<p dir="ltr">Yes, Yvonne, I heard from TriTAG the other night, that the anti-LRT lobby is sending a long rambling letter to all city and regional councillors and MPs and MPPs - and the letter doesn't follow the principles of How to Win Friends and Influence People. Text below.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Fellow GRENNERS, this means it's VERY important that, as the March 4 and 19 decision dates on awarding the LRT contract approach, we must write BRIEF, COURTEOUS, and INTELLIGENT PERSONAL notes in favour of Light Rail. And focus on Reg Council. They need our reassurance that they have public support.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Eleanor</p>
<p dir="ltr">Here's the anti-LRT letter:</p>
<p dir="ltr">"While I am sure that you receive an abundance of requests each and every day on many different topics that are equally important, I am writing to you today on my concerns of the regional government’s possible abuse of their power.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"The main topic of concern right now is the proposal of the Light Rail System (LRT) which is essentially a train that runs from the mall in Waterloo to the mall in Kitchener.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"A debate began among the public, politicians and business community and funding was secured from both the provincial and federal governments. Public meetings were called and there was a strong demand from the public and some politicians, including the mayor of Waterloo, for a region wide vote on this issue.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"The calls for a region wide vote were resisted at regional council and our local paper went as far as to ridicule the mayor of Waterloo and her support for a region wide vote. When the final vote was taken at regional council, only eleven of the sixteen councillors voted. Nine in favour of the LRT and two opposed with four abstentions and one absentee. Clearly the vote was tainted as the four township mayors were told by the region that they would not see an increase in taxes to pay for the LRT since the townships would not be receiving the service.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I’m sure that such an incentive would push the Townships to vote in favour of the LRT as the new transit would not affect them. The township mayors were clearly removed as a possible threat to vote against the LRT by the promise of no taxes. Four people were removed from the vote because of possible conflicts of interest, including the leading opponent of the LRT, the mayor of Cambridge. Sadly, his people will be forced to pay for LRT even though they will not be using it themselves.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"A public vote is what we, as tax payers, are proposing. This is a billion dollar project that the people are paying for and as such, we deserve the right to vote as to whether we want this “white elephant” in our city or not. The LRT project will do more harm than good between municipalities and the people that live in them. Our history of distrust and bad feelings will linger and taint any future decisions that could benefit our region.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I am aware that local MPPs have been part of the process to bring funds to Waterloo region to support the LRT. Where is this money coming from and who will be suffering in order to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a project that doesn’t have public support when the province is carrying a huge debt and you are making every effort to be fiscally responsible and reduce spending to pay down that debt? Further, we witnessed the suffering that has gone on just to keep money where it is needed most- helping people. Why not use the funds where we need them?</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I, and thousands of others, hope that once you look at the issue and the facts surrounding the actions of our regional government as well as the groundswell of opposition to the LRT that you may call for reconsideration of your options with respect to this project. We are a democracy and as such, we should have the right to vote where our money is being spent.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Please, with all sincerity, I hope that you will consider holding the funds for this project until the people who live in this region have the opportunity to voice their opinions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Signed, Josh Godblick"</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Feb 12, 2014 9:51 PM, "Yvonne Fernandes" <<a href="mailto:fonka25@hotmail.com">fonka25@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family:'Calibri','Segoe UI','Meiryo','Microsoft YaHei UI','Microsoft JhengHei UI','Malgun Gothic','sans-serif';font-size:12pt"><div>HI Everyone,</div>
<div>City Council as well as all Regional Council as well as MP and MPPs and the Premier have been getting flooded with emails since Sunday afternoon. I believe the count is over 400 all in a form letter. I have been trying to send them into a file to respond to at some point in time but if I notice a name that I recognize I have been sending a personal response. </div>
<div>Rumour has it that these emails are being generated by the author of an online petition is sending these emails without the permission of the signee. Not sure if it is true but apparently the petition is substantial so I expect to continue receiving emails for a length of time.</div>
<div><br></div><div><div>Just thought you should be aware.</div><div>Regards,</div><div>Yvonne<br></div><div>Sent from Windows Mail</div><div><br></div></div><div style="padding-top:5px;border-top-color:rgb(229,229,229);border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid">
<div><font face=" 'Calibri', 'Segoe UI', 'Meiryo', 'Microsoft YaHei UI', 'Microsoft JhengHei UI', 'Malgun Gothic', 'sans-serif'" style="line-height:15pt;letter-spacing:0.02em;font-family:"Calibri","Segoe UI","Meiryo","Microsoft YaHei UI","Microsoft JhengHei UI","Malgun Gothic","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:deswid@gmail.com" target="_blank">Deb Swidrovich</a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:13 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com" target="_blank">LulU Lanetainge</a>, <a href="mailto:all@gren.ca" target="_blank">GREN2</a></font></div>
</div><div><br></div><div dir=""><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Hi Lulu:</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">
</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Thank you for submitting the article and contacting the Region. I am sure the regional councillors who support the plan and others who will campaign in favour of the LRT appreciate your comments. I am afraid that the public has seen far too many negative articles across the Region, and it is important that we balance those opposing views with facts that cannot be ignored.</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">
Thanks again,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">
Deb Swidrovich</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><a href="tel:519-746-8403" target="_blank">519-746-8403</a></div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 11:02 PM, Louisette Lanteigne <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com" target="_blank">butterflybluelu@rogers.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid"><div><div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,Helvetica Neue,Helvetica,Arial,Lucida Grande,sans-serif;font-size:10pt">
<div>
<br></div><div style="display:block"> <br> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,"Lucida Grande",sans-serif;font-size:10pt"> <div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,"Lucida Grande",sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
<div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial"> On Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:59:51 PM, Louisette Lanteigne <<a href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com" target="_blank">butterflybluelu@rogers.com</a>> wrote:<br> </font> </div>
<div><div><div><div style="font-family:HelveticaNeue,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,"Lucida Grande",sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style="background-color:transparent">Dear Council members</div><div style="background-color:transparent">
<br></div><div style="background-color:transparent">Here is a letter to the editor<span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"> I submitted to the KW Record regarding the LRT. Thought I would relay to you for your reference. I do support the project.</span></div>
<div style="background-color:transparent"><br></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><br></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><div style="background-color:transparent">LRT: Legacy of Resilient Transportation </div>
<div><br></div><div style="background-color:transparent">Light Rail Transit systems are electric and can be powered<span style="font-size:10pt"> by
solar, wind and hydro. With Ontario having to sell surplus energy, projects like our LRT can provide renewable </span><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">energy storage capacity saving taxpayers money. </span></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt">In reducing emissions, the LRT can reduce the illness costs of smog saving on Regional healthcare.</span></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt">Each Train can carry 5 times more passengers than a bus: less drivers to move more people. Again, tax savings. </span></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt">LRT's do not require tire changes, tune ups,</span><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"> paving of roadways needed to function. The life span of a bus is 15 years. The lifespan of LRT is over 30. Again, tax dollars saved.</span></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt">Waterloo Region's water supply comes from groundwater. Unlike buses, LRT's don't require road salts. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">Less pollution, less water treatment and associated health care costs. </span></div>
<div style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent">In <span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">the age of climate change we could see physical disruption of oil supply or massive price swings. Investing in an LRT is a great way to bypass long term economic risks so we can offer mass transit at reasonable, predictable prices. </span></div>
<div style="background-color:transparent"><br></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">Although some say </span><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">they won't use it, the investment now would be a stitch in time that saves nine. We all need clean water. We all need the clean air no matter where in the Region you live. If oil supply chains are disrupted, we need choices to adapt and it's cheaper to build the system now, than it is to delay. </span></div>
<span><font color="#888888"><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent"><br></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">Louisette Lanteigne</span></div>
<div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">700 Star Flower Ave.</span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">Waterloo Ont.</span></div>
<div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent">N2V 2L2</span></div></font></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><br></div><div style="background-color:transparent">
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