AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ARTS CENTRE DISCUSSED DURING DEL DUCA VISIT

Affordable transit, education and a struggling arts community were the areas of discussion during Steven Del Duca's visit to Milton Saturday morning (May 14).

Following a brief chat with downtown business owners, the Ontario Liberal leader arrived at the Main Street GO Station — scanning a ticket alongside local candidate Sameera Ali.

It was symbolic of his party's recent campaign promise to — if elected — implement $1-fare transit throughout Ontario.

"Game 7 (Maple LeafsLightning) tonight is a great reminder of how many people use GO trains and buses to head into the city or travel across the region," said Del Duca, with regards to his affordable transit plan, dubbed 'Buck A Ride, Provincewide.' "With buck-a-ride, we'll save someone heading downtown from Milton more than $22.50 on a round trip."

Welcoming the plan — which the party said would cap monthly transit passes at $40, and take about 400,000 cars off Ontario roads each day — Ali said it would be especially beneficial to a rapid-growing community like Milton that'll soon be getting a university campus.

"I believe everything's interlinked," she said. "With the university (campus coming) we need affordable and regular transit. That's why we're pushing for all-day, two-way GO

service."

Ali said that would go a long way towards boosting local employment and

making companies feel more confident in setting up shop in Milton.

More affordable transit, she noted, would also help the women's workforce, which has been hit especially hard by COVID.

"We need to bridge the gaps," said Ali.

Should his party form the next provincial government, Del Duca also said he'd scrap Doug Ford's $10billion Hwy. 13 plan in favour of repairing and building new schools with better air conditioning and ventilation.

The Liberal leader also addressed concerns about the FirstOntario Arts Centre Milton, which — like many other centres across the province — has been completely or largely shuttered throughout the pandemic.

"We want to give them (arts centres) a boost and make sure the support is there. What I've seen in many communities is the arts centre does give them a sense of character."