Doug Ford committed to LRT, anti-gang funding, mayor says

Ottawa's mayor says Ontario Premier Doug Ford is committed to funding LRT and anti-gang efforts in the capital,and seemsopen to giving municipalities some say in the location of pot shops.

Ford met with seven Ontario mayors, including Jim Watson, at Queen's Park on Monday.

After a city committee meeting Tuesday, Watson said Ford was clear the province is going to fund its portion of the next extensions to Ottawa's light rail line, a commitment firstmade by the previous Liberal government.

"I have great comfort we have all the funding," Watson said.

The second phase includes 24 new stations and extends LRTeast to Trim Road by 2022, west to Algonquin College and Moodie Drive by 2023, and south to the airport and Riverside Southby 2021.

Watson said helet Ford know the first phase of the city's LRTsystem isexpected to open by March 31, 2019, andextended an invitationto both him and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be among the first to ride the train onceit's ready.

Requesting $8-9Mfor gangs

Watson said police Chief Charles Bordeleauhas requested $8 to $9 million to tackle gang activity and gun violence in Ottawa, roughly equivalent per capita to the $25 million the province gave to Toronto for this.

• Ontario will spend $25M to combat gun violence in Toronto

Watson said he's been assuredthe money is coming.

"We're in line to get our fair share," he said.

Watson also said Ford seemed open to the idea ofgivingcity councils some sort of saywiththe Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which is in charge with approving cannabis store locations.

• Jim Watson wants cities to have more power over pot stores
• Ottawa should opt into pot shops, city staff say

"It would be nice to have a little bit of say," Watson said."Not a veto, but if a city has a legitimate concern about a particular pot shop in a particular location, we should have some say because we know our community better than an agency in Toronto."

The shops are due to open April 1, 2019.