Good afternoon, I am writing to voice some concerns that we have regarding the newly implemented “Tow Zones” with the GTA.

We strongly feel that the public needs to be made aware of the implications and risks that we are seeing with this pilot.

First of all, when you look at the pilot website, they state the reasons behind the project. They state, safe and quick clearing is a priority. If you check the statistics over this past week since the pilot took effect, you will see that the average response time to attend a scene is 30 mins to 1 hour. This doesn’t even include hooking, cleaning and clearing the roadway. Having the highways closed for this length of time puts the public at risk as we all know subsequent crashes are more likely to occur the longer the lanes/highways remain closed. In addition, OPP officers lives are at risk in addition to the public. I can mention how much it costs the province for highway closures but you can not put a price on people’s lives. 

Even traffic stops resulting in the requirement for towing services are taking upwards of 30 mins for tow response. This is a serious and significant risk to the OPP and public. The MTO recognizes this as a risk and frequently dispatch crash trucks to assist. This is an unnecessary risk and expense.

The website also states that the pilot will ensure proper training, experience and equipment. The OPP is in the process of implementing TSSO guidelines which also ensure this province wide. 

In addition, the pilot speaks to consumer protection. If this was the driving factor for the pilot, the government would standardize tow rates across the province. The pilot in fact, costs the consumers more because the billing begins once MTO dispatches the tow not when the tow arrives on scene. Furthermore, the highway closures for extended periods will cost the consumers millions in delivery delays. 

The province stated that having contract tows will put an end to “chasing” and “tow wars”. Just two days into the pilot, the province is now allowing companies to subcontract their respective zones. This is going to create chasing and wars because the subs will be trying to earn their commission. 

We feel that the tow pilot has allowed a blatant monopoly of the industry with only 8 companies capitalizing. Can you say nepotism?  The MTO didn’t even advertise the application for tender. So were the companies just appointed? 

Mainly, we are a group of hundreds of recently unemployed individuals who have been placed out of work unlawfully. We have worked on the 400 for decades and have never had any issues. If you look at the statistics you will see next to zero traffic complaints regarding tows chasing, minimal consumer complaints and no violence between tows working the area on Highway 400. The tows in this area are professionals and law-abiding individuals with families to support. We have lawfully displayed the ability to rapidly deploy safely and effectively. Over the past decades, we have worked aimlessly and diligently around the clock day and night, putting our own lives at risk, to ensure the highways remain open and minimizing the risk to police and public lives.

This pilot has unlawfully placed of hundreds out of work. Many of which may be immigrated individuals with limited education and technical skills for finding jobs elsewhere. 

This pilot is creating a serious risk to the lives of the police and public, is an unnecessary infringement on our rights and a gross expense to the province of Ontario.

What is going to happens when a life is unnecessarily lost?