TORONTO- Toronto Councillor Maria Augimeri has been chosen as the new Chair of the Toronto’s Transit Commission to replace outgoing chair Karen Stintz.
Augimeri was considered as a frontrunner looking to replace Stintz in the high-profile position along with councillor Josh Colle who had been publicly endorsed by Stintz.
The position became available after Stintz tendered her resignation in order to enter the race for mayor.
“There are still lots of things that we need to get done. Most importantly, we need to make sure that the next contract we negotiate is fair and affordable to the city,” Stintz told reporters. “And so my perspective whoever is the chair needs to keep that top of mind. And I will work with the chair, whoever that is.”
Stintz had been publicly supporting Councillor Josh Colle as her successor.
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“He has understood and supported all the initiatives we have brought forward, such as Presto, modernizing the fair system, modernizing the TTC, and our budgets, “ she said. “He understands the issues and the need for an affordable contract.”
Councillor Maria Augimeri comes to the table with a longer resume, including being a long-time member of the TTC board and chair of the North York community council, and thanked her fellow colleagues via Twitter.
Mayor Rob Ford suggested last week his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, should be the new chair, but city staff say the chair should already sit on the TTC board, which Doug Ford does not.
Augimeri will have a short tenure as TTC chair as there are only seven TTC board meetings until the municipal election in October, after which a new chair will be appointed.
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