Justice William Hourigan to lead public inquiry into Ottawa LRT project
Posted Dec 17, 2021 04:55:00 PM.
The City of Ottawa now knows who will be leading Ontario's public inquiry into it's light rail transit (LRT) project, and when it can expect a report.
The Government of Ontario has appointed Justice William Hourigan as commissioner to lead the inquiry, which will examine the commercial and technical circumstances that led to multiple derailments of the O-Train this year.
“The challenges plaguing Stage 1 of the Ottawa LRT are unacceptable and disappointing. This public inquiry is a prudent approach to uncovering the cause of these issues and preventing them from happening again,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Establishing the scope of the inquiry and appointing Justice Hourigan is an important step towards the safe implementation of the project, accountability, and value for taxpayer dollars.”
As former Chair of the Litigation Department at Fasken Martineau, Hourigan specialized in complex commercial litigation while in practice. He also brings over 25 years of experience in law and public service.
Hourigan previously served as a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and was later elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2013.
As commissioner for the inquiry, Justice Hourigan will have a mandate to look into the procurement, delivery and operations of the Ottawa LRT Stage 1 system. He will also be responsible for delivering a report of the Commission's findings by August 2022, including any recommendations to help ensure the safety of the Ottawa LRT system.
The Ontario government has committed up to $600-million toward Stage 1 of Ottawa's LRT project. It will also provide the City of Ottawa with up to $1.2-billion to build Stage 2.
