Hamilton LRT opponent and mayoral candidate Vito Sgro has lined up provincial and federal politicians to talk transit in a telephone town hall tonight.

Sgro's campaign is using polling firm Prime Contact to contact residents interested in participating in the 7:30 p.m. question-and-answer session on the mayoral candidate's transit platform: specifically, his opposition to the city's light rail transit project.

"I don't really know what the reaction will be. Maybe it's favorable, maybe it's not. That's all okay," said Sgro, who has set himself up in direct opposition to incumbent mayoral candidate and LRT supporter Fred Eisenberger.

"This is the biggest project in Hamilton history. I think people should have their say."

Sgro said Progressive Conservative MPP Donna Skelly and Liberal MP Bob Bratina have both agreed to join the town hall to answer questions about their respective governments' positions on LRT or transit.

Skelly, a former Ward 7 councillor, is a vocal opponent of Hamilton's $1-billion light rail transit plan. New PC Premier Doug Ford said during the recent provincial election campaign that city council could use the project money for other, unspecified infrastructure priorities if it decides to kill the LRT project.

Sgro has made that promised opportunity to redirect funding to other projects a central plank in his campaign. Many of his campaign signs feature a "stop the train" message as well as a call to fix city infrastructure.

Eisenberger has questioned the likelihood of a "no-strings attached" provincial gift of $1 billion to the city and emphasized the importance of the LRT project to both Hamilton's transit future and the economy.

Skelly said Wednesday her participation in the candidate's town hall is "not an endorsement."

"I agreed to participate in the call because it is an opportunity to listen to my constituents and residents across the city to hear how they feel about LRT and to make it clear that the future of LRT will be decided by the newly elected city council and not the province."

Bratina has not yet answered a question from the Spectator on whether he thinks his participation would be viewed as an endorsement.

The former mayor was accused by light rail fans of prioritizing GO transit over LRT during his municipal tenure. The Liberal MP chose to publicly criticize the light rail effort in a letter as recently as last year.

Sgro said Wednesday he wants to use the LRT project money immediately for "express bus" service improvements throughout the city. Funding for a long-sought Waterdown bypass is also high on his priority list.

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Eisenberger said the city already has a plan to improve bus service in the lead-up to, and after light rail transit is added to the Main-King corridor. He has also said it would be irresponsible to stop the project now, which is already out to tender.

About $105 million has already been spent on the project, including on the purchase of around 40 properties and the relocation of dozens of people who were living in the way of the project.