on the courts,
09:12and all of us as citizens,
09:14to ensure that health, safety, and equity
09:16are not optional, they're essential.
09:19So let's fight for our livable city,
09:22and for policies that are just,
09:23and streets that are safe for everyone.
09:30Thank you so much, Dr. Jackson.
09:32I'd like to now call up Narada Keando,
09:35who's one of the applicants on the case with Cycle Toronto.
09:37Hello everyone, my name is Narada,
09:46and I'm one of the applicants
09:47in the Charter Challenge
09:48against the removal of bike lanes.
09:51I've been a full-time bike messenger since 2019.
09:57I've been, yeah,
09:58so I've been a full-time bike messenger since 2019.
10:01When I started this job,
10:02there were only a few hundred of us.
10:03Now, in 2025,
10:06there are over a thousand delivery people
10:08on bikes every day in the city.
10:10We deliver food,
10:11we deliver medicine,
10:12we deliver specimens and supplies to hospitals,
10:15we deliver documents and packages
10:17to some of the biggest companies
10:18and small businesses in the city.
10:20Sadly, being a bike messenger
10:22is also a very dangerous job,
10:23especially when there are no bike lanes.
10:26Studies show that bike couriers
10:28report more injuries
10:30at a higher rate than almost every other job.
10:33Every bike messenger I know
10:35has a story about a time
10:36they've been doored or hit by a car,
10:38especially in the streets without bike lanes.
10:40I've rushed to the aid
10:41of many of my friends and colleagues
10:42when they've been hit by a car,
10:46and me and my friends
10:46have spent countless hours
10:48at accident scenes
10:49and in the ER
10:50every time one of us gets hit.
10:52When I was preparing these words,
10:54I thought about how I could talk
10:55about the reasons
10:56why bike lanes are important,
10:58but so much has already been said,
11:00including by Doug Ford's own experts
11:02and recently released documents
11:04about why removing bike lanes
11:07will not improve traffic
11:08and will actually make the streets
11:11less safe for cyclists.
11:13Instead, I'm going to talk
11:14about my own personal experiences
11:15riding since 2019
11:17on streets with bike lanes
11:19and without bike lanes.
11:20A prime example is Avenue Road.
11:23Since 2019,
11:24up until last summer,
11:26there was no bike lane.
11:28Every time I rode
11:29on that stretch of street,
11:31it felt like a nightmare.
11:34Up until last year,
11:36or early last year,
11:37there were three ghost bikes
11:38on that little stretch of street
11:40about a kilometer long.
11:42The first one was for Miguel,
11:44who was struck by a cement truck
11:45in 2021
11:46and pronounced dead on the spot.
11:49The second one was on Bloor,
11:52where there was a bike lane,
11:53but there was a blockage
11:54in the bike lane
11:55and she was struck and killed
11:57when she was trying
11:58to merge with traffic
11:59at Bloor Avenue.
12:02And the last and most close to me
12:04and people like me
12:06who do this for work
12:07was Ali,
12:08an Uber Eats courier from Turkey,
12:10who was killed on Avenue Road
12:12by a flatbed truck
12:13a few weeks
12:14before the other cyclist
12:16was also killed on Avenue
12:17in April of last year.
12:20Three needless,
12:21heartbreaking deaths.
12:23And very soon after Ali's death,
12:25I started noticing a very,
12:27I started noticing a difference.
12:30Temporary bike lanes
12:31were installed immediately
12:32and full bike lanes
12:34were installed in July.
12:35Now I can ride on Avenue
12:37and feel safe.
12:38This is a case study
12:39of what will happen
12:40on Bloor, Young and University
12:42if bike lanes are removed.
12:44Every time I ride
12:45on those three streets,
12:46I will feel like how I felt
12:47riding Avenue last year.
12:49No more needless deaths.
12:57Thanks so much, Loretta.
12:58And actually,
12:59I want to just remind everyone
13:01that this is like
13:03after work rush hour.
13:05This is one of the bike lanes
13:06the province wants to remove
13:07because of traffic concerns.
13:10Where is the traffic?
13:13Maybe it'll come later.
13:15Who knows?
13:16I'd like to next invite up here
13:19one of the affiates
13:20on the case with us,
13:21Howard Chang.
13:26Thanks, Michael.
13:27That was a great story,
13:28by the way.
13:29Really appreciated that.
13:30My name's Howard Chang
13:31and I don't like to think
13:33of myself as a cyclist.
13:36And I think that might come
13:37as a bit of a surprise
13:38for people who know me
13:39since I was on the
13:40city cycling committee
13:41in the 80s.
13:42I founded multiple bike clubs
13:43and I own way more spandex
13:45than a man my age
13:46should be allowed to own.
13:47But I prefer to think
13:48of myself as a father,
13:51a brother,
13:52and a son
13:52that rides a bike regularly.
13:54I also drive a car occasionally
13:57and I also take mass transit
13:59occasionally
13:59and I'm forced to walk a lot
14:01because I have a rescue dog
14:02from Texas
14:03who needs a lot of walking.
14:04So we are multimodal
14:06and active transportation,
14:08bicycle infrastructure
14:09is mission critical
14:11to build a livable city.
14:13And I think we all agree
14:14Toronto has a ways to go
14:16and a lot of opportunity
14:17to be a much more livable city.
14:19So why do we want a livable city?
14:21I say we want a livable city
14:23because we want
14:23a better quality of life.
14:25But I also want to speak
14:26from my position
14:27as an entrepreneur
14:28and a businessman.
14:30I own multiple companies
14:31that employ dozens
14:32of Torontonians
14:33and I would say
14:35one of the biggest challenges
14:36for all companies
14:37in this day and age
14:38is attracting great talent.
14:41And for the young people
14:42out there,
14:43including my children,
14:45a lot of what they're looking for
14:46is a 15-minute city,
14:49a walkable city,
14:50a bikeable city,
14:51infrastructure that's going
14:52to allow them
14:53to move through the city
14:55without having to own a car,
14:57the incredible expense of that.
14:59Some may choose to,
15:00some may not,
15:01but they want the option.
15:03For my employees,
15:05we actually launched
15:06a bike-to-work program
15:08a number of years ago
15:08where we actually pay our staff
15:10$5 a day
15:11to ride their bikes to work.
15:12We built shallows,
15:13we built lockers,
15:15we built indoor bike storage,
15:18and I'll tell you
15:19the effect it had
15:19on my company.
15:20It reduced our turnover
15:22by 70%.
15:23It increased the mental health
15:26and physical well-being
15:27of our staff.
15:28It reduced our medical insurance claims.
15:32It was good for our business.
15:34So the point I'd like to make
15:37to other business leaders
15:38out there
15:38who sometimes have access
15:40to the keys of powers
15:41that most of us don't have
15:42is that when you're speaking
15:44amongst yourselves,
15:45when you're speaking
15:46to political leaders,
15:48please let them understand
15:49that bikes aren't just good
15:51for like or wearing hippies
15:53like me
15:53that happen to own businesses.
15:54It's also good
15:56for the economy,
15:57it's good for business,
15:58and it's good for the city.
16:05Thank you, Howard.
16:06I would now like to invite up
16:08Vanessa Brown,
16:10who's with For Our Kids,
16:11another one of the interveners
16:12in our case.
16:19Hi, everyone.
16:20Thanks for being here.
16:22I'm a parent and a volunteer
16:24with For Our Kids Toronto.
16:26We're part of a national network
16:28of parents and families
16:29who are taking environmental action
16:31driven by the love
16:32we have for our children.
16:35I'm here today
16:36because I want a better future
16:37for our kids.
16:38But right now,
16:40the future is under threat
16:41from our own provincial government.
16:43Doug Ford's Bill 212,
16:46the Reducing Gridlock,
16:47Saving You Time Act,
16:48is not just an attack
16:50on bike lanes.
16:51It's an attack
16:52on our children's safety
16:53and our city's efforts
16:55to become more sustainable.
16:57Removing the protected bike lanes
17:00from Bloor, University, and Young
17:02means more cars,
17:04more pollution,
17:05and more danger to cyclists.
17:07The government's own consultants
17:09estimate a 54% increase
17:12in collisions
17:12if the bike lanes are removed.
17:15That's children, parents,
17:17and loved ones
17:18at risk of being struck by a car.
17:20And for what?
17:21A few minutes off someone's commute?
17:23Let's be clear.
17:26The province knows
17:27this won't solve gridlock.
17:29Their own internal memos say so.
17:31But they want to do it anyways.
17:34In the legal documents
17:35they filed for tomorrow's hearing,
17:37they have implied
17:38that the need to reduce gridlock
17:40outweighs the need
17:41for safe spaces
17:42for cyclists
17:43on arterial roads.
17:45The sense they give
17:47is that if cyclists
17:48choose to ride on these roads
17:50after the bike lanes
17:51are removed,
17:52that's their problem,
17:53not the government's.
17:55This is not acceptable.
17:59Destroying green infrastructure
18:00will increase carbon emissions,
18:03worsen pollution,
18:04and exacerbate climate change.
18:06And because of their
18:07small growing bodies,
18:09children will be hit the hardest.
18:11They are more susceptible
18:13to the negative health effects
18:14of pollution and climate change.
18:16To say nothing of the fact
18:18that more than 50% of children
18:20around the world
18:21currently experience
18:22climate anxiety.
18:25Bike lines aren't a luxury.
18:27They're a lifeline.
18:29They make it possible
18:30for families to move
18:31through the city safely,
18:33to stay active,
18:34and to breathe cleaner air.
18:36They're part of a healthy,
18:38sustainable future.
18:39one that our kids
18:41can thrive in.
18:43As a parent,
18:44I want to live in a city
18:45that loves our children
18:46as much as I do.
18:48I want infrastructure
18:49that makes it safe and fun
18:51for everyone to get around.
18:53I want our leaders
18:54to move beyond
18:55short-sighted political theater
18:57and invest in building
18:59a thriving, sustainable city
19:00that will nourish our children
19:02now and into the future.
19:09Thank you, Vanessa.
19:13I'd now like to bring up
19:14Eva Stenger-Ross,
19:15one of the applicants
19:16on the case.
19:21Hi, everyone.
19:22Before I start,
19:23let's just give a round of applause
19:25for Cycle Toronto
19:26for not only organizing
19:27this protest,
19:28but the entire court family.
19:30Thank you so much.
19:31I'm an applicant on this case
19:39to represent the students
19:41that depend on these bike lanes.
19:43As a student at U of T,
19:45I take the Bloor bike lane
19:46every single day
19:48to get to school
19:49because taking transit
19:51would be much more expensive
19:52and double the time
19:54and I cannot afford to drive.
19:58Many other students
19:59experience the same thing as me.
20:01Bike lanes are critical
20:02for us to learn,
20:04to live,
20:04and to be able to afford Toronto.
20:07I'm sure that is true
20:09for many of you.
20:10The targeted bike lanes
20:12that will be removed
20:13if this bill goes through
20:15lead directly to U of T.
20:18All of them are integral
20:20for students
20:21and removing them
20:22would be a direct hit
20:24to the student body.
20:27Students also do not,
20:29a lot of students,
20:30do not have an other option.
20:32If we remove these bike lanes,
20:33students are still going
20:34to be biking.
20:36We are still going to be
20:37needing free, affordable,
20:40and fast ways of transit,
20:42but we will be in harm's way.
20:44This goes for all of you too.
20:45Without the bike lanes,
20:47we will be in the lane with cars.
20:49This will make transit
20:50for cars slower,
20:52transit for bikers slower,
20:54and transit less safe
20:55for everyone.
20:57This cannot be what Ford wants.
20:59A slower and less safe
21:01network of roads?
21:03It doesn't make any sense.
21:05We are trying to make
21:06Ford here reason.
21:08I and everyone else
21:10here today
21:11just want Ford to realize
21:13that this is not a war on cars.
21:15This is fighting for a better
21:17future for everyone.
21:18We need...
21:19We need the bike lanes
21:26as much as the cars
21:27need the bike lanes.
21:29We all need different forms
21:31of transportation
21:32so that the roads
21:33don't get even more busy
21:35than they already are.
21:37So please,
21:38let's make him hear reason.
21:40Thank you so much.
21:41Thanks, Eva.
21:47And thanks for
21:48Bike for Bikes as well
21:49for just all the work
21:50y'all have been doing
21:51with some rides and rallies too.
21:54Would now like to bring up
21:55Adam Rogers,
21:56one of the Appians.
21:57I think Adam also has a guest
21:58with him as well.
21:59Hi, my name is Adam Rogers
22:07and I am a deaf
22:10from Etobicoke.
22:11So funny enough,
22:13I am a lifelong Etobicoke
22:15Lakeshore resident.
22:17I grew up in Islington Village
22:18for any of those people
22:20who know the area
22:21that is pretty much
22:22right where
22:23the bike lanes
22:24are ending.
22:26And I have to say
22:27that really
22:29the main reason
22:31I am so supportive
22:32of bike lanes
22:33is for my daughter
22:34Yuna here.
22:37So for those,
22:39whether you're a parent
22:40or not,
22:40the risk
22:41benefit
22:43of being a bike
22:45really changes
22:46as soon as you have
22:47a kid on the back
22:47of your bike.
22:48I remember
22:49I used to commute
22:51from Etobicoke
22:52to the west end
22:53of North York.
22:54We're talking about
22:54West End Road
22:55and Shepherd.
22:56I used to commute
22:56over the 401
22:58on my bike
22:59which looking back
23:01was dangerous.
23:03I would never,
23:03ever in my lifetime
23:05take my daughter
23:05over there.
23:06And every time
23:07I go on a major
23:09street without a bike lane
23:11I always think twice.
23:13Perfect example,
23:15a street
23:15that I often use
23:16that has no bike lane
23:18Dundas.
23:19I had a person
23:20almost take me
23:21off the road
23:22to try to squeeze
23:23a right turn
23:24even though I was
23:25in the right of way
23:26turning on
23:28into a school zone.
23:29I can only imagine,
23:30thankfully at the time
23:31my daughter wasn't with me,
23:32I can only imagine.
23:33Now,
23:34yes,
23:34what?
23:37I know,
23:38it's a lot.
23:39So,
23:39she's already
23:41given me
23:41the old
23:42hippo
23:43so I'll keep
23:44this short
23:44and sweet.
23:45So,
23:46a couple things.
23:46As I said,
23:47I grew up in Etobicoke
23:48and Etobicoke
23:49Lakeshore
23:49is the largest
23:51ward in the city.
23:52It is the fastest
23:54growing ward
23:54in the city.
23:55We're going to have
23:5610,000 new residents
23:57in the next
23:585-10 years.
24:00The neighborhood
24:00where I live,
24:01right nearby,
24:02is going to have
24:03a major,
24:04major development.
24:05If we do not
24:06future-proof
24:06our neighborhood
24:07now,
24:08we're going to run
24:08into the same problem.
24:09Let's say,
24:10oh yeah,
24:13he's taking the picture,
24:14great.
24:16And the thing is,
24:17let's say we pull out
24:18the bike lanes.
24:20What's going to happen?
24:21We're going to hit traffic
24:22in 5-10 years anyway
24:24and because we decide
24:26to not give anyone
24:27a second,
24:28another option to go,
24:30we're not going to be able
24:31to alleviate traffic
24:32and safety.
24:33Honestly,
24:34I have talked to
24:35lots of parents.
24:36They don't want their kids
24:37on the road
24:37because they're worried
24:39and that's a lot of reasons
24:41why people take cars.
24:42Heck,
24:43I have a car,
24:43I have a bike,
24:45I mean,
24:45I live in Etobicoke
24:46but that doesn't mean
24:47that I want a freedom
24:48of having altered options.
24:50Yes honey?
24:51Was there anything
24:51you wanted to say?
24:52Well,
24:52we'll wrap it up
24:53but is there anything else
24:54you wanted to say?
24:56No?
24:57You want to say anything
24:57about bike lanes?
24:59You like to ride your bike?
25:00Yeah.
25:01Yeah,
25:01okay,
25:01well,
25:02close enough.
25:02She told me,
25:03she's been hyping up
25:04going on the mic all day
25:06but you want to say anything?
25:08Why don't you say?
25:08After you.
25:09Okay,
25:10only for me,
25:10okay,
25:11well,
25:11thanks everyone.
25:12After me.
25:13After me,
25:13okay.
25:14Well,
25:14just remember that
25:15I know that Etobicoke
25:16gets a bad rap
25:17but there's all sorts
25:18of folks in there
25:19and there's plenty of us
25:20that do use the bike lanes
25:21and the only way
25:22that more of us will
25:23is if we keep
25:24the bike lanes
25:25we have right now.
25:25Thank you very much.
25:28Bye-bye.
25:34And now I'd like
25:35to bring up
25:35Julia Kroon
25:36with Ecojustice.
25:42Okay,
25:43for a change of pace,
25:45James Joyce said
25:46in the particular
25:49is contained
25:50the universal.
25:52Wait a second,
25:53I thought she was a lawyer.
25:54Why is she quoting
25:55James Joyce?
25:58Actually,
25:58lawyers love starting
25:59their remarks
26:00with quotations
26:01and analogies
26:02so look out for that
26:03tomorrow,
26:04those of you
26:04who are going to be in court.
26:06But stay with me,
26:07okay,
26:07just remember that thought
26:08in the particular
26:10is contained
26:11the universal.
26:12I'm the director
26:14of litigation practice
26:15at Ecojustice
26:16and I'm not personally
26:18acting for Eva,
26:20Narada,
26:21and Cycle Toronto.
26:22That's my colleagues,
26:23Lindsay and Bronwyn.
26:24In fact,
26:24I left Lindsay
26:25and Bronwyn behind
26:26at the office.
26:28Still hard at work
26:29getting ready for tomorrow.
26:30They'll be over there.
26:33They asked me to be here
26:34and speak on their behalf
26:36and I'm here to speak
26:37for Ecojustice as well.
26:38They are so proud
26:40to represent
26:41these brave applicants
26:43who have done so much
26:44over the last six months
26:46and this is a harsh introduction
26:48to the legal system.
26:49You, as you said,
26:50had to learn it all
26:51to respond to this threat
26:54to you,
26:55to Toronto cyclists.
26:58Ecojustice though
26:59is a national
27:00environmental legal organization.
27:02We bring strategic cases
27:03that will defend nature,
27:05combat climate change
27:06and fight for a healthy
27:08environment for all.
27:09A big part of what we do
27:11is hold governments
27:12to account.
27:14To hold the line
27:15at the intersection
27:17of the environment
27:18and our rights
27:20as citizens.
27:21This case
27:23hits right in that spot.
27:25It's clearly environmental.
27:27You're all out here,
27:28many of you,
27:29because you choose
27:30to ride bikes
27:31out of concern
27:31for the environment
27:32and this is arbitrary
27:35government action
27:36based not on evidence.
27:38It's not based on facts.
27:41When you pop the hood
27:42of this bill,
27:43we can see that
27:44the government
27:45has known for some time
27:46now that they have
27:47no evidence
27:48of a link
27:50between this action
27:51and their alleged goal
27:52of reducing consumption.
27:54Sorry,
27:55thank you congestion.
27:57It is ironic
27:59to eco-justice
28:00that a government
28:01taking so much pride
28:03in standing up
28:04to Donald Trump's
28:05tariffs and threats
28:06to Canadian sovereignty
28:07would operate
28:09straight from
28:09the Trump playbook.
28:12Rip up infrastructure,
28:14protecting lives
28:15and good for the environment.
28:17Check.
28:19Gut a process
28:20that provides
28:20checks and balances
28:21on government power.
28:23Check.
28:24Rush to act.
28:26and steamroll
28:27reasoned opposition
28:29and questions.
28:30Check.
28:32This case
28:33is about Eva
28:34and Narada,
28:35about Toronto cyclists.
28:37But it is also
28:39about standing up
28:40to unreasoned
28:41government action
28:42that will harm us,
28:44that will harm
28:45the environment,
28:46holding up
28:47the Charter of Rights
28:48and saying stop.
28:50And that's
28:51a universal fight
28:52that eco-justice
28:53is incredibly proud
28:54to be a part of.
28:56Thank you so much.
29:02So that's it,
29:04everyone.
29:05We're going to remind
29:06everyone that
29:07the legal challenge
29:09itself is happening
29:10tomorrow.
29:11It's going to be
29:11in that building there.
29:12So if you're free,
29:14if you can take the day
29:14off work
29:15and you have the luxury,
29:16please come join us
29:17in the courtroom.
29:18It's courtroom
29:198-1
29:20and overflow
29:21courtroom 8-4
29:22will start
29:23at 10 a.m.
29:24And again,
29:25this doesn't end
29:26tomorrow.
29:27We'll need to keep
29:28pushing back
29:29even if we win
29:30or should I say
29:31when we win.
29:32This is only addressing
29:36one aspect
29:37of the legislation
29:38which is ripping out
29:39Bloor-Young
29:40and University.
29:41Bill 2-1-2
29:42will still exist
29:43which will block
29:44cities like Toronto
29:45and across the province
29:47from building
29:47new bike lanes.
29:49So we will continue
29:50fighting
29:50and like tomorrow
29:51we will win
29:52thanks to you.
29:53Thank you so much
29:54for coming out today
29:55and see you tomorrow.
29:56Thanks.
30:06And I know
30:07this is a little odd
30:08that it's a cycle
30:09Toronto event
30:09where there's no ride
30:10but there actually
30:11is no ride
30:12because some of us
30:14have to get to bed
30:15early tonight
30:15because we've got
30:16a big day tomorrow
30:17but I promise you
30:18we will be on our bikes
30:19all together again soon.
30:22I had to get home.
30:23That's a ride.
30:25That's a ride.
30:26Two.
30:27One.