Horwath calls for release of Hamilton LRT cancellation costs

QUEEN’S PARK — Doug Ford is planning to pay those who were preparing bids on the Hamilton LRT contract, even though he’s scrapped it. Now Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition New Democrats, wants to know how much it’s going to cost to cancel the Hamilton LRT.

“More than $180 million in public money has already gone into the Hamilton LRT, along with an untold amount of private investment from developments counting on the LRT,” said Horwath. “The people of Ontario deserve to know how much more of their money Doug Ford is planning to spend to scrap the plan for this vital piece of transit infrastructure.”

The Ford government quickly posted a notice online Monday letting bidders know they’ll get paid a Break Fee for their work bidding on the cancelled project.

“The NDP and I are going to fight like hell to save the Hamilton LRT,” said Horwath. “When you consider the hundreds of millions of dollars wasted by cancelling this project, plus the billions of dollars in lost economic opportunity — it’s clear that Doug Ford isn’t just hurting families, commuters and students, he’s attacking Hamilton’s economy.”

Ford has repeatedly cancelled or even torn down major infrastructure projects, often paying out massive amounts of public dollars to do so, and resulting in wasted private investment.

Ford scrapped planned expansions to three university campuses in the GTA — the Ryerson and Sheridan campus in Brampton, the York and Seneca campus in Markham, and a Wilfred Laurier and Conestoga campus in Milton.

• Ford ripped up over 700 Green Energy contracts costing Ontario $231 million dollars.
• Ford cancelled the 50 Million Trees Program after saplings had been planted.
• Ford scrapped plans to build 800 units of affordable rental housing in Etobicoke.
• Ford cancelled funding for a cultural community hub in Lawrence Heights.
• Ford scrapped and re-drew the Ontario subway Relief Line, wasting years of planning and millions of dollars.
• Ford ripped electric vehicle charging stations out of the ground at GO station parking lots.