T.T.C. “Insulted” By Fed’s $1.4 Million Security Donation
Posted November 14, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
When it’s money for the T.T.C. and when it involves upgrading security.
The federal government has handed $11 million to the T.T.C., GO Transit and Union Station to pay for security improvements.
While it sounds like a small fortune, the fact that it will all be divided amongst several entities has those behind the Red Rocket steaming.
While GO will take a $5 million split and $4 million will arrive on time at Union Station, the T.T.C. – which is installing cameras on all its buses – will only get $1.4 million. And that has Commissioner Howard Moscoe in a lather.
“One-point-four million dollars [is] like handing a bum a dime and saying go buy a cup of coffee,” he grumbles. “You can’t even buy the Sweet and Low. We put in a legitimate request and our first priority was security cameras.”
Those security cameras in buses and subways will cost $17 million, and the Ottawa gift will barely make a dent in the amount.
Moscoe worries the new money won’t be enough to stop terrorists from striking at one of the most vulnerable targets – public transit.
“We can’t guarantee that there will never be a terrorist attack,” admits Tory MP Gordon Brown, who made the announcement Tuesday. “However, the money that’s going into this is going to help mitigate the potential for that and also if there’s an impact out of that.”
Critics point out the other recipients are also vulnerable targets and they can use the money just as much as the T.T.C.
“There have been targets inside Toronto that have been subjected to reconnaissance by supporters of the Jihad,” warns terror expert John Thompson.
While he acknowledges that cameras can’t stop a bullet or a bomb, they can prevent those devices from being used in the first place.
“Before that attack gets delivered, somebody has to come out and plan it. So if there’s somebody loitering around Union Station, scoping out where the cameras are, then there’s a good chance of catching them.”
More money for safeguards is likely to be announced soon, but Toronto transit brass are skeptical it will be enough to keep them from feeling completely secure about funding.
