Bombardier’s absence went unremarked at Monday’s TTC board meeting. But transit officials were already aware that the Montreal manufacturer had declined its request to appear there and publicly explain why it has failed to deliver on Toronto’s $1.25 billion streetcar order.

The company’s refusal wasn’t about whether to address the issue in public or private, said spokesman Marc Laforge in an email to the Star. Company officials have had many discussions with TTC officials and there are legal considerations, he said.

“We told the TTC that we are more than willing to engage into discussions with the chair of the board and other board members if they want to, with (CEO Andy) Byford and the project team,” he wrote.

Those discussions could extend to all the delays, including those beyond Bombardier’s control and those caused by the TTC, he said.

“At the same time . . . the board has authorized the TTC’s general counsel to commence a claim or legal action against Bombardier. The contract signed with the TTC sets forth an exclusive dispute resolution process providing for confidential and without prejudice discussions between TTC and Bombardier in an effort to settle the dispute,” he wrote.

TTC chair, Councillor Josh Colle, said he wasn’t surprised Bombardier executives declined the invitation. The company cited legal reasons. But its executives probably recognized how angry the TTC is about the delays, Colle said.

“They probably expected what they were in for.”

Colle said he hasn’t spoken directly to Bombardier since but may reach out in the coming weeks.

The 12th low-floor streetcar arrived in the city on Tuesday. But Colle says he won’t believe that 16 — the most recently promised number — will arrive in the city by the end of the year until he sees it.

“It’s almost December. You can do the math,” he said.

Before October, the TTC had expected 20 low-floor, accessible cars — out of a total order for 204 — this year. Before that, the commitment had been 73 in 2015.

While it has started the claims process for the $50 million in damages for late delivery set out in the Bombardier contract, the TTC says it is gathering information for a separate lawsuit that would go after costs associated with waiting for the new streetcars, including maintaining the aging fleet of streetcars, running additional buses and staffing.

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The company has attributed the delays to issues in a Mexican supply plant with poorly cut doors and walls, peeling laminate and electrical shortcomings that have hampered the Thunder Bay assembly plant.

Throughout the difficulties, Bombardier been transparent to the TTC chair, the board and management, as well as the media, said Laforge.

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