To the Premier and Members of Provincial Parliament,
Premier Doug Ford’s plan to take over control of local public transit is another massive overreach by his government. While improved fare integration is welcome, it must be introduced responsibly so that transit agencies can continue to deliver on local priorities.
Bill 98 overrides local transit authorities in setting fare prices, defining fare categories, types, and eligibility requirements, prescribing revenue sharing, and establishing transfer policies.
This threatens Toronto’s ability to follow through on our critical 10-year capital investment plan, and could undermine our own affordability initiatives, including fare-capping.
If your government is serious about delivering improving service standards and affordability for public transit, you must commit that:
- Toronto will be able to continue setting fare rates and service levels that meet local needs;
- Toronto’s transit users will continue to have local accountability that our tax dollars are being spent on a TTC that works for us;
- any profit-sharing agreements with other transit agencies will not impact the TTC’s ability to follow through on its 10-year capital investment plan; and
- the province will restore the 50/50 operational cost-sharing partnership, which was axed under the Harris government.