The Liberal victor in Monday night’s federal election in the Eglinton-Lawrence riding, reaffirmed his commitment to public transit in the constituency.

In a tight race with the Conservative Joe Oliver, on Oct.19, Marco Mendicino came out the winner, accumulating nearly 50 per cent of the riding’s votes, according to the CBC’s Canada Votes website. Oliver garnered just over 41 per cent, while the NDP candidate Andrew Thomson attracted just over six per cent.

At about 11:40 p.m., following his victory, Mendicino arrived at the Seoul House Restaurant, on Dufferin Street, to celebrate his victory. He indicated that his priority remains to be transit.

“We will do what we can to shorten people’s commute,” he said.

The comment was welcome in a neighbourhood where heavy traffic congestion, overcrowded buses and the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Express pose commuter challenges. One Mendicino supporter, Jeff Wood, applauded his candidate’s policy.

“Marco wants to make sure that the city works and with the growing population, we need to have the infrastructure,” Wood said. “I am very happy with him and I am looking forwardto seeing what he can do.”

Mendicino said the issue represents one of his main priorities. He acknowledged that Eglinton-Lawrence suffers from a traffic pressure by Highway 401 and commuters on Allen Road. Marcel Wieder is president of Aurora Strategy Group Inc. and also worked on Mendicino’s campaign.

“Marco is committed, as Liberals are, to invest on infrastructure,” Wieder said. “That will help our city to grow and prosper. The party will invest $60 billion on infrastructure in the province … which allows for better development of the transit solutions that this community needs today and over the next number of years.”