(Toronto, ON) – Transit advocacy organization TTCriders has complained to Toronto’s Integrity Commissioner about a potential real or apparent conflict of interest related to Julie Osborne, an appointed member of the Toronto Transit Commission.
“The TTC Board recently voted down a proposal to get more details about a contract and cost estimate provided by Rogers regarding keeping free wi-fi in subway stations. Julie Osborne, one of the TTC Board members who voted against asking Rogers for information, worked at Rogers in senior roles for 13 years, including lobbying work at the federal level,” said TTCriders director Shelagh Pizey-Allen.
“City of Toronto rules say that TTC Board members should not vote on issues where they have a real or perceived conflict of interest. That’s why we have asked the Integrity Commissioner to investigate,” Pizey-Allen said. “Appointed members of the TTC Board are not elected or subject to the same level of public scrutiny as City Councillors, but they make decisions that impact hundreds of thousands of transit riders.”
“Wi-fi at TTC stations is an accessibility and safety issue. When there is an emergency or a subway shutdown, transit riders need wi-fi to send a message or get directions especially low-income riders who cannot afford expensive cell phone plans,” said Toronto law student Ben Elhav, who started a petition to the TTC Board to keep free wi-fi in subway stations.
BACKGROUND:
Appointed TTC Board member Julie Osborne has a 13-year employment history in senior roles with Rogers:
- Julie Osborne was employed by Rogers Communications for 7 years as Publisher (2007-2014) and for 2 years as Vice President Business Development (2012-2014).
- She was also employed by Rogers Media for 6 years as Vice President, TV Affiliate Marketing and Sales (2001-2007).
- Between 2012-2014, Julie Osborne was listed on the federal lobbying registry as one the senior officers and employees of Rogers Communications Inc. “whose lobbying activities represent 20% or more of their duties.”
Toronto’s Integrity Commissioner oversees the conduct of elected and most appointed officials, including those appointed to the TTC Board:
- Rule 8 of Toronto’s Code of Conduct for Members of Local Boards stipulates that members must not “be involved in their capacity as a member in any activity where they have a real or apparent conflict of interest.”
A recent vote at the TTC Board about the details of a cost estimate and contract with Rogers may constitute a real or apparent conflict of interest:
- On September 24, 2024, the TTC Board debated the issue of whether to continue providing free public wi-fi in TTC subway stations.
- According to a TTC briefing note that has not been published publicly, Rogers informed the TTC that it would cost $17 million to upgrade the free wi-fi infrastructure, but did not provide a detailed cost breakdown.
- Councillor Josh Matlow and TTC Chair Jamaal Myers introduced a motion that asked TTC staff to provide a cost breakdown of the $17 million supposedly required to upgrade the existing wi-fi service and to report on any contract requirements for Rogers to provide wi-fi services for internal use.
- As reported by journalist Matt Elliott, Councillor Matlow stated in the meeting that “Rogers claims that it’s $17 million, but there’s no evidence to support that. There’s no justification. Part of my motion asks for us to understand why that number is there. I’ve personally heard from industry experts who reached out to me saying that number is wild.”
- In the September 24, 2024 TTC Board meeting, staff stated they had not negotiated with Rogers about the purported cost or which party would be responsible for paying for infrastructure upgrades.
- The TTC Board voted 5-4 against the proposed recommendation to ask the interim TTC CEO to report back in December 2024 on any contractual obligations from Rogers and a cost breakdown of the purported $17 million cost of continuing to provide free public wi-fi. Julie Osborne was one of the deciding votes against requesting such reporting.
In 2023, the TTC extended a contract with Rogers for 10 years without a public report or vote at the TTC Board:
- Rogers purchased BAI Canada in 2023, acquiring exclusive rights to expand cellular service throughout the TTC subway network.
- Soon after, the TTC announced that Rogers had been granted a 10 year extension to the cell service expansion contract, without the transit authority opening up the bid to alternative providers, holding a public vote at the TTC Board, or writing a public staff report.