Do you support Hamilton's plan to build an east-west light rail transit line with full provincial capital funding? If so, how will you ensure the project is funded? - Raise the Hammer Elections

← Back to Election Page

In This Page:

Candidate Responses
Response Summary
Candidates Who Have Not Responded

4 Candidate Responses (top)

Hamilton Centre
Candidate	Brief Response	Full Response
Bob Mann	Yes	Yes, but it is very important that the entire funding comes from the province so there is no financial burden or accumulated debt for the residents of Hamilton. It is also important that the system be operated by the HSR under public ownership and control and that the employees be represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Donna Tiqui-Shebib	Yes	The Ontario Liberal government has pledged to fund 100 per cent of base capital costs of bringing Rapid Transit to Hamilton. This is a really significant investment in our city, and one that I'm incredibly proud of. As someone who has built a business in the heart of downtown Hamilton, I personally support an east - west LRT line. The provincial commitment is 100 per cent funding for whatever transit system our partners at City Hall ultimately decide.
John Vail	No	Thanks for the questions but in my opinion they are better directed to municipal candidates as the questions relate directly to municipal issues and not to provincial issues which are jobs, the provincial economy, the provincial deficit, provincial debt reduction, and lower provincial taxes
Peter Ormond	Yes	Of course!!! Who doesn't? 99% do. We've been talking about Hamilton's LRT system for decades! Time to act on it, and now. This will relieve traffic congestion, slow us down, save us lots of $$$, build neighbourhoods, get cars off our roads, and allow the City of Hamilton to develop at the grassroots level, community by community. Plus we have a few things like climate change, urban sprawl and peak oil that can't be ignored any longer. The project will be funded in a variety of ways. A conversation is required to generate the exact numbers, but at this point, we can't afford to pass the need for a mass transit system onto the next generation. Mechanisms to generate funds include a gas tax, parking fees, congestion fees, tolls, etc. Let's face it; people understand that these systems cost money. They also understand the benefits, including an improved quality of life, environment and reduced road maintenance expenses that will be involved. The savings for users will dwarf the cumulative expenses of continuing with the system as it. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road is going to reduce the mounting costs of paving and repaving roads. It's time to rethink the system! Imagine a city with fewer paves surfaces? It's inevitable. We can continue to choose the outdated 'pave-everything' habits, or use our ability to rethink and revitalize our communities through fresh approaches. With the LRT comes calmer traffic, and the ability to integrate with other active modes of transport including walking, cycling and biking. Ironically, the City of Hamilton just approved the largest urban boundary expansion in Hamilton history to develop farmland around the airport. Notice the irony? The airport, on city land, is privately operated and does NOT pay any tax on the city land used. The airport is focused on the external market, and supports the most inefficient mode of transportation - air flight. We need some of the greedy individuals in town to develop some wisdom and to start realizing that life is about what you give, not what you get. Imagine if we shifted our priorities to projects in the community that benefit the citizens? That's why we need to start voting a new Green direction. The Greens would also like to develop local RRSP bonds that can be used to invest in local infrastructure.

Response Summary (top)

Brief Response	Count	% of Total
Yes	3	75.0%
No	1	25.0%
Maybe	0	0.0%

2 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Hamilton Centre
Andrea Horwath
Peter Melanson