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15 Comments

news

Strike Still Looming, Housing Not Booming, Bell Web Users Not Zooming

By Patrick Metzger

2008_04_18_DRINKS.jpg
Latest transit update from the Torontoist Action News Team Live Info Centre, Your Only Source For All TTC Strike News: if you’re a regular TTC rider, GO Transit doesn’t want you. A spokesperson for GO has advised that that they’re already operating at capacity with their regular passenger load, and don’t plan to run any additional buses or trains in the event of a TTC strike.
Speaking from Chongqing, China, Mayor David Miller said between mouthfuls of Peking duck that the city couldn’t afford to be too generous to TTC workers. Miller will be back in Toronto on Sunday afternoon, but doesn’t plan to participate in talks if they’re still going on at that point. Shame he wasn’t here to intervene earlier, but really, nobody could have seen this coming.
The great Canadian housing boom has been declared officially over, as new numbers show prices plateauing and sales dropping across the country. Probably not a good time to take out a second mortgage for beer money.
A Canadian court has quashed the so-called “two beer defence,” which allowed individuals charged with drinking and driving to dispute police breathalyzer evidence by bringing in their own experts to testify. Which is okay, because it’s a lot easier to keep a breathalyzer in your glove compartment than a toxicologist.
Bell Canada is asking the CRTC to dismiss a complaint that would deny the giant telco the right to “throttle” web traffic on its networks, potentially slowing down competitors who use those networks for web access. The action is extremely controversial, due to the unpopularity of being throttled.
Photo by Danielle Scott from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Comments

  • Ben

    I could go for two beers right about now.

  • Svend

    If they’re still talking, then nobody including politicians or the media should intervene in the process.
    I hope they settle, but if not I’d like riders to consider cycling or walking to work.
    If it’s too far, take the day off.

  • rek

    If they strike, I say let them strike for the rest of the summer.

  • David E

    It’s hard to believe that any fleet operator–GO Transit–is operating at full capacity.
    No fleet management system could allow that since there is always the scheduled maintenance of vehicles and the vehicles in for unscheduled repairs.
    Usually 15 to 20 percent of a fleet’s vehicles are not in service but about half of them could be made available.
    If GO is that strapped for rolling stock, I pity the commuters forced to using it.

  • Mark Ostler

    GO is in the process of expanding, as their ridership is growing steadily. If I remember correctly, they’re adding two extra cars to some of their trains and expanding platforms to accomodate them.

  • StephA

    Svend, what happens when all four people at your work takes the TTC – from quite far away – and is unable to bike or walk? If we all took the day off, the place wouldn’t be open! (Not gonna happen.)

  • Lauriemc

    I’m all for the increase of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, but for some it really isn’t an option. At approximately 300 square miles Toronto is some serious ground to cover. I wonder how many people are physically capabale of making that type of journey?
    And if we could all stay home that would be fantastic, but many Torontonians don’t share the same job security as some if the posters here apparently. I know I don’t.

  • Marc Lostracco

    When worrying about the public’s perception, the TTC union has to remember that regular people get fired when they don’t show up for work. And that many need the TTC to get to work in the first place.

  • Doggiez

    Now, here is what’s going to happen if the so-called TTC “special officers” are allowed to use tazers. Let the lawsuits fly!
    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/15/bc-transit-police-taser.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a3:g18:r1:c0

  • Green Sulfur

    Who are “regular people”? A transit operator is a regular person. Many Torontonians enjoy a unionized workplace. Sure there is a large portion that doesn’t but it isn’t like TTC employees are in some extraordinary minority.

  • triplexpac

    I’m going to start my own scab subway line, that’ll show them

  • Doggiez

    Triplepax: If you need a hand with your subway, count me in! There should at least be an alternative private bus system in Toronto.

  • Ben

    TripleXPac and Doggiez may be on to something. Wasn’t part of the Moscow subway built by volunteers?

  • Patrick Metzger

    Best bet is to lease the existing tunnels and tracks. Just have to make sure the agreement incorporates a “no-throttling” clause so all trains would have equal priority.

  • Svend

    Best yet, save valuable time and don’t live so far from work.
    Who’s gonna be camping out in the company parking lot on Sunday night?