With Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark

 
Welcome to our chat with Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark. Thank-you Clr. Clark for engaging with Hamiltonians, in The Hamiltonian!

1) You’ve served Hamilton as a City Councillor for multiple terms and also held responsibilities at the provincial level. How have you used this experience to mentor or support newer Councillors? In what areas do you find newer members often face the steepest learning curves—and where have you been able to offer meaningful guidance? Conversely, have any newer Councillors brought fresh perspectives or approaches that have influenced your own thinking? 

I have been blessed to serve the province and Stoney Creek as Minister of Transportation, Minister of Labour as well as Ward 9 Councillor. These opportunities have given me some institutional, parliamentary and municipal experience which enables me to provide some different learned perspectives. I have regular confidential meetings with elected members and senior staff where they are seeking some advice. Likewise, I have used my experience to help with motions to ensure that the language meets the mover’s intentions.

This Council has a breadth of backgrounds, knowledge and experiences that help the council and staff in our deliberations. Most of the questions that I received from some of the new councillors revolves around city policies, processes, and municipal legislation.

2) Homelessness remains one of Hamilton’s most complex and urgent challenges. In your view, what has the city gotten right—and where have we fallen short? What key lessons have emerged from our approach so far? Specifically, what is your stance on MiniCabins as a solution, and do you believe we are responding to homelessness with long-term strategy or short-term tactics?

This Council has seen many urgent challenges with homelessness as one of the most complex. Every day, Hamiltonians are seeing desperate, hungry and houseless people with some struggling with mental illness and opioid addictions.

In 2024, Hamilton received $28 million from the province for homelessness, whereas the city spent a little over $100 million. In the summer of 2023, the Council (by majority vote) permitted encampments in city parks, I opposed this policy as I felt it was inhumane. I also cautioned Council that such a policy would only serve to increase the divisions with complaints from housed residents about the loss of safe parks, noise, defecations, naked people and increased crime resulting in more violence, vandalism, and vigilantism. In 2025, Council won a lawsuit challenging our bylaw banning tents in parks. The judge ruled in the city’s favour.

Subsequently, the council rescinded the encampment policy with Council adding 192 new shelter beds as well as a pilot project of 40 tiny cabins at Barton and Tiffany. With the adoption of my motion to protect cabin residents from contaminated soils, I supported the pilot.

In the long term, senior levels of governments must help municipalities to build more supportive housing units with funding for wrap around services. Such programming helps people with mental illness, alcoholism and addiction to overcome their challenges.

3) With your extensive experience, what continues to drive you to serve both your ward and the broader Hamilton community? Where do you find inspiration and motivation today, and how do you continue to evolve in your role as a councillor?

I have been so fortunate to have the support of Ward 9 residents which gives me the opportunity to help residents with their challenges with governments. It gives me great pleasure to serve people. I have a strong Faith that inspires and motivates me during very challenging times around the council chamber and out in my ward. I have grown over time and learned how to advocate successfully through collaboration and pragmatism.

4) What would you identify as the most pressing issue currently facing your ward? How are you approaching this challenge, and what outcome are you working toward? 

I have two pressing issues that keep me up at night. The persistent odours from the GFL landfill in Upper Stoney Creek that started in April of 2023 and continues to this day is the most pressing matter. The rotten egg and chemical odours have ruined the peaceful enjoyment of constituents’ properties for both long-standing and more recent residents. The city is seized with helping communities even though the landfill is licensed and regulated by the province. I continue to advocate for enforcement of provincial legislation and the site’s environmental compliance agreement. I have been working with the resident group, STAND, to advocate for the early closure and capping of the landfill. 

The other matter is a private application of a consortia of landowners to expand the urban boundary in Elfrida through new legislation. This proposal would increase the population in ward 9 by 117,000 new residents. The application has been deemed complete by city staff. The public hearing will occur on June 25th at Hamilton City Hall. I am surveying ward 9 residents for their input as well as encouraging residents to share their concerns with the planning committee through clerk@hamilton.ca and/or appear as a delegate at the public hearing.

5) A recent survey revealed that 80% of Hamiltonians lack trust in City Hall, and a C.D. Howe report ranked Hamilton last in financial transparency. These findings call for urgent change. How can City Council, the Mayor, and senior leadership take ownership of these concerns and lead a path toward institutional reform and greater accountability?

The survey through the Engage Hamilton website had 300 respondents with 80% revealing that they do not trust the city council. Council only needs to look at past decisions and behaviour to understand the survey results.

On June 28, 2023, the council was called to attend a special General Issues Committee meeting to discuss the proposed Storm Water Fee to be followed 15 minutes later by a special council meeting. During the meeting, under my questioning, it was revealed that there was no public consultation. The only engagement was with Environment Hamilton and the Hamilton Industrial Environmental Alliance. In effect, the council notified the public through the publication of the GIC agenda. I strongly objected to the lack of public consultation, “The public hasn’t a clue we’re huddled in here discussing a new tax”. I moved a motion to defer the decision for 30 days to enable public consultation which was defeated. Ironically, one of the stated outcomes for council priorities which was were approved in the same month states that the city must “Consistently apply public engagement practices on City initiatives.”

In my opinion, trust is earned and it starts with authentic and timely civic engagement. Expediting decisions without public engagement appears to be for the convenience of the council. Public engagement is not kicking the can down the road, rather it is to ensure that council decisions are in sync with taxpayers.

6) How would you characterize the working dynamics of the current Council—both in terms of its strengths and areas that need improvement? How do these dynamics affect decision-making and progress on key initiatives?

First, I sincerely believe that every elected member is doing their best to represent residents as well as the city. As my Honourable friend, Ted McMeekin, frequently reminds council, “Disagreeing is fair game, but being disagreeable is not”.

Elected members can be respectful, strong and passionate about their positions. Council should be prepared to hear the positions of the public, staff and colleagues. Council should be prepared to explore common ground and possible amendments that would clarify the language and improve the resolution. Councillors should exemplify respect and refrain from besmirching delegates, staff and colleagues which can lower the temperature of the debate.

7) Having previously campaigned for the office of Mayor, you bring unique insight into the demands of that role. From your vantage point on Council, how would you assess Mayor Horwath’s leadership so far?

What strengths stand out, and where do you see opportunities for growth?

A successful Mayor needs to find a way to balance the positions of aggressive stakeholders, exasperated taxpayers, dedicated staff, a powerful premier and a council that can be prone to a little navel gazing. Mayor Horwath has been walking that wobbly tight rope since the beginning of her term. In my opinion, Mayor Horwath is growing in her role as Hamilton’s Mayor. Ontario Mayors who ensure that the public is given the ability to engage before Council finalizes their decision are usually rewarded by the electorate.

Mayor Horwath is learning to balance the positions of strong stakeholders against compelling public interest and stated council positions.

8) As this term progresses, what tangible improvements or changes do you anticipate your constituents will see in the ward? How will the community be better off by the end of this term, compared to its starting point?

Ward 9 is a growing ward with diverse communities, representing many age cohorts with a mix of aging infrastructure. My commitment to residents in the last election was to continue getting things done in our Ward. To that end, by working with city staff and finding under-utilized reserves we have successfully replaced over 17 kilometers of cracked, broken, heaving sidewalk bays, (sections) which were trip hazards. This year we arranged to use the remaining Canadian Community Benefits Funds, $750,000, for sidewalk replacement. 

We continue working with the Transportation Department to help with traffic calming initiatives in residential communities. Residents will also see newly installed raised crosswalks which helps to slow traffic and clearly delineate a pedestrian crossing. In Hamilton, the annual budget only provides sufficient funds to replace one playground per year across the city. Accordingly, we have successfully approved a schedule of replacing one playground per year in Ward 9 by using Landfill Royalties. We are also working with city growth management staff to ensure that parks and playground equipment are installed and open to the public before occupancy.

We will continue to provide residents an opportunity to meet with me at our ward days at Valley Park Library every month and continue hosting quarterly town halls addressing services and resident concerns.

9) What do you believe makes your style of governance effective? Are there any aspects of your approach that you’re currently re-evaluating or seeking to improve?

Thorough research, informed review of staff reports with calm effective questioning of staff and a reasonable and pragmatic approach to democratic council deliberations with mindful humility have served me well. I always consider the best way to present my position with respect for delegates, staff and council while being informed and mindful of council’s procedural rules.

10) Beyond politics, can you share a few of your personal interests or hobbies? What helps you stay grounded and connected to the people you serve?

I have been married 41 years to the love of my life, Linda, who is still my everything. I am immensely proud of our three adult children and our seven grandchildren. I enjoy singing in adult choir at Our Lady of Assumption Parish. My family and my Faith truly help me to stay grounded by striving to endure the nastier sides of politics with resilience, patience and forgiveness. If I get free time, I enjoy spending it while reading, gardening and cooking.

Thank-you again Clr. Clark!  To read the interviews with other Councillors. please click here to read our Star Wards feature.