Tory campaign muzzles TTCriders Vote Transit Guide

By Brenda Thompson,

It started out like any other mayoral debate. The 350 seat, ARC lecture hall at U of T Scarborough was packed. TTCriders volunteers arrived early and were handing out our Vote Transit Guide to attendees.

Twenty minutes before start time a UTSC staff person approached us and attempted to confiscate the leaflets, claiming they were biased. We refused to give them up but agreed to stop handing them out. Later we discovered that the claim of non-impartiality had come from John Tory's campaign.

Like most political debates, audience participation was carefully screened. No chance to ask those really pointed transit questions like: "What is your plan to improve bus service to UTSC now?" or "Now that the Scarborough and Malvern LRTs have been dropped, what will you do to bring rapid transit to college and university campuses in Scarborough?

But another disturbing trend was emerging. Mayoral candidates could decide what non-partisan literature was allowed at these public events. TTCriders Vote Transit Guide does not endorse any particular candidate. The rating is based on what we believe is required to make the TTC accessible and affordable for Torontonians. All three candidates fall short, especially in their commitment to improve bus service now and lower fares.

However when confronted after the debate was over, Mr. Tory claimed ignorance and politely requested a copy of the guide. I suspect he hadn't really read it.

Actions speak louder than words.

In September, when we held our transit debate at Ryerson, John Tory cancelled at the last minute. Last night he tried to prevent the public from knowing where mayoral candidates stand on transit. Is this the kind of treatment we can expect from the person most likely to be mayor of Toronto? We deserve a mayor who works with transit riders, not one who tries to muzzle them.

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