Latest news with #ProvincialOffencesOfficers
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. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
CBC
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Toronto's new transit inspectors are called POO: Here's what kids think
The Toronto Transit Commission has revealed a new name for its fare inspectors. They are now called Provincial Offences Officers — or POO — and people on social media were quick to make fun of the new name. CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne asked kids at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, what they think of the name.
CBC
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Toronto's new transit fare inspectors are called POO: Here's what kids think
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 the acronym — POO — and make fun of the new name. CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne asked kids at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, what they think of the name.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
TTC fare inspectors will have a new name and new look as of Sunday
'As much as $140 million is lost to fare evasion every year', according to the last TTC audit in 2023. (Toronto Transit Commission/YouTube) The TTC has announced that their fare inspectors will instead be known as Provincial Offences Officers, starting on Sunday. The rebrand is in response to the 2019 Toronto Auditor General's report that suggested a stronger inspection presence would encourage people not to skip out on paying their fair fare. The Toronto Auditor General reported in 2019 that the TTC's overall fare evasion rate was 5.4 per cent, losing $61 million in fares in 2018. According to the TTC fare evasion has since more than doubled. 'As much as $140 million is lost to fare evasion every year', according to the last TTC audit in 2023. Provincial Offences Officers will continue to hand out fare evasion tickets, but now in a new uniform consisting of a grey shirt and vest. These tickets can range from $245 to $425. The TTC receives funding from the federal, provincial, and municipal government but about 42 per cent of its budget comes from the fare box, which is significantly more than other Ontario public transit agencies. 'The TTC receives a significant City of Toronto operating subsidy but also relies heavily on fares to support its operations. This transition to Provincial Offences Officers is one of several initiatives that we have rolled out recently to encourage fare compliance,' TTC CEO Mandeep S. Lali said in a press release. 'We remind customers that when they choose not to pay their fare, it impacts our ability to increase service and keep fare prices low.' The TTC's 2025 budget kept fares frozen at 2023 rates and is taking steps to recoup lost revenue. Some of these steps include hiring more fare inspectors and introducing plain clothes fare inspectors.
