No Referendum on Light Rail Transit Issue

I believe Regional Council made the correct decision yesterday to NOT hold a public referendum on the Light Rail Transit issue in Waterloo Region.

They are the elected officials who have all the necessary background information and research required to make the tough decisions and I'm glad they didn't pawn it off.

The Record story from today is below:


WATERLOO REGION — Regional council voted 7-3 Wednesday evening against holding a public referendum on its $818-million rail transit proposal.

Kitchener and Cambridge councils backed a referendum on the controversial rail transit plan that’s heading to a regional council vote June 15. A public opinion poll by Ipsos Reid found 83 per cent of residents support a referendum.

“There really is a consensus among residents of the region that there should be a referendum,” Ipsos Reid pollster Sean Simpson told council.

Most councillors want to decide the issue themselves.

“We’ve all been charged with the responsibility to look at the big picture,” said Coun. Geoff Lorentz of Kitchener.

“I think it would be absolute folly to support a referendum this late in the game,” said Coun. Sean Strickland of Waterloo. “We’re elected to lead. We have a contract with the people for four years.”

It’s estimated a referendum asking a yes or no question might have cost up to $1 million. It would not have been held until 2012 according to provincial legislation and would not have been binding unless turnout exceeded 50 per cent.

About 40 people were in the audience at council chambers Wednesday to hear politicians debate the referendum proposed by Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran.

“83 per cent of our citizens are saying, ‘where is our voice?’ ” Halloran said.

She said citizens told politicians “loud and clear” in the October municipal election that they are opposed to the rail transit plan. And yet seven months later council is preparing to vote on the same plan at a higher cost.

“That was my referendum. And that was the voice I heard from our citizens,” Halloran said. “Somewhere between when I got elected and now, that voice has been lost.”

Ten public delegations urged council against a referendum. One delegate endorsed a referendum.

“This issue is too complex,” Andrew Dodds told council. “I trust you and I trust the staff to help us make this important decision.”

Cambridge Coun. Nicholas Ermeta said a referendum would be a good way to involve Cambridge residents who are feeling left out of the rail transit debate.

Regional council previously ordered a referendum on water fluoridation, held in the 2010 municipal election.

Rail transit is an urban redevelopment proposal that supporters hope will persuade investors to build homes and workplaces near stations. Proponents say it will get residents out of their cars and restrain suburban growth.

Senior governments have pledged up to $565 million and regional taxes could rise by 10.5 per cent to help pay for it.

Critics fear it will be a costly failure in a place where most people drive everywhere and few commute by transit.