Statement by Jaimie Nicole Rizzo

To whom it may concern
The LRT is about more than just transit. This investment in our city not only connects us end to end, but serves as the starting point for improvements in transit all around. Construction of the project means jobs - means that Hamilton truly is open for business. Furthermore, the LRT will serve to improve communities across Hamilton.

LRT is climate action - we cannot continue to sit on the sidelines of this climate crisis. Improved transit means fewer cars on the road - which is a small but meaningful step forward in our actions to reverse climate change.

LRT is an equalizer - the investment in LRT means that every citizen in Hamilton deserves equal opportunity to travel to school, work, and play despite economic status, physical disability, or dozens of other reasons why one might choose not to drive.

Last year, Premier 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, Premier Ford said, "When people democratically elect someone, if [Mayor Eisenberger] wants an LRT, he's gonna get an LRT...that's democracy."

Now we're literally three months away from receiving the final bids to build and operate the system, and Transport Minister Mulroney cites inflated costs as a reason for killing the project at the 11th hour. The firms competing to win the contract are telling LIUNA they don't understand where the government got its latest inflated numbers from.

By comparison, this past October, Metrolinx awarded a $4.6 billion contract over 30 years to build, operate and maintain an 18 km, 19 station LRT system in Mississauga. Their LRT will be up and running in 2024. Why does Hamilton have to play by a different set of rules? It's only fair to follow Metrolinx policy and find cost savings or scale back the project to fit the budget. This is exactly what they did with Mississauga.

It's not too late to do the right thing for the people of Hamilton.

Hamilton has done the hard work. All we're asking for is fair treatment as compared to Mississauga.

Let the bid process finish. If the final bids come in over budget, scale back the project or ask the Federal Government to help.

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