Liberal MP Bob Bratina ‘can’t defend’ LRT funding, won’t run in next federal election

Liberal MP Bob Bratina will not run in the next federal election because of his government's decision to fund a Hamilton LRT.

The federal Liberals and provincial Progressive Conservatives announced $3.4 billion last week to help resurrect an infamously cancelled light rail transit project - the largest infrastructure investment in Hamilton's history.

But Bratina, the MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, did not participate in his government's virtual announcement.

I just can't defend it," he said in an interview Monday morning. They are saying this is a good project for Hamilton but I know in my heart it is not ... I don't know how I could continue as a member of the governing party."

The former mayor appears to be an outlier in his own party.

Liberal Infrastructure Minister and Hamilton native Catherine McKenna, who announced the federal investment last Thursday, said the shovel-ready" project would create thousands of jobs coming out of the pandemic, making transit more reliable on the city's busiest corridor and spur development, including affordavble housing.

It's going to be awesome," she said, urging city councillors to seize the day" and endorse the project, which still needs a muncipal agreement to handle operating and maintenance costs.

Bratina said he had planned to run federally again under the Liberal banner - until Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna announced $1.7 billion in matching funds alongside the province to resurrect the LRT project that was cancelled just 16 months ago.

The MP said he was not consulted about the decision and his concerns about the project were totally ignored."

Bratina was Hamilton mayor when council first asked the province for 100-percent capital funding for light rail transit, but he has repeatedly spoken out against the project as a city priority.

He did so again Monday, calling the 14-kilometre, Main-King corridor LRT line a like-to-have, not a need-to-have."

Bratina said he would continue to serve as MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek until the next federal election.

When asked, he said he would not rule out another potential mayoral run, but also emphasized he is focused on the remainder of his term. That speculation is not coming from me," he said.

More to come.

Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com