October 16, 2025
Dear Ms. Spence,
I am writing to formally request a comprehensive Value-for-Money audit into the ongoing delays, cost escalations, and transparency issues affecting multiple major transit projects across Ontario, including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Hamilton LRT, Hazel McCallion Line (Hurontario LRT), Ontario Line, Yonge North Subway Extension, Finch West LRT, East Harbour Transit Hub, and the Scarborough Subway Extension. Collectively, these projects represent tens of billions of dollars in public investment and have faced chronic setbacks that undermine public confidence in the government’s ability to deliver vital infrastructure efficiently, transparently, and responsibly.
Pursuant to section 12(2)(f)(iv) and (v) of the Auditor General Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.35, I respectfully request that your Office assess whether public monies have been expended with due regard to economy and efficiency, and whether appropriate systems have been established and implemented to measure and report on their effectiveness.
Despite repeated promises of progress, Ontario’s major transit projects have been defined by missed deadlines and cost overruns. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, originally projected to cost $4.6 billion and be completed in 2020, is ongoing, with costs projected at $12.8 billion. In Hamilton, a seven-year delay in the Hamilton LRT’s procurement process has postponed construction on a project first funded in 2015, while costs have grown from $1 billion to $3.4 billion. The Hazel McCallion Line, originally slated to open in 2024 at a projected cost of $1.4 billion, now sits at $5.6 billion with no new completion date announced. The Ontario Line, once estimated at $10.9 billion, is now projected to cost $27.2 billion and will not open until at least 2031.
The Yonge North Subway Extension, initially estimated at approximately $1.4 billion, is now expected to exceed $3.5 billion. The Finch West LRT, first contracted in 2018 at $2.5 billion, remains unopened in 2025, two years behind schedule and potentially over $3 billion in total cost. Metrolinx has withheld $500 million in payments to contractors amid disputes, and no transparent accounting has been released.
The East Harbour Transit Hub, proposed as a $1.2 billion anchor of Toronto’s east-end transit network, has already seen its expected opening pushed from 2028 to 2031. The Scarborough Subway Extension, intended to replace the decommissioned Line 3 RT, has doubled in cost, from $5.5 billion in 2019 to $10.2 billion today, leaving residents dependent on crowded replacement buses while construction continues.Across these eight projects, a concerning pattern of increased costs, delayed services, and opaque decision-making emerges. Communities and businesses have endured years of construction, while taxpayers have paid billions for infrastructure that remains incomplete.
Accordingly, I request that your Office investigate the following matters:
1. The cumulative financial impact of cost overruns and delays across all eight transit projects.
2. The adequacy of oversight, planning, and project management by the Ministry of Transportation and Metrolinx.
3. Whether the procurement models used have achieved value for money.
4. The fiscal and operational risks associated with repeated project restarts, change orders, and contract disputes.
5. The socioeconomic impacts of delays on affected communities, including business closures, lost economic opportunities, and reduced transit accessibility.
6. The transparency and accuracy of government communications to the public regarding costs, timelines, and project progress.
Ontarians deserve to know whether these massive public expenditures are being managed in their best interest, or whether systemic inefficiency and mismanagement have eroded the value of dollars spent. A province-wide Value-for-Money audit would help restore public confidence, provide clear accountability, and ensure that future transit investments are procured and managed according to best practices, delivered on time, within budget, and in service of the people who rely on them most.
Thank you for your consideration. I would be pleased to provide any further information that may assist your Office in this review.
Sincerely,
Andrea Hazell
Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough – Guildwood.