City council opts to have auditor general investigate LRT over judicial inquiry
CTV
Ottawa city council has rejected a plan to hold a judicial inquiry into the city's problem-plagued light rail transit system, opting to have the city's own auditor general examine the system instead.
Coun. Catherine McKenney put forward a motion, seconded by Coun. Carol Anne Meehan, to formally request a judicial inquiry into all aspects of the LRT transit system as it relates to the good government of the municipality, or the conduct of its public business, and its impacts on residents and taxpayers.
McKenney's motion was presented in advance at the previous council meeting in September before it was formally debated Wednesday.
However, Coun. Glen Gower put forward a replacement motion, seconded by Coun. Jean Cloutier, which asks the city's auditor general an audit of City staff’s recommended approach that led to the procurement and implementation of the Stage 1 LRT system.
The city solicitor sent a memo ahead of Wednesday's council meeting, saying that judicial inquiries can be incredibly expensive, up to $20 million in some cases, that they may not provide the answers people are seeking, and that there is no timeline for their completion. Gower said an auditor general's investigation could provide answers more quickly and at less cost.
