Deja vu Debate: Mayoral candidates spar over BRT
Four years after bus rapid transit (BRT) dominated the municipal election in London, candidates still spar over the issue.
On Monday, five candidates running for the mayor’s office took part in a panel discussion hosted by political science students at King’s University College.
The two-hour event began with candidates sharing ideas from their campaign platforms to address homelessness, housing and diversity.
The tone changed however, when questions turned to the bus rapid transit system.
“My friend didn’t vote for it,” said Khalil Ramal referring to presumed front runner Josh Morgan. “And we now have a transit system that is like a chair with only two legs. We lost the other two legs.”
Morgan fired back saying, “Anyone who says this was killed, or voted away in some way, it is the inferior route that was not approved,” said Morgan. “And there is an opportunity to find a better solution to transit out that way.”
Morgan argued that operating rapid transit buses in mixed traffic lanes along Wharncliffe Road would have been problematic.
In March 2019, Council supported the south, east and downtown BRT routes.
Morgan voted against the west route and declared a conflict of interest regarding the north route that would have crossed the campus of Western University, his employer.
Federal and provincial funding originally intended for the north and west routes was later directed towards bike infrastructure and a new London Transit HQ to accommodate an electric bus fleet.
Morgan added that the Mobility Master Plan (MMP) will include plans to improve the movement of drivers, transit passengers, cyclists and pedestrians in north and west London.
Public input is currently being gathered for the MMP.
Other candidates on the panel took the opportunity to use BRT to differentiate themselves from Morgan and the decisions of the current city council.
Sandie Thomas told the audience that transit decisions must consider all Londoners, “We have mothers trying to pick up their children from daycare and they are late because of the congestion that is happening.”
“I ride the transit system every day,” explained Sean O’Connell. “I know what its like to go from the south end of town to the north end of town. It’s very time consuming.”
The panel discussion was one of the last opportunities for Londoners to hear from mayoral candidates before advanced polls open Oct. 8.
Election Day is Oct. 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.