Newmarket corruption exposed by Toronto media

It is well documented that "friends of Tony" thrive in Newmarket with government contracts and municipal government grants.

It is also well known that opponents of Tony face retaliation and retribution.

While listening to CFRB 1010 this morning it wasn't any surprise to hear that strong allegations of corruption have once again been leveled against our local government.

The co-owner of The Cove, Chris Benson, believes that Tony Van Bynen is purposefully trying to put him out of business.  Chris has been a vocal opponent of the Mayor's handling of Davis Drive. You can read about it here:

Tony and the spokesperson for Viva continue to spout the old company line.  According to these two, this bus lane is a good investment for Newmarket and the project is on time and on budget.

How can it be good for Davis when the York Region government is now the biggest landowner on this 2.6 km stretch through expropriation of land?  If this land was in the hands of small business owners, jobs would be created and the economy would benefit.

I believe that the York Region government is looking to benefit financially when businesses like the Cove shut down and gentrification of Davis Drive begins.  Developers will call the Region to purchase some of its many landholdings for new high rise condo towers.  The days of Davis Drive being the economic engine in Newmarket are numbered.  This area will transformed into high density residential while jobs will go elsewhere as local shops are forced to close.  York Region government will profit immensely from the gentrification of Davis Drive.

As for being on time and on budget, it is well known that the Viva bus lanes were supposed to have been completed in early 2014. The Viva spokesperson now claims that the 2014 wasn't a "deadline" but a "best guess".  I'm not buying his line and neither should you.

What we have in Newmarket are backroom secret deals and then lying to the public about it being the modus operandi of this administration.

Davis Drive's $261 million project is scheduled to be done by December 17, 2015.  The $480 million Yonge Street Viva bus lane project is just beginning.  Expect years and years of construction delays, economic hardship, job losses, and corruption as the mega project drags on.  A high cost to pay for a bus route with few riders.