Horwath celebrates Hamilton LRT, recommits to cover 50% of operating costs

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who represents the riding of Hamilton Centre, released the following statement in response to Thursday’s funding and re-instatement of the Hamilton LRT project Doug Ford scrapped in 2019:

“The Hamilton LRT is a project that’s good for jobs, good for building our city and helping our downtown flourish, good for local businesses and the economy, good for the environment and good for commuters. I want to thank and celebrate everyone who fought to un-do Doug Ford’s callous choice to scrap the Hamilton LRT project. Hamiltonians deserve this investment, and all the good that will come along with it.

Construction of the Hamilton LRT was scheduled to begin in 2020. When Doug Ford ripped this project off the rails, he set us back by years. He didn’t want to spend the money on Hamilton. He didn’t want to invest in Hamilton’s future. He was wrong.

I believe the Province of Ontario should cover 50 per cent of the operating costs for municipal transit. I’ve been fighting for that for years, and an NDP government would finally do it – removing another barrier to great, affordable, economy-building transit.

Now, let’s get shovels in the ground on the LRT Hamilton deserves.”