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CBC
24-07-2025
- CBC
WATCH — TTC blames 12-year-old boys for jokes about its new POO crew
⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ The Toronto Transit Commission has revealed a new name for its fare inspectors. They are now called Provincial Offences Officers. People on social media were quick to point out that the acronym for the new name is POO. In response, a TTC spokesperson compared the commenters to 'snickering' 12-year-old boys. CBC Kids News asked kids what they think of the comparison. Hear more from both sides and have your say in the poll below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Transit fare inspectors in Toronto, Ontario, just got a new name, and some people are left wondering what they were thinking. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) renamed fare inspectors on July 20. They are now called Provincial Offences Officers. The name comes from a document from the 1990s, known as the Provincial Offences Act. While that might not seem like a big deal, some on social media pointed out that the new name has a hilariously unfortunate acronym: POO. A TTC spokesperson clapped back on X, comparing the critics to 'snickering, puerile 12-year-old boys.' According to the Oxford English Dictionary, puerile means childish and silly. CBC Kids News talked to some boys about having to take the blame. 'It's kinda their problem,' said 11-year-old Arian Alimohamadi in Vaughan, Ontario. The TTC told us they didn't mean to point the finger at boys, specifically. How did 12-year-old boys get pulled into this? On July 21, Global News reporter Matthew Bingley posted on X that he saw POOs on the street, uploading a photo of the new officers working. He questioned how the name was chosen. An unnamed TTC spokesperson replied to the post, comparing the criticism to 'snickering, puerile 12-year-old boys.' Press play to hear what kids had to say about the TTC's jab on X. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ The TTC's comment prompted a reaction on X. One user posted: 'Yikes who thought this post was a good idea.' Another chimed in, underlining the 12-year-old comment saying, 'Damn all the 12-year-old boys are ratioing you.' In fact, X, and several other social media platforms don't allow kids under 13 to join or post on their site. TTC says immaturity was the actual target CBC Kids News reached out to the TTC for an interview. Their media office responded in an email that the comment was being misrepresented. It said the goal of the X comment was to call out immaturity. 'Our comment was in response to adults who think this is a laughing matter in a manner that a child might snicker at hearing a rude word,' the written statement said. The TTC shared this image on X. Some people on social media were quick to make jokes about the name, with one replying 'POO?' to the post. (Image credit: TTCHelps/X) According to the email, fare evasion is a 'serious issue' that the officers help put a stop to, and that not paying fares costs the TTC $140 million a year. Kids 12 and under don't contribute to the fare evasion problem, since they ride for free. Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Toronto Sun
23-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
TTC gets testy after ‘POO' title for fare inspectors heavily mocked
Three TTC Provincial Offences Officers -- or POOs, for short. Photo by Matthew Bingley / X As of Sunday, TTC fare inspectors were given a new title and uniforms — and the result was online mockery. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account It wasn't the inspectors' new look — from yellow jackets to grey shirts — but their new title, Provincial Offences Officers — POOS, for short — that appeared to be overlooked by any sort of supervisor. The internet, however, did not miss a beat and was on the TTC like flies on, well, you know. 'Just spotted some POOs on the street. (Did ANYONE workshop this?),' Global News reporter Matthew Bingley wrote on X, along with a photo of three POOs near a bus shelter. TTC Media Relations was quick to respond — in a surprisingly snarky tone that might make one question if that role was also revamped. 'Yes, Matt. We were kids once, too, and the acronym was thought through, but the designation was not ours to begin with,' the reply began. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It existed in Ontario legislation long before the TTC began using it this weekend,' the response noted, adding a link to the Provincial Offences Act. 'We thank the snickering, puerile 12-year-old boys who dominate the internet for their insights,' the sassy reply continued. 'However, it does not negate the fact that fare cheats face fines of hundreds of dollars — which is no laughing matter.' Yes, Matt. We were kids once too and the acronym was thought through, but the designation was not ours to begin existed in Ontario legislation long before the TTC began using it this weekend. A simple search through this document shows multiple references.… — TTC Media Relations 📰🚌🚋🚈 (@TTCNewsroom) July 21, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. People on social media were a little surprised by the response. 'Yikes, who thought this post was a good idea?' one person asked. 'You should've run this tweet past whoever is in charge in your office.' Another added: 'I'd be brushing up on your resume after posting this kind of response as a so called 'media relations' professional.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO A third noted: 'Any acronym that works out to POO was not well 'thought through' no matter what the TTC news media room thinks.' However, a fourth person added: 'This wouldn't have been such a big deal if the TTC wasn't a lousy service in poor condition. 'Poo' seems entirely appropriate.' Even Councillor Josh Matlow got in on the action, sharing the TTC's original announcement post and writing, 'We're going to have to do some work on the acronym though.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The rebrand is one of the steps the transit system has taken to recoup lost revenue. Last year, the TTC began eliminating the 'no-tap' fare gates at subway stations to capture lost fares. Read More It also added plain clothes inspectors across the system, hired more fare inspectors, and introduced body-worn cameras and mobile ticketing. The POOs will continue checking for proof of payment and anyone and could issue tickets to customers who have not paid the proper fare, ranging from $235 to $425. Golf Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Canada
