(I originally posted this in the Politics forum, but it hasn't stimulated any response, so a blog it becomes!)

As some of you might know, my significant other is from Barcelona, Spain.  I have been very lucky to visit the city many times, and each time I am amazed by its public transit.  Many people don't own cars.  It's one euro for a metro/bus fare, flat - no zoning like London or Madrid.  One euro makes TTC's 2.75 look exorbitant.

And since my job also deals with transportation, I am always interested to hear what the government says it's going to do to narrow the gap between the überefficiency of Europe's public transportation compared to the bare bones system here in North America.  But it isn't just transit.

One of my favourite ideas in the political party platforms this election season was from the Green Party, who suggested we move the GST back up 1% (seriously, who noticed?) and give that money directly to cities whose infrastructres are mired in debt.  When 8 out of 10 Canadians live in cities, this seems like the most logical place to target funding for the people, doesn't it?  And yet, and yet...

I live in Oakville, Ontario.  We are one of the most affluent suburban neighbourhoods in Canada, but we have a growth problem.  Developments have been popping up like mushrooms and weeds.  Schools, hospitals, public transit... they all lag disastrously behind.  But, we are blessed with a very fantastic MPP - Gary Carr.

Yesterday, our Provincial Representative stuck it to the man.  He pretty much said,  "that's it - we are not hooking up another house to sewage or water until someone tells us how we're supposed to pay for the social services each of those new homes need." 

Will it work?  Is there hope for the infrastructure?  Are unstoppable development projects, growing without limits, the way to go?  Will we crumble from the inside out?

Here's the article on Halton:

http://www.thestar.com/article/521700