Brampton mayor may seek referendum on LRT

Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey says a referendum might be the way to decide on a future route for a proposed $1.6 billion LRT

Thestar.com
Sept. 8, 2015
By San Grewal

Mayor Linda Jeffrey is dismissing the mediation process she once supported to find an acceptable LRT route in the city and wants to instead call a referendum on the issue.

But not before she tries to force a council vote on the route she has aggressively pushed for: the Metrolinx-approved alignment along Main St.

Jeffrey told council in a statement last week that she was removing herself from last Wednesday’s council decision to hire a facilitator because one of the applicants lobbied her for the job.

“I am seriously concerned with the integrity of this process - I believe it wouldn’t stand up to public scrutiny and could successfully be challenged in the future,” her statement said.

It also said she plans to call a council vote Sept. 16 on the LRT, although it’s not clear what exactly the vote would be on. “If at that time this council indicates it is not willing or unable to vote on this issue,” the statement says, Jeffrey will seek to hold a city-wide referendum. It’s not clear what the exact question would be or how much a referendum would cost.

Jeffrey’s office said the mayor would not be available Tuesday to answer questions from the Star.

The LRT issue has divided the city. Those in favour of the route Jeffrey and the Liberal government have championed - a straight shot up Main St. to the city’s downtown GO station - say the city’s share of the $1.6-billion funding commitment from Queen’s Park to cover the cost of the entire Hurontario-Main LRT could be put in jeopardy by rejecting it. Jeffrey is a former Liberal MPP and cabinet minister.

Those opposed say Jeffrey is ignoring transit studies that show there isn’t enough ridership along the proposed route and that environmental restrictions prevent future growth along the corridor. They want an alternative route for the Brampton part of the LRT - which lies mostly in Mississauga - that they say would better serve Brampton commuters.

To settle the issue, council approved hiring a facilitator to mediate.

Lee Parsons, of planning and urban design consulting firm Malone Given Parsons, was hired and will charge at least $54,000 for the job. But he faces an extremely tight deadline if he is to finish before the Sept. 16 meeting.

Councillor Michael Palleschi, who called for the facilitation process at the end of a marathon LRT meeting in July, took aim at Jeffrey’s leadership on the issue.

“The facilitation process, as far as I am concerned, is an attempt to find a consensus position our council could support with a meaningful majority; a position that truly reflected what our residents and businesses are telling us. I am disappointed the mayor did not take a more active leadership role in this, considering her support of the motion on July 8. In fact, her actions seem directed at undermining a process that a majority of her council agreed to support,” he told the Star.

Palleschi said the process of choosing a facilitator followed all the rules and described Jeffrey’s call for a referendum - which he said might not even be allowed - as a “hail Mary pass,” a desperate move with little chance of success. He estimated the cost of a referendum at $1.5 million.

Palleschi also questioned Jeffrey’s lack of engagement with council and those who oppose her on the issue.

“It is difficult to lead when you’re not even in the room contributing to the discussion. Removing herself from the public debate - due to a specious declaration of conflict of interest - is not a sign of strong leadership,” Palleschi said. “It gives the clear impression our mayor has no real interest in achieving a council-approved solution that is best for the future of Brampton.”