Statement by Arvind Singh

The announcement of cancellation of Hamilton LRT by Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney is highly regrettable, since much of the hard work has already been done. LRT projecf has involved twelve years of planning, more than 70 votes of City Council, seven provincial and municipal elections voting for leaders who support LRT, majority of Hamiltonians expressing the support through the last municipal election, and business leaders investing millions of dollars along the LRT route. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, McMaster University, LIUNA local, and countless other business and civic organizations support Hamilton LRT, recognizing it as an investment both in the community and business. Cancelling Hamilton LRT without any input, consultation and with lack of transparency is wrong, undemocratic and indefensible.

Last year, Premier Doug Ford said, "I support building the Hamilton LRT because the people of this great city deserve a working transit system. This is an investment that will create jobs, countless new jobs and stimulate economic development." After the last municipal election when Mayor Fred Eisenberger won, Premier Ford indicated support for mandate given to the Mayor: "When people democratically elect someone, if he wants an LRT, he's gonna get an LRT...that's democracy."

In about three months LRT project will receive the final bids to build and operate the system, and cancelling Hamilton LRT before these bids makes absolutely no sense at all. Premier Ford was elected was given a landslide majority by Ontarians in the last provincial election, so that his government could make Ontario good for business.

Minister Mulroney cited inflated costs as a reason for killing the project just before bids were going to be offered. The firms competing to win the contract are telling LIUNA they do not understand where the government got its latest inflated numbers from. Given the huge problems with this announcement, I appeal for any decision on Hamilton LRT to be put on hold and let the bids be presented.

While Minister Mulroney made a huge mistake in announcing cancellation of Hamilton's LRT but I appeal to Premier Fordcan to reverse course and do the right thing for Hamilton. The city needs fair treatment for transit that other municipalities have received across Ontario.

Premier Ford allow the bid process finish. If the final bids come in over budget, we can scale back the project (like Mississauga just did) or ask the Federal Government to help. We need to explore every option to get this transformative investment in economic development back on track so Hamilton can be "open for business" and with ROI from the project contribute economically to make Hamilton and Ontario prosper.

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