Metrolinx has let go two senior managers, including one who appears to have been working on rapid transit projects.
The Toronto Star was first to report the departures of Karla Avis-Birch, who was chief planning officer, and Steven Levene, the chief operating officer of rapid transit.
Avis-Birch’s LinkedIn account says she is a former Metrolinx employee and had begun her planning role in December 2020.
Levene’s account says he is a “rail transit executive” but doesn’t specify where. At Metrolinx, his profile confirms he worked on rapid transit projects.
A Metrolinx spokesperson didn’t deny the Star’s report on Wednesday.
“It’s not unusual for organizations to make strategic changes to its management structure from time to time to better align with more complex scopes of work and project priorities. Metrolinx is no different,” said Andrea Ernesaks in an email statement.
Ernesaks said Metrolinx will not comment further on “human resource matters.”
The shakeup at the transit agency comes as it struggles to open a number of light rail lines in the Greater Toronto Area, most notably the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which is years behind schedule.
There are also no opening dates set for the Finch West LRT, which will run from the Finch West subway station to the Humber College campus, nor the Hurontario LRT (the Hazel McCallion Line), which will go from Port Credit GO Station to the Brampton Gateway Terminal.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, speaking at a Queen’s Park news conference on Wednesday, pinned the blame on Premier Doug Ford’s government rather than the former employees — though she did say Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster should be held to account.
“Ultimately, the responsibility is on the minister of transportation and the premier of Ontario, who should be held responsible for the lack of delivery on all these programs,” she told reporters.