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1. The Province and the City have reached a terms of reference on how to discuss the possible upload of the subway system. I read it so you don't have to. Here's what I learned.
2. We still don't know what the Province means by uploading the Subway. The Terms of Reference describes all kinds of scenarios and possibilities, but doesn't help us understand what they are really after.
3. The Conservative sloganeering that this will somehow result in more transit faster persists. There is nothing in the ToR that give any substance to those claims. Nothing. Not one word.
4. This whole thing is giving me deja vu. Remember what happened when Rob Ford was Mayor? Transit City was put on hold while staff and consultants were sent off to look for private sector subway solutions. No solutions were found. Nothing was built. Four years disappeared
5. This process will have the same result. We will chase after a new magic bean: uploading for Doug Ford's entire term and we will get no new transit. In fact everything we are trying to do will be slowed down while we "negotiate".
6. The thing that would improve transit: ACTUALLY PAYING FOR IT will not happen. In fact, it is fair to say that the upload is a giant distraction from the fact that the TTC gets less funding from provincial/state level governments than any other North American or European system
7. Finally, the Terms of Reference for the conversation does not meet City Council's requirement to include a meaningful public consultation plan. It merely say the will be consultation. Worse, City staff who participate will not be allowed to tell the public what is going on.
8. That's right the agreement explicitly says City staff who are part of the negotiation will be there in confidence.
9. Council has to turn this down. - end
