The LRT and GO issues are sounding like a bit of a soap
opera. We’ll randomly fill in the role of the protagonist and antagonist, for
the purposes of the narrative, but you can easily swap these roles and change
the narrative to suit your own perspective.
In this episode, our protagonist, Ryan McGreal and the LRT
lobby are rapidly gaining registered support, which reportedly now exceeds 600
people and climbing. In the meantime,
Clr. Brad Clark seeks to convince council to confirm full funding from the province for the capital
costs of the two long planned LRT lines. But not everyone is happy and some of
his peers warn that they are asking a question at the wrong time. But most councilors
support the need for clarification.
At the conclusion of the episode, just as you thought it was
time to turn the channel, our antagonist, Mayor Bratina makes a surprise
announcement that the province will fund all the necessary capital for the new
planned Go stations and service upgrade.
Will this surprise offer any comfort to Hamiltonians who may
be worried about the costs of all day GO? Will the LRT lobby
and those who believe that LRT and GO are not mutually exclusive and equal
priorities, find their way through this latest additional information?
Tune in for the next episode, of As the LRT GOs, Twists and
Turns. In the interim, feel free to suggest plots, story lines and speculations as to what might happen next. Please keep it respectful.
Note: The Hamiltonian does not subscribe to the belief that
the Mayor is an antagonist, or that the LRT lobby are the protagonists.
Descriptions are included to facilitate a light hearted but informative way of
describing the developments on a serious set of issues. We'll probably switch the roles, next episode- just to keep it balanced. Note- We doubt we'll be able to broadcast these episodes in High Definition ;-)
LOL. Thanks for the chuckle and good information. Making my commute to TO enjoyable this morning. Go all day Go!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is better that reading into and/or listening to all the nitty gritty blah, blah, blah. Can't wait for the finale "the train stops here!".
ReplyDeleteFun and insightful read.
Lin
The "surprise announcement" is nice, but I'd be more reassured if the Premier had offered the verbal assurance along with a written breakdown. We've seen enough improvised policy and speaking out of turn on smaller issues. If GO expansion costs go sideways, we could be looking at two more commitments the size of the Pan Am Stadium. Surely we can cajole some of our friendly Liberal officials to issue a press release to reiterate the promise the mayor has made by proxy. Maybe also get some specificity on the province's gas tax thinking. Howard Elliott at the Spec has suggested that "The Liberals would entrench the policy of making two cents a litre from the gas tax dedicated to transit infrastructure," but that could mean that cities get less and that it the two cents gets rolled into the Metrolinx budget… so that the city gets a smaller gas tax stipend and the HSR is potentially further starved. The devil is in the details. This council may or may not be around in 2015 to answer for the verbal assurances of 2011.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree that the verbal assurance from this mayor is fine as far as the credibility of that individual goes.
ReplyDeleteIn my view. something a little more firm from the province would be welcome.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention - I also really enjoyed how this particular item was written and introduced. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lin and Brian. I enjoyed the format and got a good update. I dont believe much around the campaigning season . Anyone will say anything to get elected or re elected.
ReplyDeleteI think you got the protagonist antagonist line up correct. :) Mr. McGreal is a unpaid citizen volunteer who has a passion for the best possible transit outcome for our city. Mayor Bratina, is a fully paid civil servant that is pandering to provincial politics and has bypassed our elected official's due process. Our city's antagonist has made nearly a quarter billion dollars worth of 'surprise announcements' everyone of which should NEVER have been a surprise to our council and staff under any circumstances.
ReplyDelete