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Francine Kopun
Toronto Star
A law ordering 9,000 striking TTC staff back to work was passed this afternoon, in time to get transit service rolling later today and avoid commuter chaos tomorrow.
"When people can't get to work that's a major problem," said Labour Minister Brad Duguid.
MPPs from al three parties gathered for a rare Sunday sitting at Queen's Park. It took them just 31 minutes to unanimously pass the law, prompted by Friday night's abrupt and unexpected shutdown of the country's largest transit system.
"We faced the reality that there is no better option," said NDP Leader Howard Hampton, whose party supported the law with some reservations.
Union leaders at the TTC responsible for calling Friday night's strike with no advance notice should be "horsewhipped" for making transit workers the targets of anger from riders, said Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory.
The Liberals were taking no chances in terms of getting the law passed, bringing in 48 MPPs and cabinet ministers to outnumber seven Progressive Conservatives and five New Democrats.
The law, introduced by Premier Dalton McGuinty, was quickly given royal assent by Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, making it official.
McGuinty said letting the strike go on would have crippled Toronto's economy and hurt the environment.
"We all need Toronto to be strong so Ontario can be strong."
The law takes effect immediately, empowering the TTC to call striking employees back to work immediately.
Earlier today, TTC Chief General Manager Gary Webster told The Star service could begin within hours.
"We have the buses, subway trains and streetcars ready to go," Webster said.
It was expected to take four hours to get subways rolling and two to three hours for buses and streetcars.
McGuinty thanked frustrated TTC riders for their "characteristic goodwill, patience and grace" this weekend and asked them not to take out their anger on transit workers.
Those remarks were echoed by Duguid, who said he doubts there will be any incidents of violence against TTC workers.
But he said it's up to the TTC whether they deploy more security officers throughout the transit system.
Under the back-to-work legislation, the TTC and its unions will have five days to agree to an arbitrator or mediator to finalize a contract. If they can't agree, Duguid will appoint one.
The arbitrator or mediator must begin work within 30 days and complete a deal within 90 days, bearing in mind the city's ability to pay any increased costs.
Tory said there's not much more money in the pot given the high fares TTC riders already pay.
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