Hamilton's $1B for LRT is only for this project: McMeekin

Ted McMeekin saysHamilton is getting $1 billion for its light rail transit (LRT)plan, and ifcity council wants it for a differenttransit plan, it has to ask for money all over again and it may or may not get it.

The provincial funding for Hamilton's LRTproject is no different than applying to build a hospital, says the Liberal Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale MPP.

If you want to build an arena instead, you have to reapply for the money all over again. And seven cities are already in line for the transit money Hamilton is currently debating.

I remember the angry days when people were screaming at the province to get off its derriere and get this done.- Ted McMeekin

McMeekin made the comments at a government announcement at LIUNA station Monday.

"If you decide you want to build a hospital, for example, and you get a billion dollars in funding, and then you decide you want to build an arena somewhere, that's a different project and you have to go back to the drawing board," he said.

The fate of Hamilton's $1 billion LRT allocation if the city rejects the projectis a key question heading into a critical council vote Wednesday. Some members of city council say Hamilton accepts it for LRT or loses it. Those opposed say that rejecting LRT is not rejecting a $1 billion investment the money will come back around again for other uses.

McMeekintried to dispel any confusion or uncertainty.

"The billion dollars was for and let me make this categorically clear the light rail transit project," he said.

"If they have another plan down the road, they'll have to make another request."

• Hamilton seems poised to reject $1B, and it's 'a kick in the groin'

In doing so, he said, Hamilton will compete with seven other cities asking for money for rapid transit projects.

However, McMeekin did concede that the idea of returning to the original plan of a line extending as far east as Eastgate Square would be considered part of the existing plan and wouldn't force the city to the back of the line.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the city is choosing to accept a $1 billion Metrolinx project, not being given a $1 billion blank cheque.

"It's not Hamilton's money," he said. "It's the province's $1 billion."

McMeekin said the allocation is specifically for this project, which the city requested the province fund. If the city wants money for another transit project, it goes to the back of the line to request the province fund it.

"We had the debate in Hamilton over many years," he said.

"I remember the angry days when people were screaming at the province to get off its derriere and get this done."

City council will decide Wednesday whether to approve an updated environmental assessment, which lays out the design plan for the $1 billion LRT system.

The plan has an LRT from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, although some have said plans are still afoot to follow the original plan to Eastgate Square.

McMeekin said there have been "discussions" with the minister, the mayor and others to add Eastgate to the plan again.

"Stay tuned," he said. "Who knows?"

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC