Keanin Loomis, former President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and 2022 Hamilton mayoral candidate, officially announced on Feb. 25 that he will be running for mayor once again this October. Municipal elections across Ontario will be held on Oct. 26, 2026. Loomis will seek to unseat Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath in a […]

On Jan. 26, Hamilton Public Library (HPL) announced that its Central Library branch will be closed on Sundays for the foreseeable future and will open one hour later (9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.) every other day, in response to mental health and addiction incidents. Then, in a Feb. 18 report to the HPL Board, […]

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) has officially completed major enhancements, including the addition of passenger jet bridges and updates to its international arrivals area. Jet bridges provide direct, weather-protected access between the terminal and the aircraft. Passengers previously had to walk on the tarmac to board planes at the airport. The modernized international […]

On Tuesday, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath announced that she would not be exercising her strong mayor powers to veto any of the motions that were passed at Council’s budget amendment committee meetings. With that announcement, the City of Hamilton’s 2026 Tax Budget was adopted. Hamilton residents will see a 3.87 per cent increase to property […]

On Feb. 19, at the final Council meeting regarding the 2026 City of Hamilton budget, multiple Councillors spoke out against property tax increases under Mayor Andrea Horwath. Over the past four years, property taxes have increased by an average of 5.3 per cent each year under Horwath. Residential property tax increases under Horwath have been […]

Hamilton City Council met last Thursday (Feb. 19) to ratify the results of votes made at the budget amendment committee meetings that were held on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. Over those past two meetings, Councillors had the opportunity to bring forward amendments to Mayor Andrea Horwath’s “Mayoral Budget,” the details of which were released […]

At Hamilton City Council’s budget amendment meeting on Feb. 13, further amendments were brought forward to Mayor Andrea Horwath’s budget, which was released on Jan. 23 and included a residential property tax increase of 4.25 per cent. Multiple amendments were already made at the first budget amendment meeting on Feb. 6. Details on those amendments […]

The City of Hamilton’s planned redesign of the Barton Street corridor could see a significant reduction in driving lanes in some places, according to documents. The Barton Street Functional Design Study is being conducted by Parsons, an outside consulting company, on behalf of the City of Hamilton and recommends reducing the number of driving lanes […]

Hamilton Food Share provided its annual update to the City of Hamilton’s Emergency and Community Services Committee, and statistics showed that the food bank network saw 386,524 visits to local food banks and served 492,239 meals. Hamilton Food Share is the emergency food shipping and receiving hub and emergency food systems coordinator for a network […]

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton officially began the redevelopment of its psychiatric emergency service on Jan. 29, as part of an $11.2 million project. The redevelopment was made possible by up to $7.7 million in funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and $3.5 million from donors through St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. The renovations are taking place […]

Federal government officials announced on Jan. 20 that they will be providing $950,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to support the first phase of the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s expansion project. The announcement was made by Lisa Hepfner, the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Identity and […]

At Hamilton City Council’s latest budget meeting last Friday, a number of amendments were brought forward to Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath’s budget, which was released on Jan. 23 and included a residential property tax increase of 4.25 per cent. Since that meeting, Horwath said that the ice at Stoney Creek Arena will not be decommissioned, […]

At last Friday’s General Issues Committee Budget meeting, Councillor Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek) brought forward a motion to end the taxpayer-funded meal program that provides free meals for elected members and senior staff. Clark’s motion was seconded by Councillor Rob Cooper (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain). However, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath […]

The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) officially deployed its body-worn camera rollout in 2025, with Chief of Police Frank Bergen saying that the program has already demonstrated “positive outcomes.” HPS undertook a review on the possible implementation of body-worn cameras back in 2014, but it was not until 2024 that the Police Services Board approved a […]

A motion from Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) to have staff examine the feasibility of acquiring and redeveloping the Red Rose Motel in the city’s east end passed unanimously in a 16-0 vote at last Wednesday’s General Issues Committee meeting. The motion was seconded by Councillor Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 – […]

Hamilton City Council’s Planning Committee voted on Jan. 13 to permit the rezoning of a city-owned parking lot at 70 Hope Avenue to a “Mixed Use Medium Density Zone.” As such, the city will permit “a multiple dwelling and multiple dwelling townhouses with a maximum height of four storeys and a maximum of 50 units, […]

The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Police Service (HPS) announced they received “strong interest” after recently issuing a call for public-private partnership proposals to design, build, finance, and maintain a new Police Headquarters and Division 1 (Downtown) Station. A city update explains further that they received a “significant number” of Stage 1 submissions for the […]

Hamilton Police Service (HPS) officially presented its budget to Hamilton City Council last Tuesday, with a 6.81 per cent tax-funded increase, representing a net total operating budget of $239 million. Hamilton’s Chief of Police Frank Bergen explained to Council that, even before they opened their book to start the 2026 budget, they had to start […]

On Friday, Jan. 23, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath presented her revised budget for 2026, which would see a residential property tax increase of 4.25 per cent, but included the decommissioning of the ice at Stoney Creek Arena. Local Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) immediately expressed outrage with Horwath’s cut to the […]

The City of Hamilton is currently considering the implementation of a new “Maximum/Adequate Temperature By-law” that would require landlords to provide either central air conditioning or window units. In May 2023, Hamilton City Council directed staff to explore potential options for a by-law, which would impose a maximum indoor temperature of 26°C in rental units. […]

City of Hamilton staff recently provided an update to City Council regarding the controversial Barton-Tiffany tiny shelter project and homelessness in general. Councillors heard that the tiny shelters, which are located near the West Harbour GO Station, have served 113 people and have accommodated 43 pets. The shelters were supposed to be set up by […]

On Friday, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath presented her revised budget for 2026, which would see a residential property tax increase of 4.25 per cent, down from the 5.5 per cent released in December. However, Councillors expressed outrage that the cuts involve the closure of Stoney Creek Arena, the end of some grass cutting services, and […]

The City of Hamilton recently put out a public notice that it has received a complete development application for seven residential towers with 2,186 total units at Barton and Ferguson near the Hamilton General Hospital. According to a 2025 Design Review Panel Presentation from the developer, the plan includes two 30-storey buildings, three 28-storey buildings, […]

A detailed Annual Corporate Safety and Security Report was just received by Hamilton City Council’s Public Works Committee in December, and it details that private security costs blew past $9.6 million in 2024. Security guard service hours have also increased by 570 per cent over five years, going from 48,560 hours in 2019 to 325,473 […]

The City of Hamilton is looking to increase public access to on-water tourism activities along the West Harbour, with boat cruises and a winter floating hot tub boat both suggested as potential opportunities. The city says that the West Harbour was “intentionally designed” to support boating and recreation activations, particularly at Pier 8 where the […]

The City of Hamilton’s new “Safe Apartment Buildings” by-law came into effect on Jan. 1, meaning that building landlords will now have to pay annual licensing fees, and staff will begin work on evaluating the municipality’s 900 apartments. The city says that the program aims to address building maintenance concerns and make building conditions more […]

At a year-end shareholder meeting, CityHousing Hamilton, the city’s municipally-owned affordable housing provider, released documents detailing that they are aiming to build up to 900 net new units over the next 20 years. The document states that they intend to realize the increase in new units through “renewal of existing CityHousing properties, strategic acquisition of […]

McMaster University recently announced via a press release that it is considering a proposal from a company called s2e Technologies to transform the former Hamilton Spectator building at 44 Frid Street in West Hamilton into an innovation hub with a “modern data centre.” McMaster Innovation Park purchased the former Hamilton Spectator building back in 2020 […]

The City of Hamilton’s Auditor General, Charles Brown, released a scathing report in which he blasts city staff for their mismanagement of the Barton-Tiffany tiny shelter project. The project has been marred by controversy, delays, and cost overruns. A previous report from City of Hamilton staff revealed that capital costs for the project ballooned well […]

City of Hamilton staff released the latest draft of the municipality’s tax-supported budget, which would see a residential property tax increase of 5.5 per cent this year. If the 5.5 per cent tax increase holds, that would mean that the average property owner would have to pay an extra $293 this year. Technically, the tax […]

Engineering company Arcadis recently released a new 114-page Design and Construction Report, prepared for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, that details plans for a new highway interchange at Highway 5 and Highway 6 in Waterdown. The Design and Construction Report summarizes the Detail Design study and environmental assessment process undertaken so far, existing conditions, and mitigation […]

After losing 19-16 against the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Finals and missing out on the Grey Cup, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are looking to rebound as they head into the 2026 season. The team finished in first place in the regular season standings in the Eastern Division with an 11-7 record. Among key moves made […]

The City of Hamilton received a D grade in a recent housing report released by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario and the University of Ottawa’s Missing Middle Initiative. The report examines housing start data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and new home sales from Altus Group to conduct an analysis of […]

Swiss-based technology company Hitachi Energy, a subsidiary of the Japan-based multinational conglomerate Hitachi, recently announced that it is investing $30 million to upgrade and expand its new facility in Stoney Creek. The Stoney Creek facility, located on Constellation Drive near Lewis Road, is reportedly Canada’s only site dedicated to upgrading and extending the life of […]

Hamilton residents who have been paying their water bills through pre-authorized payments will have to re-enroll with the city before April 1, 2026, as Alectra Utilities transitions away from the role. Alectra, which was formed in 2017 after Horizon Utilities merged with four other companies, has handled water billing for the City of Hamilton since […]

Hamilton City Council approved a water rate increase of 7.32 per cent (an increase of $77.65 to the average bill) for 2026 at their Dec. 10 meeting. The city’s water rate was expected to increase by 5.82 per cent (an increase of $61.82 to the average bill) in 2026, but that was because the municipality […]

Multiple complaints have been filed with the City of Hamilton’s Integrity Commissioner after news broke of a landlord-tenant dispute involving Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and her former common-law partner, Ben Leonetti. A full timeline regarding the landlord-tenant dispute can be found on The Hamilton Independent website. The story about the Integrity Commissioner complaints was first […]

On Thurs, Dec. 11, news stories broke in The Hamilton Spectator and The Public Record that the City of Hamilton issued a Building Code Emergency Order for a property on West Avenue North owned by Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and occupied by her former common-law partner, Ben Leonetti. Here’s what is known about the saga […]

City of Hamilton staff recently brought forward a recommendation to the Public Works Committee to make the HSR Fare Assist pilot program permanent and increase the program discount from 30 per cent to 50 per cent. The recommendation was passed at the committee stage in a 13-0 vote and later ratified at City Council. The […]

Charles Brown, who serves as the Auditor General for the City of Hamilton, recently released his 2025 Fraud and Waste Annual Report. The report says that since the city implemented its Fraud and Waste Hotline in July 2019, the cumulative total of actual and potential losses investigated is over $3.7 million, with only 14.6 per […]

Hamilton City Council approved increases of 3.6 per cent to most of the city’s fees for 2026 at a recent meeting. City user fees include various costs associated with planning applications, grant program admin fees, parking fees, museum admission, recreation fees, transit fares, and rentals of city facilities. The 2026 Tax-Supported User Fees were recommended […]

New data released by Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) shows that Hamilton Public School Board (HWDSB) scores are below the provincial average in all eight categories. Meanwhile, the Hamilton Catholic Board was above the provincial average in six of the eight different grades and subject areas. Grade 3 province-wide results showed that 64 […]

Radiopharmaceutical company AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. recently announced that they are moving forward with a $138 million expansion in Hamilton that will sustain 131 existing jobs and create 70 new jobs. The investment is also supported by $5 million from the Government of Ontario through the Invest Ontario Fund. Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic […]

Indwell, the fastest-growing developer of new supportive affordable housing in Ontario, recently announced that they are starting a new non-profit called Gather Housing Communities to build affordable rental housing for people earning below the median income in Southern Ontario. The Indwell Family of Companies now includes Indwell, Gather, and Flourish (a social purpose real estate […]

Hamilton City Council recently received a report that the massive 1,600-unit redevelopment of Pier 8 in the city’s north end is currently “unfeasible” due to current “market, economic, and geopolitical pressures.” Waterfront Shores Corporation has an agreement with the city to develop the land, which is currently municipally owned. According to an update from Waterfront […]

A plan to build housing on city land near West Harbour GO Station in the north end continues to be stalled, approximately 10 years after units were first vacated. The property, which previously had 91 affordable CityHousing Hamilton units, is set to be home to 132 market stacked townhouses, two high-rise apartment buildings with 46 […]

The City of Hamilton recently released a new document called the “Connected Communities Strategy,” which is reportedly “a citywide plan that connects people, neighbourhoods and technology to make Hamilton a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-thinking city.” The full strategy is 71 pages long and can be read here. It is unclear how much it cost […]

The Hamilton Police Services Board voted to reduce the 2026 police tax-funded budget increase to 6.81 per cent and has now approved the budget to go before City Council’s General Issues Committee on Jan. 27. However, the $1.25 million decrease in the tax-funded budget, from the previous 7.37 per cent increase ($240.2 million) to a […]

The City of Hamilton’s new stormwater fee, also known as the rain tax, will be collected for the first time in 2026. The rain tax was originally supposed to be implemented in 2025, was then moved to April 2026, but will now start in July 2026. Every single family detached home will be charged the […]

Walmart Canada announced last week that they will be opening a new 140,000-square-foot supercentre at Hamilton’s Lime Ridge Mall in early 2027. The store will reportedly feature a full grocery department with produce, a bakery, and a deli, expanded home, electronics, and apparel sections, and a Walmart Pharmacy. Customers will also be able to access […]

The City of Hamilton is looking at adding a roundabout to the Highway 52 and Powerline Road West intersection. The stretch of road is in the community of Summit, just south of Copetown and west of Ancaster. The City of Hamilton initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process back in March 2025 to “develop […]

Earlier this month, officials from the City of Hamilton, McMaster University, and McMaster Innovation Park gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking of a new hotel in the city’s west end. The hotel will be a dual-branded property known as Hyatt Place Hamilton McMaster Innovation Park and Hyatt House McMaster Innovation Park. It will be located […]

A plan for a new Downtown Hamilton YMCA facility looks set to move forward, with the federal government committing $25 million towards the project. The new YMCA would be located within a 600+ unit residential development. Toronto-based development company Collecdev-Markee is working in partnership with the YMCA, Markland Property Management, and St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church […]

Both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Hamilton’s Forge FC were eliminated in the semi-finals of their respective leagues, bringing their 2025 seasons to an end. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS The Hamilton Tiger-Cats had a successful regular season, finishing in first place in the Eastern Division with an 11-7 record after coming in last place in the division in […]

According to an October update from the City of Hamilton’s Human Resources Department, the latest data indicates that the municipality has 9,449 employees. That means that the number of employees working for the city has increased by over 16 per cent since 2021. In 2021, just four years ago, the city’s headcount was 8,122. The […]

Local Member of Parliament Dan Muys, who represents the riding of Flamborough–Glanbrook–Brant North, heavily criticized the new federal budget in an interview with The Hamilton Independent. The new budget released by Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada will see a deficit of $78.3 billion this year. As far as the City of Hamilton […]

Since Metrolinx released an updated conceptual design for the Hamilton LRT project in May 2025, the City of Hamilton has been compiling their recommendations. The 40-page conceptual design, which can be viewed here, shows the initial street plan for the entire 14-kilometre LRT route. The May 2025 document replaces the previous 2017 concept design. Metrolinx […]

The City of Hamilton will be moving forward with the expansion of a five-kilometre stretch of Rymal Road between Upper James Street and Dartnall Road. Currently, throughout that stretch of road, there is one lane in each direction and a middle turning lane. There are also sidewalks on both sides of the road. Under the […]

Hamilton City Councillor Mark Tadeson (Ward 11 – Glanbrook-Binbrook-Mount Hope) brought forward a motion on Oct. 22 to have staff look into the feasibility of implementing a Rural Residential Property Credit as part of the city’s new stormwater fee (or rain tax) that is set to start in 2026. The motion was ultimately shut down […]

The Hamilton Police Board Budget Committee endorsed a 2026 net operating budget of $240.2 million during their final budget committee meeting on Nov. 4. The net operating budget represents an increase of $16.5 million (7.37 per cent) compared to 2025. The 2025 budget was $227 million, which represented a 5.7 per cent increase compared to […]

The City of Hamilton recently surpassed $2 billion in construction value for building permits issued in 2025, marking the earliest in the calendar year that the city has ever reached the milestone. The $2-billion mark was reached on Oct. 8, only five days earlier than the previous record. The previous record was set on Oct. […]

On Oct. 22, Hamilton’s General Issues Committee passed a recommendation from staff to extend the city’s Vacant Unit Tax for another year. The recommendation was passed by a vote of 8 to 7. The recommendation was then ratified at City Council on Oct. 29, once again passing on an 8 to 7 vote. Hamilton Mayor […]

On Oct. 21, global financial analytics company S&P Global Ratings downgraded the City of Hamilton’s credit rating as part of their annual credit rating review. The city’s new long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt rating is now “AA+”, down from its previous “AAA” rating. The research update from S&P says, “The City of Hamilton […]

GO Train service at Stoney Creek’s Confederation GO Station officially launched on Oct. 27. Metrolinx, the Crown agency that owns and operates GO Transit, also announced on Oct. 27 that more train trips were being added to the Lakeshore West line, meaning that trains will stop at Confederation GO Station 95 times per week. When […]

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath recently announced that the City of Hamilton will be holding a Community Safety Summit on Monday, November 10 at LiUNA Station. A City of Hamilton press release says that they are aiming to bring together “residents, community organizations and local leaders to address community safety concerns and strengthen collaboration across the […]

A new municipal poll conducted in Ontario’s ten largest cities by Liaison Strategies found that Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is the least popular mayor and the only one with a negative approval rating. Horwath has a -6 approval rating, with only 41 per cent approval, 47 per cent disapproval, and 12 per cent who answered […]

In a recent visit to Hamilton, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that the province will “seriously consider” taking over the Red Hill and Lincoln Alexander (LINC) parkways from the city. Ford said he had a “little get together” with Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, and that was one of the things that she asked of the […]

On Sept. 25, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath posted a statement on social media that she would be “stepping down” from the Police Services Board “as a result of scheduling conflicts.” Her statement continued, “With strong Council and community voices in place, this is the right time for another member of council to give the role […]

The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) recently released the results of its 2025 Community Safety Survey, which asked residents about their perceptions and experiences with crime across the city. The survey was funded by HPS and conducted by Wilfrid Laurier University. It had 1,245 respondents and was conducted between January and April 2025. Among key findings, […]

The City of Hamilton’s Office of the Auditor General released the first of four reports analyzing the February 2024 cyberattack against the city. The report, released on Oct. 2, determined that city staff were warned of “critical weaknesses in the city’s security posture” in a 2021 audit, three years before the cyberattack. Listed as a […]

The University of Toronto’s School of Cities has released a new interactive mapping and visualization tool that measures and explores the impact of American tariffs on Canadian cities. The detailed map, which can be accessed here, even provides data at the neighbourhood level. The tool has been in the works since May 2025 and has […]

The City of Hamilton is working on a new plan to change access to Tiffany Falls amid parking and safety challenges at its Wilson Street parking lot. The Hamilton Conservation Authority says that the Wilson Street parking lot has limited sightlines, high traffic volume and congestion, in addition to high pedestrian volume at peak times. […]

Just three weeks after Councillors on the Hamilton Public Works Committee voted unanimously to double the number of speed cameras in the city, a new motion was brought forward and passed unanimously to have staff report back on implementing even more. The move comes despite the fact that Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government […]

The City of Hamilton is looking to move the Kenora Waste Transfer Station away from Confederation GO to industrial lands at 1579 Burlington Street East near Kenilworth Avenue North. The Kenora Transfer Station accepts curbside-collected garbage and yard waste from Hamilton residents, as well as commercial garbage generated in the City of Hamilton. Municipal waste […]

At a recent General Issues Committee meeting, Hamilton City Council received an update on encampment enforcement and also decided to continue funding six police officers to respond to complaints. The funding motion passed on an 11-3 vote. Staff reported that since the rescinding of the city’s Encampment Protocol, which allowed encampments in parks with restrictions, […]

On Oct. 7, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath issued her 2026 Budget Directive to city staff and, for the first time, set a cap on the tax increase. Horwath directed that staff prepare a budget with a maximum property tax increase target of 4.25 per cent. Horwath is also calling the 2026 budget a “Hold the […]

The latest report from Workforce Planning Hamilton (WPH) shows that the unemployment rate in the area has increased to 7.2 per cent heading into the autumn months. The most recent data from September 2025 indicates that the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, and the Town […]

On Sept. 22, Canadian Football League (CFL) Commissioner Stewart Johnston held a press conference announcing six major changes to the game, ranging from field size to the position of field goal posts. Three of the changes will be implemented in 2026, while the other three will not come into effect until the 2027 season. All […]

Hamilton city staff are currently in the midst of developing a 10-Year Downtown Revitalization Strategy amid an increase in homelessness and major criminal incidents in the area. They recently shared the results of a survey that was developed to inform the strategy, and it found that safety in the downtown core was a major issue […]

 A new city report received by the City of Hamilton Public Works Committee on Sept. 29 says that the Rural Broadband Expansion Plan is progressing, but there has been no formal development plan yet from Rogers. The Rural Broadband Expansion Plan was initiated in 2021 by the Province of Ontario to “connect unserved and underserved […]

Luso Canadian Charitable Society recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new supportive housing residence in Hamilton for adults living with physical and/or developmental disabilities. The event, which took place on Sept. 10, was attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath. The project is located at 922 Main Street East in Hamilton, […]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Stoney Creek on Monday to announce that construction at the new Confederation GO Station is complete and that train service will begin on Monday, Oct. 27. A press release states that all existing trains to and from Niagara Falls will stop at the station. Currently, GO trains make three […]

With the reopening of Hamilton’s TD Coliseum just weeks away, the venue has continued to announce additional shows from the likes of Machine Gun Kelly, Jonas Brothers, Matt Rife, and Cardi B. The arena, formerly called the FirstOntario Centre (and before that Copps Coliseum), has been undergoing a massive $280-million renovation and will have its […]

The City of Hamilton has launched a number of different engagement tools to hear from residents regarding the projected 8.9 per cent tax increase coming in 2026. The Hamilton Independent’s previous article on the impending tax increase can be read here. The city already held six in-person engagement sessions across the city and one virtual […]

Hamilton’s Forge FC remain in first place in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) with only three regular season games left. The soccer club currently has 53 points in the standings, with second place Atletico Ottawa at 51 points and third place Cavalry FC at 39 points. This past weekend, Forge won 4-0 against Pacific FC, […]

Hamilton City Council recently voted unanimously to provide $100,000 for “an in-depth exploration of the potential to accelerate Hamilton’s net-zero by 2050 target” to a 2040 target. Additionally, the city’s Office of Climate Change Initiatives, which was established by City Council in 2022, was directed to update Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy “to ensure Hamilton is […]

Voters in Hamilton’s Ward 8 (West/Central Mountain) elected Rob Cooper to City Council on Monday night. Cooper is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Director who has also served as the Riding Association President for the Ontario PC Party in the Hamilton Mountain riding. Unofficial results on the City of Hamilton website show that Cooper […]

The average rent across all property types in Hamilton was $2,080 in August, which is up 5.4 per cent compared to last month, according to the latest Rentals.ca and Urbanation market update. It means that the City of Hamilton continues to rank as the 14th most expensive place for rent across all property types out […]

At a recent Public Works Committee meeting, Hamilton City Council received a report from staff that the Garner Road Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is complete and ready to be filed with the Municipal Clerk for a minimum 30-day public review period. The assessment covers Garner Road from Wilson Street to the Highway 403 off-ramp, an […]

Advanced voting is now open in Hamilton’s Ward 8 (West/Central Mountain) as residents choose who will replace former Councillor John-Paul Danko. Danko was recently elected Member of Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas for the Liberal Party of Canada, leaving his Council seat vacant. Hamilton City Council decided to hold a by-election to fill the vacant seat. […]

However, with the Bank of Canada cutting the key interest rate for the first time since March, a press release from REMAX Canada says that the move “could bring renewed momentum into the housing market into the fall.” The rate was cut on Wednesday by 25 basis points and currently stands at 2.5 per cent. […]

In October 2023, Hamilton City Council requested a report from city staff on the possibility of expanding no right turn on red restrictions and leading pedestrian and cycling intervals at signalized intersections across the entire city. Nearly two years later, staff responded with an information report to the city’s Sept. 8 Public Works Committee meeting […]

Last Monday, the Hamilton City Council Public Works Committee voted unanimously in a 12-0 vote to double the number of speed cameras in the city. Just one day later, in response to news that 17 Toronto speed cameras had been cut down in only one week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the cameras a “tax […]

A new annual report from Statistics Canada shows that those living in the Hamilton area continue to have some of the longest commute times in the country, with an average commute of 29.1 minutes. It should be noted that the local data is for the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which also includes the City […]

A newly released report from City of Hamilton staff says that the projected average property tax increase for residents will be 8.9 per cent in 2026. For whatever reason, the report does not include the projected dollar amount that taxes are projected to increase, just the percentage. The news comes after Hamilton taxpayers were already […]

The City of Hamilton has initiated a Schedule ‘B’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) to evaluate options to address persistent flooding of Safari Road in Flamborough. The study area specifically includes Safari Road from Kirkwall Road to Valens Road. An initial drop-in style open house was held back in September 2024, and another event will […]

The Ontario Land Tribunal recently rejected a development plan from Losani Homes for the former Glen Echo school in East Hamilton. The land, located near the Nash Road South and King Street East intersection, was purchased in March 2023 for $6.75 million from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. The school was destroyed and Losani Homes […]

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) has officially unveiled its 2025/26 Winter Program, and it features non-stop flights to multiple “sun destinations,” including Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Porter Airlines, which recently began flying out of Hamilton, announced that they will be operating new routes to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International […]

The City of Hamilton has lost yet another top staffer, as long-time Director of Planning and Chief Planner Steve Robichaud officially departed for a new job with the City of Burlington. Robichaud, who lives in Burlington, departed his City of Hamilton job on Sept. 1 and began work at the City of Burlington as the […]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was recently in Hamilton to announce $70 million in support for workers amid ongoing U.S. tariffs. The funds will specifically go towards expanding training and employment services. A total of $20 million in funding will go towards the province’s Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response (POWER) Centres, which will reportedly “provide access […]

A delegation from the City of Hamilton, including Mayor Andrea Horwath, recently attended the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa at the end of August. The AMO works to support Ontario’s 444 municipalities and advocates for shared goals. The conference specifically gives municipal governments the opportunity to speak with provincial representatives about […]

The City of Hamilton recently held an official groundbreaking at 20 Parkside Drive in Waterdown for a new joint police and fire station. The 43,000 square foot combined building will host Fire Station 29 and Police Station 40. The joint station will also include a collision reporting centre, a 911 call centre, a joint fire […]

The Government of Ontario has announced that they are investing just over $834,000 this year to connect 2,400 people in the Hamilton area to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team. The funding is part of the government’s $2.1-billion Primary Care Action plan, which seeks to connect everyone in Ontario to a doctor […]

Hamilton taxpayers are on the hook for more than $18 million in cyberattack recovery spending after the city’s insurance claim was denied because they failed to follow the proper policy requirements. A new report recently brought forward to City Council says that following the cyberattack the city completed a third-party forensic analysis and submitted a […]

The Government of Ontario has officially announced their plan for the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital at 290 Fennell Ave West, just west of the St. Joseph’s Healthcare West 5th Campus. The government is selling the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital lands through the Surplus Lands program, and the proceeds of the sale will then be used […]

Hamilton City Council is continuing to advance new Made-in-Canada procurement policies in light of ongoing American tariffs. City Council recently approved changes to procurement that direct staff to prioritize buying goods, services, and construction from Canadian businesses, while also further prioritizing Hamilton-based suppliers. The city says that they are also “working closely with industry partners […]

According to July housing market statistics from the Cornerstone Association of Realtors, the Hamilton area saw an increase in home sales last month. In July, there were 886 sales across Hamilton, Burlington, Haldimand County, and Niagara North, which is up from June and 5.5 per cent higher than July 2024. However, this is only the […]

Hamilton City Council recently made amendments to the city’s Development Charges By-law in an attempt to help fight the housing crisis. Council approved a temporary two-year 20 per cent cut to development charges, which will start on Sept. 1, 2025, and continue until Aug. 31, 2027. A city report says that development charge rates for […]

The average one-bedroom rent in Hamilton was $1,809 in July, which is down 0.1 per cent from August, according to the latest Rentals.ca market update. One-bedroom units are also down 1.8 per cent compared to last year, amid a 3.6 per cent decline in rents nationally. Out of the 60 cities in the report, Hamilton […]

The Government of Ontario recently announced a $56.8-million investment to train an additional 2,200 nurses across the province by 2029, including in the City of Hamilton. From the investment, Mohawk College will receive over $7 million to expand enrollment in their nursing programs, which will allow them to train up to 390 additional nurses by […]

A total of 26 candidates have registered for the City of Hamilton’s Ward 8 councillor by-election (West/Central Mountain) to replace John-Paul Danko, who was recently elected Member of Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas for the Liberal Party. The candidates, in alphabetical order by last name, are Ralph Agostino, Waleed Ali, Alex Ballagh, Caleb Bosveld, Philip Bradshaw, […]

Hamilton City Council has directed municipal staff to prioritize the use of steel signposts over wood in the midst of U.S. tariffs. The motion was brought forward by Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) and seconded by Councillor Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona). The City of Hamilton uses both pressure-treated […]

The Ontario Land Tribunal recently ruled in favour of Losani Homes over the City of Hamilton, allowing the developer to build a residential community at 1400 South Service Road in Winona on what was previously designated as business park lands. The development area is near the South Service Road and Fifty Road intersection, with the […]

The City of Hamilton is planning a complete redesign of Barton Street and Fifty Road in Stoney Creek, including the addition of lanes, sidewalks, a multi-use path, and street trees. The improvements fulfill recommendations in multiple city documents, including the 2008 Stoney Creek Boundary Expansion Transportation Master Plan and the 2018 Citywide Transportation Master Plan. […]

The City of Hamilton, in collaboration with the Downtown Hamilton BIA, has closed a portion of King William Street in downtown for two months to create a pedestrian-only hub. The closure began on Wednesday, July 16 and will continue until Sunday, Sept. 14, and includes King William Street from James Street North to Hughson Street […]

With just over one-third of their 2025 season complete, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are currently in first place in the Eastern Division with a 5-2 record and a five-game win streak. The Ticats beat the B.C. Lions on the road at Save-on-Foods Field in B.C. Place on Sunday by a score of 37-33, despite never having […]

CityHousing Hamilton, the city’s affordable housing provider, has officially opened two buildings at the former City Motor Hotel site at the Queenston Traffic Circle in the east end. The buildings, 55 Queenston Road and 1620 Main Street East, provide 82 units of affordable housing combined. The city says that both buildings will be “passive house […]

The latest housing market update from the Cornerstone Association of Realtors says that a drop in sales has resulted in the “slowest start to the year since 2010.” Nicolas von Bredow, Cornerstone’s spokesperson for the Hamilton area, explained, “While some markets across Canada are showing signs of stability with more balanced conditions, including the Waterloo […]

Hamilton’s Forge FC have excelled in 2025 and are currently on an 18-game unbeaten run, including 15 undefeated in the Canadian Premier League (CPL).   The soccer club, which plays at Hamilton Stadium (formerly Tim Horton’s Field), are fresh off of a 2-0 home win against Pacific FC last Friday.   With that win, the […]

A motion to cap the number of full-time city staff for 2026 was recently brought forward at Hamilton City Council and passed in a close 9-5 vote after significant debate.   The motion, which was brought forward by Councillor Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain) and seconded by Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – […]

While the $280-million renovation of Hamilton’s TD Coliseum, formerly the FirstOntario Centre, has dominated the headlines recently, a lesser-known renovation has also begun mere metres away. The Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG) and Carmen’s Group are advancing a $10 million renovation of the Hamilton Convention Centre located at Summers Lane in downtown. Some interior […]

The City of Hamilton’s Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee, which is composed of eight councillors, recently voted to require city staff with hybrid working arrangements to be in-person more often. The motion, which passed in a 6-1 vote and was later ratified unanimously at Council, sets a requirement for hybrid city staff to be in […]

The Hamilton Police Service has announced that since January 2025, they have made a “significant shift” in how they respond to open illicit drug use in public spaces. Police say that their updated approach “prioritizes health-focused intervention over criminal enforcement for individuals experiencing substance use disorder.” Hamilton Police indicate that the new approach is in […]

Porter Airlines, which recently started service out of Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport, announced a new “long-term partnership” with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which makes them the Official Airline of the team. A press release says that the partnership marks Porter’s “latest step in expanding its presence in Hamilton and reinforcing its long-term commitment to […]

The City of Hamilton will be rebuilding the banking on a stretch of the Red Hill Valley Parkway to make the road safer. The decision comes after a Design Review of a curve on the Red Hill that runs from Greenhill Avenue to King Street found that the “superelevation” in some areas of the curve […]

Hamilton’s arena, which originally opened in 1985 as Copps Coliseum and was then renamed the FirstOntario Centre in 2014, will now be called TD Coliseum after a new sponsorship was announced. Oak View Group (OVG), the organization overseeing the arena’s $280 million venue renovation plan, announced a multi-year naming rights sponsorship with TD Bank Group […]

In the midst of 50 per cent tariffs by the United States on Canadian steel, the Government of Canada announced six measures as part of their response. However, the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), which is the national voice of all primary steel producers, and the United Steelworkers Union (USW), which has 225,000 Canadian members, […]

Hamilton City Council recently received a report from engineering consultant company Morrison Hershfield Limited, which outlined the costs and options for improving the Red Hill Valley Parkway (Red Hill) and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway (the LINC), including potential widening. In the end, Council decided to direct municipal staff to move forward with public and stakeholder […]

Hamilton City Council recently voted 13 to 1 in favour of calling a by-election in Ward 8 (West/Central Mountain) to fill the seat vacated by John-Paul Danko. Danko sought the Liberal Party of Canada nomination for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas and was elected to be a Member of Parliament earlier this year. City staff told Council that […]

The City of Hamilton is updating the design of their development notice boards and letters in an effort to make them more understandable to the public. Development public notice boards are erected on a property when a new planning application is filed, and notification letters are mailed to surrounding homeowners. The design change, which comes […]

The City of Hamilton has sent out 6,781 bills to property owners as the municipality seeks to collect funds for the newly imposed Vacant Unit Tax. The city says that 96 per cent of homeowners submitted occupancy declarations for the 2024 tax year. That means that of the 178,058 residences in Hamilton, the city did […]

The City of Hamilton, in collaboration with the Hamilton Fire Department and the Hamilton Police Service, have officially transitioned to the new Next Generation 9-1-1 network. The city says that the transition “represents a multi-stage transformative upgrade to the traditional 9-1-1 network.” Through the update, emergency operators will have faster access to reliable data such […]

Two Hamilton Police officers have been cleared by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in the fatal shooting of a man named Erixon Kabera in November 2024. The SIU’s Director, Joseph Martino, wrote the report. The investigation by the SIU, a civilian law enforcement agency in Ontario that has jurisdiction over police, determined that Kabera raised […]

The Ontario government has officially issued a Request for Proposals for the first phase of work on Hamilton’s planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) line. The Request for Proposals follows a Request for Qualifications that was issued this past fall.  Four teams have been invited to submit proposals for the first phase of work, which includes […]

The Government of Ontario will be partnering with McMaster University and six other post-secondary institutions across the province to launch 17 “new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in communities with high rates of unattachment to primary care.” The clinics will train family doctors and other health care professionals, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, […]

According to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute, a Canadian research think tank, the City of Hamilton’s 2024 budget transparency and accountability were the worst in Canada. The City of Hamilton received a failing F letter grade for its 2024 budget process and, even worse, scored a zero. The grade and further analysis […]

The City of Hamilton will be investing millions of dollars over the next three years, with the goal of creating over 1,200 affordable and supportive housing units by 2027. The city notes that the investments will go towards projects at various stages of development, including those in the pre-construction phase, those in construction, and even […]

The provincial government recently announced, as part of their 2025 budget, that they are investing $15.5 million to expand the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) in Hamilton to 24/7 operations. The McMaster Nuclear Reactor is Canada’s largest nuclear research reactor and among the world’s leading suppliers of medical isotopes. The facility was previously operating 24 hours […]

Oak View Group, the organization renovating Hamilton’s arena (formerly the FirstOntario Centre), has announced that Canadian celebrity chef Matty Matheson will open a 9,500-square-foot full-service restaurant and bar inside the facility. The new restaurant will be called The Iron Cow Public House and will have the capacity for up to 185 guests. It will operate […]

The past few weeks have been full of new beginnings at Hamilton Airport. Porter Airlines has officially launched service out of the airport, passenger terminal enhancements have now been completed, and a new CEO and Executive Managing Director were announced. The first-ever Porter Airlines flights out of Hamilton took off on June 3 to Halifax […]

The City of Hamilton’s Senior Leadership Team, which is overseen by City Manager Marnie Cluckie and includes eight city staff in total, is undergoing a major shake-up, with some members having moved on to new positions, some “no longer employed,” and another newly hired. The Senior Leadership Team includes the City Manager, the General Manager […]

Burlington’s Joseph Brant Hospital and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton have launched a new integrated health information system partnership that they say “will enable more seamless care for patients and improved experiences for healthcare providers.” The partnership sees Joseph Brant Hospital adopting Dovetale, St. Joseph’s award-winning health information system that was developed in partnership with Epic, […]

The City of Hamilton has already reached $1 billion in total construction value for building permits issued since the start of the year. The milestone, which was reached on April 30, marks the earliest point in the calendar year that the city has achieved the $1 billion benchmark. In 2023, the city did not reach […]

Outgoing Councillor John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain) recently sought support from other Councillors to allocate $6.1 million in funds to various projects in his last Council action. Danko recently won election as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas with the Liberal Party of Canada, which means he now […]

A petition to designate Hamilton’s public libraries as drug consumption sites recently appeared on the agenda at the city’s Public Health Sub-Committee. The petition was placed on the agenda by Ward 2 (Downtown Hamilton) Councillor Cameron Kroetsch, although he said that the petition was not necessarily endorsed by him but added to the agenda as […]

New revisions to the city’s Municipal Alcohol Policy recommended by city staff were shot down by Hamilton Councillors after their changes went so far as to ban tailgating and restrict alcohol use on all city property. The changes included restricting alcohol advertising, banning alcohol from parks and all city property without a permit, and banning […]

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce says that Hamilton’s downtown “is at a critical juncture.” “While opportunities for investment and growth abound, challenges in public safety, affordability, and economic development pose risks to progress,” writes Greg Dunnett, the President and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. That’s why the Chamber decided to host the “Transforming […]

The local media landscape is undergoing a number of changes, with Hamiltonian Steven Paikin recently announcing that he is leaving TVO’s The Agenda after 19 years, former CHML host Rick Zamperin finding two new roles with CHCH News and The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Scott Radley starting a podcast with The Hamilton Spectator. The news that […]

The Mayor’s Task Force on Transparency, Access, and Accountability, created by Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, recently released their top findings and recommendations as part of a consultation report. The report recently made headlines for finding that 80 per cent of survey respondents have low or very low trust in the City of Hamilton. The Task […]

Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria was recently in Hamilton to announce that train track work connecting the West Harbour GO Station to the Lakeshore West main line has been completed. As a result of the track work, the Ontario government also announced that all trains travelling to and from Niagara Falls, including weekend and […]

Northern Heat Rib Series has announced its 2025 schedule, with four events in Hamilton over the next few months. While the first Ribfest of the season already took place in Binbrook over the Victoria Day long weekend, North America’s largest rib and beer tour will also be coming to Ancaster, Stoney Creek, and Hamilton Mountain. […]

A recent report from City of Hamilton staff revealed that the capital costs for the Barton-Tiffany tiny shelter project ballooned past the $2.8 million budget estimate up to $7.9 million – over $5 million more than expected. Capital costs are in addition to operational costs, which are pegged at approximately $3.96 million every year. Staff […]

The Government of Ontario recently announced that it will be providing $605,000 through the 2025 Experience Ontario Program to support 13 different festivals and events across the City of Hamilton. The funding was announced by Ontario’s Minister of Sport, Neil Lumsden, who also serves as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton East – […]

The Ontario government recently announced an investment of over $1.5 million to help expand sport and recreation opportunities for children in the City of Hamilton and across the province. The $1.5 million in funds will be provided to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and is part of the province’s 2024-25 Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program. The […]

According to the recently released Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) National Municipal Benchmarking Study, the City of Hamilton is in last place in building approval timeline speed, with the typical approval measured at 31 months. The City of Hamilton also saw the “worst deterioration in timelines” between 2022 and 2024, with an increase of 8.1 […]

A total of nine supervised drug injection sites across the province have been officially transitioned into Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs by the Government of Ontario, including one site in Hamilton. The new HART Hub is operated by Hamilton Urban Core and is located at 430 Cannon Street East near the Wentworth Street […]

Neil Lumsden, who serves as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek, was recently named to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Cabinet for a second time. Lumsden was named Ford’s Minister of Sport. When Lumsden was first elected in 2022, he was named Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, but that […]

Flamborough – Glanbrook Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Donna Skelly was recently chosen as the Ontario Legislature’s first female Speaker after putting her name forward for consideration. The announcement was made after a secret vote by all members of the legislature resulted in Skelly’s election as Speaker. In a press scrum following the vote, Skelly […]

Hamilton’s Ward 8, which encompasses the West/Central Mountain, looks set for a municipal by-election since their Councillor John-Paul Danko was just elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party in Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas. The ward runs north-south from the Niagara Escarpment to the hydro corridor just south of Rymal […]

The City of Hamilton recently took part in a nationally coordinated survey called “Everyone Counts,” which is a coordinated point-in-time count on the state of homelessness across the country. The City of Hamilton participated in the data collection exercise from Nov. 4 to Nov. 18, 2024, although the results were just recently released. The initiative […]

Hamilton voters elected two Conservative Party candidates at the federal level for the first time in a long time as Ned Kuruc flipped Hamilton East – Stoney Creek and Dan Muys retained Flamborough – Glanbrook – Brant North. HAMILTON EAST – STONEY CREEK Kuruc’s win in Hamilton East – Stoney Creek marks the first time […]

Hamilton City Council has officially asked the Government of Ontario to rescind the Strong Mayor Powers that it granted the municipality after a General Issues Committee motion passed on a unanimous 16-0 vote. However, it should be noted that opposition by Hamilton Councillors to the Strong Mayor Powers did not come about through the usage […]

The Conservative, NDP, and Liberal candidates for Hamilton Mountain exchanged jabs at each other in a heated debate last Tuesday that was broadcasted live on Cable 14. The candidates who took part were former Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt for the Conservatives, former Member of Provincial Parliament Monique Taylor for the NDP, and incumbent candidate […]

City of Hamilton staff recently released a revised management update regarding the progress made on the recommendations set out in the Red Hill Valley Parkway (RHVP) Inquiry Report. To date, nine of the 36 action items (25 per cent) have been completed. The city says that the remaining action items are in progress and set […]

At least three federal Conservative candidates have opted out of local debates hosted by Hamilton broadcaster Cable 14. Hamilton East – Stoney Creek Conservative candidate Ned Kuruc appeared to indicate that he opted out of the debate in favour of door knocking, noting that he has knocked on 95,000 doors and has been campaigning one-on-one […]

The City of Hamilton’s tiny shelter site, part of a project that has been marred by controversy and delays, is finally at full capacity, according to a press release issued April 17. The city says that the site is now home to 80 residents, all of whom were “previously living unhoused.” There are also about […]

The City of Hamilton is undertaking a review of their Self-Storage Facilities Policy in order to integrate the establishments “into more zones and areas of the city.” Staff were originally directed by Council in February 2019 to undertake a review of where self-storage facilities are located and permitted within the city. Staff then retained consultants […]

The riding of Hamilton East – Stoney Creek is a key riding to watch in the upcoming April 28 federal election. Just three months ago, Conservative Party of Canada candidate Ned Kuruc looked set to easily win the riding. However, after Justin Trudeau’s resignation and a dramatic shift in the polls, Liberal incumbent Chad Collins […]

With the federal election less than two weeks away, The Hamilton Independent reached out to Hamilton’s municipal councillors to see if they stand with a particular political party. Only one local councillor, Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough – Waterdown), replied with a formal endorsement. McMeekin, who was a Liberal Party Member of Provincial […]

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre recently came to Stoney Creek, holding a rally that reportedly attracted over 4,500 people. The event, which was held at modular construction company Fero International (South Service Road near McNeilly Road), took place on Mar. 25 and was one of Poilievre’s first rallies of the election campaign. Poilievre has since […]

Oak View Group, the organization renovating the Hamilton Arena (formerly the FirstOntario Centre/Copps Coliseum), announced that they have confirmed two major events for the venue – a concert featuring Andrea Bocelli on Dec. 9, 2025 and the 2026 Juno Awards in the spring. Their website now also confirms that the arena will be opening in […]

CityHousing Hamilton, the City of Hamilton’s municipally run affordable housing provider, recently celebrated the opening of 55 units of affordable housing at 106 Bay Street North. The new building near the Cannon Street West and Bay Street North intersection was formerly a parking lot that CityHousing Hamilton acquired in 2018 with the aim of increasing […]

The City of Hamilton recently released a new Tourism Strategy meant to help establish the city “as a leading Canadian destination celebrated for its vibrant tourism districts, captivating nature-based activities, and authentic and sustainable experiences.” The strategy is meant to cover until 2028 and builds on the city’s first Tourism Strategy, which covered 2015-20. The […]

Hamilton was awarded a Silver Certification for achieving between 51 and 67 per cent of the criteria. The City of Hamilton recently received Silver Certification from the What Works Cities Certification Program launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America. The certification “recognizes and celebrates local governments for their exceptional use of data […]

The blue box program in Hamilton will now be managed by a private non-profit organization rather than the city as provincial changes came into effect on April 1. The changes, which are Ontario-wide, are expected to save the city millions of dollars per year, since municipalities were previously responsible for paying about 50 per cent […]

Construction is well underway on the City of Hamilton’s new $396-million bus maintenance and storage facility at 281 Birch Avenue in the Lower City, a project that is expected to be fully operational by the fall of 2026. The new bus depot is located northwest of the Barton and Sherman intersection at the corner of […]

To those Hamiltonians wondering why they all of a sudden live in a different federal riding than in the 2021 election and even than in the provincial election in February, the answer is that the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission adjusted the electoral map in a process that takes place every 10 years. The boundaries across […]

A federal election has been called for Monday, April 28, a week after Easter, and the City of Hamilton could be a key electoral battleground. In the latest news, Hamilton City Councillor John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain) is running for the Liberal Party in Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas, a riding that […]

A new report from RE/MAX Canada shows that Hamilton area housing prices have tripled over 15 years with a supply shortage, “unprecedented” population growth, and “hefty development charges” fueling the surge. The document states that the average residential price in Hamilton-Burlington was $253,887 in 2006 and rose to $879,466 in 2021 – a 246 per […]

The Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, in partnership with the Community Legal Clinic of York Region, is appealing an Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision that determined that the City of Hamilton has the right to clear homeless encampments. The appeal was filed on behalf of 14 individuals who were homeless between August 2021 and August […]

Hamilton’s season officially begins on Saturday, June 7 in Calgary, with their home opener on Saturday, June 14 against Saskatchewan. With the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Canadian Football League (CFL) training camp about two months away, their 2025 roster is beginning to take shape with some key additions including all-star receiver and two-time Grey Cup champion Kenny […]

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) released their summer flight schedule and also announced that construction work is underway on their multimillion-dollar terminal enhancement project. The biggest change to the schedule, which was announced in February, is that Porter Airlines will begin service out of Hamilton starting in June. Porter will offer direct daily […]

CityHousing Hamilton (CHH), the municipally-owned affordable housing provider in the City of Hamilton, recently announced that they have driven their vacancy rate down to an all-time low of 2.2 per cent after a peak of over 9.0 per cent in early 2023. CHH says that, on average, 40 to 50 units within their housing portfolio […]

City of Hamilton staff have begun removing encampments from parks after Council officially ended the municipal Encampment Protocol on March 6. The motion to end the Encampment Protocol was brought forward at a Jan. 15 General Issues Committee meeting by Councillor Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain) and was seconded by Councillor Tom Jackson […]

Hamilton City Council voted to approve changes to allow for the expanded procurement of local and Canadian goods, services, and construction in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff attacks on Canada. There are two methods through which the City of Hamilton awards contracts: through a Request for Quotations and through a Request for Tenders. […]

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath was in Washington D.C. from March 4 to March 7 amid the ongoing tariff war with the United States.  While the trip was for the annual Great Lakes Day advocacy event celebrated by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), the event also gave the mayor a chance to […]

The Home Renovation Savings Program is part of the Ontario government’s $10.9 billion, 12-year investment in energy efficiency. Photo Credit: Pexels.  At the end of January, the Ontario government announced the launch of a new program which will offer rebates of up to 30 per cent for home energy efficiency renovations and improvements, including new […]

Voter turnout in Hamilton’s 2022 municipal election was 35.38 per cent. Photo Credit: Pexels. City of Hamilton staff are working to improve the municipal electoral process in the city ahead of the 2026 election, but at least one recommendation from the city’s auditor general was met with concern from Councillors. Auditor General Charles Brown recommended […]

Councillor Esther Pauls (Ward 7 – Central Mountain) was acclaimed as Vice Chair. Pictured: Board Chair Don Robertson. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Services Board.  The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) Board recently announced that Shaun Padulo, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ontario Shipyards, has been appointed to serve on the board for the […]

The site is being managed by Good Shepherd Centres in partnership with the City of Hamilton. Photo Credit: Jeff Harti/LinkedIn.  The City of Hamilton’s Barton-Tiffany tiny shelter project, which has been marred by controversy and delays, has finally begun to welcome its first residents, according to a press release issued on Feb. 25. However, the […]

It’s the first time the PCs have won three seats in Hamilton since 1995. Pictured: Hamilton Mountain MPP-Elect Monica Ciriello. Photo Credit: Monica Ciriello/X.  The City of Hamilton has officially gone blue, with Premier Doug Ford’s Ontario PC Party winning three of five local seats on election night last Thursday. Donna Skelly was re-elected for […]

Hamilton is going to begin charging stormwater fees, also called a rain tax, on April 1, 2026. Pictured: Donna Skelly. Photo Credit: Donna Skelly/X.  Donna Skelly, who has served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Flamborough-Glanbrook since 2018, has vowed to prohibit municipalities from charging stormwater fees on agricultural land through a motion in […]

The 2025 property tax increase comes in slightly lower than the 5.79 per cent increase made in 2024. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X.  After weeks of deliberations, the City of Hamilton’s property tax increase for 2025 was finally made official and the hit for residents will be 5.6 per cent (an […]

The city poet receives a $10,000 honorarium each year as well as $15,000 for program-related expenses. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X.  A motion brought forward by Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) to save money by cancelling the city poet pilot program failed on an 8-8 vote during […]

Skelly is projected to easily win re-election on Feb. 27. Pictured: MPP Donna Skelly. Photo Credit: Donna Skelly/X.  Incumbent Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Donna Skelly defended the Ontario PC Party’s record in government in the Flamborough-Glanbrook election debate last week on Hamilton’s Cable 14. Skelly began the debate by saying, “I believe that this […]

The motion was seconded by Councillor Alex Wilson. Pictured: Councillor Cameron Kroetsch. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton.  At a Hamilton Council budget meeting on Feb. 7, Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton) brought forward a motion to defund the 2025 police budget that was approved by the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) Board. The […]

Other cities in Ontario have enacted similar by-laws. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X.  Hamilton City Council is considering a new bylaw to prohibit protests near places of worship after a motion at the 11-member municipal Planning Committee was passed 10-1 to have staff report back on the matter. The motion, which […]

Damptey ran for Hamilton City Council in 2022 on the West Mountain in Ward 14, losing to Councillor Mike Spadafora by only 79 votes. Photo Credit: Kojo Damptey/X.  Kojo Damptey, who was nominated as the Ontario NDP’s candidate for Hamilton Mountain in the upcoming Feb. 27 provincial election, has called for the police to be […]

Students as young as 14 can apply. Photo Credit: Pexels.  Even though summer is about five months away, many organizations across the City of Hamilton are already beginning to hire students for summer jobs. While most positions are geared towards post-secondary students, some jobs also take high school students as young as 14 years of […]

Ford says the project will help drivers get out of gridlock and keep workers working. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.  At a campaign stop in Niagara Falls at the end of January, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that his government will look to widen the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) between Burlington and […]