$480 compared to $768…not bad…
That was my first thought when I was told about the Toronto Transit Commission’s proposal to replace the VIP Metropasses with a new University Pass, or U-Pass. For me, it was a good deal as I rely on TTC almost everyday, and seeing that it would save me about $30 to $40 each month, I was all for it.
This was when I decided to go to the U-Pass town hall meeting to see what the TTC has to offer the students of Toronto. At this meeting, Mayor David Miller, TTC Chair Adam Giambrone, and two other TTC/City Officials made their presentation, and to be honest, I was impress by the research and surveys they’ve done.
The problem was this: no opt-out options.
This clearly bothered some people at the meeting. Questions started to be asked, questions such as: “Why would I need to spend money on something I don’t need as I live on/near campus?” or “I’m a student who simply cannot afford to spend an extra $60 a month, why should I be forced to buy it?”
A typical BS response was given: “We want you to have one of these passes, so it will become your passport to Toronto. I guarantee that you will use it.”
Clearly, they did not answer the question or the concerns of the students as well as the question of student debt and student poverty. This shows the hypocrisy of the New Democratic Party and its members on City Council (Mayor Miller was a former high profile NDPer and TTC Chair Giambrone was the former federal NDP president), they may believe that they speak for the people and they might believe that they’re here to improve the lives of all Torontonians, but all they’ve done is nothing while wasting thousands of tax dollars that the residents of Toronto have worked for on themselves and on “things for their offices” (aka an expensive camera, which could have been bought at a cheaper price…although recently, City Council has been doing its part to spend less tax dollars ([1])….not that well though ([2]).) and not directing that money to help those who need it.
Anyways, I’m all for the U-Pass, but without a opt-out option, I don’t know if the rest of the student population will support it in a referendum, especially if the questions of student debt and student poverty arise.
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