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BRIEF: City of Hamilton Formally Responds to Province’s Housing Affordability Task Force’s Recommendations – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 22, 2023
Hamilton City Hall says its top five priorities among the 74 recommendations of Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force are:
The affordable housing trust was an additional comment in the Task Force’s report, beyond the 74 recommendations. The City wrote recommendations 45 and 46 as it “top 5” ranking.
Ontario’s new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra wrote to Mayor Andrea Horwath on September 15 requesting the City’s response to and opinion regarding the 74 recommendations.
Hamilton’s response was prepared by planning division staff.
The City supports all recommendations with a few exceptions. The City opposes the following recommendations:
“8) Allow “as of right” zoning up to unlimited height and unlimited density in the immediate proximity of individual major transit stations within two years if municipal zoning remains insufficient to meet provincial density targets.”
Hamilton already provides as-of-right permissions for up to 12-storeys along major transit corridors. “The City has completed a modelling exercise to determine if the
provincial density targets can be achieved within our proposed MTSAs under the existing land use permissions. ‘Unlimited’ height and density permissions is not necessary to achieve provincial density targets and would have various implications related to infrastructure.”
“11) Support responsible housing growth on undeveloped land, including outside existing municipal boundaries, by building necessary infrastructure to support higher density housing and complete communities and applying the recommendations of this report to all undeveloped land.”
The City opposes recommendation 11 because it requires the City to build infrastructure to support new housing outside the existing urban boundary.
“12 c) Establish provincewide zoning standards, or prohibitions, for minimum lot sizes, maximum building setbacks, minimum heights, angular planes, shadow rules, front doors, building depth, landscaping, floor space index, and heritage view cones,
and planes; restore pre-2006 site plan exclusions (colour, texture, and type of materials, window details, etc.) to the Planning Act and reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirements.”
The City states it opposes a “one size fits all” approach to land-use planning in Ontario.
“13) Limit municipalities from requesting or hosting additional public meetings beyond those that are required under the Planning Act.”
The City writes, “While public consultation can add time to the approval process, it is important for creating better proposals being better accepted by residents and ultimately resulting in better proposals.”
“17) Requiring municipalities to compensate property owners for loss of property value as a result of heritage designations, based on the principle of best economic use of land”
The City writes, “There are no current Ontario specific studies showing heritage designation has a negative impact on resale value. This action implies highest and best use should be based solely on economics.”
“18) Restore the right of developers to appeal Official Plans and Municipal Comprehensive Reviews.”
The City responds, “It is unclear how this action will increase the supply of housing. Appeals could delay the implementation of policy changes to increase the supply of housing.”
“23) Create a common, province-wide definition of plan of subdivision and standard set of conditions which clarify which may be included; require the use of standard province-wide legal agreements and, where feasible, plans of subdivision.”
The City opposes “one size fits all” planning.
On Recommendations 27 b and c, the proposal to charge a $10,000 fee for third-party appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal and to impose costs upon unsuccessful third parties and municipalities when appealing against a staff recommended project, the City opposes writes this “raises equity concerns in the ability to participate in this process.”
These recommendations were previously rejected by the province due to access to justice concerns.
“32) Waive development charges and parkland cash-in-lieu and charge only modest connection fees for all infill residential projects up to 10 units or for any development where no new material infrastructure will be required.”
The City writes, “This action does not support the principle that growth should pay for growth. There may be merit in certain scenarios if there are public benefits to reducing or
removing these costs.”
“35 b) Except where allocated towards municipality-wide infrastructure projects, require municipalities to spend funds in the neighbourhoods where they were collected. However, where there’s a significant community need in a priority area of the City, allow for specific ward to ward allocation of unspent and unallocated reserves.”
The City writes: “This may unintentionally increase inequity in communities. Most
services are considered on a complete network basis and do not align with ward boundaries. A significant community need would need to be clearly defined.”
“49) Reductions in funding to municipalities that fail to meet provincial housing growth and approval timeline targets”
The City writes: “There is concern tying funding to these targets which are not always within municipal control. The City requires clarification on which funding is being reduced.”
“51) Require municipalities and the provincial government to use the Ministry of Finance population projections as the basis for housing need analysis and related land use requirements.”
The City writes: “This recommendation should be revised to utilize MOF forecasts in the absence of Provincial forecasts so municipalities are not required to redo Municipal Comprehensive Review Land Needs Assessment work.
“C-4) Sell Crown land and reoccupy as a tenant in a higher density building or relocate services outside of major population centres where land is considerably less expensive.”
The City writes: “This does not support planning for intensification within the existing
urban area where infrastructure and services have been planned.”

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BRIEF: City of Hamilton Hires Lawyer Paula Boutis, Past Member of the Ontario Municipal Board – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 18, 2023
Hamilton’s newest land use planner lawyer is no stranger to Hamilton, or municipal politics.
Paula Boutis arrives at the City of Hamilton from the law firm Aird & Berlis where she practiced municipal law – including being municipal integrity commissioner to Cambridge.
Boutis was Norfolk county solicitor, a Member of the Ontario Municipal Board for two years, and was in private practice for nearly 17 years prior. She is the chair of the environmental law branch of the Ontario Bar Association.
Boutis sat on the two-member 2017 Ontario Municipal Board panel that overturned gerrymandered ward boundaries proposed by Hamilton City Council.

source: news-thepublicrecord

created: October 18, 2023

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


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BRIEF: City of Hamilton to Enforce Short-Term Rental Licensing Beginning Jan 2, 2024 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 16, 2023
Hamilton Director of Licensing and By-law Services Monica Ciriello says the City will begin enforcing the City’s Short Term Rentals Bylaw on January 2, 2024.
“Licensing staff will begin to accept licence applications for Short-Term Rental Operators and Brokers on December 1st, 2023, with enforcement of the By-law beginning January 2nd, 2024,” Ciriello writes in an update to Council.
City staff delayed implementing the bylaw when they bungled the City’s renoviction bylaw. City staff stated they would not enforce short-term rentals to meet a Council direction to provide a proper bylaw to regulate renovictions in 2023.
The new short-term rental bylaws state all operators must obtain a license from the City of Hamilton. The bylaw restricts short-term rentals to being located in the operator’s principal residence or on the same property as the principal address.
STRs are limited to 28 days or less for each stay.
Hamilton is also implementing a Vacant Home Tax in 2024. Both the STR bylaw and VHT are designed to bring more rental units onto the market.
The City states it will launch a website for short-term rental owners to gain more information on November 1st at https://www.hamilton.ca/ShortTermRentals
In related news, the NDP government in British Columbia introduced legislation today to regulate short-term rentals in the province. The BC government’s stated goal is to increase the number of long-term rentals in the province by stopping “mini-hotel operators” from operating short-term rentals.

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BRIEF: Gage Park Greenhouse is Open Again – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 16, 2023
The popular tropical greenhouse at Gage Park is open to the public, following a three month closure to complete emergency roof repairs.
Roofing panels were dislodged by windstorms this spring.
Normal public operating hours resumed this morning. (The City has not yet updated its website.)
The tropical greenhouse will be closed on Wednesday to prepare for the opening of the annual Fall Garden and Mum Show.
The Mum Show runs daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from October 20 to 29. Admission fees to the greenhouse apply during the Show.


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BRIEF: Ontario Conservative Government Tables Legislation to Return Lands to Greenbelt – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 16, 2023
Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra tabled the needed legislation to reverse Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to remove lands from Ontario’s Greenbelt.
The Greenbelt scandal has consumed the Ontario Progressive Conservative government, with an ongoing criminal investigation into Premier Ford still open. Numerous government staffers and previous Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark resigning following scathing reports by Ontario’s Auditor General and the Ontario Integrity Commissioner (Report 1, Report 2).
Two Hamilton properties will be returned to the Greenbelt: the Book Road lands in Ancaster and a parcel of land at Barton Street and Fifty Road in Stoney Creek.
A 45-day public comment period began today. People can submit comments on the Environmental Registry of Ontario here.


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City Council Passes Surprise Downsizing of Municipal Heritage Committee – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 28, 2023
Hamilton City Council made a surprise decision last week to cut the size of Hamilton’s Municipal Heritage Committee from eleven citizens to seven.
The motion to cut the committee size was passed at the Selection Committee meeting on Tuesday without public notice.
The agenda for the Selection Committee meeting stated the meeting would be in closed session to conduct interviews for citizen appointments. The agenda stated no decisions would be made.
Shortly after 5:45 p.m., the decision to cut the committee size was unanimously passed.
The City Clerk has not released which councillors were present for the vote.
[The City of Hamilton argues the Ontario Municipal Act only requires municipalities to share the outcomes of votes, not who was present or how those present voted. Ontario’s 443 other municipalities state who voted and how for all public meetings.]
The next day, at the Council ratification meeting, the Selection Committee’s vote was ratified as an urgent no-notice item.
Council approved the new 2023-2026 members for the Municipal Heritage Committee, choosing not to renew some members who reapplied.
Returning citizen members are Chair Alissa Denham-Robinson, Vice-Chair Graham Carroll, Karen Burke, and Lyn Lunsted. New citizen members are Andrew Douglas, Andy MacLaren, and Stefan Spolnik.

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City of Hamilton Wins Appeal of Stelco Lands Assessment Decision – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 12, 2023
Hamilton’s residential-business tax imbalance may improve.
Ontario’s Assessment Review Board will reconsider its 2022 decision to confirm the decision of Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to value most of the Stelco lands at $100 per acre.
In a May 2022 decision, the ARB accepted MPAC’s testimony and ruled 411.6 of the 806.2 acres on the Stelco site in Hamilton’s industrial harbour, were “nonmarketable” due to contamination, and effectively worthless.
These lands were assessed at $100 per acre.
The decision changed the assessed value of the Stelco lands from $86,449,000 to $44,994,000, costing the City of Hamilton approximately $2-million per year in property tax revenue.
Two weeks after the ruling, Slate Asset Management purchased the lands for approximately $518-million, approximately $630,000 per acre.
MPAC’s expert witness testified there was no market for the Residual Lands because of concerns of environment contamination’ and ‘there was no willing buyer in the marketplace.’
Following the sale, the Hamilton City Council filed an application for reconsideration to the ARB.
The City argued the sale constitutes new evidence regarding the land’s value, that it was not available to the City during the hearing, and that had the ARB had the information before it, the outcome of the assessment hearing could be different.
In an appeal ruling posted Wednesday, Ontario ARB Vice-Chair Dirk VanderBent agreed with the City and ordered a new assessment review hearing.
“MPAC’s appraisal expert, in asserting that there was no market for the Residual Lands, is, in effect, saying that there would be no willing buyer for these lands,” VanderBent wrote.
“If the sale transaction closed, the Hearing Panel could have accepted that this evidence indicates there was a market for the Residual Lands.  As such, the Hearing Panel could have rejected MPAC’s appraisal expert’s opinion that the value of the Residual Lands is nominal.”
The City’s General Manager of Finance and Corporate Services Mike Zegarac says the City is pleased the ARB will reconsider.
“This was a positive in terms of the city’s position” that the lands are more valuable than $100 per acre, Zegarac stated.
He says staff will prepare for the new hearing and seek direction from Council, including if there is an opportunity for settlement between the City, Slate, and MPAC regarding a new assessed value for the lands.
The City argued the lands should be assessed at $125,000 per acre. Council will decide if the City will argue for a different amount in a new hearing.
Also, on Wednesday, Slate held an event on the Stelco lands to show its master plan for the site they are branding it Steelport.
There is an active Site Plan Application submitted to the City of Hamilton. The City’s planning staff are reviewing it.
A different panel of ARB Members will conduct the new hearing. No dates have yet been set.

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COLEMAN: Free Expression, Sarah Jama, and the Government’s Motion to Remove Her from the Legislature – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 17, 2023
The governing Ontario Progressive Conservative Party is threatening to use their power as government to remove the ability of Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama to speak in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
It is an unprecedented use of governing power by a political party which once wrapped itself in the mantle of free expression.
On Monday, the Government tabled a motion to censure Jama and remove her speaking rights in the Legislature.
It remains to be seen if the government puts the motion to a vote, or if they are merely using their governing power to generate continuing news coverage regarding Jama’s controversial statements regarding the war between Hamas and Israel.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles directed Jama to remove the statement she posted to X (formerly Twitter). Jama declined to remove them.
She did post an apology below her original statement.
Stiles accepted this outcome.
Members of Provincial Parliament are elected to be the voice of their constituencies. Silencing them is silencing the expression of the communities that elected them.
The Legislative Assembly has previously removed speaking rights from an elected MPP, but with the unanimous support of all other MPPs.
Randy Hillier was censured following a lengthy period of making racist and discriminatory to social media, posting misinformation and conspiracy theories, and violating public health orders during the pandemic.
Hillier was an extreme case. His behaviour was more extreme than anything a reasonable person could’ve expected when voters re-elected him in 2018.  His case is one of those exceptions to the rule.
Jama’s comments on the present war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel are consistent with her past statements.
The voters of Hamilton Centre elected Jama to represent them with full awareness of her political philosophy and activist practices.
Removing her speaking privileges in the Legislative Assembly undermines our democratic norms and processes.
Jama is free to issue political statements. The NDP caucus is free to act upon those statements. The public can judge both Jama and the NDP during the next election.
The Conservative motion to remove Jama’s speaking rights undermines free expression.
It is politics that further undermines our political system.

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Council Approves 2022 – 2026 Hamilton Library Board Members – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 11, 2023
Hamilton City Council approved nine resident appointees to the Hamilton Public Library Board at its October 13 meeting.
They are:
Batra, Serviss, and Van Velzen are returning for a second term as citizen/resident members.
Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann and Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin are the council representatives on the Board.
The Library Board operates independently of City Council and is governed by Ontario’s Public Libraries Act.

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Council Names New CityHousing Hamilton Board for 2022-2026 Term – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 28, 2023
Council appointed Karl Andrus, Christine Griffith, Adriana Harris, and Alice Plug-Buist to be the citizen members for the CityHousing Hamilton Board for the remainder of this Council Term.
Karl Andrus is well known in the community as the manager of the Hamilton Community Benefits Network. Prior to this role, Andrus has been involved with many community groups and was co-chiar of the Stinson Community Association.
Adriana Harris is returning for a second term on the CHH Board.
Alice Plug-Buist is the executive director of the Helping Hands Street Mission.


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Hamilton City Council Endorses Federal Liberal Bill C-18 in a 8 to 6 Vote – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 16, 2023
TPR is tracking Council split votes this term for pattern analysis.
Council voted on Wednesday to endorse the federal Liberal government’s key internet regulation law, Bill C-18, and to end City advertising on Facebook and Instagram as a show of solidarity with legacy media corporations.
This vote was unique because councillors had to consider the political consequences of voting against a motion some journalists were lobbying for them to pass.
The motion was introduced by Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko.
Those who voted in Favour:
Mayor Horwath, Hwang (Ward 4), Francis (Ward 5), Pauls (Ward 7), Danko (Ward 8), Tadeson (Ward 11), Cassar (Ward 12), and Spadafora (Ward 14).
Those who voted Opposed:
Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Kroetsch (Ward 2), Nann (Ward 3), Clark (Ward 9), Alex Wilson (Ward 13), and McMeekin (Ward 15).
Nann changed her vote from the week prior when she voted in favour at the Council General Issues Committee on Wednesday, October 4.
Jackson and Beattie were absent from the meeting. Beattie voted in favour at committee.
Bill C-18 requires Facebook and Google to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to legacy media outlets if the platforms continue allowing news links on their websites.
Legacy media falsely claimed links on the Internet constitute theft.
Canada’s legacy media outlets drafted bill C-18, which seeks to increase the profits of corporations that own legacy media outlets while targetting locally owned digital media outlets that have refused to take government funding.
Facebook quickly complied with Bill C-18 by removing news links from its platform.
Legacy media outlets are now lobbying governments to retaliate against Facebook, including lobbying municipal governments to endorse Bill C-18, stop advertising on Facebook, and create local media bailout programs.
Bill C-18 is tied to Bill C-11, which gives the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission powers to regulate all internet content.
In September, the CRTC ordered online audio and video platforms to register under Bill C-11.
Outgoing City Manager Janette Smith has been negotiating with legacy media outlets to provide them more financial support.
Smith’s Chief of Staff, Director of Communications Matthew Grant, will come to Council in November with a proposal to give free office space to media outlets using “surplus funds” the City Manager’s Office claims the City has.
Using emergency spending authority, Grant spent $150,000 in public funds to build new offices and studio space in the basement of City Hall for legacy media outlets.
Grant requires Council authorization to sign permanent rent-free leases to allow legacy media newsrooms to relocate into space.
City staff state next year’s property tax increase will need to be over 14 percent to address the City’s financial deficit.
Grant, a City’s Senior Leadership Team member as de facto Chief of Staff, has not explained how the City has surplus funds simultaneously as it has a massive deficit.
Grant is seeking to ban all media who refuse to accept government funding from being allowed to attend press conferences at City Hall.
As editor of TPR, Joey Coleman’s position is that because TPR covers the government, it should not be taking money from the government.


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Hamilton City Hall Makes “Final Offer” to HSR Workers – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 24, 2023
The City of Hamilton has made a “final offer” to HSR employees, says the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 107.
“The Union and the Employer have just concluded 2 days or bargaining. These talks have resulted in the union being presented with a ‘Final Offer’,” reads an email sent by the ATU to its approximately 900 members at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Union says it will share the offer with its members on November 2nd and 3rd, ahead of a vote on Sunday, November 5.
“Undertanding the negotiating committee is strongly recommending a no vote,” the email continues. “A no vote will be a vote in favor [sic] of strike action.”
The ATU is seeking a seven percent pay increase in the first year of a new contract, along with working condition and benefit improvements.
The City’s largest employee union, CUPE 5167, recently ratified a new four-year contract with a 3.75 percent pay increase in the first year, with three-per-cent increases in the second, third and fourth years.
Hamilton hosts the Grey Cup game on November 19.
When Hamilton hosted the Grey Cup in 1996. HSR workers going on strike a week before the game.
As TPR reported in a February newsletter edition:
“Facing the embarrassment of hosting a Grey Cup without bus service, the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth Council quickly caved.
The six-day strike ended just in time for the Grey Cup parade.
The Region gave HSR workers a two-year sweetheart deal.
The union got nearly everything they wanted and a $1000 signing bonus to get buses back on the road. [$1717 inflation-adjusted to today]
The signing bonus was greater than a week’s salary. The top-paid bus operators made around $800 per week at the time.
Two years later, in 1998, the Region held the line on HSR wages and benefits, offering three percent on wages, and no concessions on other union demands.
A 12-week strike followed.”
There has not been an HSR strike since that 12-week shutdown in 1998/99.
In September, the City of Hamilton asked Ontario’s Ministry of Labour for a no-board notice to enable the City to lock out HSR employees.
The no-board notice was issued on October 25, allowing for a strike or lock-out to begin on October 25.
The ATU states it will not strike before its members vote on November 5th. The City states it has no intention of locking out HSR workers, but is declining to commit to any timeline not to do so.
An HSR strike will not affect DARTS service.
CORRECTED VERSION: The original version stated Hamilton last hosted the Grey Cup in 1996. This was wrong. Hamilton hosted in 2021.

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INBOX: Homebuilders Lobby Unhappy with Reversal of Urban Boundary Expansion – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 23, 2023
Hamilton’s homebuilder lobby, the West End Home Builders’ Association (WE HBA), is disappointed the provincial government is reversing its decision to force an expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary.
In a statement this afternoon, the Homebuilders say the reversal will “will undermine future housing supply and contribute to a further exodus of young families leaving Hamilton for neighbouring communities” and that the provinces changes are creating “uncertainty created with respect to provincial government decision making.”
WE HBA CEO Mike Collins-Williams is quoted stating, “given the precedents of these reversal decisions today and the uncertainty created with respect to provincial government decision making, why would any business choose to invest in this province?
The HBA statement is blockquoted below.
HAMILTON – Ontario’s Minister of Housing, Hon. Paul Calandra announced the province will be winding back changes to Official Plans, including Hamilton’s. The West End Home Builders’ Association (WE HBA) is extremely concerned that this reversal will undermine future housing supply and contribute to a further exodus of young families leaving Hamilton for neighbouring communities. The housing affordability crisis across Southern Ontario has been driven by the lack of housing supply in the face of significant population growth. The provincial decision today to repeal multiple Official Plans including Hamilton will put the entire new housing approval process into a state of confusion, uncertainty and paralysis.
“Any adjustments made to Hamilton’s Official Plan, by the provincial government, was done to uphold the provinces own objectives for increased housing supply, choice and balanced growth.   Given the precedents of these reversal decisions today and the uncertainty created with respect to provincial government decision making, why would any business choose to invest in this province?” stated WE HBA CEO Mike Collins-Williams.
WE HBA participated in the review of Hamilton’s Official Plan by submitting our recommendations through the Environmental Registry to the Province of Ontario, focusing on achieving the goals of the provincial Housing Affordability Task Force. It is important to note that the Official Plan submitted by City of Hamilton’s Planning Staff was based on outdated Growth Plan projections that envisioned a rate of housing growth of 3,500 new homes per year, over the next ten years. By the time the Ministry was reviewing Hamilton’s Official Plan, it had become clear that Hamilton’s required rate of new home construction was closer to 5,000 new homes per year to keep pace with Ontario’s population growth. The government of Ontario has committed to building 1.5 million new homes, and the WE HBA submission to the province focused on how the province could realize that objective in Hamilton.
“Our recommendations put forward the need for an Urban Boundary Expansion, as was first recommended by City of Hamilton professional planning staff and their consultants. Our submission also focused on reforms to the City’s intensification processes including an ability to further intensify along all transit corridors and eliminate an arbitrary 30-storey height limit.” stated WE HBA CEO Mike Collins-Williams, adding, “The need for Hamilton’s Urban Boundary Expansion was clearly identified by planning experts as necessary to accommodate population growth and limit the continued displacement of residents to neighbouring communities.”
When presented with that data, City Council hired Watson and Associates as a third-party peer reviewer of the information City Staff had brought forward. This peer review confirmed Hamilton’s need for an Urban Boundary Expansion, which Council chose to ignore. A City of Hamilton Staff report noted that, “Under a ‘no expansion’ scenario, nearly 80% of all new households would need to be accommodated within apartment units, including families” and that “the No Urban Boundary Expansion scenario was not modelled in the Land Needs Assessment because it did not meet Provincial planning policy requirements and was not considered to be good planning”. The Council adopted No Urban Boundary Expansion resulted in an identified shortfall of 60,000 units, and limited intensification opportunities in significant ways including a city-wide height limit of 30-storeys. WE HBA provided recommendations to the Province of Ontario that were similar to the ones provided to the City of Hamilton – recognizing that an urban boundary expansion is necessary, while also eliminating the height limit and significantly reforming Hamilton’s approach to intensification moving forward.
The impacts of the provincial announcement today reversing multiple carefully reviewed Official Plans will be felt for the next decade as this sets the stage for the Provincial Government to fail to meet their own 1.5 million housing target.

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Joey’s Notepad: A U.S. Local Newspaper Reports 80% Circulation Drop in 10 Years – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 29, 2023
Dan Kennedy’s Media Nation is one of my go-to blogs on the media, politics, and technology.
Canadian newspapers no longer release audited circulation numbers, and who can blame them.
The daily in Worcester Massachusetts USA had to submit its updated circulation numbers to the Us Postal Service.
Kennedy notes that paper is down 80% over the past decade.
With the exception of great local newspapers, this is the trend across North America.
The difference in the United States is that many communities have quality new media start-ups which are providing better journalism and fixing the news crisis.
In Canada, various levels of government are instituting policies to stop new local journalism outlets from being founded and looking to starve off sites such as TPR.

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Joey’s Notepad: Corus’s Financial Crisis and the Future of CHML – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 29, 2023
The future of Hamilton radio stations CHML, CING-FM, CJXY-FM is in doubt.
Owner Corus Entertainment is in severe financial trouble, filing an application to the CRTC on an exceptional basis to reduce its television broadcasting licenses’ financial obligations.
CARTT.ca is providing extensive coverage.
The CRTC responded it is in agreement to allow Corus to decrease its Canadian content television spending.
The CRTC response letter provides a summary of Corus’ bleak financial situation.
“Corus has found itself in a unique financial situation. As set out in the application, the company’s debt ratio has increased to unacceptable levels owing to a 61 percent free cash flow decrease over the previous year and rapidly declining profitability,” CRTC Secretary General Marc Morin writes in a letter granting an exceptional hearing.
Corus is significantly challenged by declines in television revenue.
Hamiltonians will recall how Corus’ August programming cuts that included laying off Bill Kelly and replacing his 9:00 a.m. to noon show with a simulcast of Toronto’s AM 640.
Corus’ radio revenue decreased last quarter, thanking in part to layoffs, radio profits increased last quarter.
There is chatter in national media cycles that Corus will make further cuts to its talk radio format while also moving the talk format to the FM dial – possibly switching CING-FM at 95.3 FM to broadcast talk programming.
Corus unliterally moved its AM talk to the FM dial earlier this year in Calgary. The CRTC wrote a letter noting non-compliance, reported Broadcast Dialogue.
The CRTC can be expected to continue writing letters without any enforcement action.
Over-the-air radio is struggling in the digital age, a struggle made even worse by work-from-home routines that cause people to spend less time in their cars.
Corus’ most recent financial crunch is driven by television issues resulting from the writers’ and actors’ strikes in the United States.
Corus reported a loss of four cents per share in its latest quarterly report, released on Friday. Its share price is down by 56 percent in the past year.


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Joey’s Notepad: Councillors Not Showing Up to Meetings – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 29, 2023
City Council meetings require nine of sixteen members of Council to reach quorum, a majority, 50% + 1.
[The City of Hamilton disputes the meaning of the word majority; they define equal as being a majority.]
On Monday, Council struggled to maintain quorum as nearly half of Council did not show up at City Hall or log into WebEx for a meeting discussing mounting financial losses at Hamilton Renewable Power.
Councillors Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), Matt Francis (5), and Craig Cassar (12) showed up at City Hall for the 9:30 a.m. council meeting.
Councillors Maureen Wilson (1), Esther Pauls (7), Brad Clark (9), Alex Wilson (13), and Mike Spadafora (14) logged in by video.
Councillors joining by video left the meeting sporadically, leaving the meeting without legal quorum [again, the City of Hamilton disputes the meaning of majority].
Council quickly lost quorum as some video attendees logged off after roll call.
Mayor Andrea Horwath arrived in the Council Chamber shortly after 9:30 a.m.
I often say, “The mayor has mayor things to do.” They should not be expected to sit in council meetings to maintain quorum.
Shortly after 10:00 a.m. Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing surprised everyone by announcing the reversal of Hamilton’s force urban boundary expansion.
With only eight councillors, and herself, Mayor Horwath had to remain in the Council Chamber. The Mayor met with her Chief of Staff Kara McLean to digest the surprise announcement and prepare the City’s first response while standing in the Council Chamber to keep quorum.
It was a lowlight for a Council elected a year ago with much optimism. A council that is now unnecessarily undermining the public confidence it needs to address the fiscal crisis it inherited.


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Joey’s Notepad: Following up on 64 Lovers Lane (Ancaster) – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 4, 2023
The planning saga at 64 Lovers Lane in Ancaster is over.
The property owner will be allowed to build their new larger home with an in-ground backyard pool, following 18 months of self-imposed delay.
Their original plan was supported by City of Hamilton planning staff, but turned down in a political move by the Committee of Adjustment. Had they been prepared at the OLT, their plan would’ve been rubber-stamped in April 2022. Instead, they were embarrassing unprepared, as I noted at the time.
A few weeks later, the property owner modified their plans and filed a new minor variance application.
With the OLT denial in hand, City staff had to oppose the new application.
The CoA approved the new plan on February 2, 2023.
Why the change at the CoA? There was an election in October 2022.
The new councillor does not politically interfere with the Committee of Adjustment. [The law is clear, the CoA is supposed to act as an independent adjudicative body. It did not work that way under the Old Guard Council]
City staff were professionally obligated to appeal the CoA approval – again, because of the previous OLT decision.
This time, the owner of 64 Lovers Lane hired a lawyer. [A good lawyer, Nancy Smith.]
Tens of thousands of dollars later, following a new three-day OLT hearing, the owner won their variances.
A costly lesson in not consulting a professional at the start.

created: October 4, 2023


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Joey’s Notepad: Hamilton’s New Official Plan is More than Just a Boundary Freeze – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 23, 2023
This morning, the Ontario government reversing Hamilton’s forced urban boundary expansion surprised everyone at City Hall.
Mayor Andrea Horwath was in a Council meeting and quickly rushed to meet with her key advisors to digest the news.
The news story about the announcement, and Mayor Horwath’s response is on TPR here: Ontario Government Reverses Hamilton Urban Boundary Expansion.
The forced expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary was only one change among many to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan.
In planning-speak, the changes are known as Official Plan Amendment No. 167, OPA 167 for short.
OPA 167 was submitted to Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
In a 17-page decision, the Ministry imposed changes to UHOP beyond the urban boundary expansion, which include:
-removing “neighbourhood plans” from the City’s planning considerations, only permitting official Secondary Plans to be cited for neighbourhood-level planning.
– requiring the City to “encourage higher density development on all frequent transit corridors”;
– removing a lower-density target for Ancaster’s arterial roads. The City sought to impose “in the range of 50 persons and jobs per hectare.” The Province imposed the city-wide arterial policy in Ancaster, allowing density above 150 units per hectare and up to eight stories;
– removing adding a lower city-wide maximum height limit of the height of the Niagara Escarpment;
– adding detached secondary dwelling units as-of-right on single, semi-detached, and townhouse lots. [Where they meet criteria]
– removing a City created minimum density of 60 people and jobs per hectare for greenfield developments [within the existing urban boundary]
The province is reviewing all changes it made, which is why the 45-day public comment period is important.
TPR will post and update when the public comment notice is posted to the Government of Ontario’s website.


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Joey’s Notepad: Mayor Horwath’s Transparency Task Force Co-Chairs Named – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 13, 2023
TL;DR: Having Joanne Santucci and Mark John Stewart as co-chairs is a good decision. A more hurried set of co-chairs would not have resulted in a better pair.
“Better late than never” would be an easy opening for this post.
After all, Mayor Andrea Horwath promised to launch her task force within the first 90 days of taking office.
On Day 322, Tuesday, October 3rd, Mayor Horwath announced the co-chairs who will steer the Mayor’s Task Force on Transparency, Access and Accountability: Joanne Santucci and Mark John Stewart.
Their backgrounds, skill sets, and personalities will be a good match for achieving comprehensive and actionable recommendations.
Santucci recently retired as CEO of Hamilton Food Share. Her experience interacting with the City’s bureaucracy, especially dealing with challenges gaining information to apply for grants, permits, and the need to navigate City Hall silos, brings a perspective that is not easily obtained.
Retired, she can speak about these problems without the bureaucracy having leverage to retaliate against her.
Stewart is a more interesting choice. His CV is one of progressive learning and advancement. He was a critical advisor and leader in the creation of Empowerment Square, he’s sat on numerous boards, and is an instructor in strategic management at McMaster University.
He knows how to create actionable strategic plans to implement change. He brings great knowledge of how to do this in large organizations.
Stewart is an intelligent listener. When chairing meetings, he knows how to assist people in getting to the point.
The Task Force’s $50,000 budget will not go far, maybe a few public town halls and smaller conversation meetings.
Both the co-chairs know how to stretch resources.
Applications are open for people to apply for the three remaining seats on the Task Force. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 3.
I will submit ideas to the task force when it holds public hearings.

created: October 13, 2023


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Joey’s Notepad: On Sarah Jama’s Removal from the NDP Caucus, the NDP’s Divides, and Censure – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 23, 2023
Ontario’s NDP has removed Sarah Jama from their caucus.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles issued a statement this morning:
“Ms. Jama and I had reached an agreement to keep her in the NDP Caucus, which included working together in good faith with no surprises. … Since then, she has undertaken a number of unilateral actions that have undermined our collective work and broken the trust of her colleagues. Some of Ms. Jama’s actions have contributed to unsafe work environments for staff.”
Jama will continue to represent Hamilton Centre as an independent member of the Legislative Assembly, but will not be recognized by the Speaker following a 63-23 vote in favour of the Conservative government motion to censure her and remove her speaking rights.
Village Media’s The Trillium reports Jama was removed from the caucus when she changed her speech today in the Legislative Assembly from the original script she shared with the caucus.
Following Jama’s expulsion from the NDP caucus, the Conservatives called the final vote on their motion to censure Jama for her statements regarding the war between Israel and Hamas.
The motion passed 63-23. The NDP and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner voted against it.
Schreiner wrote, “I believe this motion was too sweeping and that voters in Hamilton Centre should decide whether MPP Jama should be their voice at Queen’s Park, not me. In a democracy we should lean on the side of defending an elected MPP’s right to speak in the House.”
[Schreiner’s reasoning is similar to my own, as I wrote last week: the voters of Hamilton Centre get to sit in judgment of Jama’s comments, not the governing party.]
The Ontario NDP leadership wants to form the next government.
They’ve decided Jama’s potential future statements and activism are a liability to achieving that goal.
Jama enjoys strong loyalty among Hamilton Centre New Democrats.
Hamilton and District Labour Council President Anthony Marco quickly declared he is quitting the NDP, adding, “While I cannot predict [the Labour Council’s] continued membership with the party, I can say they voted to support Sarah!”
Hamilton Ward 2 City Councillor Cameron Kroetsch announced he is leaving the NDP, Ward 2 public school Trustee Sabreina Dahab denounced the removal.
X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms are full of NDPers expressing strong feelings against the removal.
Feuds between NDP factions have already cost the party two seats in Hamilton.
They lost Hamilton East – Stoney Creek in the 2022 provincial election, and Hamilton Mountain in the 2021 federal election.
Tension between NDP factions has happened before and is happening again.
“There are, within the Nova Scotia NDP, two broad factions,” wrote Graham J. Steele in his 2014 political memoir.
Steele was Minister of Finance in the one-term Nova Scotia NDP government.
He describes the factions: “One is moderate, pragmatic, centrist. the other is more ideological, less accommodating.”
“Faction 1 sees Faction 2 as inflexible, pushy troublemakers. Faction 2 sees Faction 1 as weak, liberal sellouts. Faction 1 is larger and almost always carries the day at party meetings, but Faction 2 is louder.”
Steele’s assessment of how his NDP government came to defeat is strikingly similar to Bob Rae’s assessment in his memoir about being Ontario’s NDP Premier.
The Ontario NDP turmoil playing out in Hamilton and at Queen’s Park these past two weeks can easily be seen through this lens.
The disruption of the NDP convention, with NDP delegates assisting protesters to bypass security, and the removal of Jama from the Party bring the divides into the public spotlight.
The Ontario and Nova Scotia NDP exist in a three-party system, competing against the Liberals and NDP at election time to form the next government.
The three-party system pushes the NDP further to the left of the political spectrum than its cousins in the two-party systems of Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.
Ontario’s NDP won government once, from 1990 to 1995, with Bob Rae as Premier.
The Nova Scotia NDP won government once, from 2009 to 2013.
Both NDP governments ended after a single term, with voters vanquishing them to third party.
It took 23 years and a voter revolt against the Liberals for Ontario’s NDP to become the official opposition.
Stiles hopes to be Premier in 2026.
She has decided the path to government does not include Sarah Jama’s style of activism.
Voters will decide if Stiles becomes Premier, and they will decide if Jama will continue to represent Hamilton Centre.


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Joey’s Notepad: On “The 905er” Talking the Politics of the Debate on Sarah Jama’s Statement – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 21, 2023
I chatted last night with Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod about the responses to Sarah Jama’s pro-Palestinian statement and my recent column opposing the Ontario Conservative government’s motion to revoke Jama’s speaking rights in the Legislative Assembly.
The 905er Podcast is producing interesting discussing on provincial and municipal issues. I listen to each show.
The following are my mental notes from the 25-minute discussion.
This answer is straightforward: I believe in freedom of expression.
It is one thing for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to criticize Jama; it is wholly inappropriate for the Conservative government to use the power of the state to silence Jama.
The Party can play politics. The state cannot.
I noted the Ontario Conservatives campaigned as the party of free speech. They quickly required every publicly funded college and university to implement a free speech policy.
Again, free expression is not using the powers of the state to silence speech.
Jama is threatening to sue Ontario Premier Doug Ford for tarnishing her reputation by accusing her of a “long and well documented history of antisemitism.”
My recollection is I discussed this in two parts:
1) Politics and pushing back against the Premier’s characterizations; and
2) It will be interesting to see how a Superior Court justice would weigh the issues in light of Ontario’s strong protections for speech in Section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act.
I state her decision is good politics because she is pushing back against the Premier and taking control of the message.
On the merits of the potential defamation suit, I said there is a good analysis to be written regarding how a Superior Court judge could interpret the suit in the context of Ontario’s strongest in North American Anti-SLAPP laws.
How would a judge view the power dynamic between two elected members of the Legislative Assembly?
Is there an overriding public interest in allowing Premier Ford’s speech against MPP Sarah Jama – such that the case should not proceed to trial?
We discussed why the Jama controversy dominates provincial news, and how it has changed the channel from the ongoing Greenbelt scandal.
It is the ‘new’ in news. The Greenbelt scandal will again dominate the news.
I cited Colin D’Mello, “Whenever the government is asked about the Greenbelt scandal and allegations of corruption, they respond with an attack about Sarah Jama’s comments about Israel.”
The Official Opposition’s role is to be a government in waiting. The decision of NDP leader to direct Jama to remove the statement post, and Jama’s not doing so, is a leadership story.
Stiles chose to demand the post be removed. As the NDP leader, she created that part of the story.
On why there are no opinion columns similar to my own.
There are not many columnists left at legacy outlets.
The op-ed pages of the pre-Internet era are now online. People post their thoughts onto X, Substack, and other platforms.
What we lack is good curation to find those opinions. [The curation problem is a good topic for a column]
Subscribe to get The 905er podcast via their website: https://905er.ca/

created: October 21, 2023


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COLEMAN: Politicians Must Stay Out of Bylaw Enforcement – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 16, 2023
Politicians create laws and bylaws. This is their role.
Enforcement of laws and bylaws is independent of politics. This is a fundamental principle of democracy.
The Mayor’s comments in the media the past two days regarding bylaw graffiti enforcement did not directly violate this principle.
Mayor Horwath responded to a reporter’s questions about a property standards order issued to The Hub by stating she wished bylaw would apply their enforcement efforts to other properties.
With Hamilton about to have an independent Integrity Commissioner beginning on November 1, this is a good opportunity to explain why most Ontario municipal integrity commissioners enforce a strict code of conduct when politicians comment about bylaw enforcement.
This is especially true when bylaw officers are enforcing provincial or municipal council policies.
A few weeks ago, City Council unanimously passed a series of measures to address graffiti in the Downtown Core, including a new grant to assist property owners with the cost of graffiti removal.
“Through grants such as these, we can help business owners in the heart of the city who’ve experienced vandalism and graffiti keep their businesses clean and thriving. With a focus on enhanced cleaning service levels and safety, this is one of the ways in which we can demonstrate that our local businesses matter and that their success is critical to our local economy and tourism sector,” Mayor Andrea Horwath stated on September 13, 2023.
Council added funding to the city’s bylaw budget to increase property standards enforcement. This followed adding more litter collection crews and increasing public garbage bin collection in the Downtown.
In short, the City’s bylaw enforcement officers are implementing Council policy direction.
Two weeks ago, bylaw ordered a well-regarded non-profit, The Hub, to remove graffiti on its building at 78 Vine Street.
The Hub’s Executive Director, Jennifer Bonner, was angry with the order and took to social media to express displeasure.
Bonner correctly notes the graffiti has been on the Vine Street building for years, that the City is not following its own property standards and failing to maintain the public right-0f-way, and that removing graffiti is an added cost for the non-profit.
A reporter picked it up as a story, framed it as unfair, and contacted the Mayor’s Office for comment about what they determined to be a bad decision by the City.
In this context, the Mayor told the reporter the City should focus its enforcement efforts elsewhere.
Following the media action, bylaw managers now state they regret their decision to enforce, and the City will assist The Hub to access the new graffiti removal grant.
The decision of bylaw managers to express regret for following policy, in an article where the Mayor is quoted as being critical of a specific enforcement decision, could gain the attention of Hamilton’s new independent Integrity Commissioner.
This is a teachable moment, especially because Council members will be held to the Code of Conduct by the new IC.
Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno wrote an extensive explanation of the rules governing municipal politicians’ commenting upon bylaw enforcement.
In 2021, dealing with a somewhat situation – enforcement of rules upon an organization serving the homeless during COVID gathering restrictions – Giorno issued a formal caution to an Oshawa councillor.
The councillor wrote to the director of bylaw asking them to cease enforcement of COVID gathering restrictions for groups providing food to the homeless.
Giorno wrote the councillor’s email constituted an attempt to influence enforcement and in doing so, the councillor violated the Police Services Act and the Municipal Act.
The full 119-paragraph ruling is here: Gobin v Nicholson, 2020 ONMIC 13 (CanLII)
I wish to highlight a couple of key paragraphs:
. Doing so can create the appearance of bias, particularly if council later hears an appeal on the same matter after bylaw enforcement action is taken. Moreover, any action by a council member that is motivated by favouritism or personal animosity toward an individual may be perceived as an improper use of discretion. .[16] [emphasis added]


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Joey’s Notepad: The Definition of Newspapers and Statutory Notices – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 22, 2023
The Township of McKellar (pop 1,419) is asking the Province to amend the Legislation Act to change the definition of newspaper to include digital only publications.
Provincial laws and regulations require municipalities to purchase public notices in newspapers, which are defined in the Legislation Act as a publication “printed in sheet form, published at regular intervals of a week or less and circulated to the general public.” [emphasis added]
Increasingly, many communities no longer have printed weekly newspapers.
The Parry Sound North Star is among the 71 Metroland publications that are no longer print publications, following the decision of Metroland’s parent company to bankrupt its community newspapers.
Ontario’s newspaper lobby has successfully stopped past amendments to the Act that would allow municipalities to advertise on the websites of digital only news site such as Village Media’s dozens of local publications. [The newspaper lobby made sure Village Media’s websites (and this website) were included in the sites Facebook and Google are required to block due to Bill C18.]
McKellar is asking Ontario’s 443 other municipalities to join them in requesting the change.
The Province has not yet responded to McKellar’s request.


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OLT Sets New 12-Day Hearing for Chedoke Browlands Redevelopment – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 4, 2023
There is a new set of dates for the Ontario Land Tribunal to hear planning arguments regarding the redevelopment of the Chedoke Browlands at 801, 820, 828, 855, 865, and 870 Scenic Drive.
Valery Homes seeks to build 630 residential units on the former hospital lands.
The latest Ontario Land Tribunal memo regarding the file states the parties are in mediation to further scope the Issues List for the contested hearing.
“The Parties assured the Tribunal that a new Procedural Order and Issues List will be presented for consideration at the next CMC,” reads the memo.
The new Case Management Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
A 12-day hearing is now set to begin on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.


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Ontario Government Considering Affordable Housing Priority for Former School Sites – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 14, 2023
When Delta Secondary School closed its doors in 2019, there were calls for the historically designated property to be converted to affordable housing.
Local politicians agreed. They wanted affordable housing.
The Hamilton Community Foundation put money on the table to finance a $4.7-million bid by Indwell to make a fair market value purchase.
A private developer, New Horizon Homes, outbid Indwell, paying nearly $15-million for the property.
The predictable public outcry occurred, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board was widely criticized.
The HWDSB’s hands were tied because Ontario Regulation 444/98 requires that school properties sold on the open market must be sold to the highest bidder.
Now, 25 years after the regulation was created by the Ontario Progressive Conservative government of Premier Mike Harris, today’s Conservative government is considering prioritizing affordable housing for surplus school board properties.
“The first priority for surplus school board property would continue to be public education. A surplus property would first be assessed by the government as to whether it is needed by another school board for pupil accommodation,” reads a posting to Ontario’s Regulatory Registry.
“If the surplus property is not needed by another school board, it would be assessed by the government as to whether it is needed to address critical provincial priorities, such as long-term care and affordable housing.”
The government states school boards will still need to seek fair-market value for surplus lands.
Public comments regarding proposed changes are open until October 19.
Changes to Ontario Regulation 444/98 could enable the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to sell the Sir John A Macdonald high school property in Downtown Hamilton to an affordable housing project.
The HWDSB Board of Trustees has repeatedly voted to seek community partnerships to redevelop the site into a community purpose hub that includes education, recreation, and affordable housing.
Currently, Regulation 444/98 makes this nearly impossible to archive.

created: October 14, 2023


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Ontario Government Reverses Hamilton Urban Boundary Expansion – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

October 23, 2023
Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra is reversing the decision of his predecessor Steve Clark to impose expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundaries.
Calandra states his government’s decision to force urban boundary expansion did not maintain and reinforce public trust.
“In reviewing how decisions were made regarding official plans, it is now clear that they failed to meet this test,” Calandra says in his statement.
In November 2022, Premier Doug Ford and then Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark overruled Hamilton City Council’s urban boundary freeze, imposing an expansion of development onto agricultural lands outside the existing urban area.
Last week, the provincial government tabled legislation to return the lands to the Greenbelt.
These reversals follow devastating reports from Ontario’s Auditor General and Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner (Report 1, Report 2), revealing improper and concerning actions leading to removing lands from the Greenbelt. The RCMP is currently conducting a criminal investigation.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is “very pleased” with today’s announcement.
She says freezing the urban boundary will “help us in terms of ensuring that we’re protecting the farmland that we need to protect and ensuring that we are not over developing and creating more sprawl in our community.”
Mayor Horwath was in a City Council meeting when the announcement was made. She spoke with TPR outside of Council Chambers.
[TPR was the only media outlet at City Hall covering Council today.]
The Mayor says freezing the urban boundary enables Hamilton to build needed housing while ensuring the City can afford to provide municipal services.
“We have a lot of work to do on the housing plate,” Horwath says, adding the City needs support from higher levels of government “to make sure housing is affordable in our city, and that the services that people need to be successfully housed are made available.”
The City has passed zoning reforms to allow intensification along transit corridors, has changed its land use planning processes to speed up approvals, and will pass a new city-wide residential zoning reform that includes fourplexes in the coming months.
Hamilton is “making sure that we step up in terms of providing the housing that we need in our city,” Mayor Horwath says.
When asked if the recent provincial reversals are a “reset” for the relationship between the City and provincial government, Mayor Horwath says:
“My relationships always stay positive with the provincial government, certainly we can disagree on their perspective and their policy direction. But when it comes to fighting for Hamilton, I’ve never stopped and they’ve been quite receptive on every file that I’ve talked to them about.”
The Mayor says the City’s professional planning staff will respond to the Province’s request for a submission within 45 days, and she is pleased the government plans to financially assist the City with costs incurred by the urban boundary expansion decision.
Hamilton will continue to ask the province to reverse changes to development charge regulations that are adding a $40.59-million cost to the City’s 2024 capital budget (equivalent to a 3.69 percent capital tax increase) and a $27.28-million cost to the City’s water rates (equivalent to 9.75 percent).
“Now, we start really putting more focus on some of these other pieces, including the issue of making Hamilton whole with the development charges,” says Mayor Horwath. “We’ve got some real challenges coming with the budget and some of those other policy decisions.”


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Ancaster Heritage Advocates Call on Province to Reverse Recent OLT Rulings Based Upon Provincial UHOP Changes – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 6, 2023
The Ancaster Village Heritage Community wrote Ontario Premier Doug Ford last week asking him to quash two recent Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) decisions in Ancaster, which cited provincially imposed changes to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan (UHOP).
On October 23, Premier Ford reserved the urban boundary expansion his government imposed on Hamilton and announced a new review of provincial changes to UHOP.
Council’s approved version of UHOP, submitted to the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in 2022, carved out an exception for Ancaster’s Wilson Street from the City’s intensification policies.
This was overruled, and Ancaster’s Wilson Street was included in the City’s intensification corridors.
Additionally, Ford’s government granted – word for word – official plan changes submitted by developers of Ancaster’s 392-412 Wilson Street East & 15 Lorne Avenue.
In September, the City of Hamilton settled with the developer at the Ontario Land Tribunal, conceding the provincial changes meant the developer could build as they wanted.
AVHC Vice President Jim MacLeod writes the Province should reverse the “backroom deals” imposed on citizens of Hamilton.
“AVHC recognizes there is no easy path back to honest, open, transparent development decisions as a twisted mess of this magnitude is unprecedented, but we believe citizens deserve your leadership with a quick and simple move on your part,” MacLeod writes.
The AVHC is also asking for the ruling involving Ancaster’s 442, 450, 454, and 462 Wilson Street East be vacated as well.
As noted in TPR’s blog on October 23, the provincial review of Hamilton’s UHOP includes the application of the city-wide arterial zoning permissions along Wilson Street.
The provincial change removed a lower density target of 50 persons and jobs per hectare, and imposed density permissions above 150 units per hectare and up to eight stories.
The province will conduct a 45-day public comment period during its UHOP review.
Council can weigh in regarding Ancaster zoning during Wednesday’s Council meeting.
UPDATE #1, November 7: The developer has filed a new Site Plan appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

created: November 6, 2023


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Andrea Horwath Was Key in Ending the 1998/99 HSR Strike – As Mayor, Can She Resolve This One? – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 8, 2023
This afternoon, Hamilton City Council met in closed session for four hours to discuss the pending strike.
Immediately upon adjournment, I asked Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath:
“You were on Regional Council last time we had an HSR strike. I recall the strike ended after you and Alderman Wilson were in Regional Chair Cooke’s office to say that there was no more money, the final offer was final. Where are we at now? Where do we go? What are you doing as mayor to try to resolve this situation?”
MAYOR HORWATH:
“We’re in a situation now where it looks like the members will be hitting the picket lines tomorrow. It’s it’s not a situation that anybody’s happy about, I don’t think, but the staff did the best they could. And the Council made a decision in terms of the path forward and hopefully, before the clock strikes 12:01 [a.m.]. We’re always at the table, we’re always ready to go back to the table to to prevent a work stoppage. It’s not only going to be difficult for the workers, obviously, but also for the Hamiltonians.”
Mayor Horwath says Council has given staff a bargaining mandate and they will respect the bargaining process.
“We were very clear in terms of our offer and so we’re the members of [ATU Local 107] and so now we’re, we’re at an impasse.”
Mayor Horwath says she will issue a further statement later this evening [Wednesday].
Twenty-five years ago, twelve weeks into an unprecedented HSR strike, Regional Chairman Terry Cooke needed to find a way to send a message to ATU 107 that Regional Council’s final offer was, indeed, final.
Here how Cooke recollected events in 2007:
I called a media conference in my office, flanked by councillors Andrea Horwath and Dave Wilson. Wilson was a former president of the local labour council and he and Horwath (now an NDP MPP) were considered publicly to be the most union-friendly members of council.
Wilson and Horwath were blunt in their public statements. They strongly conveyed the message that council’s final offer was reasonable and was not going to change no matter how long the union stayed out.
Within a matter of days the transit union’s resolve crumbled and the membership accepted an offer almost identical to what the region had on the table when the strike began.
Dave Wilson was a Ward 4 Hamilton Alderman. [No relation to now Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson, who is also Cooke’s spouse.]
Ward 2 Alderman Horwath was best known at the time for her social activism.
She co-chaired the largest protest in Hamilton’s history, the 1996 Hamilton Action Days, against the provincial Conservative Mike Harris government.
Today’s Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 President Eric Tuck was one of the bus operators who walked the picket lines.
Tuck was quoted in the front-page Hamilton Spectator story when the strike ended. Here is what reporter Lee Prokaska wrote:
Driver Eric Tuck, 37, believes drivers and mechanics were getting worn down after being out on the picket line for three months.
“I think it’s the best we’re going to get under the circumstances,” said Tuck, who has worked for the HSR 10 years. “It’s been a long, hard fight and, after three months, we had to take a serious look at it. … Families were hurting and that was part of it.”
A few days later, in a follow-up story about how people felt regarding the strike’s outcome, Prokaska interviewed Tuck again:
Ten-year veteran driver Eric Tuck had hoped to see more in the new deal. But in the end, Tuck believes it was a worthwhile fight.
“It was necessary for us to make this fight at this time,” he said. “During the last two contracts, we’ve been taking steps backward. We’ve stopped doing that with this contract. They’re small steps, but they’re steps forward and that’s important.”
When the strike ended in January 1999, The Hamilton Spectator reported it took a few days to resume service. Buses had to be inspected, oil checked, batteries changed, etc.
Some bus operators drove empty buses on city streets to recertify.
No talks are planned between the City and the Union. There are informal off-the-record conversations between the sides.
Maybe a miracle happens.
It looks like Hamiltonians will be without bus service for the foreseeable future, and, similar to 1999, now-Mayor Andrea Horwath may need to get more involved to bring a resolution.
TPR will continue to provide updates on the HSR labour disruption. Sign up for our newsletter to keep informed.

created: November 8, 2023


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As Province Considers Reversing Controversial Changes, Ancaster Developer Goes to OLT over Site Plan – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 7, 2023
The owners of an Ancaster property given special planning permissions, word for word, by the Doug Ford government have filed a rare Site Plan development appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The owners of 392-412 Wilson Street East & 15 Lorne Avenue in Ancaster want the OLT to force the City to issue permits to enable them to begin work on the site.
The land is owned by developers Sergio Manchia and Frank Spallacci. Their planner is Matt Johnson, co-principal of Urban Solutions. Manchia is also a co-principal of Urban Solutions.
Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner found Manchia purchased four tickets to the “stag-and-doe” party for Premier Doug Ford’s daughter. He gave the tickets to Johnson, who reported only giving a quick hello to the Premier.
Manchia and Premier Doug Ford met in September 2021 to discuss. Manchia is a central figure in the Ontario Integrity Commissioners’ report regarding the Greenbelt lands removal.
With this background, Hamilton City Council will discuss a request from the Ancaster Village Heritage Community to endorse a letter the AVHC sent to Premier Ford calling for reversing the planning changes granted to Manchia and Spallacci.
Following the planning changes, their corporation, Wilson St. Ancaster Inc., gained an OLT settlement ruling enforcing the new rules to allow them to construct an eight-storey mixed-use development containing 118 residential units.
The ruling was released on September 19.
On October 23, Premier Ford reserved the urban boundary expansion his government imposed on Hamilton and announced a new review of provincial changes to Urban Hamilton Official Plan.
The review includes the changes made to allow the Wilson Street development.
TPR has requested the OLT appeal file.

created: November 7, 2023


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BRIEF: City and LIV Developments Ltd. Reach Settlement on 909 North Waterdown Drive – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 2, 2023
The City of Hamilton and LIV Developments Ltd. have reached a settlement regarding a planned development at 909 North Waterdown Drive in Flamborough.
This is the second Ontario Land Tribunal hearing for this property in recent years.
In a rare denial, in 2021, the OLT denied LIV’s appeal seeking to lower the minimum density on the site to permit stacked townhouses.
The lands are zoned High Density Residential 1 with a minimum density of 100 units per gross residential hectare, LIV sought to build at a lower density of 60 units.
OLT Member Bryan W. Tuckey noted provincial policies now expect higher densities and, notwithstanding financial interest of the developer in selling stacked townhouses, the City is correct to uphold the 100 units minimum.
Following this, LIV filed a new application for “the development of 84 stacked townhouses and 150 apartment units.”
The proposed height of the apartment building is eight stories.
They appealed for non-decision in February 2023. The OLT set aside two weeks for a contested hearing in December.
Notice of a settlement hearing has not been issued. LIV’s lawyer is requesting a December 1 hearing date.
The usual timelines for settlement hearings would see the hearing occur in December. City Council should receive a closed session legal brief at the November 14 Planning Committee meeting.

created: November 2, 2023


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BRIEF: Claremont Access Reopening Delayed Until At Least End of Next Week (Nov 6 – 10) – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 3, 2023
The City of Hamilton says the planned reopening of the downbound lanes of the Claremont Access will be delayed until at least the end of next week.
The City says “inclement weather” and “additional work required to safely open the downbound lanes” mean the contractor needs more time to complete installing a rock fence.
Following numerous significant failures during the past decade, the City removed most of a retaining wall alongside the mountain access roadway. The rock face behind the retaining wall was scaled to prevent future massive rock slides onto the roadway.
The retaining wall has failed numerous times in the past decade. The latest closure began in March when the City discovered new erosion and stability issues.
The City is continuing to study longer-term solutions to deal with escarpment erosion.
The project is expected to cost between $4.5 to 5-million.

created: November 3, 2023


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BRIEF: Hamilton LRT Transit Corridor Lands Announced – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 3, 2023
The Ontario government will review all construction and building permits along the B-Line LRT corridor to ensure private works do not interfere with or delay LRT construction.
In an order-in-council issued on September 28, the Province designated all properties within 30 metres of the planned LRT route between McMaster University and Eastgate Square to be within a transit corridor land.
Hamilton’s LRT is one of five priority transit projects under the Building Transit Faster Act.
The Act grants the Province special powers to ensure the accelerated completion of projects, including the review of all permits issued within the corridor.
The map of properties included in the corridor is available on the Ontario Order in Council website
All affected property owners are receiving notices by mail.
The City of Hamilton writes, “A corridor development permit may be required from Metrolinx for anyone situated in the Transit Corridor Lands and planning to build, change or place a building, other structure or road on or under an owner’s property. Some projects are deemed minor and others are exempt.”
Residents along the corridor are unlikely to be affected.
The permit control is designed to avoid significant works, such as new building construction or road works, at the same time as LRT construction.
UPDATE: A copy of the Metrolinx letter has been posted to Flickr. The letter explains the provisions. Page 1 / Page 2


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City and LiUNA reach deal to allow mid-rise at 186 Hunter East – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 2, 2023
There is a tentative confidential settlement between the City of Hamilton and LiUNA’s Wellington Hamilton Non-Profit Housing Inc. to allow the construction of a mid-rise building at 186 Hunter Street East.
LiUNA applied for an official plan amendment to permit a 12-storey residential building containing 104 residential units. A portion of the units will be affordable using Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation definitions.
As TPR first reported in July 2022, LiUNA filed a non-decision appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal shortly after the 120-day deadline for the City of Hamilton to render a Council decision passed.
At the time, City of Hamilton Director of Planning and Chief Planner Steve Robichaud stated he hoped to reach a negotiated settlement.
The deal comes only days before the two sides were expected to spend two weeks contesting positions before the Ontario Land Tribunal. Arguments were to begin on Monday, November 6.
Notice of the settlement was transmitted to the OLT just before 5 p.m. on Monday.
City Council will debate the settlement in closed session during the November 14 planning committee meeting.
The deal will be kept confidential until after the OLT settlement hearing on December 6.


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City Manager Says If HSR Workers Reject Final Offer, “We Expect a Strike Will Occur” – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 3, 2023
HSR workers will vote this weekend on the City’s final offer. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 executives are recommending members vote against the offer.
In a Wednesday to all HSR employees, Acting City Manager Carlyle Khan writes, “if this offer is rejected, we expect a strike will occur.”
Khan writes, “The city does not want a strike.”
The City’s final offer provides the same salary increases CUPE 5167 accepted in their new contract. 3.75 percent for 2023, and 3 percent in 2024 and 2025.
City Council approved pay increases of up to 14 percent for the City’s managers, directors, and non-unionized staff.
Khan writes, “You’ve probably heard a lot about the non-union increase. The City has a long-standing policy stating that the salaries for non-union positions (e.g. administrative, clerical, managerial) should be at the 50th percentile of comparator municipalities … Hamilton’s non-union wages had fallen below the 50th percentile.”
Khan continued, “HSR Operators have always been paid competitively, above the mid-point, while non-union wages did not land above the midpoint against their comparators.”
During a two-and-a-half-hour closed session on Wednesday, Hamilton City Council discussed what action the City Manager’s Office will take if HSR workers reject the final offer.
In September, the City of Hamilton asked Ontario’s Ministry of Labour for a no-board notice. The no-board was issued, giving the City the legal right to lock out workers beginning October 25. This put the union into a legal strike position.
The City has declined to commit to not locking out HSR workers.
It has been 25 years since the last HSR strike began. That strike lasted 12 weeks.
As TPR reported in a February newsletter edition:
Two years later, in 1998, the Region held the line on HSR wages and benefits, offering three percent on wages, and no concessions on other union demands.
A 12-week strike followed. In the end HSR workers gained little, 20 cents per hour.
Former Hamilton Mayor (1976 – 1980) Jack Macdonald summarized the cost to ATU union members in TheSpec on January 27, 1999:
“Drivers have lost 12 weeks pay at about $800 for a 40-hour week. In return for a $9,600 loss over 12 weeks, they gained about a further 20 cents an hour beyond the three-per-cent offer. In about 28 years, they will recover their loss.””
The City has not disclosed how much money it will save in the event of an HSR lock-out or strike.
RELATED Blog Post: Why the HSR employee daytime shuttle is a significant issue that could trigger a strike – the 2000 decision to move HSR operations near the airport has resulted in HSR workers living in Caledonia, making the shuttle important to operators.
TPR will update on the strike vote as soon as the results are known. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates.


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City of Hamilton Cites Additional Campaign Finance Violations by Sergio Manchia and Darko Vranich – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 20, 2023
Hamilton’s Acting City Clerk Janet Pilon reports Sergio Manchia and Darko Vranich made additional contributions to the campaign of Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath.
The new contributions are in addition to previous 2022 municipal election donations to candidates that exceeded the $5,000 total contribution limit by a single individual.
Manchia and Vranich are being prosecuted for alleged violations of the Municipal Elections Act individual contribution limits.
Both are scheduled to appear in court on December 13.
Last week, November 15, a hearing for Manchia’s case was adjourned until December 13 due to disclosure requirements.
Manchia donated $5,300 to 13 candidates. He also exceeded the donation limit in 2018.
Vranich donated $9,600 to eight candidates.
Andrea Horwath’s campaign conducted additional fundraising after December 31, 2022, to erase campaign debt.
The campaign’s supplementary financial return states Vranich donated $1,200 on February 2, 2023. The individual limit to a single candidate is $1,200.
Manchia donated an additional $500 to the campaign on May 2, 2023. $50 of this was returned by the Horwath campaign because Manchia donated $750 during the 2022 campaign.
Manchia writes, “The payment was made in response to an invitation to a welcome dinner for the new Mayor … over six months after the end of the election.”
He says he was unaware the welcome dinner event was part of the 2022 election limits.
“I was never informed of this campaign period extension by any person involved in the event or collection of my payment. The fact that my payment could be considered a contribution towards the 2022 election limit is a genuine surprise to me. I was under the impression that it would not count towards the 2022 election cycle, and had no reason to believe otherwise.”
Hamilton’s Election Compliance Audit Committee will meet this Thursday to determine whether the additional contributions should be included in the alleged election finance violations before the courts.
Manchia is asking ECAC not to add them.
Vranich, or his representative, is extended to make his submissions at the Thursday meeting.
Former City Clerk Andrea Holland refused to release Vranich’s July 2023 submissions to ECAC.
Section 88.34(9.1) of the Municipal Elections Act requires the Clerk to release the submissions. Section 9(1.2) of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act also requires the City Clerk to release the document.

created: November 20, 2023


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Claremont Access Reopening on Thursday by Lunch Hour: City Hall Says – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 8, 2023
The downbound lanes of Hamilton’s Claremont Access will reopen for motor vehicle traffic tomorrow (Thursday, November 9) “by 12 p.m.,” the City’s public works department says.
City Council was notified mid-afternoon on Wednesday the final work to make the access safe is complete.
Following numerous significant failures during the past decade, the City removed most of a retaining wall alongside the mountain access roadway.
The rock face behind the retaining wall was scaled to prevent future massive rock slides onto the roadway.
The retaining wall has failed numerous times in the past decade. The latest closure began in March when the City discovered new erosion and stability issues.
The City is continuing to study longer-term solutions to deal with escarpment erosion.
The project is expected to cost between $4.5 to 5-million.


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BRIEF: Corktown Park Washroom Winterized as New 24/7 Washroom – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 3, 2023
The City of Hamilton has winterized the washroom at Corktown Park in Ward 2 to serve as one of two 24/7 winter washroom locations as part of the encampment response strategy.
The Corktown Park washroom will replace Ward 3’s Myrtle Park on November 15.
“The Myrtle Park washroom building is not winterized and so a new location was required to be identified as the weather gets colder into November,” states the City of Hamilton. “Staff have reviewed the park washrooms across the city and have identified Corktown Park as a new
location for the 24/7 washroom service.”
“The change from Myrtle Park to Corktown Park will be communicated directly to encampment residents,” the City states.
“There are no changes to the J.C. Beemer washroom location, and the shower locations at Eastwood Arena and Norman Pinky Lewis Recreation Centre.”


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Editors Note: Redesigning the TPR Website – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 24, 2023
I knew it would happen, and late Thursday evening it finally did. The custom WordPress template I designed in 2013 finally broke beyond repair.
All links remain the same as before. Apologies for the inconvenience.
– Joey Coleman

created: November 24, 2023


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Fred Bennink Resigns from Hamilton Police Board Ahead of Replacement Being Named by Council – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 7, 2023
Fred Bennink has resigned as the Council citizen appointee on the Hamilton Police Services Board.
Bennink submitted his resignation to the Office of the City Clerk on November 3. Bennink stated he applied for another term on the Board.
Council’s special Hamilton Police Services Board Selection Committee has confidentially narrowed their choices to two candidates, with Council to approve one of them as the new appointee.
Bennink ran for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives as their 2022 candidate in the riding of Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas.


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Grand River Conservation Authority Asks for 2.1% Levy Increase for 2024 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 7, 2023
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) says it will increase its municipal levy contribution by 2.5 percent for 2024.
The City of Hamilton contributed $1,605,656 to the Grand River CA’s budget in 2023.
Southern portions of Hamilton’s watersheds drain towards the Grand River.
The proposed 2.5 percent increase will result in Hamilton paying approximately $35,000 more in 2024, with the GRCA requesting #1,639,233.
Hamilton City Council is expected to approve the funding in January.
Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson is Hamilton’s representative on the GRCA board of directors.


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Hamilton HSR Tentative Deal: No Changes to Wages, One-Time Increase to Benefits, Shuttle Buses Retained – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 20, 2023
Hamilton’s approximately 900 public transit workers will vote this week on a new contract.
The weeklong strike ended Thursday, three days before the Grey Cup.
The post-strike deal is similar to the City’s October “Final Offer“, with a one-time one-year health spending account increase, an increase to tool allowances for skill trades, increased bereavement leave, and the retention of operator shuttle buses.
Union members will receive a $750 signing bonus if the contract is ratified.
During the weeks leading up to the strike both the union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107, and the City of Hamilton stated wages were the critical issue.
Last week’s press conferences from both sides focused on the wage issue.
In this context, it is surprising the tentative agreement sees no movement on wages.
The tentative agreement wage offer is the same as the offer the City made before the strike.
The wage increase is the same amount that CUPE 5167 accepted in its contract: 3.75 percent for 2023, and 3 percent in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
HSR transit employees health care spending accounts will be $2000 in 2024, a one-time increase of $1000. Spending accounts will return to $1000 in 2025.
ATU members must ratify the contract. Workers have sought stronger contract gains after the pandemic and inflation.
Recent talks between the Detroit Three auto companies (General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler) and the Canadian auto workers resulted in new contracts with the most significant gains for workers in decades.
Despite a good contract, strongly endorsed by union leaders, Canadian Ford auto workers barely approved their new contract with a 54 percent ratification vote.
HSR workers enjoyed good public support during their one-week strike.
Public sentiment on social media platforms was sympathetic to worker demands for wage increases similar to what the City of Hamilton gave to its managers and non-union workers.
City Hall took an aggressive communications posture against the Union, accusing it of spreading “misinformation” and “directing public anger at an individual female employee of the City of Hamilton” because the Union noted the pay increases given to the City’s lead negotiator, the Executive Director of Human Resources.
What would be the public sentiment if HSR workers reject the tentative agreement recommended by their union executive?


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Hamilton Centre NDP Emergency Resolutions Meeting – November 22 – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 13, 2023
The Hamilton Centre Ontario NDP riding association will meet on November 22 to debate two motions – one related to the expulsion of MPP Sarah Jama from the Ontario NDP caucus and another regarding the war between Israel and Hama in Gaza.
The riding association executive announced the meeting in a mass email which accidentally exposed members’ email addresses in the “to” line.
Patrick Antilla, Vice President of the ONDP riding association says, “it was entirely an administrative error on my part. I understand the frustration and disappointment felt by members of my Riding Association and it’s completely legitimate.”
“This won’t happen again, and was an honest mistake in the first place.”
People who received the email forwarded it to TPR.
There have been recent incidents of accidental mass emails in Hamilton. The City of Hamilton revealed the identities of around 450 vote-by-mail registrants during last year’s municipal election.
Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama was removed from the NDP caucus by leader Marit Stiles back on October 23.
Stiles removed Jama following “a number of unilateral actions” following Jama’s X posts and statements regarding the war in Gaza.
The final action was reading a speech in the Legislature which differed from the one shared with the NDP leader.
Shortly after the removal, the Conservative majority voted to censure her and direct the Speaker not to recognize her in the Legislature. The NDP caucus member voted against the censure.
Since this time, numerous NDP riding associations are calling for a review of Stiles’ leadership.
The Hamilton Centre NDP association executive wishes to join in this call.
The email read:
“Hello members of the Hamilton Centre ONDP Riding Association,
We are inviting you to participate in a virtual General Membership Meeting to discuss and vote on two emergency resolutions related to Sarah Jama to be submitted to the ONDP Provincial Council meeting which will occur on November 25, 2023.
MPP Sarah Jama was removed from the ONDP caucus a few weeks ago following her statement for a cease fire and an end to the Israeli occupation of Gaza. The executive of the Hamilton Centre ONDP Riding Association have been organizing around the removal of our duly elected representative from the ONDP caucus.
In order for the Hamilton Centre Riding Association Executive to submit these emergency resolutions for adoption at the Provincial Council on November 25, they must first be adopted by our Hamilton Centre Riding Association at a General Membership Meeting. Check your inbox the day before the GMM for the resolutions. We must pass these resolutions at our GMM on November 22 so we can then take them to the Provincial Council on November 25. It is important that you participate and have your say.
The Hamilton Centre GMM will be held on:
Date: Wednesday, November 22nd at 7:30PM
Location: Zoom (Register below to participate)
All New Democratic Party Members in good standing who reside within the Hamilton Centre Riding are invited to participate and vote.”

created: November 13, 2023


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HSR Talks Fail: Union Says “To Be Clear” Thursday Strike Inevitable – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 7, 2023
The union representing Hamilton’s public transit workers says last-minute talks between it and the City of Hamilton today were “a shameful waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 and the City of Hamilton met this morning at the Sheraton Hotel.
ATU 107 President Eric Tuck says representatives from the City only wished to discuss strike protocols and did not have ‘anything further to offer’ in negotiations.
Tuck writes the union refused to sign any strike protocols.
“[We] asked the employer if they had anything further to offer, that would be helpful in avoiding a disruption of service or an improved offer and was advised that they did not,” Tuck wrote in a statement to union members this afternoon.
“We regret to inform you that we see no path toward a resolution,” Tuck states. “To be clear, there will be no Transit services on Thursday, November 9th.”
Tuck states the union “remains prepared to resume productive negotiations should the employer wish to make an improved offer.”
The HSR strike is scheduled to begin Thursday morning. HSR buses will operate until the end of Wednesday’s scheduled service. This means the last buses, most of which depart Downtown Hamilton at 1:20 a.m., will operate.
This will be the first HSR strike since a 12-week shutdown that began nearly 25 years ago in November 1998.
The Union and City are far apart on pay and working conditions.
Hamilton’s labour unions will hold a solidarity rally and press conference at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the MacNab Transit Terminal.
Update #1: ATU 107 President Eric Tuck issued a video update for the public regarding today’s talks. View it on Vimeo
TPR’s recent coverage includes details of the City’s final offer, why the City’s plan to remove a driver shuttle bus is a contentious issue, the Union vote to reject the final offer on Sunday, and recollections of the 1998/99 strike.
TPR will continue to provide updates on the HSR labour disruption. Sign up for our newsletter to keep informed.


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HSR Transit Strike to Begin on Thursday: Union Issues 72 Hours Notice – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

November 5, 2023
Hamilton’s public transit workers have rejected the City’s “final offer” and will begin strike action on Thursday morning.
“The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 107 is hereby informing all Hamiltonians that their members have rejected the last offer from their employer, Hamilton Street Railway (HSR).  As a result, there will be a legal strike of the HSR transit system effective November 9 from 12:01 am,” says ATU 107 President Eric Tuck.
94 percent of the union’s membership voted for strike action over two days of voting this weekend.
[Amalgamated Transit Union International VP Ken Wilson posted photos of the line-up Sunday morning on X (formerly Twitter)]
The union seeks wage increases that respond to cost-of-living inflation, working condition improvements, and firm contract language stating HSR workers will operate the planned B-Line LRT.
The City’s final wage offer is 3.75 percent for 2023, and 3 percent in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
This is the same amount the City’s largest union, CUPE 5167, accepted in their new contract in August.
Tuck says the offer is insufficient, noting the City’s management staff were given up to a 14 percent single-year wage increase.
“We refuse to be left behind while bureaucrats benefit with record raises and the ability to work from home 2-3 days a week. Our transit workers were on the frontlines during the pandemic, and we don’t have the luxury of working from home,” said Tuck.
HSR workers seek 7 percent in 2023, and 4 percent each year in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
“The frustration of workers comes from double-digit increases of up to 15% going to highly paid Non-Union staff while offering transit workers a 3.2% increase that does not address the shortfalls to transit operators, administrative and skilled trades maintenance staff,” Tuck says.
The union is seeking increased safety and access to clean washrooms.
“Our working conditions are far different than those working from an office setting or from home. We have no security or safety from assaults. We don’t work 9 to 5 with standard 8 hour shifts starting and finishing in the same location, and we don’t have ready access to restrooms along transit routes.”
The City began the countdown towards a strike in September when it applied to the Ministry of Labour for a no-board notice. The notice was granted, with the City legally able to lock out workers and the union in a legal strike position on October 25.
City Council met in closed session on Wednesday to discuss the pending HSR labour disruption.
This will be the first HSR strike since November 1998, when HSR workers were out on the picket lines for 12 weeks.
There are budgetary savings for the City of Hamilton during a strike. The City has not publicly disclosed this figure.
Hamilton’s school boards state they have “begun to prepare a plan to transport those students who have an HWDSB or HWCDSB issued HSR Semester Pass” and “will require four days to implement the alternative transportation for the affected students.”
Updates on school transportation will be provided by Hamilton Wentworth Student Transportation Services.
Hamilton’s paratransit DARTS service will continue to operate.
DARTS workers are represented by CUPE 5167.
DARTS users may experience challenges booking trips due to increased demand for rides with the service.
HSR operators are handing out pamphlets encouraging Hamiltonians to contact their councillors to tell them to “demand further talks and allocate the resources necessary to reach a fair deal and keep service going.”
The union is expected to hold a rally on Thursday.
HSR buses will operate until the end of Wednesday’s service, meaning the final buses at 1:20 a.m. will operate as scheduled on Thursday.

created: November 5, 2023