Beware The Door-to-Door Contractor

A word of caution from friend of The Hamiltonian, Bob Assadourian of Just Ask Bob

The costly fallout – both emotional and financial – from a pre-Labour Day weekend knock on the door of a Hamilton family will be featured on the next episode of Just Ask Bob, premiering December 1, 2025 on CABLE 14.

The Hamilton homeowners tell host Bob Assadourian that they fell prey to a man claiming he’d noticed serious problems on the roof of their home while working nearby.

“He told me my chimney could collapse on my neighbour’s car at any time,” says Mike, one of the homeowners.  “I can’t believe I did it, but I agreed to give him $5000 cash that first day.” Because of the situation, Just Ask Bob is only sharing first names. 

After the work started, the contractor reported additional problems with the home’s roof and said tens of thousands more would be needed to avoid a city inspector condemning the home.  Becoming skeptical, the homeowners called Assadourian for help when the workers fled after damaging the home’s natural gas meter with falling debris.

Assadourian says he’s been warning homeowners about the dangers of not doing their research for twenty years. “Rushing into a project will almost always result in problems,” he says. “Learn all there is to know about your particular home improvement or repair before engaging with any contractor.”

The long-time television host and professional contractor regularly reminds viewers to do their homework on his home improvement program, Just Ask Bob, which is now in its 10th season.  That includes asking for multiple references, checking the contractor is properly licensed and insured, and getting everything in writing.  Most importantly, he says never pay cash upfront.  “And don’t even get me started on anyone claiming to be a contractor who randomly knocks on your door!”  

Homeowners Mike and Becky say on the upcoming Just Ask Bob episode that they hope to save other families a lot of suffering by sharing their story. “We just want people to know that this is going around.  People are casing neighbourhoods to see who they can scam.”    

“They were threatening to put a lien on our house if we didn’t pay them right away,” Becky says. “But all they’d done is put a hole in our roof, a hole in our wall, and wrecked half my garden.”

Bob Assadourian has continually advocated for greater awareness of contractor licensing requirements, building knowledge, and homeowner rights over his more than twenty year career as both a contractor and media personality.  “Trust must always be earned,” he says. Bob is available for interviews and can speak to related issues around avoiding disaster renovations, contractor fraud, and the questions homeowners need to ask before agreeing to any work.

The 10th season of Just Ask Bob is currently airing on CABLE 14 in Hamilton and Haldimand, and on YourTV in Burlington and Oakville, with a new episode released the first Monday of each month.

For more information:

Episode Preview - Beware the Door-to-Door Contractor: https://youtu.be/OYs8l18vCSk

 CABLE 14 Bio: http://www.cable14.com/people/bob-assadourian

 Just Ask Bob Background: http://www.cable14.com/15212431/tv-shows/just-ask-bob

Councillor Pauls Breaks the Silence on Strike Transparency

After days of silence from City Hall regarding our request for comment on the financial disclosure of the ongoing water workers’ strike, The Hamiltonian has finally received the first and only reply — from Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls.

Councillor Pauls responded directly to our question asking whether she agrees that taxpayers are entitled to know the total cost of the strike to date, and what steps she has taken or will take to ensure this information becomes public.

Her response, published below in full, affirms her support for transparency and acknowledges the importance of public accountability:

“I understand that public transparency is important and think we should be fully transparent about the fiscal implications of the Public Works water strike.

Any time there is public disruption, taxpayers are affected, residents deserve reassurance that the City of Hamilton is managing the situation in a fiscally responsible manner. Doing so reinforces trust and measures the effectiveness of what we have spent on the impact on taxpayers.

We are currently exploring a comprehensive and a full disclosure report on this matter.

Kind regards,”

— Councillor Esther Pauls

Councillor Pauls’ remarks confirm three key points.

First, she explicitly agrees that transparency is both necessary and expected. Second, she acknowledges that taxpayers are directly affected and deserve clear information about how their money is being spent during this prolonged disruption. Finally, she states that the City is “currently exploring” a comprehensive disclosure report.

While her response is the first sign of engagement from an elected member of council, Hamilton residents may reasonably ask: When will this report be released? Who is responsible for delivering it? And will the City meet the level of transparency she supports in principle?

The Hamiltonian continues to be open to answers from the remaining councillors and from Mayor Andrea Horwath, however, their lack of engagement has already sent a troubling message to Hamiltonians. 

For now, Councillor Pauls stands alone as the only elected official willing to publicly address the issue. The question remains whether others at City Hall will follow her lead — or continue their silence.

Hats off to Pauls!

In addition, the City of Hamilton's Media relations department advises as follows: Staff are actively compiling a costing report outlining the financial impact of the labour disruption - the report will be presented to City Council at an upcoming General Issues Committee meeting before the end of 2025.

 

To Tell the Truth, Part II: Silence at City Hall

Earlier this week, The Hamiltonian sent a direct and simple question to every member of Hamilton City Council and to Mayor Andrea Horwath.

The question was not complicated, political, or rhetorical. It concerned one basic matter of public accountability: whether Hamilton taxpayers are entitled to know how much the ongoing water workers’ strike has cost the City to date.

We provided each councillor and the mayor with a clear link to our recent article, “To Tell the Truth,” which outlines months of unfulfilled commitments from senior city staff who, as far back as the summer, indicated that financial disclosure would be made public in October. October came and went. We are now well into November. No information has been released.

In light of that, The Hamiltonian asked each elected official two straightforward things:

1. Do you agree that taxpayers have the right to know how much this strike has cost so far?

2. What actions have you taken, or will you take, to ensure that this information is made public?

We set a reasonable deadline: end of day Friday, November 14, 2025.

As of the time of publication, not a single councillor — nor the mayor — has responded.

The silence is striking. This is not a question about confidential negotiations. It is not a question about personnel matters. It is not a question that jeopardizes the bargaining process. It is a question about financial transparency — a responsibility that rests squarely with those elected to represent the public interest.

It is worth recalling that the water workers’ union (IUOE Local 772/HOWEA) has put the city on notice that they will take legal action, if the city does not release this information. 

Not too long ago, the lack of transparency and  evasiveness related to the Red Hill fiasco and the polluted water disaster, proved to be pivotal factors in some councillors not being re-elected. There is a lesson to be had in that outcome.

Perhaps we are driving toward another game show metaphor: Truth or Consequences.

The Hamiltonian is not going away. We will continue to ask the tough questions and publish both favourable and unfavourable articles pertaining to the goings on at City Hall. 

Sometimes tough. Always fair. Hamilton's tastemaker.

The Hamiltonian