The latest threat of legal action to stop the Ion light rail transit project is meant to “stall” the project but has little basis in reality, Waterloo Region’s chair says.
As regional councillors debated whether to accept GrandLinq’s $593-million bid to design, build and operate Ion on Tuesday afternoon, they were presented with a letter from Stop Light Rail, a group founded by Waterloo fencing company owner Jay Aissa.
The letter stated that the group intends to seek an injunction to stop LRT-related activity from occurring because the region’s official plan does not mention the project.
“Waterloo Region does not have the authorization to approve the contract,” Aissa told CTV News on Tuesday.
Not true, says Ken Seiling.
“The plan was amended in 2007 specifically for a rapid transit project,” he says.
“That amendment passed – there was no opposition to it – and it’s in force and effect today. We quite clearly have the authority to do this.
A new official plan for the region has been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board due to concerns over the amount of land set aside for future development.
Until the appeals on that plan conclude, the previous plan – the one amended in 2007 – remains in effect.
