Brad Clark asks city for Eisenberger records on LRT

Mayoral hopeful Brad Clark has filed a Freedom of Information Request with the city to dig into what rival Fred Eisenberger knew about light rail transit (LRT) when he was mayor — a move that Eisenberger is calling "a campaign stunt."

Clark wants to see any letters, memorandums, emails or internal reports about LRT that Eisenberger received in 2010. Eisenberger is running against Clark in the Oct. 27 election and was Hamilton’s mayor from 2006 to 2010.

Clark isn't sure exactly what he'll find, he said, but he doesn't have the full story.

"The best way to describe it to the public is there’s a puzzle in front of me and there are pieces missing."

Clark said Hamilton taxpayers deserve to know, before the election, what Eisenberger knew about the city’s rapid transit system when he was mayor.

“Since Fred’s position on the LRT keeps changing as the election nears, I think it’s time we got some clarity.”

Clark and Eisenberger are at odds over LRT. Clark, currently a Ward 9 councillor for Stoney Creek, announced Wednesday that Hamilton can’t afford a light rail system, even if the province foots what he says would be $1.3-billion bill for capital costs.

Eisenberger said Thursday that Clark is welcome to ask for the information.

"I have no concern whatsoever," he said. "In fact, I encourage it. The more information the citizens receive on rapid transit, the better."

Clark's move is "a campaign stunt," he said, because as a sitting councillor, he "already has all this information at his disposal."

Clark has voted in favour of LRT in the past, Eisenberger said. Now he's against it.

"My position is clear," he said. "I believe LRT provides the best return on the investment but my mind is open and I support a made-in-Hamilton solution.

"Until we hear a clear position from the province, the city should hit the reset button, empower a community engagement process to review all of the public transportation options and build broad public support."  

Clark disputes that he already has access to the information. He put in an FOI request on this same issue in January, he said, and has filed a handful of them on various issues during his eight years on council. He also put in FOI requests when he was an MPP.

He got the results of his January inquiry "a few months ago," he said.

"We were looking for information, we received the files and there was something missing."

Clark insists that even though this is timed with the election — and he hopes to get the information before it — his FOI request is "an earnest attempt to get information that the public needs."

Coun. Brian McHattie, another high-profile mayoral candidate, is also pro-LRT. 

"Now is the time to move forward, not backward," he said on Thursday.

The city clerk’s office has 30 days to respond to the request.