LRT will move Hamilton forward in possible recession, mayor says

Hamilton's mayor says he hopeslight rail transit (LRT) will help keep the city afloat duringa North American recession that some economists say could come as soon as 2020.

Fred Eisenberger said in his inaugural address Monday that the system will bring "thousands of construction jobs" and that those workers will be buying groceries, trucks and appliances here. This comes as some economists predict a U.S. recession in as early as two years.

"The LRT project will inject millions of dollars into our local economy," he said. "In other words, LRT is a way to buffer us from a recession. It is a way to recession-proof our community."

Eisenberger made the comments during the first meeting of the new council. He also described his robust October election win as a mandate for LRT. Construction is due to start in late 2019.

To anti-LRT councillors, however, Eisenberger'sglowing LRT comments were a bit of a leap.

"The mayor has every right to feel that way" was all Tom Jackson would say. Jackson is a soft supporter of LRT and signed the oath of office Monday for the eighth time in his 31-year career.

Maria Pearson, long-time Ward 10 (lower Stoney Creek) councillor, didn't see the election as an LRT mandate.

"He has his direction," she said. "There are 16 around the table, including him."

Chad Collins, longtime Ward 5 (Red Hill) councillor and conditional LRT supporter, is still skeptical the province is willing to pay for the $1-billion project. "I would still be surprised whether all the resources are there."

Eisenberger stressedin his speech that council has to think of Hamilton as one city. Some projects only seem to impact one area, he said. But we have to look beyond that.

"If we build a recreation centre in Glanbrook, or a splash pad on the Mountain, we do that knowing that residents of other parts of Hamilton will never use them," he said.

But "when it comes to a large city-building project, we must look beyond the immediate community to the good of the community as a whole."

Newcomer John-Paul Danko of Ward 8 (central Mountain) agrees. "I trying not to nod my head too much," he said.

Danko is one of five new arrivals. Maureen Wilson represents Ward 1 (west end), Nrinder Nann Ward 3 (central lower city) and Esther Pauls Ward 7 (central Mountain). Brad Clark is representing Ward 9 (upper Stoney Creek) after a term away.

Bagpipe players led a procession into the council chambers before council members swore an oath of office.

Danko said it was a heavy moment.

"Coming in with the honour guard and the bagpipes brought everything home," he said. "The weight of the responsibility."

Nann said it was powerful and moving.

"I was thinking about my family and my community," she said, "and the importance and the responsibility of signing that piece of paper."

Council also ratified who would sit on which committees and advisory boards. This had already been pre-determined behind the scenes.

Eisenberger, Collins and Jackson will sit on the police services board.

Pauls, Judi Partridge (Ward 15) and Jason Farr (Ward 2) will sit on the waterfront trust. Clark, Collins, Pauls, Lloyd Ferguson (Ward 12) andJackson will sit onthe Hamilton Conservation Authority board.