Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca has asked Metrolinx to review a policy that allows employees and a guest to ride GO Transit for free.
Del Duca told reporters on Wednesday that he understands why many transit agencies allow their employees free use of their service but he said that Metrolinx’s policy of allowing a guest a free ride as well is “unique” and warrants “particular scrutiny.”
Del Duca made the comment after PC MPP and Transportation Critic Michael Harris told CP24 in a written statement that the perk “speaks to a culture of entitlement” at Metrolinx that continues to “grow more costly at every turn.”
“I understand that right across transit agencies, both here in Canada and abroad, that there are circumstances where employees are provided with the opportunity to travel for free,” Del Duca said. “I think there are other aspects of this that deserve review, though, and that (free rides for guests) is one of the aspects that I understand will be reviewed during this process.”
A spokesperson for Metrolinx told CP24 that the policy allowing employees and a guest to ride GO Transit for free has been around since at least 2009 and is written into its collective agreement.
Ann Marie Aikins said the goal of the policy is to encourage employees to take GO Transit to and from work instead of driving and to “occasionally” bring someone with them so that they can then introduce to the system. Marie Aikins, however, noted that employees are not supposed to bring a guest with them every day.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was asked about the policy during a morning press conference but declined comment, noting that it is a "question for Metrolinx."
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