Ontario Premier Doug Ford attended a Hamilton-Burlington summit on the economy on Tuesday.
Protesters gathered chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, Doug Ford has got to go.” Ford’s environmental controversies went before him.
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Protesters told CHCH News, “We need food, we need food as much as we need housing and everything else, if we continue to build on farmland we won’t have any.” And, “I’m really concerned about my grandkids and what’s happening to this province. You know the paving over green spaces.”
But, Ford avoided the protesters to focus on the economy with business leaders. “Last year Ontario was recognized as the most competitive place to do business in Canada.”
Terry Caddo from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce said, “We need to train more employees and bring more people in the area and create more affordable housing so people can afford to live in the Hamilton Burlington area.”
Ford stressed the importance of transit after hearing from Hamilton Mayor, Andrea Horwath. One of the key points the premier made was on Hamilton’s LRT.
“We’re gonna get this thing built,” Ford said.
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“This is what I hear all the time as the mayor. When’s it coming, is it still coming? When’s it coming? So we’ve seen some progress,” Horwath said.
Horwath says she spoke to Ford before his speech about the need for movement on the LRT.
The rapid transit list was first approved as far back as 2015 but hasn’t been built.
Horwath says it was important to hear from the premier, “I think the premier’s commitment, his acknowledgment, his support as the premier of this province toward our LRT and making sure we get it done speaks volumes. And that’s what people need to know and folks who are investing in the downtown need to know.”
Business leaders say the LRT is critical. Greg Dunnett from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce said, “it is such an important part of connecting all corners of our city and also supporting the development of our downtown.”
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The city now wants to see the province ask for bids on the construction of the LRT.
The project that started with a price of $1 billion is now up to at least $3.4 billion.
The completion date for the LRT is 2028 and Horwath says the longer it takes the higher the price goes.