40 witnesses to testify at Ottawa LRT inquiry, including Mayor and city manager
Forty witnesses will testify at the public inquiry looking into Ottawa's light rail transit system, including Mayor Jim Watson, City Manager Steve Kanellakos and the former head of OC Transpo.
The Ottawa Light Rail Transit Commission released a draft witness list on Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the public inquiry officially got underway with public meetings. The meetings Wednesday and Thursday night at the Shaw Centre are a chance for the public to weigh in on the issues with the $2 billion LRT system during the first two years of operation.
The inquiry released a list of 40 witnesses called to testify before the inquiry during public hearings from June 13 to July 8. The list includes elected officials – including Watson, Transit Commission Chair Allan Hubley, Coun. Shawn Menard and Coun. Catherine McKenney, who pushed the city and the province to call a public inquiry into the LRT system. Citizen Transit Commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert is also on the witness list.
Officials set to testify include former OC Transpo general manager John Manconi, former deputy city manager Nancy Schepers, former treasurer Marian Simulik and former rail director John Jensen.
Rideau Transit Group/Rideau Transit Maintenance executives Mario Guerra and Nicholas Truchon, along with officials from Alstom, will also testify.
Public hearings will be held at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law from June 13 to July 8.
The commission has collected more than one million documents, identifying over 10,000 documents as relevant and conducted over 90 witness interviews, the public meeting was told.
"We've come to Ottawa to hear from you," Justice William Hourigan said at the start of the public meeting Wednesday evening.
"These meetings are critical to gathering feedback to inform our work."
Hourigan says the final report will include his recommendations and findings on this investigation.
"The commission's team has been working full steam since January to prepare for these meetings and the hearings to come."
The public meeting heard from seven delegates on the opening evening, with several people urging the commission to find out what happened.
"We take our responsibility to the people of Ottawa very seriously. We've heard some really good comments tonight, we've heard some concerns that are absolutely legitimate and we've heard questions that need to be answered and we're going to do that," Justice Hourigan said.
Justice Hourigan made a promise to a speaker.
"We need to understand what went wrong, who did what and we're going to get those answers for you."
The Ontario government called a public inquiry into Ottawa's troubled light rail transit system in November 2021, following the second derailment in six weeks along the Confederation Line. The derailment on Sept. 19 shutdown the LRT system for nearly two months.
The inquiry, led by the honourable Justice William Hourigan, has a mandate to investigate the commercial and technical circumstances that led to Stage 1 breakdowns and derailments. The inquiry will look at the decisions and actions that were taken in determining the procurement approach the city selected for Stage 1, the selection of Rideau Transit Group to build the system and the awarding of the contract.
The commission must deliver its final report, including any recommendations, to the Minister of Transportation on or before Aug. 31. An extension is also possible until the end of November.
You can watch the public meetings on the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Commission website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
'Increased fire activity' expected for Fort Nelson, B.C., blaze
A wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., that forced thousands to flee their homes grew almost 800 hectares overnight Saturday, according to officials.
Blinken delivers some of the strongest U.S. public criticism of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration's strongest public criticism yet of Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, saying Israeli tactics have meant "a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians" but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency.