Ward 2 Newsletter - Issue 21
Council Advocates to Province to Solve the Housing Crisis
City Council gathered at our October 23 meeting to send a clear message to the Province - there’s a homelessness and mental health crisis happening on our streets and Ontario’s cities cannot solve it alone.
In fact, that’s the tag line for the Solve the Crisis campaign launched this year by Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM). OBCM is made up of mayors from 29 Ontario cities with populations of 100,000 or more. These mayors represent nearly 70% of the Province’s residents. Their campaign plea to senior levels of government includes the following main points -
It’s time for the Governments of Ontario and Canada to take immediate action to solve the homelessness and mental health crisis gripping our communities.
Ontario’s cities have been left to deal with this crisis without adequate resources and support - even though mental health care, addiction treatment and housing are provincial responsibilities.
There are programs that work, but they require all levels of government to step up and work with municipalities and community partners to prioritize these solutions.
It’s rare for OBCM to launch a campaign like this, because their decision making model requires consensus from all 29 mayors in order to move forward with large advocacy initiatives. And while I don’t agree with everything OBCM does, I’m heartened to see this coming from mayors across the political spectrum.
This is an important moment for advocacy from Ontario municipalities. The Province continues to turn its back on cities while simultaneously overreaching its authority. We most recently saw this with the Province’s announcement that it would be overriding municipal decisions about bike lanes through Bill 212.
From my perspective, picking these fights with cities is the Province’s way of trying to distract us all from the fact that they’re not doing anything meaningful to address the crises making it harder for Ontarians - this includes crises the City has declared related to housing, homelessness, mental health, opioids, and affordability. We’ve declared these crises, in part, to let senior governments know where they can help and what our biggest challenges are.
Things aren’t getting better and everyone in our communities is feeling the impacts. Since I was elected in 2022, I’ve heard from many Ward 2 residents about their concerns related to housing, homelessness, and mental health.
When I speak with unhoused residents they ask directly for the very services the Province and Federal government are refusing to help with. They don’t want to be forced to live outside. They want housing, often with some supports along the way. Those supports look different for everyone but more often than not it’s the basics we all rely on - help to find employment, address food insecurity, and access the health care system.
When I listen to housed residents talk about these challenges, many ask questions from a place of compassion. They want to know what Hamilton is doing, why things aren’t moving more quickly, and what they can do to help. Hamiltonians, by and large, care about their neighbours and don’t want to see them suffering.
I don’t always have the right answers when it comes to these issues and when people ask how they can help convince senior levels of government to step up, I haven’t been able to offer much to residents apart from asking them to contact the ruling party in office or their local Hamilton Centre MP or MPP, until this campaign launched.
I encourage you to get involved. If you have some time after reading this newsletter, please visit the campaign website to send a letter to the Province to let them know about your concerns and to ask them to step up to deliver the services Ontarians desperately need.
After all, it was the Provincial and Federal governments who defunded affordable housing and mental health services over several decades and they’re the only ones with the resources and legislative power to not only bring those services back but scale them up to meet today’s challenges.
In the meantime, while we wait for senior levels of government to come up with solutions, the City will continue to do what it can to manage these overlapping crises and you have my continued commitment to do everything I can in my role as Ward 2 City Councillor to support every resident who calls our downtown home.
City Council Summary - October 23, 2024
The Council decisions leading up to October 23 included decorative lighting improvements, review of a James Street North intersection, distancing from new shelter beds, and demolition permit applications.
Decorative Lighting Improvements
Public Works Committee - October 15, 2024
City Council - October 23, 2024
In 2023, I met with residents of the Durand neighbourhood to discuss some much needed safety improvements for lighting along MacNab Street South. In short, there is currently decorative lighting on one side of the street but not the other. Residents and the MacNab Presbyterian Church asked for lighting to help increase visibility at night to ensure people felt safer. City staff helped me draft a motion last year to do this work and it was supposed to be completed then. Unfortunately, we ran into some challenges with getting the right decorative lighting. I put forward a motion to commit additional funds to this lighting installation to ensure we installed the right lighting and it was done in a way that matched the existing decorative standard in this area. This matters because this area of Ward 2 is a designated heritage district and improvements we make here need to reflect that as closely as possible. We were able to find lighting to match replacements we’d done a number of years ago and City staff said this will be done early in 2025 so we can begin to consider opening the MacNab Tunnel in collaboration with community organizations like the YWCA and YMCA. I know that people, myself included, are looking forward to this pedestrian access being reopened. It’s important we have as many pedestrian connections as possible for communities separated by a rail corridor and I’m looking forward to helping to make that happen across Ward 2 in areas along the tracks owned by CPKC.
How did the Public Works Committee vote on these lighting improvements?
In favour (12) - Beattie, Cassar, Francis, Hwang, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin, Nann (seconder), Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Review of James Street North Intersection
Public Works Committee - October 15, 2024
City Council - October 23, 2024
Last year, someone travelling in the bike lane at James Street North at York Boulevard was killed. I put forward a motion at that time to ask for a review of the intersection to ensure it was made safer. City staff wrote an Information Report and presented their findings to the Public Works Committee. They hired an outside consultant to review the situation using best practices and staff came forward to let us know how they were planning to move forward, including by -
Implementing Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) at all crosswalks to increase the
visibility and right of way for pedestrians
Implementing Restricted Turning on Red (RTOR) for the northbound, eastbound, and westbound approaches
Installing ladder type crosswalk markings to increase crosswalk visibility for motorists
Implementing curb extensions on the northwest, southwest, and southeast
corners of the intersection to reduce the intersection width, reduce vehicle turn
speeds, and reduce pedestrian crossing distance
Restricting southbound left turn movement
Installing Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) features at the intersection, consisting of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSIs) at curb ramps and Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) to improve accessibility for blind or vision impaired pedestrians
Closing or relocating the parking access on the southeast corner of the intersection
Removing the existing bike lanes on York Boulevard from James Street North to MacNab Street North (one block of bike lanes) until they can be extended across the intersection so there is additional safe connectivity
Overall, this is a huge improvement to this intersection, but it doesn’t address the core issue of ensuring that there is safe cycling infrastructure here. I will be advocating for new bike lanes to be installed on York Boulevard across James Street North and for them to be protected. If the Province attempts to try to undo this work or prevent it from happening, I’ll join Ward 2 residents in any action they wish to take to oppose it. As I said at a rally in front of City Hall last week, if Doug Ford wants to remove our bike lanes, he’s going to have to come here himself to get them.
Distancing from New Shelter Beds
General Issues Committee - October 16, 2024
City Council - October 23, 2024
The City recently announced it would be opening 272 new shelter beds in order to help those who have been deprived of housing in our communities. Those beds will be evenly split between Wards 2 and 3. As part of City staff’s recommendation, they put forward the institution of a 1km radius around the temporary outdoor shelter to be set up at Barton-Tiffany. Councillor Nrinder Nann then put forward a motion to include a 1km radius around the concentration of new indoor shelter beds in Ward 3. I did not support Councillor Nann’s motion and spoke to my reasons at the General Issues Committee including that it was premature to do this and we needed to wait to see what the impacts of the new shelter beds would be before making policy; applying the same radius in a much denser part of the city didn’t make sense; residents staying in the new Ward 3 shelter spaces would likely still have to find somewhere to be during the day when the shelters are closed for several hours; and that it might deter some people who are trying to access these services if they feel they’re not accessible or there are too many barriers. I also said that I don’t think individual Councillors should be bringing forward motions related to encampments, instead of taking City staff’s advice, and that putting this motion forward would set a dangerous precedent. It appears I wasn’t wrong as, at the following City Council meeting, Councillor Esther Pauls introduced a motion to ban all encampments from parks as soon as the temporary outdoor shelter in Ward 2 is established. This is not the right way forward, violates existing case law on human rights, and will put the City in a very precarious legal position if it passes. More on that in my next newsletter, once the outcome of Councillor Pauls’ motion is known.
How did the General Issues Committee vote on Councillor Nann’s motion?
In favour (10) - Beattie, Cassar (seconder), Clark, Francis, Horwath, Hwang, McMeekin, Nann (mover), Tadeson, M. Wilson
Against (2) - Kroetsch, A. Wilson
Demolition Permit Applications
Planning Committee - October 18, 2024
City Council - October 23, 2024
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I moved a motion to change the manner in which demolition permit applications came forward from members of City Council for buildings on sites where there wasn’t yet a complete site plan application (so called “early demolitions”). The new process I put forward ensures that when a Councillor brings forward a motion to issue an early demolition permit on behalf of a property owner (often a developer who is looking to build on the property) it must now be accompanied by a City staff report. Councillors have often put these motions forward at the request of developers. The new process has been established to ensure the Planning Committee has expert advice upon which to make a decision and so City staff can independently assess the safety concerns to determine if an early demolition permit is necessary (it can be, on occasion). Up to now, Councillors would bring forward motions and the Planning Committee would simply make a political decision about these early demolition permits. Not only did this complicate an existing operational practice being run by City staff, but it raised a number of questions, including -
What is the financial upside for the owner or developer to make this request?
The owner or developer would not have to incur costs to maintain the property or secure it if it was demolished.
What property tax incentives might this unlock for the developer?
The property, once demolished, would be assessed as “vacant” which is a lower property tax class and would result in fewer property taxes being paid to the City.
Would the City lose out any other revenue or application fees by doing this?
Yes. The Vacant Unit Tax (VUT), for instance, would not apply to a building that no longer existed. There are also fees incurred for permit applications, which may not need to be paid if a Councillor brings forward a motion.
What are the implications of early demolition?
The early demolition of a building can create concerns in a neighbourhood, especially through a practice called blockbusting, where houses are purchased and demolished. This can create a destabilizing effect in some areas. The other issue is that removing this housing prematurely from the rental or ownership market, during a housing crisis, can have a negative impact.
Moving forward, City staff will now either issue a report denying or approving a Councillor request for a building permit based on technical grounds so everyone can make a well informed and transparent decision on how to move forward. One such request came forward at the October 18 meeting of the Planning Committee from Councillor Mike Spadafora for a property in Ward 14, but City staff denied it on technical grounds and the Planning Committee supported City’s staff’s recommendation. I am grateful for this process and will continue to do everything I can to increase transparency and trust in everything I do at City Council.
How did the Planning Committee vote on upholding City staff’s recommendation to deny the developer’s request to demolish the property early?
In favour (7) - Cassar, Hwang, Kroetsch (seconder), McMeekin (mover), Nann, A. Wilson (seconder), M. Wilson
Against (2) - Beattie, Pauls
Upcoming Meetings and Events
This section lists upcoming meetings, community and City events, and Ward 2 town halls. To read Committee and Council Agendas and Meeting Notices, please subscribe to updates directly through the City’s website.
Local Meetings and Events
Hamilton Day - November 1-3 - Various locations across the city
Coffee Outside - November 1 - Fort Elgin (in Beasley Park) - 7:00am to 8:30am
BNA Pumpkin Parade - November 1 - Beasley Park - Bring your pumpkin at dusk
272 Caroline Street South Co-op Founding Celebration - November 2 - Central Presbyterian Church - 3:00pm to 4:30pm
Durand Neighbourhood Association Bulb Planting - November 2 - Magnolia Hall - 9:00am to 3:00pm
29th Annual Sam Lawrence Dinner - November 8 - LiUNA Station - 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Endangered Heritage Landmarks Walk - November 10 - City Hall Forecourt - 10:00am
Climate Adaptation Town Hall - November 19 - Workers Arts & Heritage Centre - 7:00pm
2025 Budget Town Hall - December 5 - Gasworks - 7:00pm
Art Exhibits, Installations, Performances, and Events
The book of [un]Happiness - Olivia Shortt - until November 2 - Hamilton Artists Inc.
The Gold Boxes - Ravinder Ruprai - until November 2 - Hamilton Artists Inc.
Sent from a Distant Party - Sal Shivji - until November 2 - Hamilton Artists Inc.
Surge + Flow - Angela Busse - until November 5 - Assembly Gallery
The Master Plan - Michael Healey - until November 16 - Theatre Aquarius
Objects of Care - Aram Siu Wai Collier, Jenny Kim - provocations by Sean Lee and Yvonne Felix, curated by Serena Zena - until November 22 - Centre[3]
Foreign Dreams - Simranpreet Kaur Anand, Conner Singh VanderBeek - until December 14 - Workers Arts and Heritage Centre
Soul Power - Jan Wade - until January 5 - Art Gallery of Hamilton
Touched by Devi - Radha S. Menon - until January 5 - Art Gallery of Hamilton