Raise the Hammer

Metrolinx has spent over $10.6 million over the last two years to promote itself and build its brand.

And a taxpayer’s watchdog group says the arms-length transit agency is using taxpayers’ cash to justify its own existence.

The figures, released to the Toronto Sun by Metrolinx, show a series of consultant contracts and internal expenditures awarded for a variety of purposes.

And while the “customer communications, community relations and public education” total just over $10.6-million in actual dollars spent since 2011, multi-year contracts with several consulting firms and ad agencies put the overall value of the spending at $17.2 million….

In all, 17 different consultants or ad agencies were under contract to Metrolinx for advertising, PR or creative communications services over the past two years.

Costs on the deals range from $138,000 for a public consultation on the Big Move to $4.85 million for designing the U-P Express program which involves establishing a brand for the service.

Metrolinx has come under fire in recent weeks for a pair of troubled sponsorship agreements signed in 2011. The deals saw the agency spend $30,000 of taxpayer cash to sponsor the Toronto International Film Festival and some staff scored exclusive access to galas, parties and film screenings.

Another deal saw Metrolinx receive 100 tickets from Rogers Centre for a Buffalo Bills game. Those tickets were given to some staffers for free while other were sold at a discount to agency employees.

Both programs have lead to calls from opposition critics who say Metrolinx should not be promoting itself using taxpayer dollars.
The department which oversaw the controversial deals was the subject of a $115,000 organizational review in late 2012. The Toronto Sun has asked Metrolinx for the consultant’s report but the request has been denied.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/31/metrolinx-spending-big-bucks-to-tell-taxpayers-they-need-more-money-critic