Toronto appointed a traffic czar to fix the worst traffic congestion in North America. Montreal and Vancouver are close behind. Automotive journalist Lorraine Sommerfeld questions whether this is real change or political theater—and why Doug Ford’s control over Toronto’s municipal decisions keeps blocking progress.

Shane and Lorraine dig into why Canadian cities are gridlocked, why cities were never designed for through-traffic, and why we keep asking the same questions while expecting different answers. They discuss the real cost of congestion (tens of billions annually), why pickup trucks are now cheaper than mid-sized SUVs, and why car manufacturers keep forcing expensive, tech-heavy vehicles on buyers who just want basic transportation.

Discover why the entire relationship with transportation needs to change, why hanging onto your 7-8 year old car is the smartest move right now, and why 2026 might finally shift the conversation toward smaller, cleaner, more affordable vehicles.

KEY TOPICS:

• Toronto traffic czar appointment and effectiveness
• Canada’s worst traffic congestion cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver)
• Doug Ford’s municipal control over Toronto transportation decisions
• Why new cars cost $60,000+ and are over-engineered
• Electric vehicles vs hybrids for Canadian climate

GUEST: Lorraine Sommerfeld, Automotive Journalist | http://driving.ca

Originally aired on2026-01-07