All Statements of Support
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Kevin Thom says,
Hamilton needs LRT. The property developers who put you in office would agree.
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Jen Jones says,
Premier Ford:
Please reverse the decision to cancel LRT in Hamilton. Much has already started on the project (people relocated, boarded up buildings purchased and set for destruction along our East-West corridor, etc).
I believe the projected expenses quoted by Caroline Mulroney for our project were incorrect and inflated.
LRT will bring much-needed transportation improvements and new business and residential builds to our city.
Please reconsider this short-sighted decision based on doctored numbers.
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Steve Dykstra says,
Dear Premier Ford and Ms. Mulroney,
I am deeply concerned about the recent cancellation of Light Rail Transit Project, for the following reasons:
1) Our city has been working (albeit haltingly) on this project for 12 years. It's the clearly stated will of council and major stakeholders in the city, and the vast majority of those who will be personally impacted by it.
2) Over $200 million has already been spent on the project.
3) Cancellation of the project only 3 months before the RFP's are due doesn't make any sense. Why would you cancel the project based on your own projects when 3 independant companies are only months away from giving detailed estimates?
4) It is striking that, of the Metrolinx project expansions, the overwhelming number of them which are NOT cancelled, (Eglinton crosstown, Finch West, northern subway extension, hurontario LRT, are either in Conservative ridings or areas that could potentially be Conservative ridings. Each one has the potential to go over budget, yet only the project in a non-Conservative riding is receiving this cancellation. This reads as horrifying partisan politics at its worst.
5) The promise of LRT has been a catalyst for a number of projects along the King St. line. This sudden change puts these investments at risk.
I truly hope that this decision is reconsidered.
Sincerely,
Steve Dykstra.
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Jeremy Freiburger says,
Dear Doug Ford
Our community, Council and public, have voted on this issue countless times. We've already invested $180M in the project and our neighbourhoods are filled with vacant buildings awaiting the LRT.
This project is about so much more than transit - its about equity, investment, renewal and modernization of one of Canada's top cities.
Deliver on your promise - fund our LRT. Be open for business. Be reliable.
Jeremy
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Andrew Petruccelli says,
As a proud Hamiltonian, the LRT project was set to take the revitalization of our city to the next level. With the sudden cancellation of the project and the poor explanation as to why the provincial government has let our city down in such a big way. A growing city of our size deserves a transit system that will continue to improve the lives and health of Hamilton and its residents.. Mr. Ford, please do the right thing and help to get the LRT back on track.
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Andrew Alfred-Duggan says,
So disgusted at your constant mis-steps! You know this project doesn't cost that much... This project is so important to Hamilton. Shame on you for lying to the people of Hamilton and Ontario (again) fix this!
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Jeffrey Taylor says,
Please give us back our LRT project, or at least lets wait until the cost estimates come in from the contractors, I'm a senior on the mountain and I'd like to ride on the LRT before I pop off!
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Mary Paulin says,
I agree with Hamilton's urgency to get this project done. Minister Mulroney must reconsider, Hamilton is worth it.
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Amber Morrison says,
Please allow the bidding process to take place and follow through on your promise to Hamilton. Our city deserves the same opportunity as Hurontario and other communities. The citizens have spoken on this issue and the support was evident in the last municipal election. We want the project as do the investors who have purchased real estate along the line. It’s not too late to reconsider.
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Ashley Tsui says,
Cancelling LRT is a betrayal of Hamiltonian wish which was reflected loud and clear in our last municipal election. We won't forget the betrayal if the Premier does not put the plan back on track.
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P Derry says,
The government needs to be held to its promises. It also needs to be transparent with its decisions. Ford needs to learn that Hamilton won't put up with his trash.
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Tory Kenny says,
This isn’t just about an LRT. This is about facts. Our population is growing. Our planet is warming. We need jobs where people live. We need affordability. These things cannot happen without transit-oriented development. Our cities, our citizens, and our future depend on it.
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Alison Rogers says,
Premier Ford: My city, Hamilton, has been planning for, spending money on and indeed, COUNTING ON LRT for years and years. Please reconsider the cancellation of this vital project. The sense of optimism and future prosperity has been a huge boon to the community and our dashed hopes for this vital development has plunged the city into despair. LRT is desperately needed in Hamilton for its benefits to the environment and development already underway, as well as future development. Please reinstate this much needed project
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Harry Gow says,
Light rail will give downtown Hamilton 21st century transit line and foster development.
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Jeff Chuchman says,
Hello,
I am extremely disappointed that the LRT was cancelled. I find the justification to be questionable and would like the full cost report to be made public. It seems that Hamilton is being treated differently than other municipalities who have been awarded LRT funding. Cost estimates of such a magnitude before even going to tender seem premature, especially with other government-funded LRT projects being approved.
The LRT is needed to continue Hamilton's slow but quite visible ascent from the recession of the early 90s. Businesses are on board. Hamilton needs this project to continue its economic renaissance.
Jeff
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Michael Lock says,
Please reconsider the LRT in Hamilton.
This project is vital to the growth of the city and this is a project for the future that will help Hamilton and Ontario to reduce congestion and help the environment.
Cancelation of this project is a direct assault on the city of Hamilton. If our city required a 3rd party review of costs other cities should also have the same review done to ensure their cost estimates are also in-line.
Just because this route goes directly through the official oppositions riding is no reason to cancel a project. -
Andrea Parnell says,
Premier Ford! Hamilton is the future. People of Ontario need strong cities with good transit!
Help it get the light rail line it needs. Don’t pull the promised funding -
Robert Brosius says,
I am deeply troubled by the Province's decision to cancel funding for Hamilton's LRT project for some vague "it's over budget" reason, particularly without producing any supporting documentation (flawed or otherwise) to support the decision. The bids aren't even in! This is the Province stealing the show by making up their minds before looking at all the facts and figures. It's a preposterous way for the Province to do business.
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Gary Dennis says,
Mr Ford,
Do the right thing!
Thank you.
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Steacy Easton says,
Howdy:
I am a resident of Ward 3, in Hamilton, Ontario. The new LRT would have been three blocks from my front door. I am incredibly frustrated by the cancelling of the project. I think that investing in public infrastructure is part of the social contract, and I think in a time of catastrophic climate failure, it is absurd to emphasize private vehicle ownership over anything else. (Building new high ways in Toronto, and cancelling public transportation in Toronto and Hamilton, is indicative of a set of values.)
The cost benefits that you quoted (either 3 billion or 5 billion) were over the thirty year, is dishonest--but even if that estimate was correct,the city elected the mayor to institute it. The way this project was cancelled--with no consultation, and by fiat, against the will of the people was profoundly undemocratic. As was your refusal to allow the press, or city councillors into meetings where these things were discussed.
I can only read this cancellation as an example of the contempt that Ford has for those who do not hew his very specific line. This is not how you govern an entire province--it is petty, and wasteful.
In exhaustion:
se -
Kevin Archibald says,
I don't want LRT at ANY cost, but cancelling before we knew the cost from the independent RFPs is goofy.
Hamilton voted in favor of this project a lot, and voted for you who promised to support it. I appreciate you won't support it at any cost either - but cancelling without properly and transparently showing that cost seems 100% political goofiness. Turn this train around please.
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Laura Katz says,
We need to shift to a post carbon society whether people like it or not!
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Steven Sauve says,
The Ford government is once again throwing around destructive, regressive policies like rice at a wedding. Hamilton has been struggling to get the LRT built for years, and as one of Ontario's most compromised cities, is badly in need of the economic and social boost that the LRT would provide. Ford's alternative 'task force' sounds like daddy-says, dispensing tough love. It is unfair, unethical, and unwanted.
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Lizzie Seczek says,
Please fix this now
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JOEL SMITHSON says,
I fully support the LRT and all the potential spin off benefits that come with it. This could be great for Hamilton and Ontario.
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Aaron Dyck says,
While I do not generally use public transit, an investment in infrastructure is never a bad idea for any municipality. The cancellation of funding for the LRT in Hamilton will only undermine the city's ability to continue to compete in a global economy. The ability of citizens to move around freely is only a small piece of the puzzle. Replacing aging infrastructure, such as the sewer system and roadways, is critical to ensure that the city of Hamilton can grow in the future.
The City of Hamilton has already spent a large chunk of money on this project, and there needs to be accountability from the Office of the Premier and the Provincial Government.
The final point I would like to make is that this signals that the Province of Ontario is not open for business. Increased infrastructure spending is a cornerstone of growth. By pulling the infrastructure spending you are signaling to investors that the Province doesn't see itself having the funding to go with an economic boom that should come from corporate growth.
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Abigail Veenstra says,
All the buildings purchased for this and the struggle Hamilton has gone through will mean nothing if you take this! Please bring it back!
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Don Hanzel says,
We have to get better transit in Hamilton you’re setting us back a decade ! You can’t blame this on the “socialist” of Hamilton you should be making this better
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Ruchu Adhikary says,
We need a LRT to have a cleaner greener Hamilton. Toronto is unaffordable, we need Hamilton to grow and attract more businesses. Being an old city it has many infrastructure available. Instead of recreating a new city. Why doesn’t Ontario government work on improving the existing cities for people to live and work in.
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Andrew McMaster says,
You waited until the 11th hour. With everything that's been done already it pretty much needs to be done now!
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