TTC Plan To Award Subway Contract To Bombardier Faces Criticism
Posted August 30, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A looming TTC vote over whether to award Bombardier a contract to build 234 new subway cars is coming under scrutiny over the potential cost to taxpayers.
Mayor David Miller is in support of the $710 million plan, saying it will create hundreds of manufacturing jobs in the province.
But critics including city councillor and fellow mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield are opposed, saying the bid should be put out to tender first.
“Another two to three months just to allow other companies to bid. That’s all it would take, and then we’ll know whether we’re really getting the best deal for Toronto taxpayers,” Pitfield argues.
The councillor, who faces off against Miller in this fall’s municipal elections, contends the city can’t afford not to shop around.
She can’t say for sure whether taxpayers will be ripped off if the proposed deal goes through.
“It’s something we’re never going to know. In fact, you know, it’s only with all the controversy that they’ve now come in and presented us with some new numbers,” she said. “But it’s still adding up in total to about $710 million.”
Five of eight TTC commissioners, including chair Howard Moscoe, are reportedly in favour of the Bombardier proposal and the vote is expected to pass Wednesday afternoon.
But even if it breezes through the transit commission vote it still has to pass in city council. That vote would occur in late September and Pitfield says she’s intends to reject the plan.
