Bill 98: Who Will Control the TTC?

Advocacy organizations TTC Riders and Progress Toronto have launched a letter writing campaign encouraging residents to ask the provincial government to reconsider including transit provisions in Bill 98.

Bill 98 has already drawn concern from environmental groups. The provincial government, lead by Premier Doug Ford, claims the goal of the bill is to build housing faster. The bill also includes a number of vague changes around municipal transit.

There is concern Bill 98 could make changes to the TTC that include loss of the transit authority’s ability to control fare prices, discounts, categories and programs such as the low-income pass program. Additionally the municipality may no longer have control over TTC service such as frequency among others. For a full list of concerns visit TTC Riders site.

The bill may also mean municipalities could lose revenue generating opportunities through transit. The provincial government has already impacted the ability through the banning of speed camera’s.

In their first term the Ford government tried but failed to upload Toronto’s subway to the province.