Ancaster traffic, LRT, vaccine mandates aired in Ward 12 debate

Topics including police funding, building heights, community unity and vaccination received airtime at a televised Cable 14-Spectator debate for Ward 12, but perhaps no issue is as familiar to Ancaster voters as being mired in mind-melting rush-hour gridlock.

A lot of the problem is not just Ancaster residents, it's the through traffic," said candidate Megg Markettos. I drive home from Burlington every night, I come up three lanes of the highway and things move perfectly until I hit the top, that junction of the Linc and the 403, and it goes down to two lanes, and we are bumper to bumper. I will fight to work alongside the provincial government to expand the 403 as soon as possible to three lanes out toward Brantford."

None of the nine other candidates vying for the seat left behind by exiting Coun. Lloyd Ferguson challenged Markettos' suggestion Wednesday night.

But debate was sparked by the - arguably related - issue of light rail transit (LRT).

Richard Deverson, who placed a velvet bag of coins on the table next to him (council needs to tighten the purse strings), said he is very anti-LRT," and polled the others on the spot.

I'm against the LRT, I don't think it's a good idea at all; buses are more flexible," said Bob Maton.

The debate on LRT is done, any councillor needs to get behind it and make it work," countered Craig Cassar, who said terminus LRT points will help serve the Ancaster Business Park and the Meadowlands, so this will be the first step in building a comprehensive transportation network we need."

Meanwhile, on development and the environment, Cassar said a plan to build one-million square feet of warehouses" on Garner Marsh in Ancaster is a terrible idea," because it will create flooding risks.

On vaccination, Maton was challenged by Markettos to explain how he could serve the ward if elected, if he refuses to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as required by council.

Maton - who didn't explicitly state his vaccination status - said he believes vaccines are ineffective against mutations of the virus and we need to be careful about the science we follow," adding that he anticipates council will lift the city hall mandate later this fall.

If I'm elected I will vote against the vaccine mandate, unless there's a serious case for the vaccinations," he said.

Attended: Craig Cassar, Bob Maton, Megg Markettos, Karl Hanley, Cindy Kaye, Pamela Mitchell, Chuck Alkerton, Robert Baboth, William Robert Hume, Richard Deverson

Jon Wells is a feature writer at The Spectator. jwells@thespec.com

Who was there

Present Chuck Alkerton, Robert Baboth, Craig Cassar, Richard Deverson, Karl Hanley, William Robert Hume, Cindy Kaye, Megg Markettos, Bob Maton, Pamela Mitchell

Absent None