ATU Canada calls for immediate inquiry into ongoing Eglinton LRT fiasco: 12 years of construction – no completion date – billions in cost overruns at taxpayers’ expense.

Rose.Carusone on Wednesday, May 17 2023 - 11:47pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATU Canada calls for immediate inquiry into ongoing Eglinton LRT fiasco: 12 years of
construction – no completion date – billions in cost overruns at taxpayers’ expense.

TORONTO, May 16, 2023 – The Amalgamated Transit Union Canada (ATU) is calling for an immediate inquiry into the ongoing fiasco with Metrolinx and the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The city has endured 12 years of construction and there is still no end in sight with cost overruns in the billions of dollars.

“It’s no surprise to the ATU that Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) fail to deliver on time and on budget. We have been saying for years that these initiatives end up costing taxpayers more and give private corporations total control.

Public-Private Partnerships deliver billions in profits to corporate friends of the Government and leave taxpayers to pay the bill for substandard public transit that does not work,“ said John Di Nino, ATU Canada President.

The economic impact to taxpayers, area residents, and businesses on the Eglinton LRT corridor may be issues we will be paying for decades after completion. Some of those businesses will never recover.

“Metrolinx and the provincial government need to take a close look at future transit expansions and return transit infrastructure and operations back to public domain immediately. Government officials say they are being fiscally responsible for bringing in private investors or developers to build infrastructure, but it’s clearly quite the opposite.

Every decision on this LRT project has been irresponsible and there appears to be no accountability. Now the Public-Private Consortium of construction companies is for the second time trying to sue Metrolinx. What type of contract did they negotiate with this Consortium? This nightmare of a project feels like they made a deal with the devil.” Di Nino concluded.

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Media Contact:

Rose Carusone
416-949-8641
[email protected]

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ATU Canada calls for immediate inquiry into ongoing Eglinton LRT fiasco: 12 years of construction – no completion date – billions in cost overruns at taxpayers’ expense.

ATU Canada

ATU Canada calls for immediate inquiry into ongoing Eglinton LRT fiasco: 12 years of construction – no completion date – billions in cost overruns at taxpayers’ expense.

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