TTC likely declared an essential service by spring

TORONTO, Ont. – The McGuinty government is moving to declare the TTC an essential service as early as this spring

Labour Minister Charles Sousa told 680News he is taking the city’s request seriously but it should not be considered a done deal just yet.

“We’re taking this a step at a time, right now my priority is to have discussions with the parties involved, including the unions, city management and the city.”

Sousa says this is a unique situation, “The number of riders dependent upon the TTC, they’re more than the number of people that are in London, Hamilton, Kitchener, Windsor, Sudbury all combined.”

It is possible a bill could be passed by the end of March when the first of three different union contract expires.

However, Sousa says he has not set a deadline for passing a bill and his priority now is to talk to the unions and the city as soon as possible to get their take on the idea.  He adds that this is not something the province can ignore.

“We recognize how vitally important the TTC is to the economy of Toronto and the 100-thousand riders who use it and families that depend on it. We’re taking that into consideration as well a request by the city.  And we want to have ongoing discussions with the unions with respect to it.”

The province estimates the economy takes a $50-million hit each day the TTC is on strike.

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