The Toronto Transit Commission or TTC has seen more than its share of controversy with employees sleeping on the job, to alarming rates of pedestrian injuries. During it all, TTC wages have continued to skyrocket as the TTC has cried about operating budget deficits. Taking a closer look, it appears that the TTC’s troubles have less to do with funding and more to do with, at best, poor use of funds and perhaps, even inappropriate use of funds.
The TTC Mandate
According to TTC’s website, www.TTC.ca, the TTC’s Mandate is to serve “the people of Toronto by ensuring your transit system is reliable, safe, and prepared for the future.”
Budget Deficit
In September of 2016, the TTC was projecting a $172 million operating deficit, citing reduced ridership as a factor.
Use of Funds
In November of 2016, it was reported that TTC was opening an online store to sell TTC branded merchandise. No, really, I’m serious…check out TTCshop.ca. This brilliant initiative (I’d like to know who’s brain child it was), required several people to work on the project (project manager, website architect, website programmer, graphic artist, procurer, online marketing co-ordinating, webmaster, etc.) all, no doubt paid at full salary and probably as unionized employees.
Squandering of Tax Dollars
This is a strong example of the political and bureaucratic squandering of tax-payer dollars. The TTC does not have the mandate to open merchandise stores, online or otherwise. Yet, it has taken much energy, time and money to open an online store. It has done this, during a time that it continues to increase the already high employee wages, deals with poor service, is facing a serious operating deficit and dropping ridership.
Who Is Responsible?
Just who signed off on the TTC online store initiative? Who was hired to run the project, and what is that person’s relationship to the person that signed off on the project (or anyone at the TTC)?
At a time that John Tory and Kathleen Wynne are busy wasting billions of tax-payer dollars and racing towards record breaking deficit’s, we the taxpayers need to start holding those responsible accountable. Share your observations of waste of tax-payer dollars.