We asked candidates 18 questions on autonomy & funding, affordability, service & reliability, accessibility, and safety. See their responses on the tabs below.
Will candidates fight to keep the TTC under Toronto's control and work to secure more transit funding?
Local decisions should remain at the local level.
In recent years, the provincial government has increasingly intervened in decisions that are usually made at the municipal level. This includes legislation requiring the removal of bike lanes on major Toronto streets, and eliminating municipalities' ability to use speed cameras. Now, Bill 98 gives the province greater power to intervene in how local transit systems operate, including decisions around fares and service.
TTCriders firmly believes that the TTC must remain a publicly owned and municipally governed transit system that is accountable to the riders who use it. We oppose the privatization of TTC services and do not believe that Metrolinx or the Ontario government should have a say in how our local transit system operates.
Over the next four years, Toronto City Council must be prepared to stand up to make sure local decision-making remains local. Here's what we asked candidates:
1. Ontario's Bill 98 gives the Province the authority to make regulations affecting how the TTC is governed. Do you commit to fighting to keep transit decision-making at the local level so that the City of Toronto and the TTC Board retain final authority over fare policy, service planning, and transit operations?
| Paul Ainslie (Incumbent) |
Yes |
| Robert Bazil |
No Response |
| Jithender Mulamalla |
Yes |
| Nachi Ramasamy |
Yes |
| Arun Sivanandan |
No Response |
2. Will you advocate for sustainable TTC operating funding from the provincial and federal governments to prevent service cuts and reliance on fare increases to run the system?
| Paul Ainslie (Incumbent) |
Yes |
| Robert Bazil |
No Response |
| Jithender Mulamalla |
Yes |
| Nachi Ramasamy |
Yes |
| Arun Sivanandan |
No Response |
3. Will you advocate for increased federal and provincial capital funding for the TTC to expand the rapid transit network, address the growing state of good repair backlog, install platform edge doors, and eliminate slow zones on the subway system?
| Paul Ainslie (Incumbent) |
Yes |
| Robert Bazil |
No Response |
| Jithender Mulamalla |
Yes |
| Nachi Ramasamy |
Yes |
| Arun Sivanandan |
No Response |
Some candidates offered extra comments about their position on TTC autonomy and funding:
"People need a greater understanding of the fact it is very difficult to fund municipal transit with property taxes......we need more regular funding from the Provincial government...and we get next to nothing from the Federal government."
"I would also advocate for increased and sustainable funding for the TTC, because reliable public transit is essential for students and the wider community. Better funding can help support reliable service, improve accessibility and safety, maintain infrastructure, and create more employment opportunities within the TTC and related transit services. I would also advocate for the provincial and federal governments to work with the City of Toronto to provide the long-term funding necessary to support the TTC. At the same time, I would support keeping local decision-making and accountability at the local level, so that the needs of Toronto residents and students remain central to how transit priorities are established."
