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To paraphrase Mark Twain, when it’s time for the end of the world, I hope to be in London, Ontario, because everything there happens 20 years later. Technically Twain’s quote refers to Cincinnati, but the sentiment survives regardless.

London’s current aversion to taking risks strikes me as strange. London was founded by entrepreneurs and risk-takers. More than a hundred years ago London was the epicentre of trade and innovation in Canada.

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Now, we’re paralyzed by fear over a transit upgrade. We have an unprecedented investment opportunity in London by municipal, provincial and federal governments of close to half a billion dollars. Half a billion dollars. And we’re considering saying “no thanks.”

We’re living in an era of “fake news.” I understand that. But there are some examples of gross misinformation in our community.

As an example, 96 per cent of the road surfaces impacted by bus rapid transit need maintenance or resurfacing. Because of the combined federal, provincial and municipal funding, the BRT project will cost the average London household $8 a year in property taxes. Without BRT, the cost to resurface those roads jumps to $12 a household. We would spend more per household and not get a transit update. This is a huge waste of taxpayer resources.