Reports in the Toronto Sun say a controversial $50-million deal to run news stands in Toronto's subway stations is going to be scrapped.

The Toronto Sun says TTC chair Karen Stintz will ask the Commission to stop negotiations at a meeting Monday afternoon.

A third-party review of the deal recommends the contract be put up for competitive bids, instead of signing an extension with incumbent Gateway Newsstands.

Mayor Ford and TTC Karen Stintz have been at loggerheads over the issue since transit commissioners approved the contract last month.

Ford believes the city could have found a richer deal if the contract went to an open market but Stintz has been adamant that the contract is a win for City Hall and adds $3 million to the 2013 budget.

If the newsstand deal is put up for bids, number crunchers will have to find a way to make up for that budget shortfall.