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Friday, June 6, 2025

With Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie

Enjoy our conversation with Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie. Jeff, thank you for engaging with Hamiltonians through The Hamiltonian and congratulations on your well-earned induction as a full member of the Star Wards club!

You were successful in your bid for election in Ward 10, from a long-serving incumbent, which places you in a unique position. What specific challenges have you faced in taking over a ward with such history, and how have you navigated them? 


The biggest challenge was trying to understand the direction that my predecessor was headed, in terms of what vision they had for the community, what projects they were working on for the community, things of that nature. I’m a big believer in continuity. Unfortunately, there was no ‘passing of torch’ – not to say that was expected, but we (I include my terrific office team in this) had to try and figure that all out and rebuild every file from scratch. I would liken it to learning to fly a plane as you’re trying to assemble it.

How would you describe your approach to governance, and in what ways has your style supported your effectiveness as a city councillor?

My approach has been formed over the years by my different roles as a School Board Trustee, Business Owner and Community Volunteer. I like to break down complex issues into their basic forms, in plain language, and filter out what I refer to as ‘noise’. This helps me focus on the actual task – the goal of the conversation, and not the distractions that sometimes surround them. I think this helps me in my decision making, as well as being able to explain issues and concepts to my Constituents in uncomplicated terms.

What key lessons have you learned from your more seasoned colleagues on council, and what perspectives or practices have you introduced that you believe could benefit your peers?

I’m always thankful for the wise counsel and advise of the veteran members of Council, particularly in the early days of navigating City Hall. I was very fortunate to hire an experienced office administrator who already knew who to call and when – enabling me to ‘hit the ground running’ when I took office (save and except for issues explained in the first question). Some of the new practices that I’ve brought to Ward 10 include social media communications, email newsletters, improved print newsletters, a Satellite Ward Office (at Old Stoney Creek City Hall), establishing a Youth Council, and holding Townhalls on multiple topics. I’ve noticed that some Councillors have adopted similar practices, but I wouldn’t be so bold as to take credit for being a trail-blazer or trend-setter in any way.

What would you identify as the top three challenges currently facing Ward 10, and what strategies are you employing to address them? 


In no particular order 1)Preparing for the pressures of growth as planned in the Stoney Creek Urban Boundary Expansion (SCUBE) Plan and Fruitland-Winona Secondary Plan: Working with City Staff to keep growth related projects such as Barton Street Widening, Creation of new Parks, Building new recreation centres and spaces, Transit expansion, etc. – on schedule (which so far, they are not). Keeping Community members up-to-date on the more than 33 major development proposals currently on the books, as well as communicating the status of the previously mentioned growth related projects to the Community.

2)Renewal of aging infrastructure: Working again with City Staff to support and inform current and future road renewal projects and ensuring resident input is reflected in how these projects are prioritized. Working with City Parks Staff to continue our Ward 10 Park Rehabilitation Plan (which is working to reduce the backlog on Capital Investment in our older parks). Connecting incomplete pedestrian and cycling networks, such as the historic lack of sidewalk connections over 5 out of 6 QEW Overpass Bridges that have isolated the neighbourhoods north of the QEW

3)Working to find efficiencies within the City’s operations to reduce the tax burden on Ward 10 residents: With nearly 6% tax increases in every year of the last three years (which I voted against – for the record), the pressure on our local taxpayers is reaching a breaking point. I’ve worked hard with my colleagues to


Thursday, June 5, 2025

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry Visit to Hamilton

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry, will visit ArcelorMittal Dofasco to meet with leadership and workers. 

She will be joined by Members of Parliament Lisa Hepfner (Hamilton Mountain), John-Paul Danko (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas), and Aslam Rana (Hamilton Centre).

Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Location: ArcelorMittal Dofasco, 1330 Burlington Street East, Hamilton, ON
Duration: Approx. 2 hours



With Dr. Robin Lennox- (MPP) for Hamilton Centre

Enjoy our chat with Dr. Robin Lennox, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre, NDP Party.

As a practising family physician specializing in addiction medicine, do you continue to serve in a clinical capacity while holding elected office? If so, how do you balance the demands of both roles, and in what ways has your medical background informed your work as an MPP?

I have always loved my clinical work as a physician and I believe healthcare providers offer an incredible service to their communities. Since taking on the role of Member of Provincial Parliament, my time is quite limited but I will continue a small amount of clinical work in order to stay connected to the reality of healthcare on the ground and continue to serve my community as a physician. Often, this means picking up weekend shifts or covering clinic in lieu of vacation time. Access to healthcare—particularly in areas such as wait times, hospital capacity, and mental health services—remains a pressing concern for many Hamilton residents. 

Given your dual expertise in medicine and public service, what solutions do you propose to improve access and outcomes across the healthcare system?

First, we need to ensure that every person in Hamilton has access to a family physician, preferably in a team-based care model which we know is cost-effective and associated with positive health outcomes. In order to achieve this, we need to increase our provincial funding for community-based care, including expanding funding for family health teams and ensuring that all team members (nurses, counsellors, physiotherapists, etc) receive adequate compensation in order to stay in their essential roles. We also need to reduce the administrative burden that family physicians face (often 20 hrs per week on top of their full-time clinical schedule) and move away from a business entrepreneurship model so that doctor’s graduating from medical school are more likely to choose a career in family medicine.

To address emergency department wait times and hallway healthcare, we need to invest in a few key areas. First, we need to ensure that the base funding for our hospitals are expanded to match their capacity needs – for example, hospitals in Hamilton are often at 120% of inpatient bed capacity. What that means is that for the additional 20%, there are no funded beds or funded nursing support. This places additional strain on hospitals by shifting patients into “unconventional spaces” like hallways, but also means our nurses are having to cover more patients than they are intended to – leading to burnout. By increasing the base funding for hospitals to match the volume of admitted patients they are caring for each day, we could address this short-fall and improve care received in hospital. We could also creatively invest in infrastructure and re-development to ensure that hospitals are able to use their spaces most efficiently.

But in order to address the acute care crunch, we also need to ensure that there are safe community spaces for people to be discharged to after acute hospitalization. Many patients are kept in hospital for prolonged stays because of the lack of long-term care spaces available and lengthy waitlists. If we invested in quality, not-for-profit long-term care homes in Hamilton and expanded their capacity, this would alleviate some of the outflow issues currently being experienced in our Hamilton hospitals.  

Affordability continues to be a significant challenge for Hamiltonians, encompassing housing, food, utilities, and other basic needs. What provincial measures are currently underway—or being proposed—to help alleviate the financial strain on local families?

Unfortunately, the current Conservative government has failed to put forward any legislation that addresses the affordability crisis. But, there are a number of things we could and should be doing to alleviate the financial strain on our local families.

First, we could immediately amend the Residential Tenancies Act to ensure there is rent control on all


Comparative Spotlight: Andrea Horwath vs. Fred Eisenberger — Front-Page Coverage in The Hamilton Spectator

A recent comparative review by The Hamiltonian reveals that former Mayor Fred Eisenberger was featured on the front page of The Hamilton Spectator nearly twice as often as current Mayor Andrea Horwath, when adjusting for the time they’ve each served.


Measuring the Media Presence 

Using a proportional lens, the study examined the first 32 months of Mayor Horwath’s term (October 2022–June 2025) and compared it to a similar span during Eisenberger’s final term (October 2014–May 2017). Only news stories on the front page were counted—excluding opinion pieces and letters. Both digital and print editions were considered.

Eisenberger’s higher media visibility coincided with high-stakes debates, including the light rail transit (LRT) project, city revitalization plans, and the Pan Am Games—each of which earned multiple front-page placements. In contrast, Horwath’s front-page moments have centered around her historic election as Hamilton’s first female mayor and key policy matters like steel tariffs and housing.

Takeaway

Though both mayors have been pivotal in shaping Hamilton’s trajectory, their media profiles—at least in The Spectator's front-page real estate—reveal different narratives. Eisenberger’s early term reflected a combative, high-profile era; Horwath’s to date suggests a quieter, steadier path through Hamilton’s evolving landscape.



Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Mayor Horwath On Tariff Increases


Statement from Mayor Horwath on Increased Tariffs

HAMILTON, ON - The latest U.S.-imposed tariffs are another blow to Hamilton’s economy, workers, and families - and especially to our steel industry.

Steel has been the backbone of Hamilton for generations. These tariffs don’t just target materials - they put thousands of good jobs at risk. They create uncertainty for workers, delay investment, and threaten the stability our industries need to thrive.

This is not just about trade - It’s about real people. Hamiltonians working in steel mills, in fabricating and advanced manufacturing, on shop floors, and across our supply chain are now facing a hollowing out of their industry with orders drying up, stalled projects, and real anxiety about what comes next.

We need urgent, coordinated action from all levels of government. That includes immediate support for impacted sectors, and faster movement on housing and infrastructure dollars - with clear timelines that allow businesses to prepare and workers to plan.

In Hamilton, we’re stepping up:

We’ve strengthened our Buy Canadian Procurement Policy to support local jobs.
We’re convening Tariff Roundtables with industry leaders to shape local responses.
And I’m in active talks with provincial and federal leaders to ensure Hamilton’s voice is heard and workers and companies are protected.

This isn’t just about Hamilton. It’s about safeguarding the future of integrated trade, shared prosperity, and economic security.

Hamilton’s steel industry built this city’s prosperity. It deserves leadership that has its back. That’s what I’m committed to - today and every day. I will continue to fight for smart, fair, and stable trade that supports people and businesses, and secures our shared future.

Tapping in: With Greg Hoath: Business Manager for the Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 772

In light of the ongoing strike regarding water services, we checked in with Business Manager for the Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 772 in Hamilton, Ontario. Here is our Q/A with Greg:

You had indicated to the city that they are fully aware of what it would take to end thes strike. Can you share with Hamiltonians what you think it would take to end it. What is the impasse and why is it important to your members that the city meet your requirements in that regard?

The City was made aware of the issues in 2004 when deciding whether to renew the Public Private Partnership with American Water or to take back in house. We met with each councillor and the Mayor. The two issues were raised 8 years ago without any resolution. Finally 4 years ago at bargaining, we notified the City the two issues would be the union’s only proposals - 1. Internal Parity with trades and operators, with our members requiring much higher certification but much lower paid; 2. A certification system that never worked under private operator and at best requires about 10 years to achieve a top rate that is below market. We cannot retain or attract certified operators or trades and are under manned. The cost would be about $300000 to settle, represents less than 0.01% of the City budget. City staff blame their mandate and have stated “what do we tell the large CUPE Local 5167, why we gave you more”

2. Is there any truth that striking workers have been somewhat disruptive. If so, is it in the sense that typically happens when strikes are enacted (in terms of mild forms of protest resistance), or, are you concerned that things may be reaching a boiling point. What instructions do your members get with respect to strike protocols?

Prior to the strike the IUOE held strike protocol meetings and provided information like Picket Captain Duties, FAQ’s and Do’s & Dont’s. We have legally picketed various City properties - 700 Woodward Water & Wastewater Facilities, 330 Wentworth Water Distribution Hub, City Hall and held an information picket at HSR Upper James where we held no buses contrary to the stories reported. Police have been called numerous times by a strike breaking security company, hired by the City at an astronomical cost to taxpayers, without any issues. 

We have conducted ourselves within the law and professionally. In fact, we informed residents of odour problems, brown water and no water in Stoney Creek. We are not having an issue other than some cars hitting picketers. Unfortunately, some anger is expected. However, the support has been overwhelming as most citizens tell us they have little faith in the City administration

The members are committed to finally reaching fairness in their agreement and their resolve is stronger than ever.We would rather be working than on strike and remain concerned with the operation and maintenance of such a critical service to all Hamiltonians

 Thanks Greg. We wish you and your members all the best and hope that a deal with be made soon.  

 Photo by Deborah L Carlson on Unsplash


Badge of Honour- Featuring Clr. Pauls

The role of a City Councillor—and that of their dedicated support staff—can be demanding. With back-to-back meetings, countless emails and phone calls, and interview requests from media outlets like The Hamiltonian, the pace can be relentless. That’s why, every now and then, a little light-hearted silliness is not only welcome—it’s important!

Councillor Esther Pauls, ever the good sport, recently received a custom badge sent to every Councillor who participated in our Hamiltonian interview series and earned a spot in our Star Wards list. The badge, which reads “I am not on The Hamiltonian’s Most Wanted List,” is a tongue-in-cheek badge of honour celebrating those Councillors who made time to engage with the public through The Hamiltonian.

Enjoy this delightful photo of Councillor Pauls proudly wearing her badge—proof that civic duty and a sense of humour go hand in hand.

Now, the real questions:

Will those on The Most Wanted List turn themselves in by accepting our interview invitation?
Will Mayor Horwath wear her badge of honour and share a photo—injured wrist or not?
And will more Councillors rise to the occasion and send in a proud badge-wearing pic?

Only time will tell… as The Hamiltonian continues to patrol the Hall. 😉

The Coveted Badge

 


Sunday, June 1, 2025

Media Release; From Fire Chief

Just before 5:00 am this morning, the Hamilton Fire Department received a report of a possible house explosion and fire at #22 Tuxedo Avenue North between Main St. East and Dunsmure Road. First arriving crews reported a fully involved, partially collapsed residential structure located at #18 Tuxedo Avenue. Given the volume of fire and the exposure to homes on either side, the alarm was quickly upgraded to a multiple alarm, bringing resources from across the City to the scene. 

On scene firefighters quickly initiated aerial operations along with the deployment of large volume hose lines to cover the exposures and begin to extinguish the fire. Houses on either side of the involved home were searched by firefighters and the occupants were evacuated. Due to the significant structural damage to the involved house, firefighters were not able to enter it to complete a search. During the incident with the help of neighbours and the Police, it was determined that the occupants were not at home at the time of the incident and were safe. Based on the suspected nature of the incident, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office has been notified and is responding Investigators to the scene. 

Currently firefighters are still at the scene performing fire watch. The involved home sustained significant fire and structural collapse is expected to be complete loss. Damage to the homes on either side appears to be minor. The evacuated occupants from the two homes have been allowed to return. The Red Cross has been notified to the impacted occupants of #18. At the time of writing damage estimates are expected to be in excess of $500,000.00. No injuries have been reported 

No additional information will be provided

David R. (Dave) Cunliffe (he/him)

Fire Chief
Hamilton Fire Department