FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights

At yesterday’s Board meeting, I announced that I will be resigning as CEO, effective August 30. You can read my full announcement at workzone.ttc.ca.

This has been an incredibly hard decision. Being CEO of the TTC has been the most rewarding experience of my career. I want to say thank you to everyone, from the bottom of my heart. You make me proud every day.

I’ve always been amazed by the above-and-beyond efforts of TTC employees. Take Streetcar Operator Monique Blake, for example. I shared her story with Board members at yesterday’s meeting. On June 1, Monique was operating on the 510 Spadina route. After pulling into Spadina Station, she noticed a customer who appeared to be in distress. Monique became quite concerned that her customer needed attention and immediately notified Transit Control.

Monique comforted the woman and strongly encouraged her to seek additional help. The customer followed through and discovered that she had a brain tumour. If Monique had not intervened, her customer would not have had the tumour diagnosed and treated. Monique truly is a lifesaver! She exemplifies of the kind of care and compassion our frontline employees show every single day.

Another highlight of the meeting was the approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with ATU Local 113, which will be effective retroactive to April 1, 2024. The contract is for a three-year term, effective April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027. We are pleased to have reached a fair settlement that recognizes the hard work and important contributions of this group of employees, while taking into account the fiscal environment of the City of Toronto.

Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on June 20.

National Indigenous Peoples Day
​For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on June 21 or around that time of year because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year. It is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about Indigenous Peoples across Canada. To honour the day, TTC employees and guests led a sunrise ceremony this morning at Lakeshore Division as a way to celebrate and learn about Indigenous culture and ceremony.

Streetcars return to St Clair this Sunday
​Starting this Sunday, 512 St Clair streetcars will resume service between St Clair Station and Gunns Loop, weeks ahead of schedule. Streetcar service returns along St. Clair Avenue following major infrastructure upgrades, including the modernization of overhead power along the streetcar right-of-way.

512 St Clair streetcars are scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes or better in all time periods. In addition, a new 312 St Clair night streetcar service will be introduced between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. It will operate from St Clair Station to Gunns Loop every 30 minutes.

Family Day and Bus Roadeo
​This Sunday, everyone is invited to Family Day festivities and Bus Roadeo Grand Championship! Come and enjoy the fun, food and games for all ages taking place at Arrow Road Garage starting at 10 a.m.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​June 21, 2024
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​TTC Board Highlights
​TTC Board Meeting June 20, 2024

TTC Board commends streetcar Operator for saving customer’s life
​Board members applauded streetcar Operator Monique Blake for her outstanding act of care and kindness for one of her customers. Blake was operating on the 510 Spadina route on June 1 when she noticed a customer who appeared to be in distress. If Blake had not intervened to get her customer, Michelle-Marie Beer, would not have had her brain tumour diagnosed and treated. Blake was commended as an example of the care and compassion frontline employees show every single day.

TTC CEO Rick Leary announces resignation
​The TTC Board formally accepted TTC CEO Rick Leary’s resignation, effective August 30, 2024. “This has been an incredibly hard decision as being CEO of the TTC has been the most rewarding experience of my career,” said Leary.

Board approves TTC’s Anti-Racism Strategy
​Board members approved the TTC’s first Anti-Racism Strategy for adoption across the TTC. The Strategy represents a significant step toward ensuring racial equity and eradicating systemic racism as elevated priorities that will be recognized system-wide. Commissioners also approved the following recommendations, as amended:

• Refer the Anti-Racism Policy (Attachment 2) to the Human Resources Committee for review.

• Request staff to report annually on the progress of the Anti-Racism Strategy.

• Request staff to forward the Strategy to the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, Indigenous Affairs Office and the Ombudsman Toronto.

• Request staff to forward all progress reports to members of City Council.

The Strategy (and Policy) have been designed to work together in supporting the TTC to transform the organization into one that is free from systemic racism and racial discrimination. The Strategy, as the foundation of the TTC’s anti-racism approach, represents years of efforts toward taking practical action to create employee and customer experiences that are free from racial discrimination. It is a step toward asking employees and customers to trust the TTC to prioritize their safety, health and well-being by taking an intentional path to eliminating systemic racism.

The Strategy (and Policy) further align the TTC with the recommendations and actions of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit’s Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism and the direction of the City of Toronto’s Reconciliation Action Plan to build a reconciliation pathway and prioritize respectful relationship-building with Indigenous communities in Toronto.

The Strategy’s implementation will be guided by five principles:

1. Recognizing that everyone deserves to live free of systemic racism and racial discrimination.

2. Working together respectfully and collaborating to achieve collective impact.

3. Respect for the learning and growth journeys of everyone in the TTC community.

4. Honouring lived experiences and responding to the inherently intersectional nature of racism and racial discrimination.

5. Sharing knowledge to advance the shared goal of eradicating racism and racial discrimination.

Financial and Major Projects Update for the Period Ended April 27, 2024
​Following a TTC staff presentation highlighting the urgent need for Federal funding for the Line 2 subway train procurement, Commissioners received a status update of the TTC’s major capital projects for the period ended April 27, 2024, with the following recommendations:

• Approve the 2023 Capital Budget in-year budget adjustments to offset projects that have had accelerated spending by $54.5 million with projects that have experienced delays and lower spending by $54.5 million with no debt impact.

• Authorize the recommended budget adjustments noted above, and in TTC’s 2023-2033 Capital Budget and Plan, be included in the TTC’s Capital Variance Report submission for the four months ended April 30, 2024 for City Council consideration and approval.

The Board also passed a motion requesting the TTC develop a media campaign recommending TTC customers contact their MP to advocate for funding for Line 2 trains if Federal funding for the project is not announced by September 24, 2024.

TTC staff is scheduled to report to the Board in September with an update on the Line 2 Modernization Plan and recommended steps. In the meantime, staff will continue discussions with the Federal Government for funding opportunities through the Permanent Transit Fund. Ideally, the TTC will be in a position to launch the Request for Proposal this fall. A final decision is required no later than Q1 2025 to procure new subway trains or proceed with a Life Extension Overhaul.

TTC and ATU Local 113 – Collective Agreement Ratification
​Commissioners received an action report adopting the recommendations as set out in a Confidential Attachment, and authorized that the information set out in the Confidential Attachment be released upon the ratification of the tentative agreement by both the TTC and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.

Procurement Authorization – Bus Hoist Replacement in Bus Repair Area
​Board members approved the award of a contract worth $12,622,100, inclusive of HST, on the basis of the lowest total compliant bid price to Maystar General Contractors Inc. for the replacement of the existing 11 standard, two-post bus hoists with new in-ground cylinder post-type bus hoists at Wilson Garage. The replacement of the existing bus hoists with new equipment, as part of state-of-good-repair maintenance, will ensure the availability of reliable, efficient and the most up-to-date bus hoisting equipment for the garage.

Extension of Drug and Alcohol Testing Contract
​Board members approved a contract amendment to Driver Check Inc. to increase the contract amount from $6,210,000 to $7,909,000, inclusive of HST, with Driver Check Inc. to cover projected costs to March 18, 2025 for the provision of lab, sample collection, and third-party administration services for the TTC’s Fitness for Duty Program.

Commissioners also approved an amendment to exercise a contract extension option from March 18, 2025 to March 18, 2026, and increase the contract amount with Driver Check Inc. from $7,909,000 to $11,059,300, inclusive of HST, to cover projected costs during this option year; and delegate authority to the CEO to execute the final optional extension year from March 18, 2026 to March 18, 2027, and increase the contract amount with Driver Check Inc. from $11,059,300 to $14,526,300, inclusive of HST, to cover projected costs during the final option year.

TTC Pension Plan
​Commissioners received the TTC Pension Plan Annual Report for information and endorsed the TTC Pension Fund Society Board of Directors approved changes to the TTCPP Bylaws as follows:

• To update the base year period used to calculate retiring TTC employees’ pension to include 2023 and to provide a 4.77% increase to former members currently in receipt of a pension.

• To update Bylaw 5.03(1) and 5.03(2) – Previous Service Credit, to permit rehired deferred members to resume immediate membership in the Plan upon rehire.

The amendments will be brought forward for membership approval at the next TTCPP Annual General Meeting on June 22.

Next meeting of the TTC Board
​The next regular scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, July 17.

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