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Bill 202, Lower Fares, Better Service on the Union Pearson Express Act, 2024

Bell, Jessica

Harden, Joel

Karpoche, Bhutila

Rakocevic, Tom

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Status

Debates

Acts affected

Original

Bill 202 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill amends the Metrolinx Act, 2006 to require the

establishment of a committee to review the passenger transportation system

between downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport known as the

Union Pearson Express. The Bill provides for the composition of the committee

and the committee’s mandate, which is to make recommendations respecting a

plan, a timeline and funding estimates to achieve certain goals for the Union

Pearson Express as set out in the Bill.

The

Bill establishes consultation requirements for the committee. The committee is

required to report its recommendations to the Minister. The Minister is

required to table the committee’s report in the Legislative Assembly and to inform

the Assembly of the Minister’s proposed actions in response to the committee’s

recommendations.

Bill 202 2024

Act to amend the Metrolinx Act, 2006 to provide for a committee to review

matters relating to the Union Pearson Express

His

Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the

Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

The Metrolinx Act, 2006 is amended by adding the

following section:

Duties

of Corporation, Union Pearson Express

8.1.1

(1) Within

60 days after the day the Clean Trains Now Act, 2024

receives Royal Assent, the Corporation shall establish a committee to be known

service Union Pearson Express in French to review the passenger transportation

system between downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport known

as the Union Pearson Express.

Composition

(2) The

committee shall be composed of persons the Corporation believes will make

useful contributions to the committee’s work, including,

(

a) representatives

of the City of Toronto;

(

b) representatives

of the Toronto Transit Commission;

(

c) representatives

of transit workers;

(

d) members

of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute;

(

e) transportation

engineers;

(

f) representatives

of the construction industry; and

(

g) representatives

of persons who use public transit.

Remuneration

and expenses of committee members

(3) The

Lieutenant Governor in Council may by regulation prescribe remuneration and

payment of expenses for the committee members.

Mandate

(4) The

committee’s mandate shall be to make recommendations respecting a plan, a

timeline and funding estimates to achieve,

(

a) the

transition of the Union Pearson Express from being powered by diesel fuel to

being powered by electrification;

(

b) full

fare integration so that passengers on the Union Pearson Express can travel on

all public transit routes in the City of Toronto for up to two hours on a

single fare at no greater than the regular cost of a Toronto Transit Commission

fare; and

(

c) an

increase in the capacity of the Union Pearson Express to serve passengers,

including, for example, by,

(

i) increasing

service frequency,

(ii) increasing

the carrying capacity of trains used on the route,

(iii) increasing

the number of stations, and

(iv) modifying

track into and out of the station located at Toronto Pearson International

Airport or the station itself.

Consultation

(5) In

carrying out its mandate, the committee shall engage in consultation, including

public consultation, with, at minimum, the following:

1. Residents

in the areas through which the Union Pearson Express operates.

2. Persons

who use public transit in the Greater Toronto Area.

3. Persons

who work in the areas through which the Union Pearson Express operates,

including the downtown core of the City of Toronto and Toronto Pearson

International Airport.

4. Any

other persons or entities the committee determines should be consulted.

Recommendations

(6) The

committee shall provide its recommendations in the form of a report to the

Corporation within six months after the committee is established under

subsection (1) and shall provide a copy of the report to the Minister.

Tabling

of report

(7) The

Minister shall table the report in the Legislative Assembly within 30 days

after receiving it.

Minister’s

response

(8) On

or before the day that is 60 days after the Minister tables the report, the

Minister shall inform the Assembly of the Minister’s proposed actions in

response to the committee’s recommendations.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Lower Fares, Better

Service on the Union Pearson Express Act, 2024 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

May 29, 2024

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

May 29, 2024

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

May 29, 2024

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading