LISTEN: No way mayor and city manager did not know about LRT problems before 2019 launch, says McKenney

By CityNews Ottawa

An Ottawa city councillor is renewing their call for a judicial inquiry into the Confederation Line, after emails obtained by the CBC indicated senior staff at the City of Ottawa were aware of performance and reliability issues with the light-rail system before it launched in 2019.

Somerset Ward Councillor Catherine McKenney feels the emails, which were sent by former Transit General Manager John Manconi, further prove the need for a judicial inquiry.

“An auditor general cannot look into the actions of elected officials,” McKenney told CityNews Ottawa's The Rob Snow Show on Wednesday. “We need to understand who knew what [and] who allowed what to happen?”

They add, there was “no way” Ottawa's mayor and city manager weren't aware of the issues highlighted in the emails.

Citizen Transit Commissioner Sarah Wright-Gilbert is echoing McKenney's call for an inquiry into the light-rail system.

“When I put the emotion of my anger aside, I think what it confirms for me is that we need a judicial inquiry,” she explained. “We need the province to step in and call for a judicial inquiry.”

The Ontario government has previously stated “no options are off the table” in order to get more oversight into the system, and to reassure the province that the next phases of the LRT can be successfully built and operated.

However no decision has been made as of yet.

Listen to McKenney's full conversation Rob Snow:

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