More than 800 Burlingtonians pack Mainway
and there wasn’t even a hockey game.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON December 14, 2010  –  More than 1200 people packed the Mainway Arena in Burlington the evening of the first snow fall.  They wanted to know all about something called “the big green arrow”. The only thing that wasn’t to be seen was someone outside scalping tickets to a “sold out” event.

The “natives” packed the room to hear Blair Lancaster take the crowd through an explanation about a big green arrow that had been drawn on a map indicating where a new super highway was proposed – that arrow came out of Flamborough though Kilbride and Lowville and joined up with the 403 at about Walkers Line. For a look at the map – click here.

It was only a concept map, said a government report but as one person in the room said – “when these things show up on a map they take on a life of their own and become fact.”  The arrow designates where a new super highway is being planned.

In a follow up report we will fill you in on all the details.

One young woman explained to the crowd that she and her husband had just moved into a house they had built by themselves. “We’ve been living with our in-laws for the past five years.  If that road gets built – and we are right under that green arrow” she said – “then where will we go.”  Someone in the audience suggested, rather unkindly, that she could “go back to their in-laws” – and that was about the only real laughter during the evening.

Blair Lancaster led the roster of politicians including Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair, Burlington Council member John Taylor who originally called the meeting in the Kilbride area but soon realized the hall up there was way to small.  Rick Goldring, Mayor of Burlington spoke as did MPP’s Joyce Savoline and Ted Chudleigh.  Both said they were totally opposed to the new road while the leader of their party, the Progressive Conservatives, is supporting the new road.  Further,  the idea for a new superhighway came out of the Harris government back in 2002.  Odd that the local MPP’s should stand up and say they were opposed. Ooops – there is a provincial election in less than 300 days – of course they would be opposed with 1200 voters standing in front of them.

Gary Carr was very effective when he said “we have to hold together and be consistent in our objection to this idea”.

More detail later – want this to be in your morning news feed.