The Cost of Silence: Hamilton’s Struggle with Transparency and Accountability

For over a decade, the City of Hamilton has faced criticism for its lack of transparency, especially in matters that directly impact taxpayers. One of the most recent and pressing examples of this is the City’s refusal to disclose the full cost of the water workers' strike in a timely manner—a contentious issue that remains unresolved. But this is not the first time Hamiltonians have been left in the dark. A history of secrecy and unaccountability has haunted the city, contributing to a significant shift in local politics during the 2022 municipal election.

A Decade of Stonewalling

The City’s inability—or unwillingness—to provide clear and honest communication with the public has deep roots. Over the last ten years, Hamiltonians have witnessed scandal after scandal, with each one reinforcing the city’s image of an administration more focused on damage control than transparency.

The Red Hill Expressway Scandal: A Legacy of Deception

The most notorious of these scandals is the Red Hill Expressway, a multi-billion-dollar project riddled with cost overruns, safety concerns, and mismanagement. Despite public outcry, the city continued to withhold critical information about the project’s true costs and the safety risks associated with its construction. Investigations revealed that multiple safety issues had been covered up, and there were questions about the city’s handling of the contract with the construction company.

The lack of transparency regarding the Red Hill Expressway was a key point of frustration for voters. Many Hamiltonians felt they had been left in the dark about how their tax dollars were being spent, which led to widespread disillusionment with city leadership.

The Polluted Water Scandal: A Breach of Trust

In 2019, Hamilton’s public water system was the subject of another scandal. Multiple reports emerged that the city had failed to properly disclose information regarding the contamination of local water sources. Residents were not made aware of the severity of the issue until after public health warnings were issued. The city’s handling of this crisis was widely criticized for its lack of clear communication and delayed response, leaving residents concerned about the safety of their drinking water.

This scandal, combined with the ongoing secrecy surrounding the Red Hill Expressway, highlighted a troubling pattern in city leadership: an unwillingness to be forthcoming with the public when it mattered most.

The 2022 Election: A Turning Point

The culmination of years of scandal and secrecy came to a head in the 2022 municipal election. Voters in Hamilton made it clear that they were fed up with the lack of transparency from their city government. Many long-serving councillors, who had been involved in or had turned a blind eye to these controversies, were voted out of office. This mass exodus marked a significant shift in Hamilton's political landscape, signaling a public demand for accountability and a new direction.

The water workers' strike, which began in 2025, has once again brought the issue of transparency to the forefront. Despite repeated requests for information on the cost of the strike, the City has been stonewalling, offering no clear answers to the public.

The latest response to our questions, (found here), is as follows: "We reached out to City staff earlier in the week for an update. We'll get back to you and the team once we hear back."

This has more or less been the response The Hamiltonian has been receiving for over 3 months of asking. 

 The City’s Continued Lack of Transparency

Hamiltonians have been left asking: What is the city hiding this time? And why does the administration continue to avoid giving clear answers to pressing questions? The water workers' strike is just the latest example in a long history of stonewalling.

The residents of Hamilton have made it clear they expect better—more transparency, more honesty, and more accountability. The 2022 election was a clear message to city officials: the public will not tolerate being kept in the dark any longer.

Kudos to Mayor Horwath for using her strong Mayoral powers to attempt to set a limit as to what tax increase Hamiltonians will be facing, but without honesty and transparency underpinning the city's administration of public funds, it is like a city hall built on sand.

To date, The Mayor, The City Manager, the Finance Manager and every City Councillor, including the one representing you, has been made aware of the outstanding matter of the real costs of the city water workers strike. Their silence may be a consideration in the next election.

Should the city provide the information requested on behalf of Hamiltonians, we will publish it. Stay tuned..or perhaps, next election, you may wish to once again change the station, as in was the case in the 2022 election. 

The Hamiltonian 

Mohawk College Strike- with Bill Steinburg of CEC and Sean Coffey- Mohawk Collge Hamilton

There are always two sides to every story, and in labour disputes, this holds especially true. In keeping with our commitment to balanced and fair reporting, The Hamiltonian invited representatives from Mohawk College’s management to respond to our questions.

We have since learned that certain questions are most appropriately addressed by Mohawk College executives, while others fall under the purview of the College Employer Council, which oversees collective bargaining for all 24 colleges across Ontario. 

Further, while these parties were set to answer certain questions, the College Employer Council (CEC) received a proposal of demands from the union late Thursday afternoon and have elected to study and respond to those demands, while suspending responding to certain questions below. This is understandable, given the climate. 

1. Can you describe the key issues at the heart of this strike and explain why they are significant? How do these issues affect Hamiltonians, and why should they support your position?

Was to be answered by the CEC but response is suspended pending negotiations. 

2. Of the issues you have identified, which do you believe will be the most difficult to resolve, and what makes it particularly complex or contentious?

Was to be answered by the CEC but response is suspended pending negotiations. 

3. Some classes have been cancelled as a result of strike activity. What is Mohawk College’s Administration doing to ensure the negative impacts of strike action iare mitigated? 

I believe the reference to the cancellation of classes refers to the large-scale picketing event that took place on October 2 at our Fennell campus. Classes were not cancelled that day. In the interest of safety, the college decided to suspend on-campus classes and activities. Most classes moved online. Our other campuses were not affected. The October 2 event was part of a coordinated campaign that took place at several colleges across the province that day, and has been repeated at other colleges since then. Many of the picketers who were at our campus that day were not from Mohawk.

As for mitigating the impact of the strike, since the strike began on September 11, classes have continued to run as scheduled, and we have told students to attend class as they normally would. The college is also making every effort to maintain essential services and supports for students throughout the strike, but there may be delays and some services may not be available. (answered by Sean Coffey-Director, Mohawk College Hamilton, Communications & Special Events)


4. While job security and contracting out are long-standing themes in labour relations, the rise of Artificial Intelligence introduces new challenges. How does AI factor into this dispute, and how do you respond to union members’ concerns that A.I has the potential to displace workers? 

Was to be answered by the CEC but response is suspended pending negotiations. 

The Hamiltonian also asked about Ms Lau, President of Local 241's , statement concerning Efficiency Audits (found here). 

Here is the response from Sean Coffey-Director, Mohawk College Hamilton, Communications & Special Events):

Several Ontario colleges undertook Efficiency and Accountability Fund reviews, either voluntarily or as directed by government, to identify broad-based opportunities for potential efficiencies at those colleges. The recommendations are not binding on any college. The reviews reflect colleges’ commitment to ensuring students remain at the forefront of the college experience, with access to high-quality outcomes and training in high-demand programs.

I can confirm that Mohawk is currently taking part in the review process, which will continue until early in the new year. The purpose is to assess and validate the changes we have already made and provide the college with new, expert perspectives on the efficiency of our operations.

The Hamiltonian hopes that the most recent round of proposals results in an end to this dispute. We keep the door open to both sides of the dispute to further get their perspectives known, as appropriate. 

We end with a release shared by Bill Steinburg of the CEC, summarizing the latest developments:

Colleges propose weekend mediation to resolve strike

 

In an effort to end a four-week-long strike, the College Employer Council (CEC) invited the full-time support staff union bargaining team to enter into private mediation this weekend with mediator William Kaplan.

On Thursday, October 9, CEC received an updated list of demands from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) bargaining team and a request to resume bargaining. After reviewing the union’s latest proposal, CEC responded with a request that the union join in mediation with Mediator Kaplan this weekend.

This evening, the OPSEU bargaining team accepted the offer of mediation. The session will begin Saturday, October 11.

“Support staff play an important role in Ontario colleges, supporting operations and contributing to student success,” said Graham Lloyd, CEO of CEC. “Colleges would like to reach a fair deal that will bring them off the picket lines and back to work. We feel a mediation session with Mediator Kaplan this weekend offers the best way to do that.”

CEC remains committed to working toward a resolution that supports staff, restores campus operations, and prioritizes student success.

To respect this mediation process, CEC does not plan on issuing any further statements until the mediation has concluded. there anything else you would like Hamiltonians to understand about your position or the broader context of this strike?

The Waiting Game- Costs of the Water Workers' Strike

The Waiting Game- It’s a spoof on the popular 1970s television show The Dating Game — except in this version, titled The Waiting Game, there are no winners. Only losers: the taxpayers of Hamilton, who are still waiting for the City to disclose how much public money was spent resolving the water workers’ strike.

The Hamiltonian has learned that IUOE Local 772/HOWEA made a similar request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which was denied. Greg Hoath, Business Manager for IUOE 772, shared the following statement:

“The IUOE Local 772/HOWEA made a similar request through FOI with follow-up and have been denied. We recently wrote to Mayor Horwath, City Manager Marnie Cluckie, and General Manager of Finance & Corporate Services Mike Zegarac — without response. We ask: what is the City hiding? Why can’t taxpayers be made aware? Is it possibly the embarrassment of having spent millions to save $300,000? The IUOE will not go away and will continue to demand accountability for their decisions — accountability to the taxpayers of Hamilton.”

The Hamiltonian’s own request for disclosure has now been outstanding for more than three months. Yesterday, we again reached out to Mayor Andrea Horwath, City Manager Marnie Cluckie, Finance General Manager Mike Zegarac, and every member of City Council to renew our request for this information. Our original correspondence and follow-up email are included below.

Perhaps Mr. Hoath’s question isn’t so far-fetched: What is the City hiding?

The simplest way to answer that question is through transparency.

We will report back once the City responds.

Mayor Horwath, City Councillors, City Manager 

It has now been more than three months since our formal request of June 28, 2025, seeking disclosure of the total tax dollars the City of Hamilton spent in managing the water workers’ strike dispute. Despite

Mohawk College Strike- with President Susan Lau of Local 241

Since September 11, Mohawk College has been affected by a full-scale strike by its full-time support staff, who are members of OPSEU, as part of a province-wide labour action across 24 Ontario colleges. The workers—responsible for a wide array of support services including administration, lab technologists, IT, and maintenance—are pressing for stronger job security, wage improvements, and protections against contracting out work.

Although Mohawk’s campuses remain open and faculty continue teaching, some services have been disrupted, labs impacted, and classes cancelled—especially at the Fennell campus—while large picket rallies have added traffic delays and campus access challenges. 

The Hamiltonian has reached out to both sides of the dispute to get their views on the issues. Here is our interview with President of Local 241, Susan Lau.

Can you describe the key issues at the heart of this strike and explain why they are significant? How do these issues affect Hamiltonians, and why should they support your position?

The key issue this round of negotiations is job security. Mohawk College cut hundreds of jobs in January of this year, leaving departments understaffed and increasing workloads and burnout in employees across the College. 

Mohawk is a major employer in Hamilton with thousands of employees. When good jobs are eliminated in a community, the overall average income and employment stability decrease. Access to programs that brought our marginalized neighbours into college educations have been eliminated as a result. Most employees at Mohawk are alumni of an Ontario college. It is deeply important to us that stable jobs and the system as a whole continues to exist, so future grads and Hamiltonians can one day find careers in a system that is incredibly successful at training and skilling-up the workers Ontario needs for a strong economy.

2. Of the issues you have identified, which do you believe will be the most difficult to resolve, and what makes it particularly complex or contentious?

From our perspective, the matter of job security is the most difficult to resolve due to the employers unwillingness to discuss them. The union is seeking 1) no contracting out of support staff work, and 2) stopping managers from performing support staff work. 

The second point is a very regular feature in many collective bargaining agreements. Our bargaining team has made numerous proposals to offer language and parameters on both points, but the employer has not accepted any of them or attempted to reach common ground with the union.

3. Some classes have been cancelled as a result of strike activity. What would you say to students who have been negatively affected by these disruptions?

None of this had to happen. The 24 colleges and their presidents, represented by the College Employer Council (CEC), have repeatedly failed to negotiate with College workers in good faith. The CEC has left our part-time support staff co-workers without a collective agreement for 19 months and is also refusing to meet with their bargaining team. Our bargaining team and the mediator seized to our negotiations by the Ministry of Labour are waiting for them to return to the table, but instead they talk to the media instead of returning to the table to make progress.

4. While job security and contracting out are long-standing themes in labour relations, the rise of Artificial Intelligence introduces new challenges. How does AI factor into this dispute, and in what ways does it affect the interests of your members? What solutions or safeguards do you believe are necessary?

I would defer to our bargaining team for their current discussions at the negotiation table regarding AI. 
From a worker's perspective, the risk of AI replacing our jobs and removing the human touch from education and our work is one we must always be vigilant of. 

Student success is built on relationships and the care and empathy that Support Staff have for every student they support. It is the front-line workers who are truly dedicated to the best possible outcomes for students across the province.

5. Is there anything else you would like Hamiltonians to understand about your position or the broader context of this strike?

Our demands for job security is not shocking or new. It is a right every worker should have. The jobs we have today can and must be here for our students to succeed us tomorrow. Stable employment and fair compensation strengthen the community and local economy. 

The Presidents of each of the 24 colleges has their hand on the wheel of negotiations. They direct the

Mayor Horwath Issues 2026 Budget Directive

Mayor Horwath Issues 2026 Budget Directive

Staff Are Directed to Prepare a ‘Hold the Line’ Tax Budget

HAMILTON, ON – Today Mayor Andrea Horwath issued her 2026 Budget Directive to the City Manager and General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services, setting out clear instructions for the preparation of Hamilton’s 2026 Rate-Supported and Tax-Supported Budgets for Council’s consideration.

The directive comes at a time when Hamiltonians are facing a convergence of economic pressures - including the rising cost of living and the impacts of U.S. tariffs that have struck at the core of Hamilton’s workforce and local economy. Throughout the year, Mayor Horwath has heard from residents about the financial strain they are experiencing and their expectations that City Hall respond with discipline and a focus on affordability.

The directive asks staff to prepare a proposed “Hold the Line” budget with a maximum tax increase target of 4.25%. The Mayor’s direction emphasizes fiscal responsibility while protecting critical services and addressing community needs.

“Hamiltonians are feeling the strain of rising costs, economic uncertainty, and affordability challenges,” said Mayor Horwath. “The 2026 Budget must respond to those realities by focusing on the essentials - keeping taxes as low as possible while maintaining the services, infrastructure, and community supports that people rely on every day.”

The directive highlights the need to prioritize investments in key areas including infrastructure renewal, community safety and well-being, and essential public services. It also calls on staff to clearly identify cost-saving measures, operational efficiencies, explore new revenue sources, and ensure that every tax dollar delivers maximum public value.

“This directive ensures that our city continues to deliver high-quality services while respecting the financial pressures families are under,” Mayor Horwath added. “I’m committed to a budget process that reflects Hamiltonians’ priorities. I know that Hamiltonians are stretching every dollar – the City of Hamilton must do this same.”