The great sucking sound at the TTC

Per reports, the TTC and its largest union are at the bargaining table somewhere in the GTA. The union is claiming that they've been short-changed over the last few years. Union chief Bob Kinnear is obviously holding to the theory that if you are going to lie, you might as well lie big.

The truth is that since 2000, wage and benefit increases above the rate of inflation have consumed every penny of the increased subsidies various governments have made to the TTC. Of the $188 million in cost increase from 2000 to 2004, only $68 million can be accounted for by normal inflation and ridership change. This means that the $120 extra increase has completely consumed the $106.5 million increase in operating subsidies.


Cost control at the TTC - Sort of!

Based on what Howard Moscoe and minions have already promised the union (and been turned down) the next three or four years will see the union wolf down all of the gas tax money that will be flowing from senior levels of government.

The only train being funded by these subsidies is the union gravy train - which is certainly cannot be considered light-rail. Snarf, gobble, grunt - can you hear the great sucking sound?