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TPR Email Edition for May 25, 2018: Juravinski Doesn't Want School as Planned in Backyard – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 25, 2018
The Public Record publishes a regular newsletter, we post it at the end of each day, sign up to get future editions delivered to your inbox in the mornings, or see our archives.
View this edition in its original format, with images, on our MailChimp page. (This version is primarily for web indexing)
Today from The Election Desk
The latest updates from The Public Record’s municipal election desk,

Danko and Whitehead Meet
Registered Ward 8 candidate John-Paul Danko met with incumbent Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead yesterday; tweeting positively of the meeting and about Whitehead. Whitehead declared last week he will not be running for Mayor.
The current Ward 8 is now split between the new Ward 8 (where Danko is running) and a new Ward 14, with most of the current Ward 8 in the new Ward 14. This tweet indicates (at least to me) that Whitehead will be running for re-election in the new Ward 14. Asked about the meeting, Whitehead declined to confirm if it means he’s running in the new Ward 14.
(Photo above tweeted by Danko)
Penny Deathe Registers for Re-Election as Waterdown/Flamborough Trustee
Penny Deathe is seeking re-election in Ward 15 as Public School Trustee. Deathe filed her papers on Wednesday at City Hall. Deathe is an extremely close political ally of Ward 15 Councillor Judi Partridge. Partridge campaigned on Deathe’s behalf in 2014, which Deathe won by only 11 votes over Nick Lauwers. The race as was proxy battle between the Liberals and Conservatives.
With the latest polling numbers showing the Ontario Liberals facing a historic defeat in the provincial election, Judi Partridge is unlikely to become MPP at Queen’s Park. Partridge confirmed Wednesday night that she intents to seek re-election to City Council in Ward 15 if she is unsuccessful in the June 7 provincial election. (If Partridge is successful, Deathe can still register to run for the Council seat Partridge will vacant.
New Candidate in Ward 8
The Ward 8 City Council seat is looking to be an open contest with no incumbent, so we can expect a long list of hopefuls. The latest to register is Anthony Simpson. Our full list of candidates is updated with his name.
New in Candidate Websites
Ward 10 City Council candidate Ian Thompson’s website is now live, and he wants to you know he is a Property Tax Payer, with NEW ideas for a NEW era in the NEW Ward 10. His early platform planks including hiring two new police officers for each ward in Hamilton to focus on dangerous driving, more Neighbourhood Watch programs, term limits for City council, and fiscal responsibility – citing Council’s free lunch program as one of the first things he’ll cut.
Join The Public Record’s Coverage: Send Us What the Candidates are Sending You!
Be part of The Public Record’s Election Team, send up photos and scans of candidate materials, screencap Facebook ads that you see in your social media feed, and help all Hamiltonians know what the candiates are staying. Email them to electiondesk@thepublicrecord.ca, we’ll post all candidate materials to our website.
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Corktown Plaza Redevelopment Proposes 31 and 34 Storey Tall Buildings
A significant application not just for the proposed density and height on the site, but as a benchmark for planning city-wide. Slate Asset Management’s application will be close to the escarpment height ceiling for the Downtown, however, the buildings are not in the Downtown Secondary Plan area, which is why this application is significant city-wide as it is judged under the new Commercial Mixed Use Zoning in effect across Hamilton.
Story on The Public Record
June 7 Committee of Adjustment Agenda Released
The June 7 CoA agenda includes some interesting items.
The owner of  wants to sever part of 44 and merge it into 40 for a future development. This has drawn nearby opposition, the original March hearing was adjourned in the hope of finding agreement among parties.
I’ll pull staff comments on a package of 29 variances for the ;
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Juravinski Doesn’t Like School in His Backyard
Local millionaire, and serial building namesake, Charles Juravinski is opposed to the current Greensville Elementary School and Hub proposal saying that the site lacks adequate parking, that his property will be exposed to diesel fumes from school buses, and that it will cause traffic problems in the neighbourhood. He proposed to buy land for the hub to be re-oriented, which was not entertained by the public school board. Juravinski is threatening legal action, The Hamilton Spectator reports.
Hamilton’s Rental Housing Crunch
More great reporting from Teviah Moro in The Hamilton Spectator, this on a report from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants which finds that someone must make $18 per hour to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Hamilton. Moro’s summary of the report, and a link to the full report can be found in his story.
(I’m not giving away the story because Moro deserves the web traffic to TheSpec, especially as he links to the original report, something journalists don’t do enough)
The East Hamilton Rent Strike continues, with it’s GoFundMe campaign having raised $7250 to assist with legal fees.
Judge warns Corrupt Hamilton Cop: You’re Going to Jail For A Long Time
Former Hamilton Police all-star, now convicted corrupt cop, Craig Ruthowsky is going to jail for a long time, following Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Clark’s decision to reject a Crown recommendation of a relatively light 10-year sentence.
This is just the latest revelation of wrongdoing within the Hamilton Police Service; with calls now being made for a Public Inquiry to be held to determine how deep problems in the police force are.
Patio Music Comes to Hamilton
City Hall tells The Hamilton Spectator that an agreement was reached with Harbour West Nieghbours to drop their OMB appeal of the City’s new patio music bylaw after the City compromised by removing City lands managed by the Hamilton Waterfront Trust from the bylaw, and adding a bylaw officer to enforce the noise limit in the last hours of evening.
Fred Engelbrecht, Dead at 98, Survivor of the Dieppe Raid
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry announced the death of Cpl Fred Engelbrecht Wednesday morning. Engelbrecht was one of the last two known living RHLI survivors of the 1942 Dieppe Raid. The Raid was Canada’s worst day of World War II and deeply scarred Hamilton. Funeral details have not yet been released.
For Sale (Maybe)! City of Hamilton’s Most Valuable Public Land. They’ll be 50 Minutes for Public Feedback
Ward 2 City Councillor Jason Farr is holding a public meeting on the future of the maybe, but not really except for bids being welcome, for sale Waterfront Trust Centre.
The meeting is Monday June 4 starting at 6:30pm at the Hamilton Waterfront Trust Centre on Pier 8. The first 40 minutes is a tour, and then there will be 50 minutes for the public to share their ideas on future institutional uses for the site.
GO Transit Says Hamilton Downtown Trains Will Operate During CP Strike
“In the event of a CP labour disruption, we are now able operate trains into Hamilton GO Centre”, GO Transit says in a press release as Canadian Pacific Rail labour unions are in a legal strike position as of noon on Monday.
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Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr Newsletter – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 19, 2018
Thanks to the many people who forwarded the latest edition of Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr’s newsletter. (Farr removed The Public Record from his distribution lists)
Posted here for reference.
From: “Farr, Jason” <Jason.Farr@hamilton.ca>
Date: May 17, 2018
To: “Farr, Jason” <Jason.Farr@hamilton.ca>
Subject: Ward 2 Word
Ward 2 Word
Councillor Jason Farr
Introducing PlanLocal Ward 2 Beautiful Streets and Spaces
Starting on May 23rd, 2018 please help make your neighbourhood more beautiful
I hear a lot about the desire to make Ward 2 an even more beautiful place to live, work and play. That’s why this year I am dedicating approximately $1 million of infrastructure spending, divided equally between the 6 neighbourhoods, to making your streets and public spaces more beautiful. You know your neighbourhoods better than anyone so I’m asking for your help.
Ward 2 Beautiful Streets and Spaces is your chance to participate in the PlanLocal process that encourages residents to guide infrastructure spending through citizen supported decision-making. Participating is easy:
The most popular locations identified by residents will be considered for funding.
You can participate from May 23rd to June 28th, both online and in a variety of locations throughout Ward 2. For more information, and to participate, please go to www.planlocal.ca/ward2 or call 905-546-3774.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE
John / Rebecca Park Development
Construction Notice for
James Street South: Duke Street to Bold Street:
Sidewalk and Boulevard Rehabilitation and Associated Works;
James Street South: Duke Street to Hunter Street:
Retaining Walls Construction, patching, drainage and associated works
In the City of Hamilton
Construction is scheduled to commence on or about 7 May, 2018 and be substantially completed by August 2018, weather permitting.
The work involves the following:
Retaining Wall and Stair Rehabilitation (CPR Bridge to Bold Street):  The retaining wall south of the CPR Bridge (T.H & B) requires rehabilitation due to existing drainage issues on top of the retaining wall.  During construction the south ramp and north stairs, which leads to top of the retaining wall, will also be reconstructed as part of this work. Accommodations will be made for access to those businesses affected during construction.
James Street South (Bold Street to Duke Street – West side): The curbs, boulevard and portions of the existing sidewalk have been scheduled for reconstruction.  This work is due to the existing condition of the sidewalk, railing/chains, the existing boulevard and curb grades, as well as public safety concerns regarding crossings at the intersection of James St. and Augusta.  The proposed work will include the replacement of the existing chain railing with the installation of new concrete planters and flowers, new concrete boulevard and will include sidewalk rehabilitation.
During this time you may experience some inconveniences such as noise, dust, and restricted vehicular and pedestrian movement. In particular, James Street South will be converted into a one way street (south bound only) from Hunter Street West to Young Street for the duration of the work. Detour routes will be posted where applicable. Every effort will be made to do the work in a timely manner and to keep any inconvenience to a minimum. We ask for your patience during this period.
Arts Awards Event Details
Wednesday June 6, 2018
Theatre Aquarius Dofasco Centre for the Arts
190 King William Street, Hamilton
Reception: 5:30 pm
Awards ceremony: 7 pm
Tickets
The Arts Awards presentation event is free to attend, but tickets are limited and must be booked in advance. General Admission tickets are available while quantities last at: hamiltonartsawards.eventbrite.com
Master of Ceremony: Clifford Myers
Celebrate Hamilton’s vital arts community at the 2018 City of Hamilton Arts Awards. The event will be a dynamic tribute to the arts in Hamilton and will feature a catered reception, (cash bar), art installations, performances, live music and – of course – the announcement of the Award recipients!

source: news-thepublicrecord

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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Who Will Council Appoint to Represent Ward 7 or 15 After the Provincial Election? – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

May 13, 2018
Barring some mysterious circumstance – such as an alien invasion – voters in the provincial riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook will elect either current Ward 7 City Councillor Donna Skelly – on the Progressive Conservative ticket – or current Ward 15 City Councillor Judi Partridge – on the Liberal ticket – as their new Member of Provincial Parliament.
This means Council will need to appoint a replacement City Councillor for the remainder of the winner’s term on Council, which runs until November 30.
Section 9 of the Legislative Assembly Act states the winner is deemed to have resigned from the municipal council upon the publication of the election returns in the Ontario Gazette. This is expected to occur on or about June 23rd.
Section 263 of the Municipal Act requires Council to fill the vacancy by appointment or by-election, the only exception is when a vacancy occurs 90 days prior to the regular municipal election. (This year’s election date is October 22, the 90 days begins on July 24)
Council will have 60 days to appoint the replacement Councillor. (Section 263 allows Council to alternatively pass a by-law within 60 days calling for a by-election, but this is not an option as Section 65 of the Municipal Elections Act forbids by-elections after March 31 of a regular election year.)
For political practicality, Council will need to find an interim councillor who is uncontroversial. For their own interests, they’ll want to appoint someone that is part of Hamilton’s political class.
Council faced a similar election year appointment near the end of the last term.
In 2014, Ward 3 Councillor Bernie Morelli died on January 14. It was an election year, with voting day on October 27.
Council choose – for similar reasons of political practicality – to fill the vacancy by appointment.
Former old City of Hamilton Mayor Bob Morrow was appointed to fill the seat. Unusually, Council did not invite applications, discussed Morrow’s nomination among themselves in private, and quickly appointed Morrow less than a month after Morelli’s death. Morrow was appointed on February 6.
As a former Mayor, out of politics for 13 years, and a former Citizenship Court Judge, Morrow was seen as an elder statesman and a relatively uncontroversial choice. He was willing and able to act in the role.
Currently, Hamilton has three living former mayors.
Bob Bratina is the Member of Parliament for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, and cannot sit on Council as a MP.
Larry DiIanni is presently working as a political consultant (lobbyist) and remains heavily engaged in local political commentary, including enjoying the odd Twitter fight. He’s not a conventional choice, and he would have to leave his successful consultancy to sit on Council.
Bob Wade, who served as the new City of Hamilton’s first Mayor from 2001 to 2004, is a respected figure and has not been engaged in any political activities since voluntarily retiring from politics. However, it is unlikely he’ll leave retirement to sit as an interim Councillor.
This leaves Council with few choices if they wish to fill the vacancy with someone in their circle.
The most obvious choice is former Ward 13 Dundas City Councillor Russ Powers.
Powers’ political career begin in 1982 when elected to the Town of Dundas Council. He left Council between 2004 and 2006 when was elected as Member of Parliament. (Power’s triggered a Council by-election, resigning only months into that Council term) Powers voluntarily retired from City Council in 2014.
Powers presently holds provincial appointments as Chair of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, and Chair of the Hamilton Grant Review Team of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The primary role of the interim Councillor will be to assist Council in making quorum, and fielding calls from constituents. Powers maintained a good attendance record as Councillor, and knows how to manage constituency affairs.
If Powers is not willing to be tapped on the shoulder, Council will need to put some thought into who they appoint.
There is a silver lining for Council in this appointment process, they can make the appointment after the close of nominations on July 27, ensuring that whomever they appoint is not running in the October municipal election.
Traditionally, municipal councils are loath to appoint an interim councillor without written assurance that they will not seek election in the next vote. Those written assurances hold no legal force, this time, Council won’t need it.
There is one quirk that could influence Council’s decision making – the risk of a Lame Duck Council under Section 275 of the Municipal Act starting at 2pm on July 27.
CORRECTION: The Council cannot call a by-election. Section 65 of the Municipal Elections Act states by-elections cannot be held after March 31 in an election year.


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Brad Lamb Really Wants Hamilton City Centre, Goes to Court to Try Close Deal Gone Sideways – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 15, 2018
Famed developer Brad Lamb’s corporation Lamb Development Group and affiliated Hamilton-based Movengo Corporation tried to purchase the Hamilton City Centre in early 2017 for $55-million, a court ruling in a legal dispute reveals.
Lamb and Movengo created a corporation for the sale, 2587508 Ontario Inc., and reached an agreement of intent to purchase the City Centre at 77 James Street North from the owner Hamilton City Centre Holdings (HCCH).
HCCH purchased the City Centre in 2014, in a deal which included two other properties and was valued at $90-million. The City Centre had sold in 2011 for $25-million.
Its present assessed value is $23-million.
Earlier this year, Partners REIT – which provided financial backing and was a guarantor of a $40-million second mortgage – announced that City Centre was refinanced and “that the mortgage loan on which it had provided the guarantee has now been repaid in full”.
The Court ruling details that “on March 13, 2017, HCCH entered into an agreement of purchase and sale to sell the Property to Movengo Corp., in trust, for a corporation to be incorporated. The purchase price was $55 million. Movengo Corp. paid a deposit of $250,000”.
The new corporation was incorporated as 2587508 Ontario Inc.
The court ruling describes numerous amendments to the agreement in May and June. During July and August, the numbered company tried to complete a purchase.
HCCH decided to not sell as the two sides could not reach an agreement on the capitalization rate.
2587508 Ontario Inc. commenced legal action on September 14, and bought a ex parte (without notice to the other party) motion on September 19 to the court, obtaining a Certificate of Pending Litigation (CPL) against the City Centre property.
2587508 Ontario Inc. is seeking a court order forcing HCCH to sell the City Centre to them, and sought the CPL to prevent sale to any other party.
It is this CPL which the Superior Court voided in its June 1 ruling.
In a strong rebuke of 2587508 Ontario Inc., Justice Paul R. Sweeny wrote they filed false statements in their ex parte motion, and “that basis alone, in my view, the certificate of pending litigation obtained on a motion without notice ought to be set aside.”
Sweeny found that 2587508 Ontario Inc. is a “shell corporation” of Movengo Corp which is affiliated with Lamb’s Lamb Development Corp..
Sweeny lifted the CPL finding that if Movengo is successful in their legal case against HCCH, monetary damages can be sought separate from obtaining the property.
Sweeny wrote that the key argument made by Movengo/Lamb Corps for the CPL is that the City Centre is “a unique property because of its location, history in the city of Hamilton, and the potential to build upon the existing foundation”.
The litigation between the parties continues with trial dates yet to be set.
Neither City Centre nor Movengo responded to The Public Record’s communications requesting comment.


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Divisional Court Hears Arguments in CHP v City of Hamilton: Must Decide if City's Actions Were Reasonable or Correct – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 13, 2018
A case that could find its way to the Supreme Court of Canada started in a Hamilton courtroom last week. The Christian Heritage Party challenged a City of Hamilton decision to remove bus shelter ads the party purchased during the summer of 2016.
The City of Hamilton (City) says it acted reasonably and responsibility in removing the ads which the City states were hateful towards transgender people.
The lawyer representing the Christian Heritage Party (CHP) says the City was incorrect in removing the ad, and violated CHP’s Charter rights by targeting political expression with which the City disagreed. The City says this is not the case, that the ad violated City standards, and this was why it was removed.
The Divisional Court is a division of the Ontario Superior Court which sits in review of decisions, with three Superior Court Justices sitting as a panel.
The hearing panel consisted of Justices Ruth E. Mesbur, Frederick L. Myers, and Michael N. Varpio.
Mesbur (who is a supernumerary judge) sat in the centre. Varpio is a Justice based out of the Northeast Region of Northern Ontario. Varpio regularly sits on Divisional Court panels.
In 2016, the CHP’s Hamilton Mountain riding association purchased three bus shelter advertisements to run for 28 days during the month of August.
The shelter ad poster depicted a person – with a stereotypical male haircut, heavy jacket, and baseball cap – walking into a door labeled “ladies showers”.
In the text accompanying the image, the ad stated “Competing Human Rights … Where is the Justice”.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Councillor Aidan Johnson determined the ads to be unacceptable and demeaning to the transgender community, and the City removed them from bus shelters.
The panel heard nearly four hours of oral arguments, and received thousands of pages submitted by each side.
The CHP seeks a court order to ‘tell the City they cannot censor political speech’, that the City violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and an order for the City to repost the advertisement for 28 days.
CHP lawyer Albertos Polizogopoulos argued the City should be held to the standard of correctness as outlined in the Oakes Test (named after the Supreme Court of Canada decision R v Oakes).
Oakes places the burden upon government to prove the necessity of restricting a Charter right, in this case CHP’s expression.
Lawyer for the City, Michael Bordin, argued the Court should decide the case by applying the Doré test (named after the Supreme Court of Canada decision Doré v Barreau du Québec).
Doré is a reasonableness test which grants deference to the decision maker (City) and does not necessarily require that the decision maker formally deliberate and consider Charter Rights in making a decision.
A primary focus of arguments was the decision making process of the City’s Director of Communications Andrea McKinney who was the sole city official who determined and removed the CHP ad.
Under policy, as written, the City delegated authority for ad standards and approval to Outfront Media, not McKinney.
Varpio and Myers noted numerous times in their questions that Outfront conducts ad judgments for over 100 municipalities and are subject matter experts.
Hamilton Street Railway (the City transit agency) advertising contracts state the Transit Director may “demand” the removal of ads to ensure the good operation of the transit system. There was argument about the term “demand” and if it limits the Transit Director to only requesting or if that represents an ability of the Transit Director to order removal of ad. Myers stated a plain reading is the Transit Director can remove ads.
The ads began running at three Hamilton bus shelters on or about August 1, 2016. There’s no record of when exactly they were posted. After some argument, it was accepted the ads were all posted no later than August 4th, but likely on the 1st or 2nd.
It wasn’t until August 10 that City Hall and McKinney became aware of the ads.
At 9:08am on August 10, Samantha Craggs of CBC News emailed City of Hamilton Public Works Communications Officer Jasmine Graham asking for City comment on the bus shelter ads. Craggs followed up with a phone call shortly thereafter.
At 10:10am, Graham emailed McKinney requesting direction on how to respond to CBC.
At 2:44pm, McKinney emailed Council stating City staff were being dispatched to find and remove the advertisements.
At 6:00pm, McKinney emailed Council to confirm the ads have been removed, stating that Public Works staff removed the ads because Outfront Media was not able to remove them that day.
These emails were the only written records provided by the City of the decision making process.
CHP is the applicant and Polizogopoulos argued first, quickly noting the City’s advertising policy made no reference to the Director of Communications, that authority for ad approval is with Outfront Media, that Outfront approved the ad and are experts in what is allowable advertising in Canada, that the City did not contact CHP prior to taking down the ad, and that CHP was not afforded the opportunity to run an alternative ad by the August 12 motion of Council condemning CHP’s ad.
Polizogopoulos cited the deposition of McKinney, during which McKinney stated her authority to remove the ads stemmed from her delegated authority from City Manager Chris Murray to protect the image of the City.
This authority was not written in bylaw or policy, Polizogopoulos stated. He argued McKinney’s lack of legal training meant she was not qualified to make the Charter weighing required of the Oakes Test, that she failed to weigh the Charter rights of CHP, she was primarily focused on protecting the City’s image, and that the City failed to meet its legal burden in its submissions to the Court.
Polizogopoulos challenged the City’s view the ad was targeting the then-recent City Human Rights settlement on access to gendered washrooms. He argued neither the word bathroom nor transgender is in the ad, and that “frankly, the City cannot decide what the poster depicts”.
Polizogopoulos said the City gave 14 reasons for rejecting the ad, but those reasons came after the decision, and the Court should reject them both as unproven and as being after the fact.
Among the reasons he stated the City provided are: the ad violated the City’s ad policy, violated the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, violated the City’s Equity Policy, the ad is anti-transgender, the City had an obligation to not distribute anti-human rights positions, the ad had an adverse impact upon transgender persons, and that the ad was a “dog whistle”.
“The City was motivated to censor speech it disagrees with, they were using government power to stifle dissenting views to the City’s planned policy [transgender protocol]”, Polizogopoulos argued.
He argued that the Supreme Court of Canada in Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority v. Canadian Federation of Students — British Columbia Component, 2009 SCC 31, stated “citizens, including bus riders, are expected to put up with some controversy in a free and democratic society” and therefore the City cannot ban CHP’s ad due to “claimed discomfort of some individuals”.
Polizogopoulos stated with emphasis to the Court at the time the City removed the ads on August 10, it had not received any complaints, and had only heard about third party complaints from the CBC reporter.
The Greater Vancouver decision established that once governments allow for commercial expression (“expressive activity” is the term used in the case) by inviting advertising into public spaces, under the Charter, government cannot impose blanket restrictions on political expression.
The 8-0 Supreme Court decision involved an ad with the image of a crowd and the text “Register now. Learn the issues. Vote May 17, 2005.”
Translink (the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority) rejected the ad under its blanket political advertising ban, it was the blanket nature of the ban that the Court overturned.
In paragraph 78 of Greater Vancouver, the Supreme Court stated “The fact that the limits are overbroad in the instant case does not mean that the government cannot limit speech in bus advertisements.”
Building upon this in paragraph 79: “Thus, limits on advertising are contextual. Although we are not required to review the proposed standards, the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, which is referred to in the transit authorities’ advertising policies, could be used as a guide to establish reasonable limits, including limits on discriminatory content or on ads which incite or condone violence or other unlawful behaviour.”
Polizogopoulos sought to address the greatest case law challenge facing his arguments, the recent Alberta Court of Appeal decision, Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform v Grande Prairie (City) 2018 ABCA 154.
In Grande Prairie a lower court ruled the Transit Director was reasonable and justified in refusing to run an pro-life/anti-abortion advertisement from the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR).
The court stated Grande Prairie’s Transit Director’s mandate includes creating a “safe and welcoming transit system” and that the Director could refuse the CCBR ad as contrary to this mandate due to its graphic and misleading content. Importantly for the this Hamilton case, the Alberta Court stated the Director was correct in reviewing the content of the CCBR website in determining the appropriateness of the ad.
Polizogopoulos argued the CHP Hamilton ad was approved by OutFront, unlike in Grande Prairie where it was denied by the mandated official. He told the Court that McKinney could not reject an ad due to a lack of authority in her position. He further argued that in Grande Prairie the city provided some written reasons, whereas Hamilton did not provide reasons – or even contact CHP – prior to removing the ad.
Citing the Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) in Bracken v. Fort Erie (Town), 2017 ONCA 668, paragraphs 46 to 54, Polizogopoulos argued that “citizens are expected to put up with controversy”, and the ONCA rejected the Fort Erie’s claim that Bracken’s speech was violence.
Citizens “are not required to limit their upset in order to engage their constitutional right to engage in protest”, Polizogopoulos emphasized from the decision.
Polizogopoulos stated the CHP “does not dispute how the transgender community feels” but that it was “not relevant to reviewing the City’s decision as the poster does not change transgender policy or access”, stating that “feelings should not allow a City to stop the speech of a political party”.
Varpio asked “doesn’t Greater Vancouver allow for a city to curtail discriminatory speech?” citing paragraph 79.
“The threshold is high, especially when political speech from a political party”, Polizogopoulos responded.
Myers asked Polizogopoulos why he did not include R. v Zundel in his book of authorities as it is very similar. In Zundel, the Supreme Court held the government could not prosecute Zundel for “spreading false news” by publishing and distributing a Holocaust denying pamphlet entitled “Did Six Million Really Die“.
Myers stated ‘wouldn’t the feelings of those alive who survived the Holocaust, and their children, be greatly harmed by Zundel’s speech? Yet the Supreme Court of Canada held the Charter protected his speech.’
Polizogopoulos returned to his argument that the City could not agree upon what the CHP poster depicted.
Myers interrupted him, “Let’s not pretend the Christian Heritage Party put up the ad to support the policy! Everyone knows that it was a response [to the City’s planned Transgender Protocol], but that’s your case – the City cannot ban something it disagrees with”.
Polizogopoulos summarized his arguments, and the Court recessed for lunch.
The City planned to use the full afternoon to make arguments, but did not get much opportunity to present oral arguments as the Justices quickly began challenging the City’s case, placing the burden of the case upon the City as respondent.
Outside lawyer for the City, Michael Bordin (assisted by Lyndsay Butlin), began his arguments stating “This case is not about the city completely censoring the applicant’s political views and political expressions, but a decision to take down a discriminatory ad” as the City is allowed to do under the advertising contract.
Bordin outlined the City’s position that it acted reasonably and within the advertising contract when it removed the ad. Not only did it have the right to remove the ad, it had the obligation under Toby’s Law to protect members of the transgender community by removing the ad.
Bordin, building upon Grande Prairie, outlined the views of the CHP as expressed on their website.
“The Christian Heritage Party says transgender woman are not women, but they are men”, Bordin stated. Jim Enos, the CHP agent who bought the ad, is “known to the City” for providing “unsolicited comments” on social matters to both staff and council, Bordin continued.
Bordin began reading the reasons the City listed in its submissions of why it needed to remove the ad.
Myers asked a question, cutting off the argument. “Is it discrimination to politically oppose making washrooms gender neutral?”
Bordin said that some people may see it that way.
Myers responded “What does the Charter say, I don’t care what individuals think”.
The Charter does speak to free expression, but does not protect discriminatory speech, was Bordin’s response.
This was the first of almost two hours of questions from the Justices to Bordin.
Myers asked if there is a right to advertise a position against the City’s viewpoints and planned policy?
Bordin responded with a question, “Would we allow an ad that is against desegregation, we’d agree that’s discriminatory?”.
“Some would say modesty is still a value”, Myers stated.
“We are moving forward in our understanding of the discrimination and experiences of transgender persons”, Bordin responded.
Varpio asked if the City would treat the ad differently if it were only text without the image. “If the ad says we don’t like the policy, is that discrimination?”
Bordin responded “the ad we have in front of us has a context and a history”, and that it was not merely stating opposition to policy.
During a line of questioning from Mesbur about the City’s position that CHP’s website forms an important context of the bus shelter ad, Bordin stated the contract was between the applicant [CHP] and Outfront Media.
Mesbur quickly retorted “But Outfront didn’t remove the ad”.
Thus began the toughest questioning of the City’s position.
Reading from the disposition transcript, Varpio stated “McKinney says she had the authority to remove the ad because she is delegated by the City Manager to protect the City’s image. If McKinney is driving home tonight and sees an ad she doesn’t like, she has the authority to remove it?”
Bordin stated ‘Yes, if she deems it harmful to the City’s image’, Varpio responded ‘She doesn’t need to consult with anyone?’ to which Bordin stated ‘She consults with those necessary’.  Varpio redirected his question ‘But ultimately she can remove it without seeking input from affected parties’ and Bordin responded “If necessary”
Myers asked Bordin “Where is the decision of the City, show me that” noting that the City made no written decision, nor did it make any record of the consideration that lead to the removal of the ad.
“They made a quasi-judicial decision among a bunch of directors without notice to the applicant. Where did she get the authority, the statutes, and the evidence to make the decision. This is a serious decision, how did she make it? Where’s the evidence”, Myers stated.
Myers was further critical of Director of Communications Andrea McKinney for not speaking to CHP prior to removing the ad. “She found they [CHP] breached the Ad Code, law, Human Rights Code, or moral standards of the community”.
“What authority did she have? The policy says the Ad Code, [inaudible], or the General Manager of Transit”, Myers stated.
Varpio joined in the line of questioning “I don’t see anywhere where the City staff describe where and why they thought it was discriminatory. Did I miss it?”
Bordin responded “you have not”, that the City’s decision is “not spelled out … to some, it’s [the ad] clearly intended to be discriminatory to some individuals” adding “When it’s self-evident, it’s hard to describe”.
Varpio and Myers both tested the self-evident argument, returning to the lack of reasons in making the decision from the City for how it is discriminatory.
Bordin stated CHP and the City were in a “contractual relationship, and the contract says ads can be pulled”.
Myers responded “[Greater] Vancouver had a contract”.
Bordin stated the case there was different, that case was about a blanket ban on ads, this is about the advertisement itself. He stated that Outfront’s contract with CHP allowed for the City to remove the ad without notice, and the Court here should look at this as a contractual matter.
“Isn’t the decision not quasi-judicial in nature?” Myers asked Bordin.
There was a 20 second pause as Bordin considered his response. “In our view there’s been a breach of the contract, we’re not moving forward”. Bordin began his response arguing CHP’s ad content breached the contract, stating that he was “struggling with the idea that it is quasi-judicial”.
Myers stated “You state the ad is discriminatory … how is that not a finding made concerning CHP’s ad, which the CHP may have a different view on”.
Bordin responded “It’s the Council’s expressed view”.
Myers stated “What evidence did they rely upon to formulate that view?”
Bordin responded City Council is “primarily a legislative body, not a administrative tribunal”.
Myers quickly retorted “except when they make findings of law based on finding of fact. There is plenty of case law that cities are quasi-judicial actors”.
A recess was granted for Bordin to conference with Assistant City Solicitor Ron Sabo who was present in the public gallery for the hearing. The recess lasted around 20 minutes.
When Court resumed, Varpio challenged Bordin on burden, questioning critically the City’s position that CHP must meet the burden of proving the City was unreasonable and infringed their Charter rights.
“Doesn’t the City need to provide due process?”, Varpio asked.
Bordin responded that Doré is a balancing test, that in Greater Vancouver the Supreme Court recognized that creating a “safe and welcoming environment is an appropriate objective”, that it may be appropriate to restrict some expression in order to protect children (Grande Prairie), that transgender individuals fit into a group of vulnerable individuals similar to those envisioned in Greater Vancouver.
“Does it have to be discriminatory? Is making people uncomfortable enough?”, Varpio posed as a question.
Bordin responded that Clause 14 of the Code of Advertising Standards provides a standard.
Mesbur quickly commented “Outfront knows the ad code, they did not find fault” to which Bordin responded there is “no evidence” before the court that Outfront reviewed the advertisement before posting.
Mesbur noted that Outfront was not consulted at any point during McKinney’s decision making on August 10, 2016, and returned to a previous point that CHP was not contacted either.
Bordin said the court needs to consider the “underlining tone and views” of the CHP, stating CHP “disparages” and “denigrates” transgender people, subjecting them to public ridicule by suggesting they are “scary”, “dangerous”, and “deviant”.
Varpio returned to the earlier line of questioning on reasonableness of process. “What evidence do we have of balance” of free expression against the City’s policies and purposes? Varpio referred to the City’s 14 reasons against the ad as “14 ways of trying to say the same thing”.
In his response, Bordin conceded “you won’t see it in the record” as the City did not take minutes of its decision making process.
Varpio questioned “even is the outcome is reasonable, how do we know the process lead to a reasonable decision?”.
Bordin argued the City didn’t have case law to refer to in this matter, and that in E.T. v. Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, 2017 ONCA 893 the Court of Appeal held that a lack of front line review was not fatal to the balancing test, that it could be done later.
Myers interjected “this is people’s fundamental Charter rights, you can’t just lower it down the org[anizational] chart to a person unfamiliar with the balancing requirement, then state I can create excuses for it later”
Varpio noted that McKinney was relatively new in her position at the time, that this was “not an easy decision” and that even if McKinney is a reasonable thoughtful person, “and the Court has nothing on the record to indicate otherwise” that it is “not unreasonable” for the Court to find that McKinney took down the CHP ad “because she disagreed with it”. “Without record or evidence, how can the Court find in favour for the City?”
Bordin argued the Court can find the reasons and necessity for removing the ad from the submissions of the City, and the affidavits which were sworn.
Myers interjected “after the decision”. “You let other parties advertise, you are deciding content”.
Myers expressed that if the Court were to remit the CHP back to the City to conduct a reasonableness review, McKinney would reject the ad based upon Council’s direction.
Myers challenged the City’s submission that the discriminatory nature of the CHP ad was self-evident, saying there’s no clear evidence from the City to advance this, as the City’s own submitted affidavits disagree on the meaning of the ad. “You use the word [discriminatory], that can’t be enough”.
Bordin responded that the CHP ad is “dog whistle politics” designed to signal CHP’s base against transgender individuals, and that in American Freedom Defence Initiative v Edmonton (City), 2016 ABQB 555 the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench found that an ad by the American Freedom Defence Initiative was a dog whistle and Edmonton Transit was justified in refusing to allow the ad as it targeted the Muslim community, similar to what the CHP’s purpose was.
Bordin stated the City’s decision in this case should be decided on the range of reasonableness.
Varpio asked “Is coming close reasonable” if the City “ignored one party”.
Mesbur asked if the Court should only look at the outcome and ignore the process. ‘What if McKinney made her decision by using a “Ouija Board” or a “Magic 8-Ball“?’
Mesbur asked “If McKinney shook an 8-Ball and the answer comes up within the range of reason, are you asking that the Court ignore the process?”. “Namely that she used the 8-Ball to make the decision?”.
“Isn’t reasonable process required for reasonableness?”
It was at 4pm in the courtroom, and Myers stated both parties had made their key arguments, arguments they are likely to to repeat in higher courts.
Bordin argued in closing that the Court should consider all the evidence in the City’s briefs and affidavits, and the impact of the ad in the community.
Mesbur made a final statement asking if freedom of expression was considered, Bordin did not answer, and Mesbur turned to Polizogopoulos for his reply to the City’s arguments.
“I’m reluctant to say much” Polizogopoulos opened.
He restated his arguments on lack of process and free speech; arguing that if the Court ruled in favour of the City, it was opening the door to further action against speech the City disagrees with.
Polizogopoulos argued that the City would have the authority to remove posters from traffic poles, that were, as an example, advertising a controversial academic. He cited Jordan Peterson as an academic who is accused of being discriminatory towards transgender people, who could be censored in the future.
Justice Myers stated “Have you been to a campus lately?” stating Peterson had already been shut down at McMaster.
Polizogopoulos said he wasn’t thinking of that example, and noted he was just arguing about the risk of overreach without proper process.
The Justices asked the lawyers if CHP and the City had reached an agreement on costs. (Reaching an agreement is expected in Divisional Court) Both lawyers stated they had not, and could not do so quickly.
The Justices thanked the lawyers for their submissions, including the creation of a joint book of authorities.
Mesbur lightheartedly stated “should we retire for five minutes to consider our decision?” to which all smiled, knowing that this decision will be lengthy and take time to be published.
It is expected that once a ruling is made, the unsuccessful party will appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal.


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Editors Note: Police Assist Emotionally Distressed Person and It's Not News – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 18, 2018
Recently, I’m not providing exact details as I do not wish to provide identifying information about the person in distress, I observed a Hamilton Police response to a person in emotional distress.
The person was on the roof of a house porch, angrily yelling at police, threatening police, neighbours, and harm to himself. A crowd of over a dozen people were watching, police had closed off the block, and surrounding area. (Of course, as is too often the case these days, people were ignoring the police lines and walking directly through the situation) Paramedics were stationed on standby, the Emergency Response Unit (commonly called SWAT) were at the ready, and many people were recording the scene.
I observed for about 10 minutes, taking note of the deployment of personnel, the posture of those personnel, and how police were handling the situation. My primary purpose was to be able to write in the event the person did harm themselves and the matter becomes a Special Investigations Unit case.
Police were working to deescalate the situation, not imposing upon the man, giving space while being close enough to quickly intervene if harmed himself. Staff Sergeant Andrew Toms was maintaining a calm posture and tone in communicating to the man, listening to him, and building a rapport. Time was the ally of the police, and they were making full use of it.
Toms spoke to the man on a first name basis, calming him and working to resolve the situation
A few hours later, the situation was resolved, the man was taken to hospital without harm coming to him.
We often hear when these situations are not resolved – be it YouTube videos or SIU press releases, yet what happened the other night is the norm. The situation is resolved, the media doesn’t report it (primarily to not cause anguish to the person who was in distress), and you never know it happened.


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OMB/LPAT Pre-Hearing Continuation into Pier 8 Zoning {Live Blog} – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 5, 2018
The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board) continues its pre-hearing into the appeals by Parrish & Heimbecker, Bunge Canada, and Harbour West Neighbours against the City’s zoning changes for the Pier 8 lands to enable the City’s planned residential redevelopment of the lands on Hamilton’s West Harbour.
The Public Record must request the permission of the Presiding Member of the LPAT to electronically publish during the meeting. If that permission is granted, our liveblog coverage will be below.
Read our coverage of the first day of pre-hearing from March here: OMB Will Review Council’s Potential Conflict on Pier 8 as Both Approving Authority and Land Seller


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Ready to Declare for Mayor? Vito Sgro Resigns from Infrastructure Ontario, VitoSgro .com and .ca Registered – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

June 18, 2018
Vito Sgro has resigned his appointment on Infrastructure Ontario’s Board of Directors, clearing the last hurdle before he can officially declare his expected candidacy for Mayor of Hamilton.
Sgro has openly discussed his consideration of seating the Mayor’s Chair.
The resignation became public last week when the public appointments listing of the Government of Ontario was updated following the provincial election.
Sgro’s appointment to the Infrastructure Ontario (IO) Board was until July 2019.
By convention, a person with a provincial appointment such as the IO cannot run for municipal office while holding the appointment.
As well, late Thursday evening, someone registered the domains VitoSgro.com and VitoSgro.ca; further indication that Sgro’s registration is likely imminent.
Thus far, other than incumbent Fred Eisenberger who registered for re-election in May, no other potential candidate with proven campaign organization abilities and known ability to raise political donations has indicated a desire to run for Mayor.
Sgro is a Partner with CBM Chartered Accountants LLP. Previously, Sgro was a member of the HECFI Board of Directors, and a member of the Hamilton Port Authority.  A relatively unknown figure outside of political circles, Sgro has been a successful Liberal party organizer for over 30 years in East Hamilton.
Sgro holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario.


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Candidates Start Lining Up as July 27 Nomination Deadline Approaches – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 9, 2018
Seven more candidates registered between Tuesday and Thursday for Hamilton’s 2018 municipal election.
Three particularity notable nominations this week as Vito Sgro registered to run for Mayor, Arlene Vanderbeek filed for re-election in the new Ward 13, and Stewart Klazinga became the first candidate to register for Ward 5 councillor.
Sgro is a Chartered Accountant, an experienced political strategist, and thus far the only challenger to Mayor Fred Eisenberger with a proven ability to fund-raise for and run the kind of city-wide campaign needed to be a serious contender for the Mayor’s chair. He’ll be revealing his entire platform during the campaign. In the first days, he made clear that he is opposed to Light Rail Transit, says he wants a city-wide Bus Rapid Transit – but didn’t actually propose a BRT, saying he’ll bring together experts to fix the HSR -, said he’ll seek to implement an Auditor General position in Hamilton, and wants to bring the public and private sector together to create a comprehensive affordable housing plan within 90 days of being elected, stating the City isn’t doing enough to address the housing affordably issues in Hamilton. Full transcript of TPR’s interview with Sgro on Wednesday.
Arlene Vanderbeek is looking to continue her political career which started when she was elected to Dundas Town Council in 1994, seeking re-election in the new Ward 13 which is Dundas and western Flamborough. Vanderbeek spoke to The Dundas Star stating “I’m not a career politician. I’m a resident who knows I can make a difference”
Stewart Klazinga is the first candidate to register in the Ward 5 City Council race. Klazinga outlined his reasons for running, and priorities if elected, in a Medium post in March, including fixing transit, creating safe streets, transparency at City Hall, and fiscal responsibility.
Ricky Tavares registered as a candidate for Mayor. Tavares ran for Mayor in 2014, only gaining 428 votes and finishing in 10th place among 12 candidates.
In Ward 7, which is now an open seat, Karen Grice-Uggenti – a realtor – registered.
Nick Caluori joins the race for Catholic School Trustee in Wards 12 & 13.


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David Christopherson announces political retirement after 30 years in elected office – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 5, 2018
Hamilton Centre David Christopherson announced his plans to retire from elected office at the end of his present term as a Member of Parliament. The announcement was posted to his website Thursday afternoon.
“It has been my distinct honour to have served as the councillor for Ward 4, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre and now as the federal Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre,” Christopherson wrote in his statement. “I truly love our city and the people who call it home. To have earned the trust and confidence of the people of Hamilton for so many years is truly humbling and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join with so many dedicated people working to help build a stronger, more fair and diverse community.”
Christopherson’s retirement will cause a cascade in Hamilton politics as the Hamilton Centre federal seat will be hotly contested next year. (The Public Record will leave that speculative story to another day)
First elected in 1985 to the Ward 4 seat of Hamilton City Council, Christopherson quickly established himself as a great orator and champion of social democratic causes.
A man of deep conviction, Christopherson would break from his party and political ranks when he believed on principle it was the right thing to do. Most recently, Christopherson stood up for “Canadians’ right to disagree with the laws that they have to obey” and voted against the federal Liberal’s Canada Summer Jobs attestation. Christopherson was the NDP MP to do so, and was demoted within his party caucus for doing so. The demotion was quickly reversed.
Christopher served on City Council for five years. He ran for provincial parliament in 1990, easily winning election in Hamilton Centre as part of the Bob Rae NDP wave that year. He served in the Ontario Cabinet, Premier Rae appointed him as Minister of Correctional Services, and later added Solicitor-General to his portfolio.
In 1995, pundits thought all of Hamilton’s provincial NDP seats were safe except one. At the end of election night on that June 8, the safe seats were lost, and the rookie in Hamilton Centre was the only NDP MPP in Hamilton.
He held on by a narrow 690 vote margin, but in the context of the NDP rout that night, his thin margin became the stuff of mythology.
Christopherson would be easily re-elected in 1999.
In 2003, Christopherson did not seek reelection as MPP, he ran for Mayor of the City of Hamilton. He would suffer the only electoral defeat of his career in that Mayoral race as Larry DiIanni won 70,500 votes to Christopherson’s 54,300. The 2003 election was a de-facto referendum on the Red Hill Valley Parkway, with DiIanni in favour and Christopherson opposed.
In 2004, Christopherson ran for federal parliament in one of the most watched races in the country. He took on four-term MPP and Minister of National Revenue Stan Keyes in the new redistributed riding of Hamilton Centre (Keyes represented the dissolved riding of Hamilton West). Christopherson won overwhelmingly with 46% of the vote. Christopherson would go on to win re-election in 2006, 2008, 2011, and most recently in 2015.
Christopherson will serve as Hamilton Centre MP until after the scheduled October 21, 2019 federal election.


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Joey's Note: Donna Skelly's Appointment as P.A. to Minister of EcDev Jim Wilson A Big Opportunity for Skelly – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 2, 2018
Donna Skelly is Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade Jim Wilson.
Hamilton’s sole member of the Provincial Progressive Conservative government, Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly, gained a P.A. post in the new government, working with Minister Jim Wilson.
First elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990, Wilson is a seasoned expert in how Queen’s Park functions. Wilson is a Red Tory who will focus on managing his portfolio for the betterment of Ontarians regardless of party affiliation. Skelly will have the opportunity to prove herself as P.A., and if recommended by Wilson, she has a very good chance of making Cabinet during a mid-term shuffle.
(Wilson was opposition critic for higher education while I was working for Macleans. Him and I regularly chatted, do not under-estimate him as I did, he reads his briefings well, and gains knowledge quickly.)


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LPAT (former OMB) sets Pre-Hearing Dates for 195 Wellington South, Sonoma Homes Upper Sherman & Rymal Project, and Television City – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 2, 2018
The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly known as the Ontario Municipal Board) is beginning to set pre-hearing dates for various appeals for non-decision in planning applications across Hamilton.
Non-Decision Appeals are those made by developers prior to Council debating a matter due to provisions in the Planning Act requiring Council to make a decision in either 120 or 180 days after an application is submitted. Few applications are ever reviewed by staff and voted upon at Council in these timelines. As there is no Council debate prior to non-decision appeals, the LPAT hearing is the only opportunity for members of the public to have their voices heard.
If you wish to speak to an appeal, you must attend the pre-hearing date. If you cannot attend, contact the LPAT case coordinator to see what alternative opinions may be available to you.
195 Wellington Street South
Medallion Developments is proposing a 20 story residential tall building on a portion of the property which is presenting the site of a low-storey apartment complex. The pre-hearing date is October 22nd, 10am, at the Old Courthouse downtown at 50 Main Street East.
October 22nd is the date of the municipal election, and the pre-hearing is scheduled by LPAT, not the City or appealing party.
The case number is PL171389, the case manager’s contact is on the LPAT website.
This hearing will be under old OMB rules as the appeal was filed prior to December 12, 2018.
1518, 1530, and 1540 Upper Sherman Avenue
This Sonoma Homes project proposes two eight-storey and two 11-storey buildings on the northeast parcel of Upper Sherman Avenue and Rymal Road East; the proposal has drawn much concern among neighbours in the area, but also support from some quarters of the planning community for an intensification project on a planned (Rymal) rapid transit corridor.
The pre-hearing date is October 23rd, 10am, at the Old Courthouse downtown at 50 Main Street East.
The case number is PL180175, the case manager’s contact is on the LPAT website.
This hearing will be under old OMB rules as the appeal was filed prior to December 12, 2018.
163 Jackson Street West – Television City
Brad Lamb’s appeal against the City – the OMB will have to determine if they’ll treat it as a non-decision or a Council denial as Lamb filed after Councillors received the staff report but before they formally voted to deny – against the escarpment height limit and other planning policies will have its pre-hearing on October 26th, 10am, at the Old Courthouse downtown at 50 Main Street East.
The case number is PL180255, the case manager’s contact is on the LPAT website.
This hearing will be under old OMB rules as the appeal was filed prior to December 12, 2018.


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Speculation on Next City Manager is Focused on Men, This is a Problem Chris Murray Leaves Behind. – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 1, 2018
The names thus far speculated upon for Hamilton’s next City Manager are all men – with only one woman tossed in for good measure. This is a function of the fact that during outgoing City Manager Chris Murray’s nine years as City Manager, he hired no women into General Manager roles.
When Murray became City Manager in 2009, two of Hamilton’s top tier of managers were women.
Joe-Anne Priel was General Manager of Community and Emergency Services. Dr. Elizabeth Richardson was General Manager of Public Health Services and Medical Officer of Health.
Priel retired last year, and was replaced by Paul Johnson. At the same time, Murray demoted Dr. Richardson by removing her General Manager responsibilities and transferring them to Johnson, leaving Richardson as the equivalent to a Director exclusive of her legislated authorities as a the Medical Officer of Health.
As Murray leaves there are no women left in the top tier of managers; leaving no obvious internal candidates to speculate about as potential City Manager.
At the Director level, there are two male directors for every female director. (excluding acting directors)
If we’re going to speculate, we’re going to need to do better than just listing off the internal senior managers with former City of Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat (who was born in Hamilton) throw into the mix due to her being widely known.
(Andrew Dreschel does not list Dr. Richardson as a potential successor, likely reflective of how the present Council does not appreciate providing honest advice free of political conveniences)
Why not Burlington’s Deputy City Manager Mary Lou Tanner? She’s fully qualified for the role, with experience working in Hamilton.
We could cast the net wider and look at the many successful women who are great Chief Administrative Officers (the City Manager’s role is call chief administrative officer in the Municipal Act), the many Assistant Deputy Ministers in the Ontario Public Service, and beyond.
That the City of Hamilton has no women in our top tier of managers is disgraceful in 2018. All things being equal, the next Council will have to address this, and hiring Hamilton’s first female City Manager is a good place to start.


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Vito Sgro Running for Mayor of Hamilton, Transcript of His Answers to The Public Record – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 5, 2018
Vito Sgro registered to run for Mayor of Hamilton Wednesday morning. Sgro spoke with The Public Record editor Joey Coleman, below is the full transcript of the interview.
The Public Record will be interviewing all candidates and releasing those interview in podcast format, Sgro will sit down with Joey Coleman for that interview in August.
COLEMAN: Vito, you’ve registered to run for mayor. It looks like it will be a two-way race in terms of campaigns that are organized and able to spread their message across the entire City, why are you running?
SGRO: I never really wanted to run before. If you talk to anybody who has known me for the last 20 years they are shocked, beyond shocked right now.
The final straw where I really started looking at this was speaking with a now former [provincial] cabinet minister on the issue of LRT.
The reason why we met was there was a rumour, about a year and a half ago, that the Premier may be leaving, and guys like myself – not just me – organizers were getting calls from ministers that were thinking of running [for leadership].
The topic of LRT came up and I ask the Minister straight out ‘can you please tell me why, I’m missing something, why is it so good for Hamilton? I’m not getting it.’
They kind of implied that the main reason was an accounting issue. The LRT is a provincially owned asset, it’s expensed over the life of the asset.
It means the deficit will be lower every year, if they [the province] give money for transit to buses, for example, the province doesn’t own it. It has to take the [accounting] hit in that year. And I looked at this Minister ‘this is the reason, there’s not a transit reason?’ To me that was the final straw, we took a once-in-a-five-lifetime opportunity for transit and the reason why we got this mode was because of accounting and that’s unacceptable to me.
COLEMAN: How do you respond to the argument that we already have the ridership on the B-Line Corridor to justify a LRT, and that the LRT has lower operating expenses?
SGRO: Here’s my issue, we have a very poor transit system, extremely poor. The last time I tried to take it, and it’s been a few months, I’ll be honest with you, I used it to go to the new [GO] station in the North End. The A-Line which is supposed to be this massive line didn’t show up, and I’m thinking to myself was there an accident or something happened? Then I read one of your tweets that apparently this happens a lot.
There are areas of the city that have no transit or its the poorest transit there is. I think this is a once-in-a-five-lifetime opportunity to get a complete bus system with a rapid bus component for the whole city from Fifty Road all the way to Waterdown from Haldimand all the way to the lake. I can’t give that up.
I’m not a big fan of LRT. You can find studies either way, and I’ve looked at all, but you take a look at what’s going on.
Los Angeles got a micro transit system started. It’s in the early stages but it’s basically hit an app and the bus – it’s a van not really a bus – comes to pick you up. Now they’re trying that out. Autonomous vehicles are coming. In Toronto, if you read TheStar this morning, they’re planning a line.
In Vegas, where I spend a lot of time, they’ve already got one line doing that. That’s the future. I want to take money from whatever supposedly coming to us, set up a reserve fund to study transit, with the HSR, with Innovation Centre, with everyone on what’s coming in the future. So we’re ready for whatever is coming down the road, study it, what kind of roads we have to build? How do we put bike lanes properly, so people aren’t getting killed? Is there communication lines we can put in at the same time? and so forth.
When these things come, and they’re coming probably in the next 15, 20, 30 years we’re ready, and we can actually be on the forefront. Why don’t we have the HSR be, I don’t want to use the word guinea pig but, the test case for this. It could also attract a lot of these new research businesses.
COLEMAN: How do you, you’re looking at BRT, what does that BRT look like between Eastgate and McMaster?
SGRO: First of all, in my, in the long range plan it’s Fifty Road to pass McMaster. There are too many areas where they have to take a cab to get to the bus, nobody’s going to do that, very few people do it. It’s very costly.
More buses right now to get the ridership up, we’re going the wrong way.
We’re not growing we’re a ways away from where we have capacity problems but I hope we have capacity problems down the road. That means the people on the Mountain are using it, getting into the Lower City and vice-versa. I don’t see how a LRT in one part of the city solves our transit problems.
Everyone says down the road we can do it, no there is no down the road, this is a once, like I said God knows how long chance.
COLEMAN: So what does it look like, right now we do have a capacity problem between McMaster and Downtown, a significant capacity problem. What I’m trying to get – I get what you saying about spreading thoughout the city – you know that I travel across the city
SGRO: Everywhere, yes you do.
COLEMAN: So I understand, that. What I’m trying to get it is what’s your policy position, what are you going to do, while you are addressing the outer transit issues, what are you doing between McMaster and Downtown?
SGRO: If we have to add more buses, I’m going to consult with the people who do this, the HSR, and whoever if we need more buses will do more buses, and again will have the resources to do that.
COLEMAN: By BRT are you looking at properly segregated lanes for the BRT?
SGRO: I will let the experts tell me what’s the best way, where we made a mistake, and we’re not going to do this again, I would have loved in a perfect world to have a piazza down King Street. We don’t have perimeter roads, we could have did it long long time ago that’s never going to happen now, now we put bike Lanes on Cannon – which I think is a great idea – but if we had that bypass like the [Highway] 404, or wherever in these other cities, we could have got a little more creative but we have to face the reality of what it is.
And Downtown is what it is, and I’m not going to put a train down there, it’s very fragile downtown, I’ve been here twenty something years, and I love what’s happening, I really really do it’s exciting to bring people downtown. To show them King William, to show them James North, show them, what’s happening on John, everywhere.
You do something like this and it’s not going to five years, Waterloo is two to two-and-a-half years behind, and there are other issues there. And God Bless them, I wish them all the best I really do, Ottawa just started and their six or seven months behind. Bombardier’s got to recall all of their cars from Toronto this morning.
I don’t know, they just got them and they’re going to be out six weeks. There is going to be confusion and everything else involved. I fear for what’s going to happen downtown.
COLEMAN: Infrastructure along King Street, infrastructure work along King Street has been delayed, it needs to be done. How are you going to address the fact that we do have to rip up the large parts of King Street to do infrastructure underneath?
SGRO: It won’t take five to seven years, and it won’t – that I’ve already checked into it. You take a look at what Ottawa did and Ottawa did a great job they really really did they built a ridership up, fantastically.
That BRT system worked, I actually spoke, because he was on the Board with me at IO [Infrastructure Ontario] and he said it was the most elegant system, he says once you put those rails in, there there, where as with BRT if you have to change something you have the flexibility. There is going to be no matter what you do there’s going to be some issues on Rymal, Highway 20 [Centennial Parkway], James and so forth but it’s not going to be and it’s going to be like I said seven years or so and it won’t be that long with the bus.
COLEMAN: Bus lanes? Is that an option?
SGRO: Again, the experts will tell me with the proviso that we don’t completely clogged everything, what I’m against 100%, and we have to change this if this is the mentality, I want everyone to take transit, I want them to take it because it’s the best way to do it. I don’t ever want to hear ‘I’m going to make it tough for you’.
Okay, I’m going to make it so you want to, you know you have to get out of your car, that’s going to go. It’s going to be, yeah you know what, it’s the best way to do I’m leaving my car at home, I’m going to take a bike, I’m going to take the bus, I’m going to do whatever. I always find that you get a better response when you want to go then when you’re forced, I never want to tell everyone you have to go Downtown.
I tell them you want to go Downtown, you’re missing out you want to be there. It’s the same mentality with transit.
COLEMAN: Okay, we’re going to do a podcast interview and we’re going to have on this conversation topic.
SGRO: I love that. I’m not going to have all the answers, I’m not going to try to bullshit you that I do, and I’ll be honest, I’ll say on that issue I don’t know and I’ll find out.
COLEMAN: I want to ask is this is a question to get at your thinking you’re talking about a external auditor.
SGRO: I don’t even want to call it that, it’s the Auditor General. In my opinion [we] have an Integrity Commissioner, most useless job, not the person I’m sure is a very find person, the position is the most useless position there is. You need outside oversight, not beholden to Council, not hired by Council, it’s appointed by the Province for six-year term which goes over two Council terms.
They will have complete right to go into all city funded agencies and departments and so forth like the Auditor General does in Ontario and the federal government. It’s not just financial, which is very very important, but its programs. ‘This program is not working, that one’s working great, we should do more of that’. The problem is the media, mainstream media, focuses on the 10 or 15% of the bad, and I get it it’s salacious, it sounds fantastic. What you don’t read, because we got this at IO [Infrastructure Ontario] when it’s embarrassing, but there’s no doubt, 85% of it is your doing a great job here, continue that, do this. It brings in more transparency, and there’s nothing bad about that. Letting you see what’s going on and actually takes these potential politician off the hook, there it is, I’m not hiding anything from you.
COLEMAN: My question was going to be if you were looking at using Section 223 [of the Municipal Act] which is the Auditor General function. Now 223,
SGRO: Not the same Auditor General, I don’t understand how a City this size with expenditures in the billions doesn’t already have it, such as Hamilton I don’t want to say that, how does Mississauga or Toronto – which needs two Auditor Generals – I don’t understand how it’s not mandated.
COLEMAN: Back to the Integrity Commissioner, I get your position is that the position has been set up flawed, I’d submit to you that this Council has intentionally chosen an Integrity Commissioner with a reputation for not investigating compared to somebody like Robert Swayze who is by far the most excellent Integrity Commissioner in the province.
SGRO: I think you just brought up the most important point, this Council chose. You have to take that part out of the equation. The Ministry in charge is going to, or whoever from the Province will appoint an Auditor General, and I don’t know the current Ontario Auditor General. We had to deal with her, I don’t agree with everything she said, but I’m glad she’s there. It brings in for great dialogue, auditors are people we have opinions, we have interpretations, there’s nothing wrong with going back and forth, and it would get heated. That’s good and as long as it’s out in the public, I have no problem with it.
COLEMAN: So let’s say the Province comes back and says you’re the municipality, you’re autonomous, you’re responsible for figuring out how you appoint your own Auditor General.
SGRO: I can’t imagine how they would do that, it goes against what an Auditor General is. You never, in auditing, have someone appoint someone who’s going to audit me.
It doesn’t look good to the public. There might not be anything specifically wrong, but the appearance is awful, and if the appearance is awful it may just negate everything they find. I’m going to talk to Council, it’s not like I’m going to be a dictator and say ‘this is going to happen, this is going to happen, this is going to happen,’ but I’m going to urge the provincial government after discussions with Council this is needed, and it’s not about finding ‘I got you, I got you’ it’s about making sure that your systems are proper. I’ve read audit reports from years ago, internal audit reports they weren’t very good. They’re better now, but I want a robust audit risk assessment, and if I’m honoured enough to win, I’m going to take that part over. I’ve had experience with IO [Infrastructure Ontario], with the Port Authority, with HECFI for four months – which is proof enough of why you need one. I hope that’s going to happen and I’m going to urge it. To me, it’s vital for every city.
COLEMAN: The question I get asked when I’m sitting in Stoney Creek having tea – Stoney Creek which is your home territory – I get asked ‘who the hell is Vito Sgro?’
SGRO: I get that a lot myself, from people who know me. I’ve never sought the spotlight, which again people wondering what the hell am I doing right now. This is perfect time. I’m winding down my practice, I’m getting out of it. It’s 30 years, I’ve loved every minute of it but it’s time for me to go. It really is, and it’s cliché, if you don’t do something when you can then you can stop bitching.
I’ll give it a shot, if it doesn’t, I’m not the Mayor now, if I don’t win I won’t be the Mayor. At least I know I have tried and there are things that are very important, not just transit, although it’s a big thing. There’s an issue with poverty and housing, if we’re not at the crisis point yet we’re going to be there very soon. I want, within 90 days, not-for-profits groups, developers, I want the Province, because I’m not thrilled at how the school board acts like a land baron.
I don’t know what the status is of Delta [Secondary School] that wasn’t built through the school board, that was the City of Hamilton way way way way back then, that would be perfect housing. There are programs at IO [Infrastructure Ontario] where the Province sells provincial lands at a discount as long as the developer provides X amount of geared to income for 30 years and it’s not ghettoized. You’ll never know where they are in the whole project. They’ve done this in Toronto on the Don Lands, it’s been fantastic. I want, and I’m not going to pick a number because you’re destined to fail, but after 90 days of this group getting together meeting, I want X thousands built by [the time] the term [is] over and I want them built.
Enough of money for ‘here $50-million for poverty’ but that’s two million for the next 20 years, you can’t even buy a house in Ancaster for that. How does that solve poverty?
[EDITORS NOTE: Council’s present $50-million poverty reduction plan is $5-million per year, spread over 10 years]
The other issue we need more [social] navigators. I’ve talked to people on the front-lines who work with people with mental problems, drug problems – the money is there but they can’t get the people who need it to the money.
The City did a pilot program and it worked fantastic. These people knew who needed it, and make sure they got to the services. It has a bit of a cost but the results were fantastic, so there’s issues like that.
The economy, how in the hell did the City not know about the Stelco Lands being sold – it’s unbelievable to me that that happened. That was a big part of what I wanted to push, because I was on the Port Authority. We could have done a magnificent things with containers.
Container not just warehouse, its value added manufacturing and clean. You bring the containers and you work on them, you build something, you put them back on a container they go out.
We were going to do that then the governments changed and went back to the bulk port, which is unfortunate.
We paid, when I was on the port, a $185,000 an acre on Pier 22, it was a third of that. [the Stelco Lands deal]. How does value go down and don’t tell me about contamination – it was just it was contaminated back then. So, I don’t know how they got that land, that cheap.
Now if Stelco actually manufactures, with real wages, and follows environmental guidelines I’m okay with it. Because every good job spins off into five or six. If they’re just going to, because Bedrock [Industries] sell this, we know that. If it’s just a sweetener for down the road and that land sits idle, I have a problem with that.
There’s a whole whack I want to get through. It’s going to come out, everybody asked he wanted me to get the website out right away. Ff I’m not going to do it right, I’m not going to put it up. It’ll be up in due time, people will be able to get a hold of me, and we’re going to have a dialogue. Let the people decide.
COLEMAN: Thank you Vito.


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What's Next for Hamilton Centre Politics? – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

July 6, 2018
David Christopherson announced his retirement yesterday afternoon, quickly setting the table for speculation on who will seek to fill his shoes after 15 years of him being the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre.
The obvious speculation surrounds current Ward 3 (Hamilton Centre) Councillor Matthew Green. Green is a card carrying very active member of the NDP, and was a key campaign lieutenant for federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh during Singh’s run for leadership of the party.
Other names are floated for the NDP nomination, I’m going to wait to see if those individuals start mobilizing rather than grant them free publicity. Green’s very active in federal NDP politics, and it’s quite clear he’s considering running.
To Green’s credit, much like Christopherson did in 2003 choosing to not seek re-election to the Ontario Legislature when he was running for Mayor, Matthew Green has stated he will not seek re-election to City Council if he plans to run in the 2019 federal election.
The most immediate question is what happens if Green does not seek re-election in Ward 3. Who will mobilize those who campaigned for Green and donated to his campaign in 2014?
As an open seat, I expect we’ll see at least 12 candidates. Among those will be up to four or five vying to distinguish themselves as the leading progressive candidate.
I’m watching a few people, it’s hard to tell who this will be. The most likely successors are the most loyal to Green, and they’ve carefully avoided making any visible moves towards running.
Will Ward 3 resident Jason Farr, who lives east of Gage Park, run in Ward 3 instead of Ward 2?
Farr is facing a strong organized challenge from Ward 2 resident Cameron Kroetsch if he seeks re-election in Ward 2, and may not hold onto his Council seat. The move of Stinson neighbourhood from the current Ward 2 to the new Ward 3 took an area where Farr’s support is strong. Farr can argue that running in Ward 3 is in part because of the boundary change.
As of July 5th, there was only one registered candidate in Ward 3, Kristeen Sprague.
The 2019 federal election is scheduled for October 21, 2019; 364 days after the 2018 municipal election.
Regardless of who the NDP ultimately nominates as their Hamilton Centre candidate, the Liberals will be looking to take back this seat 15 years after Christopherson won the seat from Liberal incumbent Stan Keyes.
The Liberals have a strong potential candidate in Deirdre Pike, and there will be others seeking the seat now that Christopherson is retired.
The NDP needs to hold their nomination race soon rather than later, as their nomination could be hotly contested, requiring time to reunite the riding association prior to the general election.
The NDP will also need to focus their resources into challenging the Liberals for the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek seat. In HESC, the NDP gains an advantage from holding the nomination meeting closer to the election.
Nominations for City Council races close at 2pm on July 27, it will be interesting to see who shows up at City Hall in the new two weeks to register, and who waits to see what Green ultimately decides to do.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 1: Ian Thompson, Ward 10 Hamilton City Council Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 28.35MB – Duration: 27:48 m
Ian Thompson is running for Ward 10 Hamilton City Councillor in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Thompson answered eleven questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Below are bullet point summaries of Thompson’s responses to some of the shorter questions.
Two priorities for Ward 10:
Two City-Wide Priorities:
Two Changes to Improve City Services:
Two Changes to Improve Quality of Life:
Rank Balloting
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 2: Jeff Beattie, Ward 10 Hamilton City Council Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 18.84MB – Duration: 22:43 m
Jeff Beattie is running for Ward 10 Hamilton City Councillor in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Beattie answered eleven questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Below are bullet point summaries of Beattie’s responses to some of the shorter questions. There are tougher questions to which the answers are best listened to.
Two priorities for Ward 10:
Two City-Wide Priorities:
Two Changes to Improve City Services:
Two Changes to Improve Quality of Life:
Rank Balloting
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 3: Maria Pearson, Incumbent, Ward 10 Hamilton City Council Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 6.4MB – Duration: 6:47 m
Maria Pearson is running for reelection as Ward 10 Hamilton City Councillor in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Pearson answered eleven questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Below are bullet point summaries of Pearson’s responses to some of the shorter questions.
Two priorities for Ward 10:
Two City-Wide Priorities:
Two Changes to Improve City Services:
Two Changes to Improve Quality of Life:
Rank Balloting
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 4: Louie Milojevic, Ward 10 Hamilton City Council Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 15.01MB – Duration: 15:30 m
Louie Milojevic is running for Ward 10 Hamilton City Councillor in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Milojevic answered eleven questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Below are bullet point summaries of Milojevic’s responses to some of the shorter questions.
Two priorities for Ward 10:
Two City-Wide Priorities:
Two Changes to Improve City Services:
Two Changes to Improve Quality of Life:
Rank Balloting
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 6: Wayne Marston, Ward 9 & 10 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 10.77MB – Duration: 12:10 m
Wayne Marston is running for Ward 9 & 10 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Marston answered ten questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 1 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 14, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 1 from September 4 to September 13.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.
Candidate Interview Audio


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 13 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 14, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 13 between September 4 to September 13.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 15 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 14, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 15 on September 6, and September 11. We’ll post both interviews with Judi Partridge and Susan McKechnie on September 13.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 2 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 24, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 2 from September 4 to September 22.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 3 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 25, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 3 from September 4 to September 22..
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Ward 4 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 25, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat representing Ward 4 from September 4 to September 22.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Wards 5, 9, & 11 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 12, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
The candidate interviews are posted to the podcast feeds, and on our The 155 Podcast webpage.
The Public Record interviewed candidates running for the City Council seats in Wards 5, 9, and 11 between August 10 to August 19.
These are the questions they answered.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton City Council Candidates in Wards 6, 7, 8, 12, & 14 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 12, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the City Council seat in Ancaster, and seats on Hamilton Mountain between August 21 to September 1.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The Public Record's The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton's Mayoral Candidates – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 26, 2018
The Public Record is interviewing candidates running for the Mayor of Hamilton between September 4 and September 30.
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
View all the episodes and summaries of key answers from candidates here.
Here are the questions will be posing to Mayoral candidates:


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The Public Record’s The 155 Podcast Questions for Hamilton's School Board Trustee Candidates – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 12, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
The Public Record is interviewing Trustee candidates for both the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board during August and September.
These are the questions they will be answering.


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The 155 Podcast Episode 5: Cam Galindo, Ward 9 & 10 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee Candidate – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

August 11, 2018
Subscribe to The 155 Podcast on Google Play, iTunes, or by RSS in your favourite podcatcher.
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Download full podcast mp3 – Size: 10.75MB – Duration: 11:09 m
Cam Galindo is running for Ward 9 & 10 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustee in the 2018 Hamilton Municipal Election.
Galindo answered ten questions, you can hear them all be listening above or downloading this episode.
Listen to all Ward 10 Candidate Podcast Interviews:
All Episodes of The 155 Podcast for All 15 Wards and the Mayoral Contest.


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EDITORS NOTE: Edward Graydon's Inappropriate Statements Toward Vito Sgro – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

September 3, 2018
Mayoral candidate Edward Graydon is attacking mayoral candidate Vito Sgro on social media, referring to Sgro as an “overweight midget”.
Graydon’s behaviour in the past has been questionable, and the list of incidents in which he’s been involved is lengthy. A scuffle in 2010, the Matthew Green press conference incident of 2017, and yelling at staff within City Hall.
Graydon’s latest attacks degrade our civic discourse, and harm the quality of our election.
His comments are entirely inappropriate, and have no place in our election.
The mission of The Public Record is simple, to provide informed coverage of Hamilton’s communities and civic affairs to enable all residents to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship by ensuring a more transparent, good civic government that is accountable to all residents of Hamilton.
Providing Edward Graydon with a platform to attack and demean other candidates is contrary to our mission.
Therefore, as Editor of The Public Record, I’ve decided that Mr. Graydon will not be interviewed as part of The 155 Election Podcast.
The Public Record remains committed to interviewing as many mayoral candidates as possible.
Two other mayoral candidates have disqualifying qualities. Paul Fromm is a white supremacist, and Ricky Tavares is a sexist. The Public Record is not covering either of them.

created: September 3, 2018


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EDITORS NOTE: Steve Ruddick Lives in Ward 14, Stated on The 155 He Lives in Ward 8 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

September 13, 2018
During his The 155 candidate interview, Ward 8 candidate Steve Ruddick stated in response to the question “Do you live in Ward 8, Yes or No” that “Yes”, he lives in Ward 8.
In fact, Mr. Ruddick lives in Ward 14 in the postal code L9C 6T4. The closest major intersection is Upper Horning and Mohawk.
I owe all candidates who participate in The 155 a duty of care to ensure that they are all given the same format, the same questions, and that voters will be able to fairly assess them against the other candidates in their respective races.
As such, I’ve added an editor’s note for clarity to the beginning of his podcast explaining that Mr. Ruddick resides in Ward 14 and a note at the beginning of this question to ensure voters are aware of this information.
The mission of The Public Record is to improve Hamilton by improving our civic discourse.
Ensuring that The 155 Podcast is accurate fulfills that mission.

created: September 13, 2018