The union representing transit workers on the TTC is raising alarm bells about the Ford government’s plans to expand fare integration — claiming it could see Toronto residents subsidize fares in neighbouring jurisdictions.

The province announced this week it would expand its fare integration plan policy to harmonize fares across the Toronto region and, in the long-term, look to align schedules in the future.

The policy, the government indicated, was driven in part by the upcoming launch of the Hurontario LRT, which will run between Brampton and Mississauga, charging different fares to transit riders.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 raised concerns the legislation tabled to do that will give Ontario “sweeping powers to control transit by regulation,” which governments introduce without debate.

“This is being sold to the public as fare and service integration. But that’s not what this is. This is a power grab,” the union wrote in a statement.

“It gives the Minister of Transportation total control over local service, as well as the power to set fares and spread TTC revenue across the Province, with no certainty for reliable service and ridership growth.”

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The province rejected that suggestion as inaccurate.

Part of the future plans for fare integration would see the government attempt to integrate services across municipal boundaries.

Currently, there are strict boundaries between Toronto-area cities that effectively ban transit agencies from operating in each other’s jurisdictions.

A bus heading to the Toronto subway from Mississauga, for example, cannot pick up new passengers when it enters the city, even if they’re waiting at a stop. Only a TTC bus can accept them.

The Toronto Transit Commission’s chief strategy and customer officer, Josh Colle, said at a recent Toronto Region Board of Trade that union concerns were one of the key barriers to changing that.

“The collective agreements are our barrier and one we are working through,” he explained.

“I think the positive take on that is this is only going to work if we bring everyone along, including the people who actually operate the buses, and so that’s something we’re working on.”

ATU said it was concerned about what the government might do with some of the powers in the legislation.

“It also specifically allows the government to impose fares by distance or mandate different fares for bus, LRT or subway,” the union wrote. “For the first time in over a century riders may have to pay to transfer within TTC.”

The government rejected the idea it would charge extra to transfer within Toronto.

“These are inaccurate and misguided claims,” a spokesperson told Global News.

“Our legislation introduced earlier this week further integrates transit fares, saving money for families who are travelling into Toronto from the GTHA. It does not impact service nor force unnecessary transfers as the ATU inaccurately claims.”

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