

After the brief rally - it was COLD! - we went inside and packed the TTC Commission meeting. It was so full not all of us could get a seat.
Over 20 of us gave a deputation and shared our views on the operating TTC budget and the capital TTC budget.
Deputant, Jessica Marsden, who depends on social assistance while she upgrades her skills, told the TTC Commission she uses the TTC to go to school, volunteer and hand out resumes. If she buys a Metropass and pays her rent, she’s left with only $186 a month to meet her other expenses.
Deputant, Helen Lui of the Ontario Chinese Seniors Association, said that some seniors walk for hours to save $1.85." Helen is a retired hotel worker who lives on $1200 a month.
Brenda Thompson from Scarborough Transit Action said in her deputation that "If we believed in public transit we would reward riders instead of punishing them with fare increases."

TTC riders pay a higher percentage of the TTC’s operating costs than riders in all other North American transit systems. Even with the proposed service improvements - which are great - the government subsidy per ride the TTC receives will jump from about 80 cents to 85 cents. This is a big improvement from what riders got during the Ford era, but the TTC actually received more funding per ride (about 93 cents) under Mayor Miller.
Globe and Mail, City News, MetroNews, Toronto Star, Global News, and more reported on our concerns. Read the stories and please comment.
If you didn't have time to make it down on Monday, there are other easy ways to take action to ensure we keep these good service improvements, and say no to the $93 a year fare hike.
Thank you for everything you to do support transit.