Ontario Premier Doug Ford and several senior cabinet ministers are remaining silent on whether the provincial government will legislate to end a potential Toronto transit strike as politicians hope the two sides can negotiate a solution.
Toronto Transit Corporation (TTC) workers, including bus and subway drivers, are set to walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Friday if the two sides fail to reach an agreement. If a strike breaks out, the city's bus network will come to a standstill before workers begin their morning commute.
While Ford suggested the transit strike would cost the city and province “billions of dollars,” he stopped short of committing to provincial action to end the labour and economic disruption that would ensue.
“They should negotiate in good faith … We should avoid this at all costs,” Ford told reporters before a cabinet meeting at Queen's Park.
Asked whether the government would propose legislation to end the strike, Ford said that was “hypothetical” and opted to wait until negotiations were concluded.
While the transport minister did not propose any specific steps on how the province should handle the strike, the province's labour minister said the ministry has expressed its support.
“It is important to respect the collective bargaining process, and we urge both parties to reach an agreement. There is still time,” said Labor Secretary David Piccini.
“My department and I have assigned a mediator to the case who is available 24/7. We really hope they can come to an agreement.”
Government House leader Paul Calandra also remained silent.
“The city of Toronto is negotiating and I'm hopeful they'll be able to come to an agreement,” he said.
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“Like all of you, I'm listening to the TTC chairman. He seems very optimistic that they can get a deal, so, unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to take his advice.”
Parties sidestep questions about possible strike
Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria also did not address the possibility of a strike on Tuesday. When asked if he would mobilize Metrolinx to help ease disruptions caused by the strike, the minister said only that he hoped a deal could be reached.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Tuesday she would not support back-to-work legislation, and she was evasive when asked if she would help the government fast-track any laws that could break the strike.
“They could easily pass legislation in a matter of days,” she said. “But look, there’s no need to strike. I happen to know, and believe me, I’ve been on both sides of the table, and neither side wants to strike.”
Mike Schreiner, leader of the Ontario Green Party, would not say whether he would support any back-to-work bill proposed by the government.
“I think what we need to do first is avoid a strike,” he said. “No one wants the TTC to shut down.”
Ford 'disappointed' TTC no longer providing essential service
TTC workers were able to strike because two Ontario courts overturned a law that previously designated the TTC an essential service and prevented them from striking.
In May, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the provincial government's appeal of a lower court ruling that classifying TTC employees as essential workers was unconstitutional. Workers classified as essential workers are not allowed to strike.
Last year, a High Court judge ruled that the law interfered with workers’ collective bargaining rights, and the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in a split decision.
Premier Ford also said he was “disappointed” that the courts had struck down a law introduced by the previous Liberal government in 2011 that designated the TTC an essential service.
“I am disappointed that the court overturned this decision,” Ford said.
“It's going to cost the provincial government billions of dollars, it's going to cost the city billions of dollars. I love our TTC drivers and everyone who works on the TTC, but this is an essential service and it could have a serious economic impact.”
Ford said that when he was a councillor at Toronto City Hall — and when his brother Rob was mayor — he voted in favor of stripping TTC drivers of their right to strike.
If the Amalgamated Transit Union and the TTC can't reach an agreement, a strike could begin as early as Friday morning.
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