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 has to vacate his Council seat.
At his final Council meeting he put forward two motions for consideration, one calling for the allocation of $4.4 million in spending for 2025 from his ward’s accounts and another allocating $1.7 million in future funds for projects in 2026.
Councillors ended up approving the first motion but rejected consideration of the second motion.
Councillor Danko told Council that all of the projects are part of work “that has been ongoing for a number of years.”
“This is my last opportunity to put this forward. It’s a bit in advance of where I would have liked to have done it but like I said there’s nothing here that’s brand new,” he continued.
The first motion regarding 2025 account balances involved allocating $4.4 million in spending, including about $2.5 million for asphalt roadway restoration and complete streets roadway upgrades in the Rolston neighbourhood, $580,000 for the construction of accessibility improvements and a new artificial turf upgrade for the Westmount Secondary School football field, and $500,000 for the 2025 capital restoration of the Auchmar manor and grounds.
Some Councillors took issue with both of Danko’s requests, while others were supportive of allocating 2025 funds only.
Councillor Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek) opposed both of Danko’s motions.
Clark said, “MP-Elect Danko is moving on to higher office and as he’s going out the door he’s spending a whack ton of money.”
“And now I am being advised that it is time sensitive because he’s leaving.”
“I don’t know how one can argue that this is time sensitive simply because you’re moving on to another job and why that money wouldn’t stay there for the new incoming ward councillor.”
Danko countered by re-emphasizing that the projects listed have already been in the works.
Clark said that the situation “feels unseemly” for Danko to leave his successor with near-empty accounts.
Councillor Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek – Fruitland – Winona) agreed with Clark.
“I’m struggling, like some people around here, just as to the sheer volume and the lack of ability to review and ask the salient questions on this,” he said.
Councillor Craig Cassar (Ward 12 – Ancaster – West Flamborough) was one of the councillors who supported the first motion since the projects were already in the works, but opposed the 2026 spending, calling it “a stretch too far.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) was one of only a few councillors to support both motions.
Francis argued, “By the time the next councillor gets onboarded we’re talking they’re going to have just a matter of months to get their feet wet, they’re not going to be able to bring motions like this forward and ultimately at the end of the day that just jeopardizes the residents of Ward 8 and puts them in a bad position.”
Ultimately, Council voted 8-6 in approving Danko’s $4.4 million in spending for 2025 but rejected consideration of his second motion in a 4-10 vote.
VOTING RESULTS
To allocate $4.4 million in Ward 8 2025 funds per Danko’s requests.
IN FAVOUR (8): Councillors Craig Cassar, John-Paul Danko, Matt Francis, Tammy Hwang, Tom Jackson, Ted McMeekin, Mike Spadafora, and Mark Tadeson
AGAINST (6): Councillors Jeff Beattie, Brad Clark, Cameron Kroetsch, Nrinder Nann, Alex Wilson, and Maureen Wilson
ABSENT (2): Mayor Andrea Horwath and Councillor Esther Pauls
To consider Danko’s motion to allocate $1.7 million in Ward 8 2026 funds.
IN FAVOUR (4): Councillors John-Paul Danko, Matt Francis, Tom Jackson, and Ted McMeekin
AGAINST (10): Councillors Jeff Beattie, Craig Cassar, Brad Clark, Tammy Hwang, Cameron Kroetsch, Nrinder Nann, Mike Spadafora, Mark Tadeson, Alex Wilson, and Maureen Wilson
ABSENT (2): Mayor Andrea Horwath and Councillor Esther Pauls
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.
