Ontario LRT backers protest Toronto mayor’s stance

Reacting to plans by Toronto’s new mayor to abandon light rail transit expansion efforts in Canada's largest city, protesters gathered December 5 in Waterloo, Ontario, southwest of Toronto, in a “Rally for Rails” to voice support for the C$790 million “Transit City” plan and to defend LRT development planned not just for Toronto but for other nearby municipalities.

“We needed to make sure that (council members) heard loud and clear, not just what they got on the doorsteps from whoever was home when they managed to knock, but we needed to make sure that we showed there was really strong support for light-rail in Waterloo Region,” said Tim Mollison, a rally organizer from the Tri-Cities Transport Action Group.

Organizers pointedly noted it was no coincidence the rally was held a day before city councils around Waterloo region are sworn into office. “We want to make sure that Waterloo city council, Kitchener city council, and the incoming regional council are well aware that light rail is still supported,” Mollison clarified.

Support from elected officials include Kitchener, Ontario Mayor Carl Zehr, Regional Chair Ken Seiling and Kitchener Centre Member of Provincial Parliament John Milloy. Milloy told those at the rally that Ontario had committed C$300 million to the Transit City project. Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran did not attend.

One outright opponent at the rally, John Shortreed, professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of Waterloo, handed out anti-LRT pamphlets arguing for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Shortreed’s emphasis was disputed by one handmade sign at the rally that declared: “BRT is a Band aid solution.”