City council LRT decision deserves respect
THE SPECTATOR’S VIEW
Relief. Relief that Hamilton city council found the collective will to come together and make a decision that will benefit the community in the future. To take advantage of the biggest provincial infrastructure investment in the city’s history. Relief that the LRT decision should mean a break from the endless rancour and divisiveness that has characterized the issue.
We really have to do better on that front. Advocates and critics alike have to ease up on the aggression toward one another and councillors. Stop comparing LRT and its supporters to a deadly disease. Stop referring to anti-LRT citizens as flat-earthers. Hyperbole like this is toxic.
Council made the right decision. That’s especially hard for politicians who are typically very sensitive to constituent opinion. On LRT, it’s split and entrenched and councillors felt the full fury on both sides. They had to debate and decide on an issue that won’t deliver overnight benefits. Many of the most dramatic and tangible benefits of LRT and the BLAST network won’t be felt as much by this generation as the next and the one after that. It’s easy to talk vision, not so easy to act on it when there is short-term pain, and you have furious citizens on both sides threatening you won’t be re-elected unless you vote their way.
Can we expect relative harmony now? Not likely. Even with important voices — councillors Chad Collins and Terry Whitehead among them — moving to the pro side, there are people on council and in the community who will continue to try to derail the project. For the anti-councillors, we suggest they follow the advice of Collins, Stoney Creek Coun. Doug Conley and others: Respect the will of council. You made your case and the decision didn’t go your way. Your job now should be to heal divisions and promote unity.
All councillors need to come together and ensure Hamilton gets the best from the $1 billion investment. That’s going to require tough negotiations with the provincial transportation agency. But for today, the goal of realizing next-stage public transit for Hamilton has taken an important step forward. Bravo.