Terry Whitehead's LRT press conference derailed by councillor, protestor

What started as a lone Hamilton city councillor holding his own light rail transit (LRT) press conference devolved into a debacleThursday when another councillor intervened followed bya rogue LRT protestor who securityguards had to remove from the building.

Despite what he might claim, nobody has elected him mayor.- Coun. Matthew Green

Terry Whitehead, Ward 8 councillor, made a statement about the $1 billion LRT plan, which as of Feb. 2 includes A line bus rapid transit (BRT) to the airport.

The province keeps "unilaterally" changing the plan, Whitehead said. He's ponderingasking the Auditor General to investigate Hamilton's LRT plan "to ensure that taxpayers are being protected."

When he finished, Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor and LRT supporter, immediately stepped up to the podium, saying he was going to hold a press conference.If Whitehead canuse a city podium as ifhe was speaking on behalf of council, Green said, then he can too.

"We had a long debate around ward boundary reform, and I am not clear in that debate where Coun. Whitehead was elected mayor and given the opportunity to speak on behalf of the majority of council," Green said.

"The fact is this council voted 40 plus times for (LRT)."

I want to make sure the process we've embarked on to lead us to this point has been beyond reproach.- Coun. Terry Whitehead

As Green spoke, Edward Graydon jumped in front of him to announce his own plan to run for election.

"If you don't want LRT in 2018, vote for me, Edward Graydon," he said.

"Vote me in and you'll be the happiest damn city in the world."

Green kept speaking, and Graydon interrupted. "You're only going to make this city great again when I'm in."

"Really?" Green said. "'Make Hamilton great again?' Can we bring insecurity now?"

Green said afterward he wants to investigate whether Whitehead should be censured under the councillor code of conduct

"He has no direction from council," Green said. "He does not speak on behalf of council. Despite what he might claim, nobody has elected him mayor."

Whitehead says he's entitled to question the project to upper levels of government.

"I have an incumbent responsibility to ensure that the taxpayers of this community and the taxpayers of this province are protected from decisions. I want to make sure the process we've embarked on to lead us to this point has been beyond reproach."

This isn't the first time someone has accused Whitehead of overstepping his bounds.

Last year, he wrote to Premier Kathleen Wynne asking to meet about LRT. He also sent questions toTransportation Minister Steven Del Duca. Mayor Fred Eisenberger called it "unusual" and "attention getting." Others had no issue with it.

Overall, Whitehead worries about declining transit ridership, slowing population growth and unknown costs, among other concerns.

Green says Whitehead voted last year to ask the province for A line rapid transit to happen concurrently with B line LRT, which will run from McMaster University to the Queenstontraffic circle.

Sam Merulla, Ward 4 councillor and LRT supporter, agrees with Whitehead on at least one point he welcomes the Auditor General's involvement.

"Any timewe have independent third party oversight on a project of this magnitude, it provides checks and balances," he said. "I think it's a great idea."

Metrolinx is building LRT with city input. Crews will break ground in 2019, with a planned 2024 launch.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC