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Majority Say Andy
Byford Effective as TTC CEO
Some
see departure as an opportunity, but the plurality expects no change
Toronto, November 23rd – In a random sampling of public
opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 843 Toronto voters, more than half
(TOP2: 53%) say that Andy Byford was effective as CEO of the Toronto Transit
Commission, with a quarter (25%) saying that he was very effective.
A quarter (BTM2: 26%) say that he was ineffective as CEO of the TTC,
with just under one-sixth (13%) saying he was very ineffective.
2 in 10 (21%) said they do not know.
Respondents most likely to say Byford was effective include those
aged 65+ (62%), males (57%), the most wealthy (64%), with a post-graduate
degree (62%), that either drives (53%) or takes public transit (56%) to work or
school, living in the former city of Toronto (58%), East York (56%), North York
(56%), and supporting the Liberals (61%).
Respondents most likely to say Byford was ineffective include those
earning
$40-60,000 (36%), with some college/university (26%) or a
college/university degree (29%), living in York (35%, n=64), and supporting the
Green Party (37%).
Plurality
thinks Byford’s departure is neither positive nor negative
Almost half (46%) says that a change in leadership at the TTC will
have neither a positive, nor negative effect on transit in Toronto.
2 in 10 (21%) say that a change in leadership will actually have a positive
effect on Toronto transit, while just over one-tenth (12%) say that the change
in leadership will have a negative effect on transit in the city.
“The majority of Torontonians think that Andy
Byford was an effective CEO of the TTC during his tenure,” said Dr. Lorne
Bozinoff, President of Forum Research, “but almost half say a change in
leadership will have no effect on the TTC. It seems that while most think
Byford did a good job as CEO, they may feel that the position’s ability to make
a difference on Transit in the city, is limited.”
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.