New members of Hamilton City Council greeted at Ontario Legislature by Speaker Skelly

Half of Hamilton’s incoming city council made the trip to Queen’s Park last Wednesday for a day at the Ontario Legislature hosted by Speaker Donna Skelly. Skelly, who is also the MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook, invited the mayor-elect and newly elected councillors to meet with Hamilton’s members of the legislature and discuss local issues.

“Great to welcome the newly elected members of Hamilton City Council to Queen’s Park today,” Skelly wrote on Facebook. “I look forward to working together to support our communities and the people we serve.”

Eight of the 16 members of the incoming council attended: Jason Farr (Ward 4 – Hamilton East), Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), Mark Daly (Ward 7 – Central Mountain), Jonathan Stathakos (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek), Nicole Trombetta (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona), Fred Bennink (Ward 12 – Ancaster-West Flamborough), Rick Kunc (Ward 13 – Dundas-Central Flamborough) and Colleen Stewart (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown). That included seven of the eight new councillors. Francis was the only member of the group who served on the previous council.

At least three Hamilton-area MPPs were also involved – Skelly, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Jeff Beattie, and Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas MPP Sandy Shaw.

Councillor-elect Dawn Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain) was the only incoming councillor who did not attend. It is unclear whether she was invited. Mayor-elect Keanin Loomis was reportedly invited but could not attend. At least two returning councillors, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale) and Nrinder Nann (Ward 3 – East Hamilton Centre) said they were left off the invitation list.

The visitors had lunch in the Speaker’s dining room and were greeted by Premier Doug Ford. They also sat in the Speaker’s Gallery during Question Period, where Skelly recognized them in the Legislature.

For several of the incoming councillors, the trip was a first chance to meet the people they will soon be working with.

“For many of us, it was the first chance to meet each other and introduce ourselves before we’re sworn in,” Stathakos told The Hamilton Independent. “We spent the day getting to know one another, talking about our wards and starting to build the working relationships we’ll need around the Council table.”

Stathakos said he also enjoyed seeing the Lincoln Alexander display at Queen’s Park, calling it “a proud reminder of Hamilton’s place in Ontario’s history.”

Property taxes were a common theme of the day.

“On a high level, there is an eagerness to get taxes under control in the city of Hamilton,” said Francis. “All the councillors are concerned about taxes.”

Stathakos said the group shares many of the same goals.

“Many of us campaigned on the same priorities: keeping property taxes down, fixing our roads, addressing homelessness and tackling rising crime,” he said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver on the issues we all heard about during the campaign.”

Bennink said his main goal was to connect with the two MPPs whose ridings overlap Ward 12: Skelly and Shaw.

“A positive working relationship with our provincial representatives means better results for our Ward,” Bennink wrote on Facebook.

Stewart wrote on Facebook that she is “so hopeful for the work our new Council can do for the people in our wards.”

For Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Jeff Beattie, who was elected Ward 10 councillor four years ago, the visit was “a full circle moment.”

“I remember the excitement, and also the nerves,” Beattie wrote on Facebook. He added that he looks forward to working with Farr, Francis and Trombetta, the councillors who represent his riding, “on shared issues for the benefit of East Hamiltonians and Stoney Creekers.”

Several councillors said they hope to see the return of “Hamilton Day” at the Legislature. On Hamilton Day, council and senior city staff travel to Queen’s Park together to meet with government officials, including cabinet ministers, about issues facing the city.

“Thank you for the invitation, great conversation and tour, Madam Speaker,” Farr wrote on Facebook. “Looking forward to returning again soon. Hamilton Day!”