Tarek ElBaradie | Founder
Tarek ElBaradie is the founder of Ontario Connected, a long-term vision for smarter transit, sustainable housing, and stronger communities.
With a degree in science, Tarek began his career at sea as a petroleum inspector, working with major international shipping and oil companies and gaining extensive global travel experience. In the mid-1990s, he transitioned into a successful professional photography career, building a reputation for creativity, precision, and dedication to detail.
After immigrating to Canada with his family in 2012, Tarek joined the Toronto Transit Commission in 2017 as a bus operator and later became a subway operator in 2021. Working daily on the front lines of Canada’s largest transit system, he has seen firsthand the challenges of congestion, aging infrastructure, and underinvestment.
These experiences — spanning science, industry, the arts, and frontline public service — give Tarek a unique perspective on Ontario’s needs. With Ontario Connected, he brings forward a people-focused vision to address today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s growth, ensuring a stronger, more resilient province for future generations.
About Ontario Connected
Ontario Connected is a bold 50-year blueprint to relieve congestion, expand housing, and cut emissions across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. The plan calls for multi-layer subway tunnels beneath Toronto’s existing lines, new regional subway grids connecting cities like Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Durham, Barrie, and Niagara, and underground hubs that integrate affordable housing, shopping, and community spaces.
Unlike piecemeal fixes or endless highway expansions, Ontario Connected offers a holistic approach: a system designed to match population growth, absorb immigration, protect farmland, and support climate goals. This is not just a transit plan — it is Ontario’s opportunity to build a connected, sustainable future for generations.
