Statement by Michael Majcher

Dear Premier Ford.
I hope you can help rectify a very big mistake that’s been made with the cancellation of Hamilton's LRT. This large transit project was having a big, positive effect on this city, and has contributed greatly to the come-back that’s being going on here. However with the cancellation of this large city building project it’s going to have a large and detrimental effect on Hamilton.

Over and over again, the majority of Hamiltonians have confirmed that they want to see this project go ahead. So, clearly, most people understand the benefits that come with having this higher order of transit in our city. The LRT was to be the spine of our transit ‘BLAST’ network that blankets the whole greater Hamilton area. But without a well-functioning and capable mainline to that network, there would be major concerns for how effective the rest of the BLAST network could be.

The greater Hamilton area is projected to grow by over 40% by the year 2041 to a population of 780,000. And the city is provincially mandated to have at least 50% of the housing to accommodate that growth take place within already built up areas. The LRT running through the center of the city was attracting high rise development that was making it much more likely that the city would not only achieve its required 50% inner city housing development, but surpass it. People and businesses want to be located along the line of an LRT transit option…...much more than any other type of transit. Without the LRT, far fewer high-rises will be built, and that could lead to more sprawl beyond current city limits in trying to accommodate the expected growth. And the property tax revenue that would have come with those high rise buildings will also be less with fewer buildings being built, which affects all Hamilton homeowners negatively.

Please, Premier Ford, Minister Mulroney made a mistake here but you can fix it. 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 and or ask the Federal Government to help. Let's explore every option to get this transformative investment in economic development back on track so Hamilton can really be "open for business" and help drive Ontario forward.

Mike Majcher

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