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 […]
The motion put forward by Councillor John-Paul Danko passed unanimously in a 16 to 0 vote. Pictured: Councillor John-Paul Danko. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. A motion brought forward by Councillor John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain) to have city staff review the city’s controversial tiny shelter purchase was approved by Hamilton Council on […]
The projects in question would provide 440 units of affordable housing and 435 supportive housing units. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. In January the City of Hamilton announced that they are distributing $8.2 million for 11 different affordable housing projects through the new Affordable Housing Development Project Stream. Some of the […]
In response to the findings, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath called for more funds from provincial and federal governments. Pictured: Mayor Andrea Horwath. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. A new report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), which represents Ontario’s 444 municipal governments, has determined that more than 80,000 people in Ontario experienced homelessness […]
Porter Airlines will offer daily flights to Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and Vancouver. Photo Credit: Hamilton International Airport Play Airlines, which has been offering flights to Europe out of Hamilton International Airport since 2023, recently announced that they will be ceasing their operations in the city. However, that report was followed up by the news earlier […]
The proposed tax increase is now down to 5.7 per cent. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. Hamilton city staff have whittled down the average property tax increase slightly over the past few weeks, but even with current numbers taxpayers appear set to pay an extra $288 in 2025. Staff originally projected […]
The Integrity Commissioner found Kroetsch’s failure to disclose close relationships with encampment lawyers violated Council’s Code of Conduct. Pictured: Councillor Cameron Kroetsch. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. The City of Hamilton’s Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian recently determined that Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton) was in violation of the Council Code of Conduct […]
Jama announced that she will officially be running as an independent. Pictured: MPP Sara Jama with NDP Leader Marit Stiles in 2023. Photo Credit: Marit Stiles/X. With Premier Doug Ford calling a snap provincial election for Thursday, Feb. 27, controversial Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama made one last attempt to run as an Ontario NDP […]
The province is planning for all HART Hubs to be operational by April 1, 2025. Pictured: Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. Photo Credit: Sylvia Jones/X. The Government of Ontario recently announced that Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre is one of nine approved applicants from across the province to be the site […]
A motion with instructions to staff passed the Public Health Subcommittee earlier this month. Pictured: Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. A motion for Hamilton city staff to study the feasibility of implementing a local public health wastewater surveillance program passed at a Public Health Subcommittee meeting earlier this month. The […]
The City will be charging a vacancy tax if a property is vacant for more than half the year. Created by Dall-E Two new programs implemented by City Council are set to have an impact in 2025, with the municipality’s Vacant Unit Tax set to begin and the new anti-renoviction bylaw already in effect as […]
The tax would have had to be approved by the provincial government. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. A Jan. 15 report by City of Hamilton staff outlining how the municipality could go about trying to implement a Municipal Land Transfer Tax was shut down by the local realtors’ association, with Council […]
The Bulldogs have been purchased by Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman and his family. Photo Credit: Brantford Bulldogs/Facebook. Hamilton hockey fans who were holding out hope that the Bulldogs would return to the city once the Hamilton Arena Project is complete were disappointed last week when it was announced that the team signed an agreement […]
Parks will be cleared gradually, beginning on March 6. Photo Credit: Pexels. Last week Hamilton City Council voted 13-2 in favour of clearing encampments from parks starting March 6 and rescinding the Encampment Protocol which they previously enacted. City staff noted that enforcement will happen gradually. The move comes after an Ontario Superior Court of […]
It remains unclear what venue was involved in hosting the group before the eventual cancellation. Pictured: City of Hamilton. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. Radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada, the Canadian branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir has officially cancelled their annual conference, which was set to be held in Hamilton, after public outcry and a […]
Ontarians do not need to apply for the rebate. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X. The Government of Ontario has announced that their $200 rebate for all eligible Ontario taxpayers will be going out in late January or early February. Ontarians do not need to apply for the rebate. The rebate cheque […]
The agreement creates dedicated learner spaces in high-demand programs. Photo Credit: Pexels. Mohawk College and Niagara College recently announced a collaboration that will help to keep health-care students studying locally. The agreement creates dedicated learner spaces in high-demand programs for each college’s Pre-Health Sciences graduates. Under the agreement, Mohawk College will reserve spaces for Niagara […]
The court did leave in place some restrictions, however. Pictured: Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons. An Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision has determined that the City of Hamilton has the right to clear homeless encampments, albeit with certain restrictions. The decision, made by Justice James Ramsay in Heegsma v. Hamilton […]
Forty tiny shelters were meant to have been ready by mid-December. Photo Credit: Jeff Harti/LinkedIn. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath’s plan to have 40 tiny shelters available by mid-December to house the homeless has still not come to fruition. Instead, the project has been marred by controversy and delays with multiple questions asked about the contractor […]
A vote on the budget is scheduled for Jan. 28. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Service. With the 2025 Hamilton Police Services (HPS) budget set to be debated by Council at a General Issues Committee meeting on Jan. 28, the Downtown Hamilton business improvement areas (BIAs) and an extensive list of businesses wrote letters expressing their […]
City Council’s decision had its desired effect downtown. Photo Credit: Pexels. A report from city staff shows that City Council’s 2023 downtown truck ban has significantly reduced truck traffic in the core, but has caused a large increase in truck volume on the Red Hill Valley Parkway and Lincoln Alexander Parkway. Data shows that heavy […]
The previous 10-year naming rights agreement has officially expired. Photo Credit: Hamilton Tiger-Cats/X. The Hamilton Sports Group, which holds the long-term stadium lease for Tim Hortons Field and also owns the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Forge FC, has announced that the east-end venue will be renamed. The Hamilton Sports Group is led by businessman Bob Young, […]
Staff are being directed to bring the strategy before Council later this year. Pictured: Hamilton City Council. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. Hamilton City Council recently voted for staff to develop a 10-year Downtown Revitalization Strategy as issues such as crime and homelessness continue to plague businesses, contributing to rising office and storefront vacancies. The […]
The new rec centres are part of 85 recommendations in the city’s Recreation Master Plan. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. The City of Hamilton is beginning plans for three new community recreation centres which will be located in Glanbrook, Fruitland-Winona, and Waterdown. The city already held in-person engagement sessions in each […]
Dr. Timsy Bhando is based out of McMaster University. Pictured: Dr. Timsy Bhando. Photo Credit: Timsy Bhando/LinkedIn. Dr. Timsy Bhando, a researcher based out of Hamilton’s McMaster University, recently won a prestigious award for her work developing a new natural drug that has the potential to treat dementia, depression, and brain diseases. Bhando’s newly discovered […]
Hamilton is ranked as the fifth most dangerous city in Ontario. Photo Credit: iStock. A new study by Toronto-based insurance technology company MyChoice Financial Inc shows that Hamilton ranks among the most dangerous cities in Ontario for driving. The ratings, based on MyChoice’s internal data, show Hamilton as the fifth most dangerous city in Ontario. […]
A new $15-million facility will feature three separate hangars. Photo Credit: Hamilton International Airport/Facebook. John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) will soon be the site of a new $15-million facility that will feature three separate hangars that will reportedly be designed to incorporate “an array of premium services.” The new multi-use Fixed-Base Operator facility […]
The by-election will be held on Jan. 6. Pictured: Candidate Abby Zaitley. Photo Credit: Abby Zaitley Campaign Website. Abby Zaitley, who is running to be the next trustee for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) in Ward 4 (East Hamilton), recently campaigned with controversial Member of Provincial Parliament Sarah Jama and President of CUPE Ontario […]
Grocery prices next year will rise by $800, report predicts. Photo Credit: iStock. The 2025 Canada Food Price Report, a collaboration between Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, University of British Columbia, and University of Saskatchewan researchers, predicts groceries next year for a typical family of four will cost $801.56 more than in 2024. The research […]
Chief Bergen explained to the Board that the increase is necessary to sustain core services. Pictured: HPS Chief Frank Bergen. Photo Credit: HPS. The Hamilton Police Services Board approved the proposed 2025 net operating and capital budget of about $227.1 million for the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), representing a combined increase of $12.25 million or 5.7 […]
A new patient care tower will see the addition of 100 new inpatient beds. Pictured: Premier Doug Ford and MPP Donna Skelly. Photo Credit: Donna Skelly/X. The Ontario government recently announced an additional $10 million to support the redevelopment of Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) Juravinski Hospital in what will be the single-largest health infrastructure project […]
Collins has not yet said whether or not he will be running again. Pictured: Chad Collins. Photo Credit: Chad Collins/X. Local Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Chad Collins put himself at odds with his own party over the past couple days, first opposing his party’s rebate cheque plan saying that it should […]
McMaster will receive $4 million in federal funding to help make the project happen. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Images. Hamilton’s McMaster University has received $4 million in funding to go towards their plans for the new Centre for Collaborative Chemistry (C3). The funding is coming from the Government of Canada’s Federal Economic Development Agency for […]
The move represents an increase of $96 over the 2024 average of $965. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton Hamilton City Council confirmed the 2025 water rate budget last week and Hamilton households will see a 9.95 per cent increase compared to 2024. For 2025, a typical Hamilton household consuming 200 cubic metres of water annually […]
Hamilton was scammed over $800,000 after staff fell for two separate imposter vendor scams. Pictured: City Manager Marnie Cluckie. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton. The annual Fraud and Waste Report from the Office of the Auditor General regarding City of Hamilton resources concludes that the municipality suffered $2.35 million in losses due to waste and […]
Two buildings from the mid-1800s collapsed last month. Pictured: Wreckage from King Street building collapse. Photo Credit: Cameron Kroetsch/X. The City of Hamilton has been left with serious questions from Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, councillors, and the public alike after the dangerous collapse of a building across from Gore Park last month. The city says […]
The by-election is being held in Ward 4. Photo Credit: Pexels. The City of Hamilton has announced that an upcoming Jan. 6, 2025 trustee by-election in the city’s Ward 4 (East Hamilton) will allow for online voting for the first time. Ward 4 runs north-south from Hamilton Harbour to the Escarpment and east-west from the […]
The Hot Mali Squad has been connected to various types crimes. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Service Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, and Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario recently announced that they have made 25 arrests as part of an investigation called Project Churchill that targeted a Hamilton-based street gang. The gang, […]
New legislation will expand presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and other members of his government were in Hamilton recently to announce new legislation that, if passed, will expand presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters. The announcement was made at the Hamilton Fire Department […]
Hamilton will need about 34,000 more homes than expected by 2051. Photo Credit: Mountainview Homes New population estimates from the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Finance project that Hamilton’s population in 2051 will be over 80,000 people higher than expected. Previous population forecasts from the Urban Hamilton Official Plan predicted that Hamilton will have a […]
“Headwinds continue” for the airport’s passenger operations. Photo Credit: WestJet/X. Cole Horncastle, the Executive Managing Director for John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport recently provided a detailed update to Council’s Airport Sub-Committee that detailed “significant challenges” for the airport’s passenger operations. On the other hand, the airport is forecasted to see an annual increase in […]
The number of fires in Hamilton increased by 16 per cent between 2020 and 2022. Photo Credit: Flickr. A recently released Community Risk Assessment Report from the Hamilton Fire Department (HFD) says that Hamilton is now at a “high risk” for residential fires. Additionally, data shows a year over year increase in the number of […]
It is unclear what policies the city will introduce to accelerate the timeline. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. Amid controversial Council policies, including the recently introduced Green Building Standards, the City of Hamilton has announced that they are now looking to accelerate their goal of achieving “net zero emissions” by 2050. […]
Two players and Coach Smyrniotis received awards. Pictured: Tristan Borges. Photo Credit: Forge FC. Hamilton’s Forge FC soccer club finished their 2024 season on Nov. 9 after a 2-1 loss to Cavalry FC (Calgary, Alberta) in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) Final. Cavalry had never won a CPL Final, losing their two previous appearances to […]
An additional $20.5 million will be added to 2025 budget to cover costs. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton/X. City of Hamilton staff presented a report at the Nov. 20 General Issues Committee that costs incurred so far in response to the municipality’s cyberattack recovery have now increased to $9.6 million. The […]