‘He wants an LRT, he’s going to get an LRT’

Ford says Eisenberger won election on light-rail mandate

Premier Doug Ford says Hamilton remains on track to “get an LRT” thanks to the decisive municipal election win by Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

When asked about the $1-billion light-rail project at a news conference Wednesday, Ford said he plans to sit down with Eisenberger to talk about it before the holidays.

“He was democratically elected, and when people democratically elect someone — he wants an LRT, he’s going to get an LRT,” Ford said in Niagara, where the province announced West Lincoln hospital funding.

Ford called the contentious project a “real, real tough issue in Hamilton because the city’s almost split if they want an LRT or not. But I go back to democracy — someone gets elected, let ’em govern,” he said.

The previous Liberal provincial government promised $1 billion to build an LRT line in the Main-King corridor. But Ford campaigned on a vow to let Hamilton use LRT money for other infrastructure if a new council decided to axe the contentious transit project.

Metrolinx froze spending on land for Hamilton’s LRT line shortly after the Progressive Conservative government was elected in May. The agency confirmed Wednesday that the spending freeze remains.

Ford did not address the specific question about when or if the province would lift the spending freeze. It remains unclear if the government is waiting for a formal vote of council to address the still-vague offer to use LRT money for other projects.

At least five anti-LRT councillors were elected in October, with several more publicly on the fence about the project. Unless a councillor puts forward a motion to revisit LRT or its funding, the next time council is slated to vote on the project would be when an operating agreement is proposed.

Eisenberger won re-election with more than 50 per cent of the vote and declared the result an unofficial “referendum” on the project. He called Ford’s comments Wednesday a “heartening” recognition of the “strong mandate” he received during the election in support of the 14kilometre light-rail line.

Hamilton’s chamber of commerce also trumpeted Ford’s comments as a “commitment to LRT” in a release Wednesday. “It’s clear to me that Premier Ford is committed to making the province, including Hamilton, open for business,” said president Keanin Loomis.

Eisenberger says he is looking forward to meeting with the premier to “cement” provincial support “and formally send that signal to anyone who needs it that we are full-steam ahead.”

He expressed hope the premier’s apparent support will allow Metrolinx to start spending on land again — and reassure the three consortiums who may have “slowed” work on bids.

The mayor said he doesn’t have a scheduled date to meet with Ford, “but if he calls I’m willing to be there (at Queen’s Park) tomorrow.”

The Ministry of Transportation has repeatedly circulated a statement vowing the Tory government “will be there with funding for transit or infrastructure, whether it is for the $1-billion LRT project or other projects that Hamilton council wants.”