Elections

Council has voted dozens of times since 2008 to advance Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) project, including voting to submit the plan with a full funding request to the Province in 2013, and voting to accept full funding and implementation from the Province in 2015. Do you support completing the LRT plan? Why or why not?

Responses to the question: "Council has voted dozens of times since 2008 to advance Hamilton's light rail transit (LRT) project, including voting to submit the plan with a full funding request to the Province in 2013, and voting to accept full funding and implementation from the Province in 2015. Do you support completing the LRT plan? Why or why not?"

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5 Candidate Responses (top)

Ward 02
CandidateBrief ResponseFull Response
Daljeet, Suresh Venodh Yes Yes, we needed the LRT 10 years ago. It will bring business and development, infrastructure upgrades, create jobs and encourage people to move here.
Farr, Jason Yes Yes. The record shows my support on countless occasions in both debate and through many of the approx., 60 motions we have delivered over the last 8 years. I needn’t elaborate on all of the very sound reasons for this game-changing project, but hi-lite the four themes of City Building (approx. 1 billion of development is occurring in our downtown from LRT supportive investors), Environment (this is a much more environmentally friendly mode of transport), Infrastructure Upgrades (long due on much of this route, with LRT comes a major transformation both above and below ground, and complete streets, (King Street essentially becomes localized and undoubtably, much safer).
Kroetsch, Cameron Yes Yes, I support completing the plan. Those who have written for Raise the Hammer over the past 5 years have articulated excellent reasons to support LRT in great detail already so, in summary, I offer my high-level reasons for continuing to be #YesLRT.

Light Rail Transit will mean:

● New development and a new property tax base as a result of this development

● Extension of the life of existing infrastructure including sewers and watermains that are in desperate need of repair

● Environmental improvements through the reduction of car and truck traffic

● Funding from the provincial government which will alleviate our infrastructure deficit and allow us to catch up on other projects across the city

● Beginning our plan to implement the BLAST transit network
Smith, Nicole Yes It is vital for many, many reasons, especially environmental, job creation, and development investment.
Tennant, Mark Maybe I can honestly say that I have struggled with this issue since putting my name on the ballot on June 21st. I have studied both sides extensively and read your piece supporting the LRT. At the end of the day, what matters to me is that we get it right. Born and raised here, I am hesitant to say that I am all in but I do recognize that we must evolve as a city. I do have concerns with the privatization of the LRT. If history has taught us anything, "throw caution to the wind." I read the public Q and A and was surprised to find that there are many questions unanswered. This concerns me from a business management perspective. I support the LRT if it means that we answer all questions, unite both sides, and consider the construction in stages over time. There are so many unknown variables. You mentioned in your article about area rating, "a house divided". It feels like that with the LRT plan. "Can we unite and get it right". Sounds like a great slogan to me!

Response Summary (top)

Brief ResponseCount% of Total
Yes480.0%
No00.0%
Maybe120.0%

3 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Ward 02
Chiarelli, Diane
Unsworth, James
Vail, John