ONTARIO - Toronto Transit Commission project manager John Cursio has been fired for helping his long-time female companion get a $50,000 photography gig.

The companion, Robin Thoen, also has been told her services photographing public meetings and potential building locations are no longer required.

Meanwhile, the TTC wants to strengthen controls over consultants to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.

"We acknowledge there was a conflict of interest that should have been declared," said TTC spokesman Brad Ross. "We are reviewing our policies now and also doing a broad scope audit (of contracts Cursio oversaw)."

Ross confirmed Monday that Cursio is no longer an employee of the TTC, but said he could not discuss the circumstances because it is a "personnel matter."

Cursio was the project manager overseeing the design of three large "carhouses," part of an expansion of the TTC's fleet. The TTC is paying consultant AECOM Canada $8 million to do the design and Cursio's job was to manage AECOM's work, approving sub-consultants and invoices.