New year, same issues. Last year, Transit Plus operators bravely spoke out at City Council, telling the City about inhumane and illegal working conditions, including not having breaks, or being paid for overtime. Basic, basic stuff. The City has now produced a report.

In the report, the City says that they can't possibly be held responsible and that it's the contractors role to enforce employment standards. But clearly, this isn't happening if people are risking their livelihoods to speak out about these conditions.

This is an issue because these drivers are providing services to some of our most vulnerable in our city. If the conditions are not being met for the workers, we risk providing an inferior service for those clients.

While the City, through this report, has shown that they'd rather pass the buck, the right thing to do here would be to at the very least, step up enforcement and speak directly with the drivers to see if the contractors are holding up their end of the bargain.

For EPC members @SherriLRollins, @mathieuallard, @cindygilroy and @B_MayesSTV, I hope that you can read this report and take some action to protect the rights of workers, especially when they're risking their livelihoods to blow the whistle.