Ontario Liberals demand public inquiry into Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction delays
CBC
Ontario’s Liberal Caucus is demanding a public inquiry into the delays plaguing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project — which remains in limbo with no opening date in sight nearly 16 years after construction began.
In December, Premier Doug Ford told reporters the transit line could open in 2026 or “very soon after.” An official announcement for the LRT line’s opening has not yet been made.
When the Eglinton Crosstown finally opens, Ford is sure to claim it as a victory for his government, said provincial Liberal legislator Adil Shamji at a news conference Thursday.
But he said, in order for residents to have confidence in the line, the province, TTC and Metrolinx need to make the following promises:
“[Ford] cannot be allowed to call this colossal catastrophe a triumph," said Shamji, adding millions of dollars have been spent to keep the project on track.
“Three years ago, it was claimed that this project was 97 per cent complete and yet here we are still checking our watches.”
CBC News has reached out to the province and Metrolinx for comment.
The TTC said in an emailed statement that it would “continue to work toward the opening of Line 5” with Metrolinx.
Shamji and Andrea Hazell, Ontario Liberal critic for transportation, said they’re concerned the line’s opening will echo the "bungled” launch of the Finch West LRT, which has faced countless service shutdowns and mechanical issues since opening on Dec. 7.
Hazell hopes an inquiry will bring some answers to residents on what is going on and where public funds have been spent.
“We’re left in the dark, there’s no information,” she said. “ This is one of the most embarrassing tracks for this government.”
Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow launched a petition in October also calling for a public inquiry into the delays and cost overruns of the Eglinton Crosstown.
While residents and politicians are hoping the line will open soon, Hazell and Shamji said they want several concerns to be addressed, including the implementation of signal priority and operations in winter conditions.
If addressing those issues meant the Eglinton Crosstown had to be further delayed, Shamji said it would be clear evidence of mismanagement on the project.
Timiskaming—Cochrane MPP John Vanthof recalls the meeting in Thunder Bay earlier this month. He was part of the nine-day road trip along Highways 11 and 17 with other NDP MPPs.
A bill before the Nova Scotia Legislature is proposing raising the age limit for support for young people who have been in the foster care or group home system to 26.
The Fredericton Police Force has reallocated funds so new staff can be hired this year to better manage evidence after a police error upended murder cases against five people.
One of two pilots killed in a plane crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport Sunday earned his wings at an Ontario college, CBC News has learned.
Air Canada passengers who were aboard Flight 8646 when the CRJ-900 aircraft struck a fire truck upon landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening say the collision was sudden and forceful, and they may owe their lives to the pilots who died in the incident.
Cardiac services are set to expand at a Winnipeg hospital once regarded as one of the best in Canada for heart care.
A 26-second TikTok video has ignited a larger conversation about vulnerable populations, theft and content creation.
Some family doctors and emergency room physicians working in Edmonton hospitals warn that an April 1 end to stipend pay arrangements could put patient care at risk and increase suffering.
An Auditor General of Canada report has found that B.C. saw drastically fewer international students than was forecast ever since wide-ranging federal immigration cuts began in 2024.
Six years after e-learning became a mandatory requirement to get an Ontario high school diploma, students don't appear to be taking online school to diversify their course selection as the province had intended, according to a CBC News analysis of provincial enrolment data.
Sarnia City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to respond to social media comments made by Coun. Bill Dennis, who criticized city spending on a new mural by Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne as “virtue signalling by woke politicians” — then made a series of comments in response to a reply from Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin that some have characterized as unprofessional and aggressive.
While many Albertans continue to feel the pinch at the pump, Premier Danielle Smith says the government is not considering any fuel tax breaks, as it does not believe it will make much of a difference.
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details about gruesome deaths and sexual abuse.