The province’s plan to take over the TTC is not a done deal

This week, the provincial government took another step towards taking over the TTC subway system. But it’s not a done deal! Join TTCriders and our allies at the February 22nd Day of Action to build the momentum we need to stop the subway upload.

On February 12th, 2019 the Province of Ontario and City of Toronto announced that they have signed a Terms of Reference to move forward with discussing the province’s subway upload plan. Meetings about the subway takeover have been taking place behind closed doors. The Province should hold public consultations about the issue and come clean about what the subway upload will really mean for transit riders.

TTCriders is deeply concerned that affordability was not one of the principles of the Terms of References, given the provincial transit agency’s plans to introduce higher fares for rapid transit and longer transit trips.

Read our press release here.

More reactions to the “Terms of Reference”:

The contradictions in the subway "upload" terms of reference are outrageous. Last month the Province said they won't be making their reports public. Provincial & City reps have both signed off on keeping "their talks confidential" while promising "transparency." #TTC https://t.co/JvMNymGCz6
— Kristyn Wong-Tam 黃慧文 (@kristynwongtam) February 12, 2019

The TTC is central to Toronto’s ability to build a liveable city. Where you build transit is where you build housing. How you design the sidewalks & bike lanes to get you to your local transit stop. If you upload the TTC you take away our ability to design & build our city.
— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) February 13, 2019

Ontario transport minister Jeff Yurek tells Metro Morning TTC "status quo isn't working." That's because TTC is chronically underfunded, especially by province. How will "uploading" subway change that? Terms of reference exercise is a sham.
— Christopher Hume (@HumeChristopher) February 13, 2019

1. The Province and the City have reached a terms of reference on how to discuss the possible upload of the subway system. I read it so you don't have to. Here's what I learned.
— GordPerks (@gordperks) February 12, 2019

RE: SUBWAY UPLOAD ... Now is the time to stop Doug Ford from stealing our subway -- the crown jewel and heart of #Toronto. He plans to gift it, and the land, to private developers. Privatization of this asset means developers and politicians are the only ones who profit…
— ATU Canada (@atu_canada) February 13, 2019

Based on the Doug Ford government’s own stated goals, I’m skeptical the “good faith negotiations” with the City of Toronto are much more that enabling Ford’s efforts to takeover the subway and sell off its land & air rights. Let’s not be suckered. It’s not about improving transit
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) February 12, 2019

“What Toronto’s subways need is the provincial investment they’re owed, not a complicated Doug Ford scheme to break subways apart from the TTC.” - Jessica Bell, MPP for University-Rosedale, in the Toronto Star

“Having an efficient and reliable public transit can only come by properly funding the system, not breaking it apart and privatizing it.” - Carlos Santos, President of ATU local 113, in the CBC

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