Latest news with #PaulSchabas
Toronto Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Doug Ford railed against a judge for delaying the removal of bike lanes. Now he's filed an appeal
The injunction was granted by Justice Paul Schabas on April 22 and was expected to stay in place until he delivered a full decision on a Charter challenge brought forward by cycling advocates, who argued that the Ford government's attempt to take out bike lanes in downtown Toronto infringed on their Charter rights to life and security of person.
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Ontario to ask for appeal of court order pausing Toronto bike lane removals
Published May 07, 2025 • 1 minute read A bike lane looking northbound on University Ave. to Queen's Park in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Toronto Sun Ontario is seeking to appeal a temporary court order stopping it from ripping up three major Toronto bike lanes while a judge weighs whether the plan is unconstitutional. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The government served notice of its intent to appeal last month's injunction to lawyers for a cycling advocacy group challenging its plan to remove lanes on Bloor St., Yonge St. and University Ave. Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ordered the government last month to keep its hands off the 19 km of bike lanes until he could decide the case. His injunction ruling cited the public interest in protecting cyclist safety and a lack of evidence backing the government's claim that removing the lanes would reduce congestion. In response to Wednesday's notice, a spokesperson for Ontario's transportation minister said they 'need to keep our busiest roads moving.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO Cycle Toronto, the advocacy group leading the removal challenge, called the government's intent to appeal a 'distraction fuelled by spite. 'The facts are clear: Ripping out bike lanes won't solve congestion and will put people's lives at risk. The provincial government's own experts agree. Today the provincial government confirmed they don't care about the facts,' the group said in a statement. Last week, Premier Doug Ford singled out the injunction in a self-described 'rant' critical of court decisions overruling the government and suggested Ontario should pursue an American-style system where judges are elected. The suggestion, widely panned as an attack on judicial independence and impartiality, was later walked back by Ontario's attorney general. Read More Television Canada Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists
CBC
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario serves notice to appeal injunction preventing it from removing Toronto bike lanes
The Ontario government has taken its first step to appeal a temporary injunction that prevents it from ripping up three Toronto bike lanes until a judge decides whether its plan to remove them is unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the Ministry of the Attorney General filed what is called a notice of motion for leave to appeal an April 22 decision by Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas. In that decision, Schabas ordered the government not demolish the bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue until he makes a decision on a Charter challenge by cycling advocates of provincial legislation. The injunction is in force until he rules on the challenge. Schabas said in his ruling that failure to issue an injunction would "cause more harm and inconvenience to the public interest" than allowing the legislation to be implemented, and that the government did not provide evidence about the process by which it would remove the lanes or what it plans to put in their place. Asked why it seeks to overturn the injunction, the ministry said in an email on Wednesday that Ontario wants to proceed with its plans. "As we've always said, we need to keep our busiest roads moving and that's exactly what we're doing," ministry spokesperson Dakota Brasier said. Decision to appeal 'fuelled by spite,' advocates say Cycle Toronto, an advocacy group that says it works to make Toronto a "healthy, safe and vibrant cycling city for all," said in a statement on Wednesday that the government is ignoring what its own experts have told it. "The facts are clear: ripping out bike lanes won't solve congestion and will put people's lives at risk. The provincial government's own experts agree. Today the provincial government confirmed they don't care about the facts," the group said in the statement. "Today's decision by the province is a distraction, fuelled by spite, coming off last week's rant from the Premier that had a few inconsistencies with the truth and seriously undermined judiciary independence." Last week, Premier Doug Ford went on a rant about some provincial judges, arguing they are soft on crime and interfering in municipal issues based on ideology, and floated the idea of electing judges in Canada as is done in parts of the U.S. He also singled out the injunction, saying the province planned to appeal it. "We get democratically elected, and some judge slaps an injunction on bike lanes. Don't the judges have anything better to do than worry about if we're taking out bike lanes or not taking out bike lanes?" Ford had said. The province gave itself the power last year to remove 19 kilometres of protected bike lanes, despite the objections of the city. It passed a law that requires cities to seek provincial approval to install new lanes that cut into vehicle traffic.
Toronto Star
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Ontario to ask for appeal of court order pausing Toronto bike lane removal
TORONTO - Ontario is seeking to appeal a temporary court order stopping it from ripping up three major Toronto bike lanes while a judge weighs whether the plan is unconstitutional. The government served notice of its intent to appeal last month's injunction to lawyers for a cycling advocacy group challenging its plan to remove lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue. Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ordered the government last month to keep its hands off the 19 kilometres of bike lanes until he could decide the case. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW His injunction ruling cited the public interest in protecting cyclist safety and a lack of evidence backing the government's claim that removing the lanes would reduce congestion. In response to Wednesday's notice, a spokesperson for Ontario's transportation minister said, 'we need to keep our busiest roads moving.' Cycle Toronto, the advocacy group leading the removal challenge, called the government's intent to appeal a 'distraction, fuelled by spite.' 'The facts are clear: ripping out bike lanes won't solve congestion and will put people's lives at risk. The provincial government's own experts agree. Today the provincial government confirmed they don't care about the facts,' the group said in a statement. Last week, Premier Doug Ford singled out the injunction in a self-described 'rant' critical of court decisions overruling the government and suggested Ontario should pursue an American-style system where judges are elected. The suggestion, widely panned as an attack on judicial independence and impartiality, was later walked back by Ontario's attorney general. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ontario to ask for appeal of court order pausing Toronto bike lane removal
TORONTO – Ontario is seeking to appeal a temporary court order stopping it from ripping up three major Toronto bike lanes while a judge weighs whether the plan is unconstitutional. The government served notice of its intent to appeal last month's injunction to lawyers for a cycling advocacy group challenging its plan to remove lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue. Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas ordered the government last month to keep its hands off the 19 kilometres of bike lanes until he could decide the case. A cyclist rides in a bike lane on University Avenue in Toronto on December 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor His injunction ruling cited the public interest in protecting cyclist safety and a lack of evidence backing the government's claim that removing the lanes would reduce congestion. In response to Wednesday's notice, a spokesperson for Ontario's transportation minister said, 'we need to keep our busiest roads moving.' Cycle Toronto, the advocacy group leading the removal challenge, called the government's intent to appeal a 'distraction, fuelled by spite.' 'The facts are clear: ripping out bike lanes won't solve congestion and will put people's lives at risk. The provincial government's own experts agree. Today the provincial government confirmed they don't care about the facts,' the group said in a statement. Last week, Premier Doug Ford singled out the injunction in a self-described 'rant' critical of court decisions overruling the government and suggested Ontario should pursue an American-style system where judges are elected. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up The suggestion, widely panned as an attack on judicial independence and impartiality, was later walked back by Ontario's attorney general. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2025.
