Skip to main content
Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Time to get on board

Posted by Daniel Hoornweg on December 13, 2017

Time-based transfers are one of those rare initiatives that maximize the benefits of living in a big city.
Time-based transfers are one of those rare initiatives that maximize the benefits of living in a big city.

Rarely do public policy options come along with such compelling merits as the proposed TTC time-based transfer[1]. If public policies were fruits, this one is beyond ‘low-hanging’; it’s in-hand.

Based on economic, environmental and social benefits, evaluating some 100 infrastructure and policy options in the transportation, energy and basic services sectors of Toronto, as well as the cities of Dakar, Mumbai, Sao Paulo and Shanghai, the time-based transfer option was by far the best.

Time-based transfers are one of those rare initiatives that maximize the benefits of living in a big city. Cities make human interactions possible – the more contacts the better. Having two hours to pick-up your dry cleaning, or buy a magazine, stop by the office to drop off a report, or even have a quick drink or meal. These interactions all help to maximize the benefits of urban density. Interacting with our fellow citizens is also the most powerful way to grow our local economy.

For a relatively low cost, time-based transfers provide large quantifiable economic (grow the local economy and raise land values) and environmental (reduced greenhouse gas emissions) benefits. There are also social benefits such as more gender equity and reduced youth unemployment, although these might be harder to measure. Time-based transfers help change people habits for the better, making city living a little easier on the environment and ourselves.

‘Sustainable Cost Curve’ developed as part of PhD in Civil Engineering, University of Toronto 2015 (D. Hoornweg). Available at https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/69323.

A 90 minute TTC transfer was evaluated relative to other transportation options – the far-left location on the curve signifies the most sustainability potential for the lowest cost. ‘Sustainability’ defined by 45 bio-physical and socio-economic indicators.


[1] See, City Council debates Toronto Transit Commission time-based transfers. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2017/11/17/time-based-transfers-to-be-debated-as-part-of-2018-ttc-budget.html


Filed under: Sustainability 101

Categories