I wanted to reiterate one point and also read something into the record in response to what Charlie Angus was talking about with regard to letters and what precipitated what action.
First of all, to reiterate where we ended last time, money is still available for rail transit for the region. The Ethics Commissioner said nothing improper happened. The Treasury Board Secretariat said nothing improper has happened, and the views of the elected city council of Ottawa have been respected on this matter.
Part of what precipitated the action on this was a letter—Charlie mentioned one letter, but this is in fact a letter that precipitated action—from Gord Hunter, who's the elected councillor for Knoxdale-Merivale ward. He wrote to John Baird on August 10, 2006. The letter was received four days later. I just want to read this into the record, because it's important to understand this:
I am receipt of a letter dated July 24 to Ministers Cannon, Caplan and Cansfield sent by Mr. Ted Gowan, 2 Fox Meadow Lane, Nepean. It is titled “Memorandum of Understanding Ottawa Light Rail Transit Project”. In his covering letter Mr. Gowan is scathing in his criticism of the City of Ottawa for the obvious understating of costs and overstatement of ridership projections. He asks that Federal and Provincial funding commitments be withdrawn or allowed to expire on December 31, 2006 in accordance with paragraph 6 of the MOU. He then provides a thorough assessment of the MOU and how the City has not met the terms of the MOU. For instance, he points out that train times to downtown from Barrhaven will be less frequent and take longer than current bus service. He adds, among other points, that instead of reducing gridlock the LRT system will increase it in downtown Ottawa. Mr. Gowan is very knowledgeable in this field. He knows that this project is not providing value for anyone's dollar. According to the MOU the senior levels of government wanted Ottawa to provide documentation that there is a business case for this light rail project. They have provided the documentation and the business case is not made.
