Metrolinx parts ways with consulting firm that worked on the Eglinton Crosstown and Ottawa LRTs: sources
Boxfish and its owner, Brian Guest, were the subject of scrutiny in 2022 when Guest was awarded a vice-president title at Metrolinx.
Updated 42 mins ago
May 30, 2025
By Andy Takagi, Transportation Reporter, and Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief
Metrolinx has ended its relationship with a transit consulting firm that has worked on the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs, as well as the problem-plagued Ottawa LRT.
Two sources, who spoke confidentially to discuss the severed relationship, confirmed that the provincial transit agency will no longer be working with Boxfish and its owner, Brian Guest.
News of the end of the relationship first appeared on social media on Thursday.
Metrolinx spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks confirmed that Metrolinx had ended its relationship with Boxfish.
“Since his appointment, interim president and CEO Michael Lindsay has been reviewing and refining practices to ensure they are efficient, effective and respect taxpayer dollars,” said Ernesaks.
“In addition to ending its relationship with Boxfish, Lindsay has communicated his expectation that other consultants under contract with Metrolinx must identify areas for consolidation and efficiency.”
Guest and Boxfish did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Boxfish and Guest’s relationship with Metrolinx has come under public scrutiny in the past.
The Star reported in January 2022 that Metrolinx had appointed Guest as a vice-president between March 2018 and May 2020 — during which time the public transit agency issued two contracts to his consulting firm Boxfish. The consulting firm received between $20 million and $30 million from Metrolinx over a two-year period, according to sources.
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Star Investigation
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At the time, Metrolinx said it had insulated Guest from procurements while in his role, and paid money to Boxfish for the work that Guest and his consultants did for the organization.
After the Star’s investigation,
the provincial government pledged to investigate the contracts that were awarded during Guest’s time as a Metrolinx executive.
Guest was also called before the public inquiry looking into the
turbulent development of the Ottawa LRT.
Guest began his career as a political consultant, assisting former Ottawa mayor and Liberal MPP Bob Chiarelli as well as former prime minister Paul Martin.
He became a central figure in the public inquiry on the Confederation Line for his role as a high-level consultant in the planning of the LRT, despite his lack of experience with the public-private partnership model used to develop the line.
After his work on the Ottawa LRT, according to his testimony for the public inquiry, Guest worked for Metrolinx on the
Eglinton Crosstown LRT and
GO Expansion — the former has been
plagued with delays and an uncertain opening date, while the latter has had more recent
contract troubles.
