While I agree Andy is doing a lot to help the image of the TTC, firing staff at the behest of his political masters is a disturbing revelation.
At least publicly there was no explanation - let alone justification - given for the causes of the delays and overruns (that I can find that has been reported on in the mass media, if someone can produce one I'd appreciate it). All we are seeing are staff members being sacrificed in order to appease the public's emotional - and political masters self interested - need to see heads roll.
The reality is that no subway is ever constructed on schedule. Period.
No subway ever is ever constructed on budget. Period.
The reality is that humans are unable to see through the ground in order to foresee the obstacles and challenges that will inevitably be hit when we dig a tunnel. Humans, as well, are unable to see ahead through time.
This is a political strategy to divert attention away from reality in order to continue to propagate a politically expedient myth: that the delays and bad decisions are the fault of anyone else but he politicians that made them; that subways are not inherently risky and extremely costly.
John Tory literally bent over backwards to try to disassociate any connection between the delays and cost overruns that are understandably, reasonably, to be expected with this subway and that will undoubtedly happen with the Scarborough subway.
Couple that with the known problems associated with the construction of this particular subway: * Over-optimistic budgeting by political masters; * Design issues; * Scope creep; * Lawsuits with contractors; * The death of a worker; and it is understandable that we are in this situation.
But does Byford explain the reality of the situation and defend his organization? No. He throws his employees - the TTC itself - under the bus, all at the behest of his political masters and in order to support selling their snake oil.
I'd note here as well that the loss of the institutional knowledge that these two employees had plus the need for their replacements to transition into their new roles means there will be more opportunity for screw ups, cost overruns, and advantage taking by contractors to occur; Andy is just feeding the image that the TTC cannot manage to do what is one of their core functions: build transit.
In comparison look at the last TTC CEO/General Manager, Gary Webster, who stood by the courage of his convictions and told it as it was to the public and his political masters, to the point that he was fired for it. Chew on that for a moment: his political masters fired him because he told the inconvenient truth, not the lies and delusions that they wanted to sell to the public.
Is this what you want of your civil service? Would this be what you want of your doctor? "My goodness, you look awful! Pain in your chest and tingling in your left arm, don't worry about that. Get a haircut and grab a deep dish pizza, you'll be fine!"
This is a disturbing development and severely degrades my trust in Andy's willingness to give honest, forthright information.
It concerns me now more than ever that the priority of the TTC under Andy's tenure is to ensure that there is fresh paint covering even the supports that are rusted through and in need of replacing; that image is more important than substance, or even reality.
It seems Andy is the perfect CEO/GM for John Tory and Rob Ford; and if that is true it will leave a lasting and costly legacy for Toronto.