Hamilton LRT rumours renewed ahead of ‘infrastructure’ announcement

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Published December 10, 2020 at 4:45 pm

A media advisory was sent out Thursday (Dec. 10) just before 3:30 p.m. regarding an “Infrastructure Canada announcement in Hamilton.”

The announcement will take place virtually on Friday (Dec. 11) at 9 a.m. here: youtube.com/insidecityofhamilton

No further details were provided but it did not stop speculation from running rampant.

Hamilton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) project by Metrolinx was presumed dead after it was cancelled by Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation in Dec. 2019—which claimed the former Liberal government under Kathleen Wynne was not upfront about the real cost of the $1-billion LRT.

Ontario’s Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk said Monday (Dec. 7) that “the $5.5-billion cost estimate reported by the minister of transportation in December 2019, when the project was cancelled, was reasonable.”

While Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger welcomed the auditor general’s determination, he issued a statement, saying, “What is not reasonable is the Minister of Transportation cancelling a project’s procurement process prior to its completion and prior to speaking with private sector and third-party partners who indicated their interest in assisting the funding of both capital and operational costs of the LRT.”

There has been no indication from any level of government that Friday’s announcement is related to Hamilton’s LRT project; however, the timing is curious.

On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said, “one way or another we’re going to get the [Hamilton] LRT built.”

Meanwhile, Metrolinx sent out a notice in early December regarding the demolition of 21 of the 60 vacant buildings purchased “for the former LRT project” in Hamilton. The company stated that it was being done “in the interest of public safety.”

Eisenberger will be attending Friday’s announcement. As will the Canadian Minister of Labour and Hamilton MP, Filomena Tassi and Donna Skelly, Hamilton MPP and assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Tassi will be attending on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. Skelly will be attending on behalf of Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure.

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