Author: Stephanie Gomez

The TTC, like transit agencies across Canada, is facing a fiscal cliff as temporary funding runs out, fixed costs increase, and ridership fails to recover to pre-COVID levels. We know that the only way to attract riders back onto transit is by providing reliable, comfortable service. Local 113 has been working with Mayor Chow’s Office to make sure service is protected and expanded, and that service and maintenance are addressed together. You can’t run good service on a broken system.

This budget is a step in the right direction for the TTC. By the end of 2026 service will increase 2% overall. For riders, fare capping means that everyone can get unlimited travel on a Presto card at a fixed price without having to pay up front. For workers, there are hundreds of new positions and hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment.

This budget is a step in the right direction that builds upon previous budgets. However, our application for apprenticeships for general body repairpersons through the Skills Development Fund, controlled by the Ford government, was rejected. We plan to continue to fight for funding for these apprenticeships.

Our job now is to make sure that the TTC invests the money to improve the rider experience. For too long, financial performance has mattered more than service to the public, and investments fail because money was clawed back as efficiencies.

We will continue to make sure that service meets demand, what’s in the schedule is actually put on the street, and that it’s measured and reported accurately to make sure that every rider can travel in comfort, convenience, and reliability.

On maintenance, we will continue working to make sure we have the skills and expertise in-house do deliver on maintenance. Apprentices will need to be hired, job vacancies filled, and paths opened for ATU 113 members to get training to move into better jobs.

We will have further updates regarding the budget and how it impacts us as transit workers.