Considered one of the more politically radical members of Hamilton City Council, Nann faces a tough slate of challengers, including second place finisher from 2018 Laura Farr. Pictured is behind the scenes at the Ward 3 Cable 14 debate. Photo credit: Twitter/Cable 14
The Ward 3 Cable 14 debate took place on September 14. A replay of the debate can be watched via YouTube. Sitting Councillor Nrinder Nann, largely considered to be the most politically left-wing councillor at Hamilton City Hall, is looking electorally vulnerable in a small field of candidates.
Ward 3 includes the lower city from Wellington Street until Ottawa St. The ward includes ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Hamilton General Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, Tim Horton’s Field, and Gage Park.
Advanced polls are open at Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre on the following dates:
Friday, October 7, 2022 – 10AM-8PM
Saturday, October 8, 2022 – 10AM-5PM
Friday, October 14, 2022 – 10AM-8PM
Saturday, October 15, 2022 – 10AM-5PM
Election day is Monday, October 24 and polls are open from 10AM-8PM at 11 locations across Ward 3. To find out your closest location click here.
The debate consisted of a two-minute opening statement from each candidate, questions from local media, and then an open forum period for candidates to ask each other questions.
First, Laura Farr, the 2018 runner-up, introduced herself to voters. It should be noted that Laura Farr has no relation to Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr.
Farr formerly worked for the City of Hamilton and has considerable community involvement.
Walter Furlan was next and noted that he started working in the steel mills when he was just 18 years old before switching to running a local small business which he closed down to focus on campaigning.
“Ward 3 is feeling neglected, ignored, and walked over,” he said. “The incumbent, [Nann], not only accepts this but facilitates this. We are tired of decisions being made in secret.”
“We are tired of encampments in our parks, drug use in our alleys, and vagrancy in our commercial streets. It’s time to take back our neighbourhoods,” he continued.
Next was Stan Kruchka who mentioned that he went to Cathedral High School and Mohawk College and has been involved in radio, marketing, and real estate.
Nann used her introduction to state that she has improved the quality of life in every single Ward 3 neighbourhood over the past four years.
Next, the candidates took questions from the local media panel. The panel consisted of Teviah Moro from the Hamilton Spectator and Manesa Dhanabalan from CHCH News.
Furlan, fielding a question regarding a new safe drug consumption site being put up in the ward, said that the location in question is an area with multiple daycares and primary schools and that 1,200 people have signed a petition against it.
Nann accused Furlan of “pitting one vulnerable group against another.”
When conversation turned to sex trade workers who regularly frequent Barton Street, all candidates agreed that sex worker safety is important.
But Furlan noted that sex workers regularly seek to solicit customers in front of businesses and while children are walking to schools and daycares. He said that “the normalization of this behaviour” is problematic.
Furlan’s statement solicited opposition from both Farr and Nann. Farr suggested that by forming relationships with sex workers community leaders can simply ask the workers to refrain from soliciting customers while children are about.
Nann, meanwhile, said that it’s “unfortunate” that Furlan would accuse her of normalizing the solicitation of sex work since “it’s the oldest trade that has existed since time immemorial.”
Nann also called Furlan’s opposition to more safe injection sites in Ward 3 “fearmongering”.
Candidates Farr, Nann, and Kruchka also spoke of the possibility of eliminating HSR fares. While Furlan said that free transit is great, finding the funds to pay for it is a “big problem.”
“We can’t be increasing taxes. It’s too much for homeowners,” he said.
2022 Candidates (Alphabetical by Last Name)
FALLETTA, Michael – Absent from Debate
FARR, Laura – Present at Debate
FURLAN, Walter – Present at Debate
KRUCHKA, Stan – Present at Debate
NANN, Nrinder – Present at Debate
2018 Election Results
Nrinder Nann – 2,618 – 33.96% (Elected)
Laura Farr – 1,471 – 19.08%
Ned Kuruc – 1,066 – 13.83%
Amanda Salonen – 552 – 7.16%
Dan Smith – 474 – 6.15%
Alain Bureau – 314 – 4.07%
Milena Balta – 269 – 3.49%
Stephen Rowe – 232 – 3.01%
Brendan Kavanaugh – 213 – 2.76%
Tony Lemma – 196 – 2.54%
Kristeen Sprague – 120 – 1.56%
Steven Paul Denault – 100 – 1.30%
Keith Beck – 83 – 1.08%
Note that the author of this article, Kevin Geenen, is running for Ward 5 City Council Hamilton (Gray Rd to Red Hill Parkway plus the Beach Strip). Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Kevin Geenen reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on social media. He is a regular contributor with The Hamilton Independent and has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. He is known for Hamilton Neighbourhood Watch crime updates and no-nonsense news graphics. 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 from Governor General David Johnston. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. He currently works as a journalistic writer and office administrator.
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.
