The one thing people will never say about outgoing Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster is that he got the trains to run on time.
In the case of the Eglinton-Crosstown, he didn’t get them to run at all.
The failed transit boss has resigned from Metrolinx, effective Dec. 16, but he should have his office access card revoked immediately and never be allowed back into headquarters again.
They should have kicked this guy off the train a long time ago.
This Eglinton-Crosstown debacle is one of the biggest political boondoggles in Ontario’s history. And while there may be many to blame, the biggest blame goes to Verster, who made millions of dollars in the key job and delivered nothing.
He resigned Monday, the Doug Ford government has confirmed.
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The embattled transit boss has been under fire during the past year as Metrolinx struggles to open the much-delayed Eglinton-Crosstown light rapid transit way. Now comes word the man who has been the provincial agency’s leader for the past seven years will be leaving the organization.
It was two years too late.
“Today, the Ontario government named Michael Lindsay as the new interim-president and chief executive officer of Metrolinx, effective as early as Dec. 16, 2024,” said a Government of Ontario news release. “Mr. Lindsay has been given a clear mandate, with opening Eglinton Crosstown as his top priority.”
The release quoted Ford as saying, “I have given Michael a clear mandate to open Eglinton Crosstown as soon as it is safe to do so. That is his top priority.”
Can he possibly do any worse?
While “Verster informed the Board of Directors that he has accepted a new position and will be moving on as early as Dec. 16, 2024” they should have fired him — not be thanking him.
“I want to thank Phil for his many years of service to Ontario,” said Ford. “Phil led and supported explosive growth in transit construction, including the largest expansion of public transit in North America. The transportation landscape in Ontario will be permanently better because of his contributions.”
Mayor Olivia Chow added: “I want to thank outgoing CEO Phil Verster for seven years of dedication to public transit and serving the people of Ontario. The priority for the next CEO must be getting transit projects completed and open because we share the same goal – getting Toronto moving.”
Transit riders, residents or commuters on Eglinton are not thankful.
Meanwhile, the Ontario government says “the Metrolinx Board of Directors will soon begin a search for a permanent president and chief executive officer.” Hopefully none of the same people who brought in Verster or kept him on with a raise, are involved in that search.
As Global News reported last week, the CEO position receives a car allowance, even though the news outlet reported that sources said Verster does not own a car.
There needs to be a review.
Late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who started this project with then-premier Dalton McGuinty almost 15 years ago, would be rolling in his grave over this disastrous money pit of a project.
Green Party Deputy Leader Aislinn Clancy said, “under Phil Verster’s tenure, Metrolinx has made mistake after mistake and cost our province billions. His decade of delays has impacted millions of residents and businesses, whose tax dollars have been paying his million-dollar salary while LRT stations on Eglinton sit empty.”
She also said Ford has been “propping up Metrolinx’s failures for six years now” and “his government needs to step up with a credible plan to regain public trust, starting by increasing oversight of Metrolinx so we don’t repeat this same pattern again.”
In January 2023, The Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley raised concerns about the more than $838,000-a-year salary Verster was earning. He managed to stay on two more years.
And the Eglinton-Crosstown is still not open.
News of his departure reportedly came as a surprise. On Friday, Verster told media Metrolinx was looking to open the 19-kilometre LRT along Eglinton Ave. sometime next year.
“We’re excited to keep on moving the commissioning of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT forward towards an opening date in the new year,” said Verster.
If this comes true, it will be five years late.
Verster said “95% to 96%” of the appropriate tests have been run but there was a “software” problem that was slowing things down.
Whatever. Excuse after excuse.
Needless to say, some on Toronto council are sure relieved to hear about Verster’s pending departure.
“Mission accomplished,” said Councillor Brad Bradford, who went to X in 2023 to say that “for too long, Toronto has been jerked around by other levels of government” and “Metrolinx has let our city down far too many times and Torontonians have had it.”
In that X post, Bradford added, “I am calling on the provincial government to fire the CEO of Metrolinx Phil Verster and reign in this rogue agency once and for all.”
Perhaps now, there is some light at the end of the very long and slow tunnel.
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The embattled transit boss has been under fire during the past year as Metrolinx struggles to open the much-delayed Eglinton-Crosstown light rapid transit way. Now comes word the man who has been the provincial agency’s leader for the past seven years will be leaving the organization.
It was two years too late.
“Today, the Ontario government named Michael Lindsay as the new interim-president and chief executive officer of Metrolinx, effective as early as Dec. 16, 2024,” said a Government of Ontario news release. “Mr. Lindsay has been given a clear mandate, with opening Eglinton Crosstown as his top priority.”
The release quoted Ford as saying, “I have given Michael a clear mandate to open Eglinton Crosstown as soon as it is safe to do so. That is his top priority.”
Can he possibly do any worse?
While “Verster informed the Board of Directors that he has accepted a new position and will be moving on as early as Dec. 16, 2024” they should have fired him — not be thanking him.
“I want to thank Phil for his many years of service to Ontario,” said Ford. “Phil led and supported explosive growth in transit construction, including the largest expansion of public transit in North America. The transportation landscape in Ontario will be permanently better because of his contributions.”
Mayor Olivia Chow added: “I want to thank outgoing CEO Phil Verster for seven years of dedication to public transit and serving the people of Ontario. The priority for the next CEO must be getting transit projects completed and open because we share the same goal – getting Toronto moving.”
Transit riders, residents or commuters on Eglinton are not thankful.
Meanwhile, the Ontario government says “the Metrolinx Board of Directors will soon begin a search for a permanent president and chief executive officer.” Hopefully none of the same people who brought in Verster or kept him on with a raise, are involved in that search.
As Global News reported last week, the CEO position receives a car allowance, even though the news outlet reported that sources said Verster does not own a car.
There needs to be a review.
Late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who started this project with then-premier Dalton McGuinty almost 15 years ago, would be rolling in his grave over this disastrous money pit of a project.
Green Party Deputy Leader Aislinn Clancy said, “under Phil Verster’s tenure, Metrolinx has made mistake after mistake and cost our province billions. His decade of delays has impacted millions of residents and businesses, whose tax dollars have been paying his million-dollar salary while LRT stations on Eglinton sit empty.”
She also said Ford has been “propping up Metrolinx’s failures for six years now” and “his government needs to step up with a credible plan to regain public trust, starting by increasing oversight of Metrolinx so we don’t repeat this same pattern again.”
In January 2023, The Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley raised concerns about the more than $838,000-a-year salary Verster was earning. He managed to stay on two more years.
And the Eglinton-Crosstown is still not open.
News of his departure reportedly came as a surprise. On Friday, Verster told media Metrolinx was looking to open the 19-kilometre LRT along Eglinton Ave. sometime next year.
“We’re excited to keep on moving the commissioning of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT forward towards an opening date in the new year,” said Verster.
If this comes true, it will be five years late.
Verster said “95% to 96%” of the appropriate tests have been run but there was a “software” problem that was slowing things down.
Whatever. Excuse after excuse.
Needless to say, some on Toronto council are sure relieved to hear about Verster’s pending departure.
“Mission accomplished,” said Councillor Brad Bradford, who went to X in 2023 to say that “for too long, Toronto has been jerked around by other levels of government” and “Metrolinx has let our city down far too many times and Torontonians have had it.”
In that X post, Bradford added, “I am calling on the provincial government to fire the CEO of Metrolinx Phil Verster and reign in this rogue agency once and for all.”
Perhaps now, there is some light at the end of the very long and slow tunnel.
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