Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak unveiled his new transportation plan Sunday afternoon, but the announcement didn’t exactly go off without a hitch
Pledging to build a subway line from Scarborough to Etobicoke, have the province take partial control of the TTC, and to expand GO transit service, Hudak had planned to ride the TTC with media up to mid-town Toronto.
It was there that he had arranged to roll out his party’s transportation plan.
But the PC leader was forced to ditch that plan after TTC officers showed up, explaining that the TV camera-crews accompanying Hudak require permits to film aboard transit vehicles.
The Ontario PC Party later tweeted about the event, accusing the transit enforcement officers, who are reportedly CUPE members, of imposing a “double-standard.”
“Kathleen Wynne allowed to hold a media avail on the TTC, but Tim Hudak not? Union double standard? #onpoli #VoteON.”
“CUPE workers stop Tim Hudak photo op on the TTC. They are only interested themselves, not fixing transit for commuters,” the party said in another tweet.
TTC spokesperson Milly Bernal said the officers were simply enforcing policy, which bars candidates from campaigning in paid TTC areas.
Hudak, who left the subway at Wellesley station, eventually made his announcement on a bridge over the Davisville subway yard.
He said if elected, his government would invest up to $2 billion per year on transit in the GTA.
With files from The Canadian Press
