The Statements Clarify TTC Bus Abandonment Issue

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The issue of Mayor Rob Ford calling twice directly to the head of TTC for inquiring about the bus that was going to pick up his football players last Thursday has raised a lot of questions. Especially when later on Tuesday, Toronto Police claimed that the bus was actually acquired by a sergeant, after evaluating the heated situation involving the other school’s coach.

The head of TTC, Andy Byford, stated clearly on Tuesday that he did receive calls in shape of a “garbled” telephone call from Ford, not aware that the police have already asked a bus for the Don Bosco players. Ford than again left a voicemail for Byford inquiring for an update about the bus.

Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner, 23 Division, claimed that “at no time was the mayor involved in any of the decision making in regards to a bus being called.” “There was the concern from both administrations that it could get out of control.” Whereas, the CEO of TTC, Andy Byford, asserted that “I was very clear. I said to him, because I thought he was asking me for a bus, there was no way I was providing a TTC bus.” He claimed “I have asked in future that any matters that can be construed as being personal to the mayor, I would rather he did not call me.”

The spokesperson of Mayor Ford, George Christopoulos, stated that “the mayor did not ask for a bus. He asked about the bus.” “I think the mayor assumed (Byford) knew what he was calling about.” While the chair of TTC, Karen Stintz, claimed that “this was a non-typical request. That being said, we don’t question when the police call transit control.” “There was absolutely no political influence at the TTC for this request.”