Candidates Clash Over Vanished Gardiner Ramp in Beaches-East York Race

Candidates vying for the city council seat in Beaches-East York are locked in a dispute over the future of a demolished Gardiner Expressway ramp, as CBC Toronto first reported.

The Logan Avenue ramp was torn down approximately five years ago as part of a city effort to revamp the Gardiner Expressway. Natalie Johnson, a councillor candidate and former CTV reporter, has made the "rebuild" of the ramp a central pillar of her campaign since May, arguing that the loss of the direct channel between the east end and downtown has "wreaked havoc on traffic," she told CBC News.

Opponents argue that Johnson is manufacturing a crisis. Nate Erskine-Smith, a former Liberal MP running for council, told CBC Toronto that rebuilding the ramp at the original Logan Avenue site would be "impossible" due to the cost and the fact that it would undo previous work on the Gardiner plan. Kevin Morrison, a candidate and current Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee, told CBC Toronto that there is no need to "upset something that's already happening," as a solution is already in place.

That solution is the city's approved Gardiner rehabilitation plan, which calls for a replacement ramp at Cherry Street, located a few blocks west of the original site. While Johnson clarified to CBC News that her goal is to expedite the construction of this replacement rather than rebuild the old ramp, other candidates remain skeptical of the impact a councillor can have on the timeline.

James Dann, a candidate with a professional background as a city staffer in infrastructure, parks, and waterfronts, told CBC Toronto that the Cherry Street ramp is "currently in design" and that no construction has begun. Dann noted that by the time shovels hit the ground, the city will no longer be in control of the project.

City spokesperson Frédérique Mazerolle confirmed to CBC Toronto that the Cherry Street ramp is currently in the design phase. Furthermore, the province is scheduled to take over the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway next fall, following a 2023 deal between Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Tanya Blazina told CBC Toronto that the project remains in the city's hands until fall 2027.

Morrison argued that once the province assumes control, councillors will have limited influence, suggesting that any advocacy would essentially be "writing a letter to the province" to request a faster timeline.

Despite the friction, there is broad agreement on the core issue. CBC Toronto contacted 12 of the 13 candidates in the ward; of the 10 who responded, seven—including Johnson and Erskine-Smith—stated they would advocate for the new ramp to be built quickly. Candidates also noted that congestion and downtown connectivity are primary concerns for the ward, with many suggesting that improved road signals and public transit are necessary additions to the infrastructure plan.