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Making these freedom of information requests is an attempt to unravel the LRT secrecy equation.

The City of Ottawa has been reluctant to give councillors, the media and the public any real data on the LRT project. That now includes: getting solid answers on why the LRT project has not met two deadlines; providing any data on corrective actions underway; and providing a timetable for getting the LRT line operational.

The city could be much more forthcoming. Where is the solid documentation offering factual reassurances that sink holes, tunnel floodings and improperly poured concrete can all be explained? And why isn’t the full LRT public-private partnership contract available on the city website?

Returning Mayor Jim Watson has already said that the LRT project remains his number one program. But this doesn’t include sharing with the public important economic, safety, operational and engineering facts about LRT or its future extension routes.

LRT transparency never became a major election issue and it’s hard to know whether the new council cares about the secrecy and evasions, let alone about costs and safety.

Here are some other specific questions: Has the $1-million penalty actually been collected from RTG for delay number two? What about the millions more lost because of the delays?

Will we, post-municipal election, have a fuller debate and put concrete facts out in the open about the proposed phase 2 LRT (or other transit options) or will the project continue to be mired in secrecy and half-truths?

It’s fine to speak about democracy at election time, but we need to talk more about and act on vastly improving openness at city hall. Let’s not go along for the ride, or settle for little – or possibly misleading – information.

Ken Rubin is a longtime investigative researcher based in Ottawa and is reachable at kenrubin.ca