Light Rail

Suspension Of LRT Initiative Activities Is Undemocratic

By Adrian Duyzer
Published July 18, 2011

Bob Bratina has taken the reins of a city in transition.

Walk the streets of the downtown and you can feel the transformation that is under way. It's a transition that is largely driven by Hamilton's citizens. It's a transition that is on the cusp of something truly great - and to get there, it needs to be more than just Hamilton's citizens driving it forward. It needs to be Hamilton's leadership too.

Right now, the single biggest opportunity to transform Hamilton into a new kind of city is light rail transit. Right now, Mayor Bratina is trying to kill that project.

LRT is critically important to Hamilton's future. It enjoys an unusually broad base of support, counting among its boosters the Chamber of Commerce, the Home Builders Association, the Realtors Association, the Jobs Prosperity Collaborative, numerous developers and various neighbourhood associations.

To attempt to squash this project is nothing short of a catastrophe.

To attempt to halt this project by suspending it without any such directive from Council is nothing short of undemocratic.

Council supported LRT and Council directed staff to study it. Any decision to suspend work on the project must be made by Council. Hamiltonians have the most to gain from this project, and the most to lose if it fails to move forward. We need to be consulted, and the best way for that to happen is in an open Council session.

I know that Council has been working hard on its image and on maintaining harmony and a unified message. That can't be allowed to jeopardize this project. If ever there was a time for fractious disharmony in the interests of this great city, that time is now.

Adrian Duyzer is an entrepreneur, business owner, and Associate Editor of Raise the Hammer. He lives in downtown Hamilton with his family. On Twitter: adriandz

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By H+H (registered) - website | Posted July 19, 2011 at 08:44:13

Could Chris Murray decide, independent of Council, to stop pursuing the City's lawsuit against the Federal government related to RHVP Certainly, he knows the file. Would it be acceptable for him to announce to Council via an email sent just before the weekend that said,

“I have made a decision to suspend all current direct and indirect activities of the RHVP-related legal case against the Federal government other than any work activities required to be completed as per legal counsel.”

I'd like to think not, but doesn't it look as if Mr. Murray has decided he runs the show now. OK, I don't actually believe that, any more than I believe he wrote the email without any help.

Back to you Councillors. What do you think of Mr. Murray's seemingly independent decision? If you like it, I suggest you step down in a mass demonstration of cost cutting. Hail Emperor Murray!

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