Statement by Roland Tanner

Dear Premier Ford,

As a resident of the neighbouring city of Burlington, I would like to express my deep disappointment at the provincial government's cancellation of funding to the Hamilton LRT project.

While LRT projects go ahead in Mississauga and Scarborough, with enthusiastic support from the provincial government, Hamilton is being told its LRT is too expensive, based on highly misleading figures, for which no proper source has been provided.

The logic does not add up. Worse still, this repeats the longstanding habit of Hamilton being treated like a second class citizen compared to other cities in the GTHA. The economic transformation which the province was bringing about in Hamilton through LRT is now set back, while businesses learn that the provincial government is not to be trusted to follow through on promises.

LRT carries far more passengers than buses - even buses in dedicated lanes. It is cleaner and signals to developers and businesses the permanent nature of infrastructure that they can rely on, thus promoting the best in development and investment. LRT will place Hamilton back in its rightful place as a vibrant and attractive city that offers things no other place in Ontario can offer.

Living in Burlington, I want to see Hamilton prosper. Perhaps no other city in Ontario has the potential that Hamilton has for a truly inspirational transformation. But it cannot happen without investment from government in its future. That investment will be repaid many times over by business investment and population growth as Hamilton becomes an ever more attractive destination.

Please reverse this misguided decision.

Sincerely,

Roland Tanner

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