City of Hamilton’s 2025 Fraud and Waste Annual Report

HAMILTON, ON – The City of Hamilton’s Office of the Auditor General (OAG) completed its sixth Fraud and Waste Annual report and for the first time since its launch in 2019, there were more recoveries than losses.

A total of almost $502,000 has been recovered since the OAG’s last report. This is due primarily to the recovery of $417,000 related to a fraud included in last year’s report.

Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, the OAG received 148 Fraud and Waste reports, with an overall substantiation rate of 32%. This is the second-highest volume ever.

Since the Fraud and Waste hotline launch, there has been an increased level of awareness by employees and management to report fraud, waste and whistleblower matters to the OAG.

“The Office of the Auditor General would like to acknowledge that in addition to the reports submitted by employees and management and the assistance provided to complete assessments and investigations, the OAG also receives reports from citizens” said Charles Brown, Auditor General. “Reporting these matters so they can be assessed and investigated increases the City of Hamilton’s transparency and accountability.”

Once again, through the Fraud and Waste Annual report, the OAG has brought forward an issue of conflict of interest (COI) situations that arise with employees of the City. Since the hotline was implemented, the OAG has investigated no fewer than 29 instances of COI and it continues to be one of the most persistent, serious, and time-consuming types of complaints the OAG receives and investigates, despite a new version of the Code of Conduct for Employees approved by Council in 2023.

As such, the OAG recommended to Council that senior leadership be directed to investigate new and improved methods to improve awareness among employees of what is a Conflict of Interest and how to report them, and to report back to the Audit, Finance and Administration Committee by May 2026.
Quick Facts:The Fraud and Waste Hotline launched in July 2019 as a pilot project and was made permanent by City Council in March 2023.

The hotline continues to provide the public, City employees, contractors and vendors with a convenient, confidential and anonymous tool to report suspicion or proof of wrongdoing.
The OAG has received 706 reports since the Hotline launched in 2019.

In its fourth year since inception, the volume of reports received was the highest ever, at 159 total.
The hotline also supports the City’s goal of managing instances of fraud and waste within the organization and operating with honesty and integrity.

The Fraud and Waste Report supports Responsiveness & Transparency, a 2022-2026 Council Priority.
Additional Resources:

Infographic: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Fraud and Waste Annual report
Web page: City of Hamilton Fraud and Waste Hotline
Web page: City of Hamilton 2022-2026 Council Priorities, Outcomes & Measures of Success

To Tell the Truth: Hamilton’s Transparency Test

“To Tell the Truth” — it was once a beloved game show built on truth-telling and deception. In Hamilton, transparency seems to have become just as elusive as that old television game.

The Hamiltonian, along with the Water Workers’ Union, IUOE Local 772/HOWEA, has repeatedly asked the City of Hamilton to disclose one simple fact: how much has the ongoing water workers’ strike cost the city?

Over the summer, city officials told both The Hamiltonian and the union that the information would be made public in October. October came and went. It is now mid-November, and despite several follow-up requests, the City has remained silent.

Let’s be clear: The Hamiltonian firmly believes Hamilton taxpayers are entitled to this information. We recognize that strikes cost money to manage — that is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether the city has spent a reasonable amount or an excessive one. Without disclosure, there is no way to assess that.

For the record, The Hamiltonian is not aligned with IUOE Local 772/HOWEA. We have, however, been sympathetic to their position because we believe they have a legitimate and well-founded claim to a carve-out based on their specialized accreditation and unique value to the city.

This is not about taking sides. It’s about accountability. Hamiltonians deserve to know whether their local government is willing — or even able — to tell the truth about how much this strike has cost. Is transparency a genuine commitment, or merely a slogan used when convenient?

The Hamiltonian has learned that IUOE Local 772/HOWEA has now threatened legal action if the city continues to withhold this information. By refusing transparency, City Hall not only erodes public trust — it risks compounding costs through potential litigation, once again leaving taxpayers on the hook.

Does this sound familiar? Think of the Red Hill Valley Parkway scandal. Think of the contaminated water cover-up. Must Hamilton taxpayers once again bear the burden of secrecy and mismanagement?

The question now is simple: Will — or can — the City of Hamilton tell the truth?

The Hamiltonian believes this is more than a budgetary matter. It is a defining test — one that will reveal whether Hamilton’s civic culture is capable of honesty and transparency, or whether the corrosive habits of evasion have taken root so deeply that they simply can’t tell the truth anymore.

Hamiltonians deserve an answer.

What's Up at City Hall?

The city of Hamilton finds itself at yet another crossroad. Residents are voicing rising concern about safety, and at the same time the municipal leadership is pressing ahead with big policy moves on transit, housing and community well-being.

On the safety front, a public forum convened by city hall revealed that shootings and hate-motivated incidents are “top of public concerns,” particularly downtown and in the lower-mountain neighbourhoods. The fact that even municipal officials are asking for input on “making the city safer” signals the issue has moved from the margins to front-and-centre.

Meanwhile, the municipal leadership under Mayor Andrea Horwath is advancing on several fronts. One of the landmarks: the approval of the so-called “HSR Next” transit overhaul, a shift toward point-to-point bus rapid transit lines (and eventually a light-rail component) aimed at modernizing the city’s transportation backbone. However, as past debates show, transit remains a polarizing issue in Hamilton: cost overruns, ridership concerns, and neighbourhood impacts still resonate. Further, there is an ongoing sense of disillusionment.

Housing continues to loom large. Hamilton has declared a state of emergency tied to homelessness, mental health and opioid-related challenges.  That decision broadens city hall’s mandate to act more aggressively on housing supply, shelter space and wrap-around services. The political question will be whether the City can turn that emergency declaration into tangible outcomes — faster build-outs, better coordination, more permanent affordable units — without ballooning costs or significant push-back.

On the election front, Hamilton is gearing up for the next municipal vote in 2026. With that horizon in view, the 2025-26 cycle is already shaping up as one of heightened competition.  For incumbents and challengers alike, the key issues seem clear: public safety, affordability, transit, and how well city hall listens to citizens.

For the everyday Hamiltonian, here are three things to keep an eye on:

Safety policy and its delivery. Regardless of the rhetoric, neighbourhood residents will judge city hall and police services on visible outcomes: fewer shootings, safer streets, more trust. In short- measurables.

Transit change-management. The HSR Next plan will require service disruptions, cost management, and clear communications. If community buy-in falters, so will momentum.

Affordable housing follow-through. It’s no longer enough to declare emergencies. Execution, timelines, accountability and measurable progress will drive public support — or disillusionment.

In short: Hamilton is not sitting still. City hall is moving, and the electorate is watching. 

The crux of the matter, is whether City Hall and local politicians are to be believed. All the flag waving around transparency and the like is undermined by the City's continued refusal to be transparent- example, continued refusal to provide The Hamiltonian,  Hamiltonians and the water workers union with the costs of the WaterWorkers' strike.

We have recently learned the that union is so frustrated at the city's refusal to provide them with this information, that they are threatening legal action. 

Then there is the ongoing issue of lack of rigor- no formal performance contract for the City Manager, no will or perhaps ability to report on how many staff have performance agreements in place and no effort to rectify these issues.

With the election approaching, The Hamiltonian will continue to shine a light on the level of service and transparency that Hamiltonians are entitled to receive, verses the gaps. We encourage the Directing Minds of this city (The Mayor and Councillors), to reflect upon the fact that Hamiltonians do not suffer fools lightly. 

The Hamiltonian

Countdown to Arbitration

The Hamiltonian has been advised by the arbitrator that the November 11th session referenced below has been adjourned. We are unaware of the reason, at present.

Our readers will recall that The Hamiltonian has provided extensive coverage of the water workers’ strike. Throughout our reporting, we have repeatedly requested that the City of Hamilton disclose to taxpayers the total costs associated with this labour dispute. To date, the City has not provided that information—a troubling lack of transparency on several levels.

On November 11, another significant phase of the dispute will unfold. An arbitrator will hear submissions from both parties regarding wage parity between CUPE and the City’s Water Operations and Trades workers. At the heart of the matter is a $3.00-per-hour discrepancy. The union contends that even if parity were achieved, its members would still earn approximately $2.00 per hour less than their counterparts in comparable municipalities.

Members of the public are invited to observe the arbitration by joining via the YouTube link provided below. The arbitrator has issued a clear directive that no one may record or reproduce any portion of the proceedings—audio or video—without express authorization. We ask all viewers to respect this instruction as well as any other instruction he may elect to convey. 

The Hamiltonian extends sincere thanks to Arbitrator Jesse Nyman for working with The Hamiltonian to facilitate  public access and to Mr. Hoath of the union for drawing this matter to our attention.

Here is the YouTube link that will be active November 11. Click here  

Photo by OMAR SABRA on Unsplash

Truth to Power

Our readers may have noticed that recently, The Hamiltonian has published a number of articles that are highly critical of the city, particularly highlighting the apparent lack of formality and rigor when it comes to delivering results on behalf of Hamiltonians.

We anticipated a chilly reception from those at City Hall, and we suspect that’s what we’ve received. However, in line with our motto, “Sometimes Tough; Always Fair,” we’ve remained just that. In our coverage, we’ve suggested that Hamilton would benefit from a media presence that takes a more critical look at what happens at City Hall — perhaps more so than usual.

We were pleased to read Scott Radley’s recent piece in today’s Hamilton Spectator. Using the TD Coliseum renovation and its ticking countdown clock as a metaphor, Radley didn’t pull any punches.

In our view, it’s vital that a mainstream journalist in Hamilton breaks from the polite script and voices what residents are already saying at coffee shops, bus stops, and council chambers: why can the private sector get things done, while City Hall can’t even finish a washroom?

Rather than describe Radley’s piece in detail, it’s best that you read it yourself in today’s Spectator. Better still, subscribe to The Spec (note: The Hamiltonian offers this recommendation with no affiliation to The Spec).

What made this column stand out wasn’t the critique itself — Hamiltonians are already well aware of it — but the fact that someone in the mainstream  spoke the truth, without varnish. The tone was direct. The frustration was genuine.

The reporter’s challenge was clear: learn from the private sector’s discipline. Embrace urgency, pride, and accountability. Understand that public trust erodes when projects drag on endlessly and taxpayers are treated as an open wallet.

Accountability isn’t just a slogan — it’s a culture. And cultures don’t change through strategic plans, spin  or communications strategies. They change when the people inside the system decide that failure is no longer acceptable.

The Hamiltonian believes Hamilton deserves this kind of culture shift — one built on urgency, pride, and ownership of outcomes.

When a mainstream journalist has the courage to speak truth to civic power, it reminds us that journalism still matters — not as a megaphone for bureaucracy, but as a conscience for the community.

The Hamiltonian

Mayor Andrea Horwath invites Hamiltonians to a Community Safety Summit

Mayor Andrea Horwath invites Hamiltonians to a Community Safety Summit

Residents encouraged to attend or share feedback online

HAMILTON, ON – The City of Hamilton will host a Community Safety Summit on Monday, November 10, 2025, bringing together residents, community organizations and local leaders to address community safety concerns and strengthen collaboration across the city.

The Summit will explore issues such as hate, gender-based violence and youth and gun violence, while creating space for dialogue, learning and shared understanding. Participants will hear from experts with the Hamilton Police Service and community agencies, take part in facilitated discussions and help identify next steps toward a stronger, more inclusive Hamilton.

“The Community Safety Summit is about coming together as a community to listen, learn, and work toward real solutions,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “By understanding each other’s experiences and challenges, we are building a city where everyone feels safe and supported.”
Event Details:

Date: Monday, November 10, 2025

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location: LiUNA Station, King George Ballroom, 360 James St. N., Hamilton

RSVP: Registration by November 5, 2025 at hamilton.ca/communitysafetysummit

Unable to attend?
Share your feedback through the Community Safety Input page on Engage Hamilton. Community insights will help guide Summit discussions and inform ongoing work through Hamilton’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.

Share your input: engage.hamilton.ca/communitysafetyinput
Open from October 27 to November 24, 2025

“The safety and well-being of Hamilton residents is our top priority,” said Marnie Cluckie, City Manager. “Every voice matters, and we’re grateful to all those who are contributing by completing the Community Safety Input page or joining us at the Summit.”

The City of Hamilton, in collaboration with the Hamilton Police Service and community agencies, remains committed to ongoing engagement and shared efforts to create a stronger and more inclusive community for all.
Additional Resources: Web page: Community Safety Summit
Web page: 10-Year Downtown Hamilton Revitalization Strategy
Web page: Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
Web page: Hamilton Police Service | 2025 Community Safety Survey Results