City councillors ask lawyers for cost of light rail cancellation

How much could cancelling Ottawa's controversial north-south light rail contract cost the city?

Maria McRae is one of two city councillors who want the city's lawyers to answer that question with a worst-case estimate.

McRae guesses the cost could be close to the value of the $778.2-million light rail contract with Siemens-PCL/Dufferin approved by council in July.The contract agrees that thegroup of companieswill design the proposed transit line from the University of Ottawa to Barrhaven Town Centre, build it and maintain it for 15 years.

Federal Treasury Board president John Baird has asked that the new mayor and city council elected on Nov. 13 hold another vote on whether to approve the contract before the federal government releases its$200-million contribution to the project.

The new council will discuss the transit line for the first time at a meeting Tuesday.

McRae (Ward 16, River) and Coun. Jan Harder (Ward 3, Barrhaven) have prepared more than two dozen questions for the city's lawyers.

McRae said they want councillors to be legally well-informed before they vote.

"So we want to make sure that we are having a full and wholesome debate about the risks that the city could be exposing themselves to and whether we want to take on these risks," McRae said.

McRae said the city may have to pay both damages to Siemens-PCL/Dufferin and apile of legal costs if it kills the contract.

Many members of thenew council, including new Mayor Larry O'Brien, say they would like to see changes to the project or would prefer to look into alternative transit projects.

McRae saidthe contracted companies are clearly keen to build the light rail system and may be open to making some changes.