I am no fan of sole-sourced contracts (apart from those that are required, such as specialized goods/services), but the one with Gateway makes some sense, if only because it harminizes the leases, the franchises are operated individually, and the reasoning is clear and open. The newstands have the same prices and (albeit, more limited) products as other convenience stores, and there is some choice within the subway (McDonald's, Tim Hortons, Kitchen Table, Cinnabun) and plenty of choice outside the system. Of course the best way to solve any issue of choice is to modernize the fare system wth time-based transfers if one prefers Starbucks over Gateway's coffee and doesn't have a Metropass to leave the subway en route to get a cup. Far worse are the Tuggs and Beasley contracts for the Beaches and Toronto Islands respectively.
Ford never made this an issue until he found the opportunity to knock Stintz for it, and lied yesterday on the radio about Stintz not communicating with him on it. And Doug Ford had the sole-source consultant contract for a secret plan to commercialize the delicate Port Lands redevelopment.