Hamilton settles Red Hill Parkway lawsuit

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It has lasted ten years and cost taxpayers over $3 million, but the city of Hamilton’s lawsuit against the federal government has now been dropped.

The suit was launched in 2003 back when Bob Wade was mayor. It claimed that 46 federal government employees acted in bad faith by incorrectly using the environmental assessment act to delay construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway.

The lawsuit identified then-Hamilton East Liberal MP Sheila Copps as orchestrating an attempt to stop parkway construction.

The roadway eventually opened four years later in 2007.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he’s pleased with the development, adding the two parties have settled the litigation without costs. “I’m sure the legal advice had merit, I’m sure everybody entered into the lawsuit in good faith, but today, you know what, the value of it has dwindled, too much water’s gone under the bridge, we haven’t accomplished anything in 15 years other than legal expenses on both sides.”

“This has been a burr in the side of the federal government. They were a government that weren’t part of the original Red Hill issue; it’s certainly not been something that they’ve been terribly happy about, I think we can say that that’s behind us now and move on to what has been and continues to be a growing positive relationship.”

The mayor says the city has spent $1.5 million taking the feds to court, but because both sides have agreed to dismiss the case without costs, the city won’t be forced to pick up the legal tab for the federal government.

CHCH’s Donna Skelly is following this story; she’ll have more tonight on the Evening News at 6.