How much pressure did Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s team put on builders in 2011 to complete the light rail project as soon as possible? This is what the Commission of Inquiry tried to determine on Monday, the first day of hearings.
Jim Watson’s push for construction not to hinder downtown during the 150th anniversary of the Confederation celebrations in 2017-a year ahead of schedule-has been the subject of several questions from chief Commission Counsel John Adair.
The latter regularly returned to duty and the mayor’s participation in establishing the schedule of activities, during interrogation conducted with John Jensen, who at the time headed the project implementation office in the City of Ottawa.
” The mayor wants to make sure all opportunities for advancement are explored. “
I John Adair have tried to show, along with supporting documents, that the municipal council and, in particular, Mayor Watson have formulated these requests without really taking into account the opinion of the experts taken to guide the City in the process.
- Is it fair to say that this is a political directive flowing from the mayor’s office to the staff and experts?the lawyer asked Mr. Jensen.
- I think there was intense interest in making downtown Ottawa fit for those celebrations.Mr. replied. Jensen.
- You spend millions and millions of dollars on experts about schedules, engineering, operation order and how long it will take, but they didn’t ask you to speed up the schedule and finish it all in July 2017 , but the mayor is in office, right? launched the lawyer.
- In fact, it didn’t come from the expertsadmitted Mr. Jensen.
Me John Ardair suggested that these pressures may have been the source of some problems in the construction of the project.
By putting pressure on the program, it creates additional risks [de faire des erreurs]is it not?the lawyer asked.
ExactlyMr. replied. Jensen who, however, insisted that he expects experts to mention it, if these pressures are too great.
Is the choice of vehicles right?
The lead attorney also raised a lot of disagreement about the process that led to the selection of Alstom trains.
Mr. Ardair recalled that the model train proposed by Alstom had never been tested in a climate such as that of Ottawa. In addition, this model has been modified to meet a very specific need of the City to carry 24,000 passengers per hour.
The attorney showed, based on reports provided by the City, that the train deployment in Ottawa was the subject of an experimental method.
Did you know that in 2011-2012, while undergoing the acquisition process, Alstom considered the implementation of its trains in Ottawa as a test bed?he asked Mr. Jensen.
No.officer’s answer.
John Ardair also presented documents that suggested the $ 2.1 billion light rail project was designed to fit the price, where perhaps the opposite should be.
The commission heard a second witness, Riccardo Cosentino of Rideau Transport Group (GTR), who was asked this time by the second lead attorney, Me Christine Mainville, specifically on the cost of the project.
The hearings will continue on Tuesday.
Source: Radio-Canada
