Jyoti Gondek seeking meeting with Smith, Dreeshen about Green Line LRT
CBC
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek says she wants to meet directly with Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen about the future of the Green Line LRT.
She said she has asked to meet with both the premier's and the minister's offices as early as today, and hopes to meet with Smith directly as early as next week.
Her comments came Thursday morning on CBC's Calgary Eyeopener.
"There are something like 20,000 jobs that are tied to this," she said.
"The economic growth from this project is massive, the housing that we can deliver on the alignment that we had approved is incredible for our city. So once again, I will make the plea to listen to the experts on the Green Line Board and reconsider their decision."
CBC News has reached out to the offices of Smith and Dreeshen, both of which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gondek also expressed her disappointment with the province's decision to pull funding from the public transportation expansion project in its current state.
"I'm not certain what happened. When they received the business case on August the 15th, [it] contained the same information that we had provided early and often in July, and it is the same information that we use to make our decision as a council on the 30th of July," she said.
"I'm uncertain as to what changed their mind."
Meanwhile, the Calgary Construction Association says it's concerned with the province's funding pull.
The association says the move signals that no project, regardless of its scope or significance, is safe from unexpected funding cuts. It contends the resulting uncertainty introduces a huge element of risk for contractors and businesses involved in provincial projects.
It also undermines confidence in the stability and reliability of government commitments, the group says.
"To literally pull funding and put the brakes on, is a step too far," Bill Black, president and CEO of the Calgary Construction Association, told CBC News.
Black said it's challenging when large infrastructure projects like the Green Line are delayed, as it's already difficult for contractors to retain construction workers.
