How have your mayoral candidates promised to improve transit?
TTCriders sent all City Council candidates a 28-question survey about transit issues. Scroll down to read their responses and pledge to vote on October 24! Your City Councillor makes decisions about how much the TTC costs, how often the bus comes, and more. Add your name to show candidates that transit riders need change - and that you will vote.
NOTE: There are 31 candidates running for mayor. If your candidate does not appear below, it is because they haven't answered the survey yet.
ISSUE: Protecting TTC Service and Fixing the Transit Funding Model
1. If the TTC faces continued budget shortfalls due to slow ridership recovery, will you oppose cuts to transit service, the deferral of capital projects, and increases to fares?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
“I believe Toronto Parking Authority and the funding it generates, to be re-directed to City Planning for the purpose funding and generating intelligent data on the modernization of our public transportation systems.” |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
No |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
No |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | John Tory |
Yes |
No response |
Jack Yan | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée | |
|
2. If the TTC faces continued budget shortfalls due to slow ridership recovery, will you advocate to make up the revenue loss with City of Toronto revenue tools?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
"I want to make TTC free so more people ride it, which would make advertisement spots more valuable." |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
No |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | John Tory |
Yes |
No response |
Jack Yan | Soaad Hossain |
"Government waste will be reduced to support the TTC.” |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée | |
|
3. Will you be a strong champion for Toronto to the provincial and federal governments for their continued investment in TTC operating funding to protect transit service levels?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
"Focused on securing additional relief funding from the provincial and federal governments to address the TTC ridership shortfall." |
Yes |
4. City of Toronto reports reveal that millions of TTC trips annually have shifted onto Uber and Lyft over the past several years. Will you support policies that help move people back onto public transit from private vehicles (personal or ride-hailing)?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
“We need to rebuild public trust in transit by improving the safety and accessibility of platforms before we can convince them to leave private transit.” |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Prioritizing Transit on Our Streets
The TransformTO technical report recommends a bold plan to convert one lane of traffic to exclusive bus lanes on all arterials. The 2020 Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild report recommended that the needs of essential workers must be considered in recovery efforts, noting: “the City can immediately contribute through such measures as increasing and accelerating installation of priority bus lanes thereby improving reliability and reducing commuting time.”
5. Will you move quickly to implement 10 bus and streetcar priority corridors in the next term of Council as per the RapidTO plan?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
6. Will you support other priority measures that will improve TTC service and make RapidTO routes more effective, like queue jump lanes for buses and all-door boarding?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Soaad Hossain | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
“Yes, but not all door boarding, which has eroded revenues on streetcars.” |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
7. Will you support traffic signal priority for buses, streetcars, and rapid transit projects like the Finch West LRT and Eglinton Crosstown LRT?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Maybe |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Doubling TTC Service to Increase Ridership
The Blue Night Network, which last saw major upgrades in 2015, is meant to provide transit service between 2am and 5am accessible within a 15-minute walk of 99% of Toronto residents. Given that riders reported crowding on nighttime routes during the pandemic, that many current riders are shift workers, and that there are some gaps in the nighttime service map (e.g. no North-South service West of Islington, no service on Markham), more frequent night service with broader coverage could increase ridership and support a fair recovery. The TTC does not produce regular public reports about gaps and bunching along individual bus and streetcar routes, which makes it difficult to evaluate whether they are meeting service standards of the Blue Night Network and the 10-minutes-or-better network.
8. Will you expand off-peak and nighttime service to better serve shift workers, women, and low-income riders who depend on transit most?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
“Make an asset map of the nighttime economy and plan better bus routes with workers.” |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
"We can't afford to extend hours on all routes."
|
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes, "where warranted." |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
9. Will you expand the 10-minutes-or-better network to more routes to be within walking distance of every person who lives in Toronto?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Accessible Transit
10. Will you champion more funding from the provincial government to expand Wheel-Trans service and protect door-to-door Wheel-Trans service for those who need it?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée | |
|
11. Will you support funding for platform edge doors in subway stations in the next Council term?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
“I would like to know more about whether this is the best solution to overcrowding before committing to a yes.” |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
No |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes, "prioritized to interchange stations" |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
12. As tokens are replaced by PRESTO single-fare tickets and cards, will you be a champion to Metrolinx and the provincial government to ensure continued access to transit for individuals marginalized by poverty, and drop-in agencies continue to have access?
This includes ensuring access to bulk ordering for drop-ins and community organizations that distribute TTC tickets, expanding locations to buy and reload PRESTO beyond Shoppers Drug Marts (the 3rd party distribution network).
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
“I would give TTC to Metrolinx to make it a free transportation service.” |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée | |
|
ISSUE: Affordable Transit
Toronto City Council approved the Fair Pass transit discount program in 2016, and in February 2022 directed staff to proceed with implementation of the next phase of the Fair Pass program as quickly as possible. But the program is not fully funded and has not been expanded to all low-income earners in Toronto. The Fair Pass discount program is needed, but its $2.10 fares and $123.25 monthly passes are too expensive for people receiving social assistance. The small available discount, means-testing requirements, and the complex application procedure creates barriers to accessing the program: The percentage of eligible Toronto residents using the Fair Pass program is low and declining, with 26% of eligible people using the discount in 2019, 22% in 2020, and 16% in 2021 (though some decline is attributable to the pandemic).
13. Will you immediately fund the 3rd phase of the Fair Pass low income transit discount program in the 2023 municipal budget?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
"After absorbing Toronto Parking Authority into City Planning, I will use parking fees and Tory's City Building Fund to reassess all transit fare levels." |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
“Yes, but fare reductions need to be tied to increased ridership and resolution of crowding issues (fleet growth).” |
“I am going to make TTC a free transportation service.” |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
“My plan is to immediately cut monthly passes by 90% for all Torontonians.” |
D!ONNE Renée |
|
|
14. Will you begin implementing fare free public transit, starting with people who receive social assistance, high school students, and on extreme weather alert days?
In January 2022, staff told Councillors that while the Fair Pass program "is important and helpful, it's still very high for low income folks to be able to access," and reported that staff are considering creating a 4th phase that would deepen the discount.
Expanding free TTC to high school students can create transit users for life and reduce the fare policing youth experience. A Kingston, Ontario program to provide free transit passes to high school students, along with an on-bus orientation session to teach students how to ride the bus, has increased overall transit ridership by 73% since 2012.
Some drop-ins have TTC tokens or tickets available on extreme weather alert days, but these are of little use to individuals who are trying to make their way to a shelter or drop-in.
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
No |
"The Ontario Government made TTC essential service so they will pay for the bill for the service.” |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
"On extreme weather days, yes." |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée |
|
|
15. The TTC Board has approved fare capping in principle. Will you support funding for fare capping?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
No |
No response |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
16. Will you champion provincial funding for fair fare integration so that all riders travelling within Toronto pay a single flat fare between TTC, GO, and Union Pearson Express and enjoy a free transfer across municipal boundaries?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
“I want to make the TTC free... GO and Union Pearson Express [can] decide if they want to make their services free as well.” |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
No |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
17. Will you oppose fare-by-distance within Toronto or other integration models that would deepen inequality?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Scarborough RT Closure
18. Will you support bus-only lanes northbound on Kennedy and southbound on Midland to accommodate the 70 additional buses per hour that will travel on these routes during peak periods to replace the RT service when it closes?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
"Might be difficult to accommodate right turns." |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
"Modifying the RT is a waste of taxpayer money." |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
No response |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
19. Will you support transforming the decommissioned RT rail corridor into a bus-only corridor when the Scarborough RT closes in 2023?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
"Yes, and depending how annual funding goes, maybe explore quick initiation of LRT project" |
"I support rapid transit corridors, if this is the best option then I would absolutely support it." |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
No response |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Safety and Dignity for All Riders
20. Will you work with us to improve winter and pedestrian safety at bus, streetcar, and Wheel-Trans stops?
This involves snow and ice clearing to ensure all riders can safely board their bus or streetcar during the winter, expanding signalized mid-block crossings, and improving amenities at stops.
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée |
|
|
21. Will you work with us to advance our vision for transit safety that does not expand policing?
This involves developing a strategy to end racism and gender-based violence and harassment on transit, advocating to end fare enforcement and redirecting resources into supportive staff roles, and more.
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
"Significant technology investment will be made to improve security." |
D!ONNE Renée |
|
|
22. Will you work with us to improve riders’ everyday experience navigating the TTC?
This involves more supportive staff in subway stations, wifi on all vehicles, improving subway shutdown plans (wayfinding and communication with riders, road priority for shuttle buses), and introducing an accessible wayfinding standard (using graphics, Braille, visual and audio announcements, and translating construction and emergency notices into languages other than English).
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
D!ONNE Renée |
|
|
ISSUE: Expanding Public Transit
23. Will you champion the expansion of Scarborough’s rapid transit network, including the Eglinton East LRT from Kennedy Station to Malvern, connecting to Sheppard East and McCowan?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
Yes |
Yes |
24. Will you champion funding for the Waterfront LRT and its westward expansion into South Etobicoke?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
"Depends on the budget." |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
ISSUE: Keeping Transit Public
25. Will you support strong Community Benefits Agreements for new rapid transit projects in Toronto?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
"Metrolinx will look after the bill as they are doing it now." |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
26. Will you support rapid public transit expansion that is publicly owned, operated and maintained?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
No |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
"TTC is paying for [Metrolinx] screw ups we have no control over." |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
27. Will you be a strong voice to Metrolinx and the provincial government to stand up for the interests of TTC users and Toronto residents?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
Yes |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
Yes |
28. Will you oppose contracting out TTC jobs and services?
Chloe-Marie Brown | Sarah Climenhaga |
Yes |
Yes |
Phillip D’Cruze | Isabella Gamk |
Yes |
Yes |
Robert Hatton | John Letonja |
Yes |
"Yes, but if there are no workers other means are necessary." |
Ferin Malek | Gil Penalosa |
No response |
Yes |
Stephen Punwasi | Soaad Hossain |
Yes |
Yes |
John Tory | Jack Yan |
No response |
“Service may be disrupted without additional contractors. Ideally trained TTC employees would ensure service standards.” |