The non-tendered contract to sell newspapers and snacks in the TTC subway system is becoming a tricky issue for the commission and its chair Karen Stintz (Toronto Ward 16). The contract was handed to Gateway Newstands as a simple renewal but now other concessionaires have come forward to ask why they were not asked to bid. One of them, New York New Cafe Ltd. say they inquired about bidding but they were ignored. The matter has become news with the prodding of Mayor Ford who claims the city could have saved as much at $15 million by opening up the bidding. Under criticism, Ms Stintz is calling for a third-party review of the Gateway deal. CP24 has done some good reporting.
