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 local issues.
A press release from the city says that the delegation “focused on solutions to address public safety, economic uncertainty and improved affordability – particularly through investments in affordable and supportive housing.”
Horwath said that attending the conference gave the city the chance to “speak directly with provincial ministers about what Hamiltonians need most.”
“Every conversation was about people: the families working hard to make ends meet, the local businesses driving jobs and growth, and seniors who deserve security and support,” she continued.
“By working with the province, we’re aiming to bring real investments and resources back to Hamilton so our community can thrive together.”
In addition to Horwath, Hamilton’s delegation included Councillors Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 – Hamilton East), Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), and Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain), City Manager Marnie Cluckie, and other senior staff.
The City of Hamilton reportedly spoke directly to 10 Ontario government ministries, including the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Transportation.
Cluckie assured Hamiltonians that the city “is taking important steps to address the priorities that are top of mind in our community.”
She added, “We remain committed to delivering practical solutions that meet the needs of residents today and prepare Hamilton for the opportunities and demands of the future.”
During the conference, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé also presented an award to the City of Hamilton.
The office’s new Good Governance Award was given to the city, recognizing City Council’s decision to stop charging residents a $100 fee to file complaints to the city’s Integrity Commissioner.
“There should be no fee or other barrier to making a complaint, which is every resident’s right,” Dubé said.
“It’s an important part of any democracy, especially at the local level.”
Hamilton City Council removed the fee in June 2022.
Dubé recognized that municipalities sometimes implement fees in order to discourage “frivolous or vexatious” complaints but advised that other methods should be used to weed those out.
Charging a fee is “entirely inconsistent” with the intent of the system and “penalizes complainants for exercising their statutory rights,” he concluded.
Dubé launched the Good Governance Awards earlier this year as part of Ombudsman Ontario’s 50th anniversary.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
