Metrolinx board chair resigns after nine years

Cites new government as signal for leadership change at provincial transit agency

Rob Prichard has stepped down as chairperson of the Metrolinx board of directors after nine years with the provincial transit agency.

“With the election of a new government for Ontario, now is the right time for a change of leadership for the board of directors,” Prichard said in a statement.

Metrolinx was created by the provincial Liberals in 2006, and has never operated under a government led by another party.

Prichard announced his resignation Thursday in a written statement released hours after the new Progressive Conservative government laid out its priorities in a throne speech at Queen’s Park.

Prichard said playing a leadership role at Metrolinx, which is responsible for transit planning in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, “has ranked with the greatest privileges of my life.”

“We have made remarkable progress over the past nine years in planning, building and operating transit,” he said.

Prichard’s resignation is effective immediately. Bryan Davies, who is vicechairperson of the Metrolinx board, will take over Prichard’s duties until the government appoints a successor.

In a statement released by Metrolinx, newly minted Transportation Minister John Yakabuski thanked Prichard and praised his “tireless commitment to helping deliver better transit across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.”

Prichard joined Metrolinx in 2009 and served for two years as president and CEO before taking over as chairperson of the board. He is also the former president and chief executive officer of Torstar Corporation, the company that publishes the Toronto Star. During his tenure at Metrolinx, the agency has pursued a multi-billion-dollar expansion of transit in the region, including continuing projects such as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto and the Hurontario LRT in Mississauga and Brampton, and more frequent GO Transit service. It also rolled out the Presto fare card system across the GTHA.

The agency was buffeted by several controversies under Prichard’s leadership. In 2015, Metrolinx was criticized for setting the price of fares for the Union Pearson Express airport rail link too high, and, after eight months of disappointing ridership, was forced to slash the cost of a ticket by more than half.

In 2016, Metrolinx bowed to pressure from then-transportation minister Steven Del Duca to recommend and approve a new $100-million GO station in Del Duca’s Vaughan riding.