A forum on LRT
Posted May 10, 2011 05:39:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Kitchener residents will get a chance to learn about rapid transit during a forum hosted by city council.
The decision followed a lengthy debate that saw five councillors bow out of the discussion based on conflicts of interest. Those conflicts were declared on the basis of property ownership near proposed LRT stations for either councillors or their families. It left only six members of council to debate and vote on the motion.
That motion, tabled by Ward 9 councillor Frank Etherington, read:
WHEREAS recognizing that the final decision on the Regional issue of rapid
transit will be made in mid-June by Regional councillors; and,
WHEREAS, Kitchener taxpayers have an ongoing, high interest in any future
transit method selected to serve the City;
BE IT RESOLVED that Kitchener councillors hold a public meeting to discuss the
subject and its potential impact on the city before the vote takes place at
Regional Council.
But even Etherington, whose downtown home is within 800 metres of a proposed LRT station, had to declare a conflict of interest. Ward 1 councillor Scott Davey took ownership of the motion from there.
In an interview with 570 News, Davey said he felt strongly about the need for such a discussion.
“The reality is that there are a lot of people who don’t actively engage themselves in the process,” Davey explained. “And by virtue of the fact we go door-to-door trying to get elected, we heard from a lot more constituents whose voices might never be heard.”
Both Davey and Etherington were newly elected to Kitchener council last fall. For his part, Etherington grudgingly declared a conflict of interest, saying he felt “intimidated by the law.”
The motion passed by a vote of 5-1 with the lone dissenting voice belonging to Mayor Carl Zehr. He was insistent that the vote against was a vote on principle and not an attempt to prevent Kitchener residents from having their voices heard on such an important issue.
“I am encouraging Kitchener citizens to go to where the decision will be made, and that is at the regional council,” Zehr noted.
The five conflicts of interest declared last night in Kitchener bring to nine the total number of conflicts now declared on the rapid transit issue. Councillors Rob Deutschmann, Doug Craig and Tom Galloway have declared conflicts of interest at the regional level, along with Chair Ken Seiling.
It’s a sore spot for Davey, who admits it’s very frustrating to see so many of his colleagues in Kitchener remain silent in the debate.
“Basically what it means is that (for) half the citizens of Kitchener, their councillor is not going to have input on this decision,” Davey stated. “To Councillor Etherington’s point, it’s a little ridiculous that they’re taking such extreme measures.”
No date has been set for the forum in Kitchener. Regional council is scheduled to make its final decision on rapid transit on June 15th.
