Barton-Tiffany Temporary Outdoor Shelter Update
The City released more details on its plans for the 80 bed Barton-Tiffany temporary outdoor shelter on Friday. It also released an order from the Ministry of Labour, which requires the City to pause some of its initial work until certain conditions are met. The City is complying with the order and should be resuming work soon.
Below is a summary of some of the information shared in that FAQ, based on what I hear most from Ward 2 residents. There will be future updates provided and I’ll pass those along through my social media accounts. For those who want all the details, the information shared by the City is available through a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at a new standalone website to make it much easier to read and access new information about the shelter.
Contamination and remediation - The City received advice from external environmental experts to assess the shelter and provide recommendations to keep future residents safe from any contamination due to its prior industrial use. Some of the measures being undertaken to ensure this safety include -
laying hard surfaces (like asphalt and concrete) to provide a cap on contaminated soil;
restricting access to unused areas of the property by installing fencing;
installing a drainage system and a waterproof barrier;
performing regular inspections;
installing appropriate signage; and
implementing dust control measures.
Timelines - The City has shifted the opening date from December 1 to December 20. This has been done to ensure the City can set the shelter up safely so no harm comes to future residents due to the contaminated land.
Services offered at the temporary outdoor shelter - Good Shepherd staff, including security, will be at the shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round. They’ll be supporting residents by offering them -
day to day assistance with health and human service needs;
litter and waste management services;
safe pedestrian access to the shelter;
assistance with transitioning to permanent housing;
health and mental health care;
addiction support including access to harm reduction supplies and services and connections to medical supports; and
meals and snacks.
City service levels in the 1km radius - Encampments will not be permitted within the 1km radius once the shelter opens on December 20. The City’s Encampment Response Team will work with residents encamped in the 1km radius to assist them with moving personal belongings and will clean up any litter or belongings left behind. Staff from Municipal Licensing Enforcement (MLE) will proactively monitor the 1 km radius area once a week to ensure ongoing compliance. If required, additional visits will be conducted, Trespass Notices may be issued, and MLE staff will engage Hamilton Police Services when necessary.
Noise, pets, and disturbances in the neighbourhood - MLE and Animal Services will be working together to address issues with pets at the shelter, and in the 1km radius around it, including noise and aggression. Good Shepherd staff will be at the shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round to address issues related to any noise or other disturbances at the shelter and will also rely on MLE and HPS to assist with issues in the 1km radius.
Safety concerns and neighbourhood policing - The Hamilton Police Service has said it will respond to calls for assistance from Good Shepherd staff as they do at all other shelters across the city. They plan to collect data on the initial days and weeks of the shelter’s operation with respect to criminal matters and public safety issues and adjust their support accordingly using an evidence based approach.
I hope this update has helped to answer some important questions. I’m committed to continuing to share information with everyone as soon as I can.
Please read through the City’s FAQ as there are many more details provided there. If there are questions that have not been answered by the City’s FAQ, please submit them through the comment section at the bottom of the page and they’ll be addressed. If you are looking for follow up on a question, please connect with the Ward 2 Team at Ward2@hamilton.ca.
City Council Summary - November 13, 2024
The Council decisions leading up to November 13 included the Province’s decision around bike lanes and the use of the notwithstanding clause, appointments to the new Public Health Sub-Committee, and keeping safe consumption sites open.
Provincial Legislation on Bike Lanes
City Council - November 13, 2024
Last month, the Premier introduced legislation, through Bill 212, entitled “Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act”. It adds a layer of bureaucracy to local municipal decision making by requiring approvals for some bike lanes to go through the Province. I put forward a motion, seconded by Councillor Craig Cassar, to ask the Province to stay out of local decision making when it comes to bike lanes. The discussion at Council was interesting, with some claiming this motion represented a “war on cars” or somehow undermined union workers who build cars. None of this language was present in the motion and no one supporting it said any of this, so I can only assume this was a clumsy attempt to try to turn a reasonable and informed motion into another battle in the ongoing culture wars some of my colleagues are determined to wage. It’s disappointing, but no longer surprising, as this continues to be a theme in this term of Council that’s not going away any time soon. As we go about our business during the remaining 2 years of this term, I hope residents will watch this behaviour carefully. Waging culture wars instead of having evidence and fact based discussions is an easy way to stoke public outrage but it does little to offer solutions or move us forward. It’s divisive, counterproductive, and a waste of time. I will continue to take my elected role seriously and do everything I can to speak out when the Province tries to interfere in local decision making.
How did Council vote on supporting the motion to tell the Province to stay out of location decision making when it comes to bike lanes?
In favour (10) - Cassar (seconder), Danko, Horwath, Hwang, Kroetsch (mover), McMeekin, Nann, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. WilsonAgainst (6) - Beattie, Clark, Francis, Jackson, Pauls, Spadafora
Request for Premier to use the Notwithstanding Clause
City Council - November 13, 2024
After 15 Mayors signed on to a letter asking the Premier to use the notwithstanding clause to remove rights from those deprived of housing for up to 5 years, Councillor Matt Francis brought a motion to Council to ask us to do the same. This all came after Premier Doug Ford directly taunted Ontario’s Mayors into writing their letter. It’s quite absurd and deeply shameful. This is theatre, pure and simple, as was evidenced by Councillor Francis’ performance in Council Chambers, which eventually forced Acting Chair Brad Clark to eject him from the meeting. Francis got what he wanted - media attention and a spot on the front page of the paper. All of this is nothing more than a distraction from the serious issues we face in our cities. Using the notwithstanding clause doesn’t provide any funding, support, or relief to those who are suffering in our communities, just tries to pit cities and elected officials in Ontario against one another. It’s classic Doug Ford. In response, I not only opposed the motion from Councillor Francis, as did the majority of Council, but I signed on to a letter with 70 other Councillors and Mayors from across Ontario to denounce this nonsense. We have serious work to do to manage the overlapping crises our City faces. Trying to use legislative loop holes to take away people’s Charter rights is not only despicably cruel but will do nothing to help solve the problems in front of us.
How did Council vote on asking the Premier to use the notwithstanding clause?
In favour (6) - Beattie, Clark, Danko, Jackson, Pauls (seconder), Spadafora (mover)
Against (9) - Cassar, Horwath, Hwang, Kroetsch, McMeekin, Nann, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Appointments to the Public Health Sub-Committee
City Council - November 13, 2024
After more than 3 years of advocacy, consultation, and deliberation the City of Hamilton will finally move forward with a hybrid model to allow health professionals to participate in recommending public health policy to Council. A new Public Health Sub-Committee has been struck with 6 Councillors, 6 health professionals, and 1 representative from the school boards after a motion I put forward earlier this term was approved by Council. This is a huge step forward for public health advocacy in Hamilton. It means that health professionals will be able to make formal recommendations to City Council on matters affecting our collective public health. In the past, it was only members of Council who had the ability to weight in on these decisions, despite almost every other public health unit in the Province having a hybrid model to allow for citizen participation. I think having doctors, social workers, and other health professionals weighing in with expert advice has the potential to improve health outcomes for Hamiltonians. The first meeting of the new Public Health Sub-Committee will be on December 2, 2024. I’ve put my name forward for Chair of this Sub-Committee and hope for the support of my colleagues to help us all do this important work together.
How did Council vote on the motions to appointment members to the Public Health Sub-Committee?
In favour (15) - Beattie, Cassar, Clark, Danko, Horwath, Hwang, Jackson, Kroetsch, McMeekin, Nann, Pauls, Spadafora, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Support for Keeping Safe Consumption Sites Open
Public Health Committee - November 4, 2024
City Council - November 13, 2024
The Region of Waterloo approved a motion in late September asking the Premier to “continue funding all currently operating Consumption and Treatment Sites beyond the proposed termination date of March 2025”. The Region sent this letter to other cities, including Hamilton, to ask for their support in endorsing it before sending it along to the Premier. At the last meeting of the Public Health Committee, after it was referred there by Council, we voted in favour of endorsing the letter. It’s been proven, countless times, that the only safe way to help people who are using drugs is to provide them a safe space to use drugs. It’s pretty simple. It’s also a proven method for keeping our public spaces safe. If people have safe spaces to use drugs and dispose of supplies like needles, they won’t have to use drugs in places where they aren’t able to safely dispose of them. With no evidence to support its claims, the Province’s announcement introducing this policy in August claimed that “banning supervised drug consumption sites” would protect “the safety of children and communities”. If Doug Ford continues down this path, he’ll be making our communities less safe for not only people who use drugs, but for everyone who uses our public spaces, including children. This policy will encourage people to hide their drug use, which we know leads to increased harm, overdoses, and death. I know there’s division on our Council, as is evidenced from this vote result, but I’m glad the majority of us are still committed to making evidence based decisions and looking past the optics.
How did Council vote on supporting the request from the Region of Waterloo?
In favour (10) - Cassar, Clark, Horwath, Hwang, Kroetsch, McMeekin, Nann, Tadeson, A. Wilson, M. Wilson
Against (6) - Beattie, Danko, Francis, Jackson, 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
Hess Village Holiday Market - November 23, 24, 30 and December 1 - Hess Village - 11:00am to 7:00pm
Handmade Hamilton - November 23-24 - Theatre Aquarius - 11:00am to 5:00pm
WorkWeekend 2024 - Drag Make-Up with Hexe Noire and Bae B. Butcher - November 23 - Hamilton Artists Inc. - 1:00pm to 5:00pm
ACCA’s 45th Anniversary Celebration - November 23 - Hamilton Convention Centre - 5:30pm to 11:30pm
Dasgegahdôha'! - November 24 - Art Gallery of Hamilton - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Barton Village BIA Annual General Meeting and Fundraiser - November 25 - 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Hamilton Pizza Tour 2 - November 27 - Bus tour - 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Community Meeting - Bay Street North Speed Cushions - November 27 - Bennetto Community Centre - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Breaking Through the Vault Poetry Workshop + Open Mic Night - November 28 - Art Gallery of Hamilton - 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Novemburger - until November 30
Storytime in the Gallery - December 3 - Art Gallery of Hamilton - 10:00am to 11:30am
Hamilton ACORN Gala Dinner - December 4 - Compass Community Health - 5:30pm to 8:30pm
2025 City Budget Town Hall - December 5 - Gasworks - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
National Housing Day - Hamilton’s Tenant Support Program - December 6 - City Hall Council Chambers - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Art Exhibits, Installations, Performances, and Events
Alexander’s Feast - November 23 - Central Presbyterian Church - 7:30pm to 10:00pm
Glares from a Past, Glances of a Future - Bre Shanahan - until December 1 - Assembly Gallery at Redchurch Cafe
Foreign Dreams - Simranpreet Kaur Anand, Conner Singh VanderBeek - until December 14 - Workers Arts and Heritage Centre
Jan Wade - Soul Power - until January 5 - Art Gallery of Hamilton
Radha S. Menon - Touched by Devi - until January 5 - Art Gallery of Hamilton