All Statements of Support
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Bradley Hoogendoorn says,
I use public transit at least once a week, the inclusion of this LRT system would help Hamiltons transit system in every way.
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Seth Rutledge says,
I think this LRT would be a great improvement to our city
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Ben Muirhead says,
Cities with Hamilton's size and growth need appropriate public transit options. Other medium sized cities in Ontario are all planning or have built an LRT system (London, Ottawa, Waterloo, etc). Real estate will only get more expensive to acquire in the future, so building this now is the only thing that makes sense. I realize Hamilton votes NDP, but I hope the Ford government does the mature thing and invests in much needed infrastructure regardless.
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Robert Vanderveen says,
The people of Hamilton were promised provincial support for infrastructure, including an LRT, and taking away what was promised only delays what we will eventually build and wastes the millions that have already been spent on the project.
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Aaron Bennett says,
Hi Doug,
We’ve met before. Back in 2014 I ran into you and your late brother in front of BMO field before a TFC game. The two of you were very friendly, Rob even gave me his card. I believed that you were in politics for the people. That is until I saw the news that the LRT in Hamilton was cancelled. You’ve taken away a great opportunity for my city. This transit line would bring jobs and economic growth to a city that sorely needs it. Please reconsider this decision and help support our city.
Sincerely,
Aaron Bennett
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Emily Wilson says,
I spend most of my time in Kingston as a student but the announcement of the LRT made me so excited to potentially choose my hometown as a place to plant my own roots. As a young person, the LRT is not only a promise of economic enrichment in the city, not to mention for those who need in most in the form of affordable housing along the route, but it is also a promise of a greener, cleaner future for Steeltown. Hamilton deserves better.
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isabella daley says,
Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney and Ford MPP Donna Skelly made a disparaging error announcing that the province wants to cancel the promised and badly needed LRT in Hamilton. In my opinion, this s tantamount to betrayal — especially considering Ms. Skelly and Mr. Ford gave their fervent word repeatedly to Hamilton and I expect it to be kept.
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Lia Molony says,
Build the LRT. Hamilton's economy is not commuting to the 416
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Clayton Roenspiess says,
Re-nagging, lying and hiding public info is not governance. "Open for business" my ass
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Aleksandar Vidakovic says,
I implore you Mr. Ford, you know what to do that is righteous. Is Ontario not suppoed to be modern? We have been left in the dust when it comes to public transport by Asia. Cars are no longer affordable for everyone, and some wish to be environmentally conscious. Let's modernize Ontario and its major cities with proper public transport and also help out car commuters, by gretting rid of all the highway congestion!
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Doreen Stermann says,
This is my follow up letter to my original I sent on Dec 17/19. I am outraged!!You are duplicitous and deceitful to cancel the Hamilton LRT!! Reveal this 3rd Party and the document that says the costs are $5.5B!! You authorized this secret report and had these dubious figures before the election and outright LIED to us Hamiltonians. You Sir are no leader but a liar. Your method of governing is childish and vindictive. You approved it again in the April/19 budget!! Your method of governing is to just throw ideas on the wall and see what sticks. You cancelled the Basic Income Pilot 1/2 way into it. The LRT RFP bids were due in MARCH for goodness sake!! Your Minister of Transportation is weak .So afraid that she cancelled the news conference because she knew she wouldn't be able to handle the questions. She needs to resign as do you.
You falsely stated what the deficit is and got caught by the FAO. How can anyone trust what you say? They can't! And this proves to investors that Ontario is NOT open for business.So now there'll be lawsuits from all the developers.Bravo!
You sadly lack vision for our province and can't wait to vote you out
This just might be what forces me to move out of Ontario. Take my taxes elsewhere.
Shame on you. So much for your comment after our municipal election that " The people have spoken. If LRT is what they want they'll get it. I won't get in the way of democracy". My God you are an outright liar.
Who would want to sign any agreement with our province?Reinstate the $1B immediately.
Sincerely outraged
Doreen Stermann -
Mary Ellen Scanlon says,
I was shocked by the funding announcement made (sort of) by Minister Mulroney. I can't believe the government dumped the LRT on financial grounds just months before a precise cost was available through the RFP process. No doubt the companies will be seeking compensation for work that will now be wasted. How is this good fiscal management?
My husband and I are seniors and we looked forward to the ease of access to the LRT i.e. no stairs. We have been supporters all along and happy that the younger generations would benefit from the project.
It is extremely unfair that Hamilton is being held to a different standard with regard to cost estimates and ridiculous that long term maintenance is lumped into the calculations. If 30 year O&M was factored into house prices no one could afford their home.
Your Minister made a mess of this but there is still time to get an accurate cost figure and consider financial options. The City's MOU with Metrolinx clearly anticipated the need for other funding sources. The provincial government must keep their side of the bargain in order to reassure the business sector.
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John Papaloni says,
The Hamilton LRT is an important part of the cities growth. Today with housing affordability being the issue that it is, many people are commuting around more over moving. I truly believe that stopping this project will only hinder Hamilton's economic growth and project in less tax revenue for Ontario.
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Christina Elliott says,
The LRT would have been nothing but beneficial to the city and surrounding areas. Cancelling it and the way it was done shows Mr. Ford has no regard for the voices of the people that live in this area. Given his track record, I'm not sure why this is a surprise, however he can still do the right thing and stand by his word that the voice of the people would be heard. Please Mr. Ford, do the right thing for once sir.
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Cory Judson says,
Dear Mr. Ford,
I am a Hamilton Mountain resident who rarely takes local public transit except sometimes when I am in the lower city, or when I go to a TiCats game etc. I appreciate transit when it is there for me although I drive most of the time. I have friends and family though who don't drive and they rely heavily on the HSR and they need good transit all across the city, including the approved LRT. But my primary reason for supporting the LRT is that this project is transforming our city for the better. I remember when our city was called the armpit and our city has had its fair share of challenges but Hamilton has experienced a rejuvenation that has been really exciting to be a part of and to experience. Nobody's laughing when we proudly proclaim that we are the Ambitious City. Doug, you may not even care about any of that but I know you like to say that you want this province to have a better business atmosphere. Well that is exactly what is happening in Hamilton and we can thank the LRT project for a being big part of that. Put this project above politics and show us that you are serious when you say that you are a Premier for the People.
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George MacPherson says,
It’s never too late.
Never too late to show my children that their beautiful city is a priority.
Never too late to reaffirm and reinstate the LRT plan.
Never too late to give Hamilton the capital investment it deserves.
Never too late to show developers that Hamilton is still a great place to invest.
Never too late to give seniors and disabled residents the accessible LRT line they desperately need.
Never too late to prioritize transit.
Never too late to listen to what the residents of Hamilton want.Never too late to simply care.
George MacPherson
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Josh Graham says,
Get that LRT
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Melissa Leaist says,
The LRT project in Hamilton was about more than just a much-needed boost to green transit. It sparked enthusiasm from developers and business. Companies had invested in land near the transit stops. People had moved to the city to be part of a downtown renewal. Infrastructure updates along the entire corridor are needed. This city will not forget the day that dreams for a city stepping into the future was dropped back into the "has not" column by the provincial government. You can fix it. Bring back funding to a project that has been studied repeatedly and supported broadly by industry and the public. We do not need another review; we need to move forward with the build.
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Erin Pratt says,
The absolute pettiness and short sightedness of the provincial government to cancel an endeavour that would bring business and jobs into this city. It also makes the citizens in this city completely aware at how out of touch a number of our local politicians are to the transit needs of our city. The number of politicians that refuse to take transit to even understand their constituents is utterly appalling.
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Tom Broen says,
Please restore funding to Hamiltons LRT project! Hamilton is Ontario’s third largest city (CMA) and deserves better transit. This project will transform Hamilton bringing in new industries and investment, and boost it’s economy in ways that will benefit all Ontarians.
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Stephen Edwards says,
I support LRT for Hamilton for our growth and our future.
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Nik Bennett says,
The LRT is crucial to Hamilton’s development both economically and socially.
The LRT is a rare instance of cohesion across political lines in the city and is supported by both business and nonprofit groups.
Please reconsider the decision to defund the LRT and get this city back on track.
I support the LRT in Hamilton, KW, Ottawa, Toronto and Mississauga for the benefit of the whole province. -
Greg Forsyth says,
A modern LRT system will benefit Hamilton citizens and businesses. The governments numbers have already proven inaccurate. We want the LRT in Hamilton and you should get it done.
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Brendan Lew says,
I am writing both as a private citizen and a resident doctor living and working in Hamilton who knows how much the design of our spaces can impact the health of people. Replacing car-centric infrastructure with light rail, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian friendly initiatives are key to improving the health and wellbeing of Hamiltonians, as much, if not moreso than any prescribed medication. Fighting for the LRT is fighting for each and every one of my patients, and its' cancellation is antithetical to ending hallway medicine. Building healthy communities keeps people healthy and reduces preventable disease.
I also lived through the construction of the LRT in Kitchener, and have seen first hand that although the process can feel long and painful, the dividends paid for development, the opportunity to replace our aging infrastructure and the way that it changes how people interact with cities for the better are well worth it.
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Douglas Veenstra says,
Profitable property forcibly purchased out from under us by Metrolinx. Still supporting LRT. Leaving hundreds of affordable living spaces vacant for years, while we wait. Still supporting LRT.
For this city to thrive, for this Ontario citizenry to thrive, Hamilton needs this investment in its future. -
Aleda O’Connor says,
Please reinstate the LRT project in Hamilton. The scheme is an important economic and social engine, that is already driving a downtown renewal. It is a tragedy to waste the existence investment and evidence that it would be foolhardy to believe anything else promised by the Ford government.
Hamilton’s municipal government must do everything possible to fight this cancellation.
The ongoing work to build LRT ensures employment, supports development and services in the urban core of this city and will attract businesses and workers. A completed LRT will reduce the number of vehicles moving along main arteries, reduce emissions and help meet climate goals. It will enhance mobility for older adults who may choose to stop driving without sacrificing independence, as well as youths, lower income residents, visitors and the physically challenged. Increased mobility ensures greater access to opportunities, services, shopping and ultimately, quality of life.
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Saskia Morrison says,
We need this LRT
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Erinn Turnbull says,
The cancellation of the Hamilton LRT will devastate economic growth and envelopment in downtown Hamilton and deprive current and future Hamilton transit users of a well deserved improvement to service. While it has been used as a divisive political issue, there is no doubt about the factual downstream benefits a city gets from an LRT, and this Hamilton LRT has had city council support over and over again for twelve years.
Premier Ford - it is not too late to correct Caroline Mulroney’s error and reinstate the Ontario government’s support Hamilton LRT. Please be the premier for all cities and don’t let Hamilton down.
Thanks very much,
Erinn Turnbull
Resident of Hamilton -
Neil McCuaig says,
Sir John A. Macdonald was also a Conservative, Premier Ford. He managed to lay about 20,000 kilometers of track from sea to sea, with untrained crews, and primitive tools, through buffalo herds, menaced by Americans and natives, and through mountains. Can you not pull off 14 kilometers of track in a flat, comfortable urban setting? How can Hamilton be open for business without transit? Macdonald knew when to pull out his pocketbook and ask, "How much?" What kind of legacy will you leave?
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Patricia Baker says,
I was dismayed upon hearing the news of the cancellation of Hamilton’s LRT.
I have been fortunate to live in several different countries where this is a recently added public transport system. I have seen both the economic benefits and the reduction in traffic problems caused by excess numbers of cars.
I could not believe that such a decision was taken with so little forethought and investigation. Ottawa went with BRT and regretted their decision; they now have an LRT.
Please recommit to the LRT which we had received assurance earlier would go ahead. At some point we need to have trust in a government but I am rapidly losing mine here in Ontario.
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