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Ontario MPPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill that will ban strikes by transit workers in Toronto.

In a highly anticipated move, the legislature voted 68 to 9 for the Toronto Transit Commission Labour Disputes Resolution Act, after Toronto city council asked Queen’s Park to deem the city’s public transit an essential service.

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Only NDP members voted against the bill.

The pros and cons of stripping workers of the right to strike has been hotly debated, with proponents highlighting the cost and inconvenience inflicted on riders whenever subways and buses grind to a halt. One report estimated a transit strike costs Toronto’s economy $50-million a day.

“This is about the million and a half people and riders that depend on the TTC. Toronto is unique in its size and its scope and it’s the third largest transportation system in North America. Many people rely on the TTC,” Mr. Sousa told reporters at Queen’s Park. “We value the very men and women of TTC who are doing the job and this speaks to how vitally important their work is.”