LiUNA, a union Doug Ford supports, will crunch its own numbers for Hamilton LRT

A top labourers' union that supported Hamilton light-rail transit (LRT) is doing its own studies to find out how much it would cost to build the system — and to change the mind of its old friend Doug Ford.

The Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) is having its investment arm, contractors and engineering firms crunch numbers to challenge the province's $5.6-billion estimate for Hamilton LRT, says international vice president Joseph Mancinelli. It will take about a month.

Mancinelli is skeptical of the numbers Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney cited this week as the reason to cancel the project. Those estimates showed capital costs of $2.8 billion, well above the estimated $1 billion. She also included operating and maintenance costs over 30 years for a total of $5,554,681,932.

"There's something very strange here," Mancinelli said.

"Whoever has consulted the province on this has made a gigantic mistake."

The estimate included numbers not included in other LRT projects in areas like Mississauga and Brampton, he said. And the province should have waited until the RFP closed in early 2020.

Once LiUNA has its own numbers, he said, "we want to go back to them and make them understand the potential they have here."

LiUNA has had the ear of Premier Doug Ford in the past. The union backed Ford last year, and Ford has attended numerous LiUNA events and rallies.

Some 5,000 workers from LiUNA Local 837 were expected to work on construction of the 14-kilometre line, which was scheduled to be in operation in 2024. 

LiUNA is also building two 30-storey towers, or 529 units, at King and Hughson, which is on the LRT line. It also finished a 20-storey student residence on nearby James Street North last year.

LiUNA's advocacy and new estimates "will make all the difference," said Keanin Loomis, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Ford likes LiUNA

"This government has enjoyed the support of LiUNA, and has touted the support of LiUNA repeatedly. LiUNA members have helped get people elected within this government.

"They have been double crossed. You don't do that to any union, let alone LiUNA."

The cancellation of Hamilton LRT has shaken the city's political corridors this week.

Mulroney said the province hired a third-party after "proponents in the market" sounded the alarm to her about how much the project would cost. That wasn't the case with other LRT projects, she said, so there were no studies of those.

The province will spend $1 billion on transportation projects in Hamilton, she said. A task force to be decided in the coming weeks will select those projects.

Metrolinx has spent $165 million on Hamilton LRT, including buying about 65 properties. Three consortiums were submitting bids to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the system.

Is LRT affordable?

Mayor Fred Eisenberger has called for the release of the full report used to arrive at Mulroney's cost estimate. Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath, also Hamilton Center MPP, has called for that too.

For other councillors, this was welcome news. "(LRT) is not something the city could afford long term," said Judi Partridge, Ward 15 councillor.

"It's about time we found a way to actually work with this government." Hamilton is still getting $1 billion in investment, she said, and "we need to do everything possible to protect that."

Donna Skelly, Flamborough-Glanbrook PC MPP, called it "a good news story" for Hamilton.

Eisenberger supports LiUNA's study. He's talked to federal ministers this week, he said, and Ottawa is interested in contributing. Right now, though, there's no provincial partner. 

"There remains a potential to put [LRT] back on track," he said.

The three consortiums chosen to bid will get a fee now that the project has been cancelled. Infrastructure Ontario wouldn't say how much, calling it "commercially sensitive and confidential information."