The "tipping point". Has Hamilton passed through this imaginary wall and as the Hamilton Spectator suggests are we driving full speed ahead?
I've wrestled with this question before. We Hamiltonians have seen if we've been on the planet for 50 plus years the best of times, those times when we were Canada's heavy industrial and manufacturing engine, and the worst of times certainly from 1995 to 2005 when we hit rock bottom. Now how would you describe these times?
We certainly are well beyond rock bottom with new industries arriving almost every day, new young and bright entrepreneurs buying up homes where we least expected them to be bought and with building permits continuing their massive roll, but!
The definition of "tipping point" is this; the "tipping point" is the critical point in an evolving situation that leads to a new and irreversible development.
Do cranes on our skyline suggest an irreversible development? Not really since you couldn't find one in the city for thirty years.
Do plans for development suggest an irreversible development in Hamilton? Call me cynical but until I see actual shovels in the ground we haven't passed nor even approached this city's "tipping point".
Here are four huge "tipping point" issues we face.
- US Steel and the final resolution for that massive property. Will it once again make steel, join the agri-business or be returned to the people?
- LRT
- West Harbour
- Piers 7 and 8 redevelopment.
When this city has resolutions to these issues we'll be on our way to that "tipping point" line.
Here are 19 more properties and projects that will help tip me over the line to an irreversible development.

First, we have a plethora of useless pavement in this city. Think about the useless pavement that was a gas station but now sits empty on the south-west corner of Lime Ridge Mall facing the Royal Canadian Legion. Imagine how a medical/health clinic might look sitting just off the Linc servicing the under serviced and rapidly growing mountain population. Heck I'd take a victory/community garden over pavement.
Secondly, the next time you drive along Mohawk at Upper Sherman check out the useless pavement that begins at the North West corner and runs along the entire frontage of the Walmart/Beer store combo. Talk about useless urban sprawl.
Thirdly let us make our way to 100 Cumberland, yep the former Life Savers building. There is some life there right now but there could be a lot more. You see when I see that structure totally utilised again, now we're talkin' irreversible.
Fourthly do you remember how jammed the parking lot was north of our old bus terminal when GO Service used to run from there. Now it's virtually abandoned except for ragged cement barriers and weeds. Across the way to the west of John off Rebecca more pavement. This parking lot at least gets some use but folks this is prime downtown land and until I see plans for redevelopment of deserted pavement I can't push myself into believing we have reached the "tipping point".
More to the parking lot point, we were told when McMaster took over the former Board of Education property that the parking lot at King and Bay was slated for future development. All I hear is crickets.
Let's cross the street to the south west corner of King and Bay. Once upon a time it was developed, now more parking featuring the grade 12 biology work book on weeds.
To the corner of Queen and Main we go, the south west corner again. Once a gas station it now features a sign suggesting Frisina will do something some day. Hello we need to know when someday is.
To another critical corner in our downtown we go, King and Hughson. The former thriving Kresges building which also played host to a Delta Bingo until two Januaries ago sits empty. Surely with significant restoration work going on kitty corner to the King William and Hughson door someone one of these days will wake up and see the possibilities of density or restoration or both.
You see for me to believe in an irreversible trend or a "tipping point" event happening in my city I need to see the holes we've created plugged with what I would hope would be imaginative uses. The block bounded by James, Main, King and Hughson has huge gaps and there are tentative plans to plug those gaps but how far off might they be?
Lets cross James and stand where Robinson's once stood. It's actually a very sad feeling.
Further north the corner that was Keneskey's is gone, surrounded by huge cement blocks. Now that's progress.
Let's look from the downtown to the god awful hole along the Claremont. How many years now since the slide? When will the rest of this cladding come sliding down? We are told another consultants report is coming this fall. Big deal. When the price tag is revealed to be in the millions this council will likely say driver beware!
One could go on and on. Please do add to my list, like the corner of John and Main or the Cotton Mill building on Cannon at Mary or how about the former City Motor Hotel property, and Sir John A. MacDonald high school. What will happen to Hill Park and Delta. My head is starting to hurt.
Folks the "tipping point" can and will be reached because we are on a roll but as the kids used to say from the rear seat "are we there yet", nope.

He's back!

It's kind of funny that my last blog post had to deal with a presentation from the Good Shepherd in 2012 seeking a bit of loan relief from the city. Not quite ironic but my very next job was in the not for profit sector as Director of Development at Neighbour to Neighbour. In that position which I held for three years you don't write opinions about events in your city. Your job is to reach out to all sectors of this great city of ours seeking to raise funds for a variety of programming that helps those who are less fortunate than others have a better daily living experience, and so Farraway's Hamilton went into limbo.
Forget limbo, we're back.
Now why are we back?
As some of you know (those who care to follow Hamilton politics) I was one of 22 candidates in the recent Ward 7 by-election. In fact while walking along the bay front this morning with the grand doggy Yogi, I met a chap I hadn't conversed with in over 20 years. The first question out of his month wasn't how's the wife and family, his first words were "why in god's name would you want to get elected to join that nest of vipers?". Hmmm.
I wanted to serve.
I wanted to have an impact.
I wanted to lend my expertise to the significant issues of the day, from transit and LRT, to affordable housing, ward boundary review and the development of Piers 7 and 8 just to name a few.
Even thought it didn't happen (and I have no regrets) I did immerse myself in issues and questions I had never concerned myself with before like Inclusionary Housing and health care provision in this city.
I was reminded about health care provision while driving on Main West past the HHS West end clinic this very day. It reminded me of broken promises from Hamilton Health Sciences 8 years ago for a South Mountain health clinic. It reminded me of the far sighted (not) decision to shut down Chedoke some 20 years ago. Now that HHS and it's highly transparent board (not) have decided to pull out of McMaster and St. Peter's over the next decade (and trust me it will happen sooner than later) I am reminded of the lack of health provision for the fastest growing areas of our city. With all due respect to Waterdown and lower Stoney Creek,  the most serious growth continues to be found in Wards 6,7,8, 9 and 11. For some of those folks it's a pretty easy hop, skip and a jump to get to Centennial and King for some basic health care. But for the vast majority there is only the emergency at Juravinski servicing a mountain population that is conservatively estimated to be in those five wards, at well over 200,000 people (subtract small chunks of wards 9 and 11 below the escarpment while adding a small chunk of ward 12 which would be better serviced by a south mountain clinic, and remember these are 2011 numbers it's safe to say the real number is closer to 210,000 people).

Think about some of the decisions made by the HHS over the last 20 years.
They closed the emergency at Chedoke because it was under utilized (they said). They took out operating rooms and slowly but surely began to shut it down acre by acre, building by building and now service by service, indeed recently having the audacity to ask the city to help subsidize the final removal of staff to the under utilized Stelco tower downtown. Did anyone at HHS consult city planners about the expected explosion of growth that took place on Upper Hornung, in the Meadowlands all the way to Redeemer and on the South side of Rymal in gated communities like Garth Trails? Apparently not.
Eight years ago while announcing the closure of adult emergency at McMaster (which we were told would take care of the under utilized patrons of Chedoke) a South Mountain Health clinic was promised. Six months after said promise the West End Clinic was born. The South Mountain which hasn't grown a tad in those 8 years (insert sarcasm here)  remains a health provision desert. And how did that promise get broken? The west end, Ancaster and Dundas jumped up and down screaming bloody murder. HHS caved.
Now HHS is pulling out of Mac and building an entirely new building/division near Hamilton General to take care of children's and women's health issues while closing St. Peter's and telling Hamilton residents that if they need day surgery they'll be able to travel to Grimsby to get it.
Really?
The opaque and out of touch HHS board is going to get away with this boondoggle because not one Councillor in this city has raised any argument with not only the announcement but the HHS decision making process. I don't want to sound like a whining mountain resident but when the population of the south mountain wards is virtually tied with the population of the old lower city don't you think we deserve better than 12 over crowded emergency beds jammed into a building as far away from the current growth hot spots as they possibly could be? Don't you think based on the taxes paid on the mountain that consideration should be given to a south mountain medical facility to take care of the daily breaks and hurts that don't need to clog an emergency? I don't think this is whining. I think the facts speak for themselves. The mountain and outlying communities like Mount Hope and Binbrook are under serviced and frankly ambulance response times are only going to grow if something isn't done. The lower city currently has a children's hospital, the General, St. Joe's and two clinics serving the west and east ends plus a new facility to built near the General. The mountain?

A tale of two presentations.

A fairly decent agenda for a July General Issues Committee meeting. Let's see, Merulla has a notice of motion coming regarding gambling in Hamilton that had everyone a twitter last week (didn't happen, held over until August) and oh the Mayor felt the need to be school teacher regarding the ownership of the Centennial Parkway rail bridge which he managed to explain three times to anyone who would listen ( I stopped at one and a half, me slow and bad) and then there was the presentation by the Good Shepherd folks proud owners of the Good Shepherd Square doing good work in Hamilton for dozens of years. I've left out at this point the potential very big story of the day (probably will get the biggest headlines for what didn't happen) because I want to juxtapose the grilling received by the Good Shepherd vs the other supplicant for city money, a fella by the name of Darko. More about him in a moment but first, what was up with the grilling of the Good Shepherd?
Here's the background; once upon a time they proposed an over 50 million dollar project, a consolidation/expansion if you would of their services. They announced fund raising, and then they announced Provincial and Federal grant monies. Today they were basically asking for a 5 million dollar interest free loan to be applied at a million a year over the next five years to help bridge their fund raising efforts. You'd have thought they had a brought a bag of dumpster garbage with them. Councillor Terry Whitehead from Hamilton's Ward 8 grilled them about guarantees the city would get it's money back, questioned staff regarding Hamilton's credit rating, and pondered out loud which current unfunded capital projects would have to be bumped in order to give this agency it's five million. All legitimate concerns and questions. Judy Partridge from Ward 15 wanted to know the organisation's overall debt load and was city staff aware of that total? She tried that one twice but I'm not sure she actually got the answer she was looking for. An aside; when you go before council asking for taxpayers money don't you think you should have audited financials in hand or better yet, distributed before the meeting to the people actually voting on your request? Not so today although the Good Shepherd folks kept assuring councillors they would get them the information requested. At the end of the day the Future Fund Board was going to be asked to consider funding this request of the city with the unspent velodrome funds they had forwarded to the city when the velodrome was still on our Pan Am games radar. Talk about passing the buck. In the end I suspect that board will request the funds back from the city and then ponder what to do with it next with no guarantees it will be applied to the Good Shepherd. In fact I suspect the Good Shepherd as early as the August meeting of the GIC will be back hat in hand asking about option number 2 which is a five million dollar loan carrying a 2.2 per cent interest charge which basically keeps the city's credit rating unaffected.
Now to the crux of this story, yes I know, burying the lead again.
The very next time on the agenda was a request for a nine million dollar loan, interest free loan by the way from the Downtown Multi-Residential Property Investment Program to help pay a quarter of the development cost of a hotel at the corner of Bay and George or 40 Bay Street South opposite the west end of Jackson Square. It's a Homewood Suites Hotel operated by Hilton rising 15 stories and providing 182 badly needed suites (why do I still want to call them hotel rooms?) commercial opportunities and 110 parking spots. Hey a big chunk of the even bigger development Mr. Darko Vranich has been pursuing for a decade, the redevelopment of almost the entire block bounded by Main, Bay, Caroline and George. You've seen the demolition and you have seen the cranes operating, my goodness cranes operating downtown, and that's why I wonder does Mr. Vranich now have the city of Hamilton over a barrel? Think about it. The always media shy Darko Vranich was at the GIC to answer any questions any member of council might have had about this project. For five million the Good Shepherd took some heat, in fact had some body parts pressed close to the grill. Mr. Vranich? Nothing. No really, any questions? Nadda. No really, how about dust from the ongoing demolitions? Nope. Well what about dumping dirt illegally on vacant properties? Nothing. Well then maybe some one will ask about guarantees for the nine million interest free loan. Silence. Well maybe someone will ask how come the Good Shepherd was grilled and the "good" developer was not. He's right here for crying out loud. Anyone? Crickets. Not one question about guarantees, the hotel market place right now, the Canadian economy, nothing about this impacting on other projects, no concerns about the city's almost billion dollar debt that just expanded by nine million dollars (I know it hasn't hit council yet but that's a formality).
It truly is a tale of two presentations, or is it solitudes, or in fact isn't it really about two different cities, the one most of us play in and the other that can be influenced apparently. Your opinions are welcome.

I think I'm going to burst!

Goodbye, Parkside, Highland, Delta, Sir John A. Macdonald, Mountain, Parkview, Hill Park and Barton. So long. I didn't go to any of those schools but I already miss them. Why you ask? Schools form the heart of communities and neighbourhoods. Schools become oh so much more than education facilities. They generally host arts and culture groups and  play a role in outreach to the surrounding community with their bright and young capable minds. They are the centre for food drives, environmental clean ups and sports tournaments. In many cases businesses have located as close as possible to these schools to service (ok make some money but there's nothing wrong with that) in general over a thousand potential customers. These brick and mortar neighbourhood entrepots are at the centre of all that is considered good and bad in a neighbourhood with heavy emphasis on the good. But now due to the lack of spine featured by many long serving school board trustees these neighbourhood focal points will be closed as education is gutted in Dundas, the central lower city of Hamilton and the central mountain.
Where to begin? How about we begin with the lack of renovations over the last decade to most of these schools which is now being used as an excuse to close them in favour of new super schools. Many of the same trustees blindly followed staff recommendations to do nothing while science labs decayed and central plant fell behind the times. This hasn't happened overnight. The neglect at some of these schools is almost criminal and now kids will pay the price. When ARC's were set up to study the closure or renovation question were some schools left off the consideration list? Absolutely. My old school, Westmount was not considered which makes the whole process patently ridiculous. Thirdly where is the new mountain high school going to be located? South east of Limeridge and the Linc we're told. Well based on the way population and demographic shifts are taking place I'd suggest this new school be built as far south as possible because the old city growth is not going to stop at the hydro lines or Twenty Rd, it's going to keep on heading south especially if Aerotropolis takes flight and/or new business announcements take place near Canada Bread. I guess I'm ready to burst because a kid living at Upper Wellington and Concession who might have had a decent hike to Hill Park is now going to be on a bus for at least half an hour each way trying to get to this new school to be built somewhere. I guess I'm ready to burst because a historical building like Delta is now under threat and that a relatively new building like Sir John A. is going to be shut down. If you're a kid living under the brow on say Ferguson Ave. just where will you be going to school?
This group of trustees has just decimated education in this city upending the lives of kids who in 2015 should be enjoying their final year of high school instead of wondering if they should take a brick home as a souvenir. The least scrutinised politicians in this city have just pulled off history. They have done more injury to families, kids, neighbourhoods and this community then any debate about the location of a football stadium did or could. They ought to be ashamed and yet with a multiplicity of school boards in Ontario competing for students and fighting over catchment basins can they be entirely held at fault? Nope, there's lots of fault to be shared with staff and with the Ministry of Education. On the morning after go ahead and shed a tear for a Blue Baron, a Ram, a Panther, a Hawk, a member of the Blue and Gold or a Red Raider because a dark cloud just settled over their present and future likely eliminating their past.

Burden of proof!

It is awkward isn't it? Those pesky ward boundaries defy logic. Rob Pasuta out in 14 represents just under 15 thousand people, some cows, a Lion Safari and a race track in some peril because of the Provincial Government. While in Ward 7 Scott Duvall represents a rapidly expanding chunk of the city stretching from the brow to the former city limits and closing on 60 thousand citizens as long time dormant chunks of land fill in with development. Seems unfair right? Obviously the numbers suggest it must be, and so some citizens think we need to change those boundaries since Council itself has determined to wait until after the elections still over two years away. With five hundred signatures on a petition the citizenry of Hamilton can get the ball rolling, the debate engaged even if that debate takes them to a higher authority in this case the Ontario Municipal Board. These engaged citizens believe that an example has already been set with the city of London and so a template exists for change.
I'm not sure change is actually necessary and the burden of proof that citizens are somehow being disenfranchised or somehow under serviced by their political representative will be a hard case to make.
Here are a couple of reasons why the boundaries are the way they are. The first is fairly obvious and it's called amalgamation. Some folks were dragged kicking and screaming to the bosom of mother Hamilton. They worried about identity, about an increase in taxes etc, you know all about that debate and some over time compromise has been found on a number of subjects including area rating that have calmed the get the hell out of Hamilton at any cost forces of de-amalgamation.
To those who still believe in representation by population as yourself how would you change the boundary of Dundas? You can extend the boundary of Stoney Creek further to the east but at the cost of ward 11. Are you thinking of adding another ward? If so then the only logical place to put the ward would be south of Stone Church running like a strip mall across the south end of the old city taking away from wards 6 7 and 8. If you do add a ward you are adding under that scenario another vote to old Hamilton creating a 9 to 7 urban vs rural/urban split, a split that I would bet wouldn't sit to well with the 7.
Ask yourself as well, is representation by population done anywhere in this country? The answer is no it can't be.
Any two riding's in Toronto have a greater population than all of Prince Edward Island with has four Federal riding's for a population of 141 thousand. That's not representation by population, that's about a constitution and the nature of the island. I give full marks to any MPP who covers hundreds of square miles by car, and float plane in Norther Ontario to service a riding like Kenora-Rainy River which does not have any relationship to lets say Hamilton Centre. Where the issues differ from rural to urban it really doesn't matter and it really can't be helped if there is no representation by pop.
Rob Pasuta brings great knowledge of rural Ontario and the issues its farmers, workers and residents face every day. That voice needs to be heard and that expertise presented even if the Councillor only has 14 thousand voices to represent. They are in some ways a unique 14 thousand within our city  that Councillor Duvall might struggle to represent, and yet he is fully capable of representing a ward where people have very like urban issues to deal with. Think of the enormity of problems that come across the desk of Councillor Brenda Johnson in ward 11. From the PFOS pollution issue, to the expansion of the airport to industrial parks to expanding rural communities like Binbrook to discussions about Marinas along the lake to the protection of fruit lands along Highway 8 this councillor needs to be nimble and frankly quite mobile to do everything she does and in my opinion does well. Heck she even has a mall and transportation node to deal with at Fifty Road.
For the citizens who are pushing this petition and the very real dream of rep by pop, you are to be commended, however if you do manage to take this to a higher authority the theory itself will not and can not trigger action in your favour. Although the Federal Government has added more riding's to growing population provinces Ontario still does not receive what it should based on that principle. Is that right? No it is not, but it is also the law and it is a precedent that has long been established.
And so now the burden of proof that I mentioned before is on the petitioners to show that this Hamilton Council or any individual on this council is not pulling their fair weight or is not servicing the needs of his or her constituents. For a further explanation of that point check out my interview with ward 8's Terry Whitehead from last Thursdays For the Record "council edition". You can find that interview at "youtube.com/c14ftr".
In my opinion it will be hard to show that council is not doing it's job. It will be even harder to prove that any single member of this council no matter the population base is not doing his or her job.
Lastly this city is growing by leaps and bounds. I've mentioned the in fill in 6 7 and 8. Take a look at the developments at highways 5 and 6 and further north. Ancaster is ever growing out it's back door and the urban boundary of Stoney Creek is now under review and folks have you driven along Rymal Rd recently? The growth there is unbelievable. All of this growth is getting national notice because Hamilton is on the move which suggests more able representation by this council than not. This growth also suggests that if you started to change boundaries now, your changes would be out of date within two years. Petitioners you will need to make a very compelling case, which we will all watch with great anticipation.

Brian Burke has failed!

I haven't really written a lick of sports unless it's Hamilton oriented since leaving the sports media business last September. OK I didn't leave I was punted. Whatever.
It's time however to lay out my views for what they are worth.
The subject happens to revolve around my favourite team now the only team not to make the playoffs since the lockout, and that is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Indeed a new category looms for this teams ineptitude if there's a lockout this fall; the only team not to make the playoffs between "the" lockouts. Can't wait.
Brian Burke said on his arrival in Toronto that he could not start from the ground up for the Toronto market place demanded better. Mistake number one.
Brian Burke upon his arrival in Toronto said he would have a big, fast and rambunctious team. If Colby Armstrong playing with Tim Connolly is the epitome of the above description than I and other Leafs fans misinterpreted. This team has never played tough and never made their building a place to avoid. Mistake number two.
Brian Burke knew coming to Toronto that he needed a first line centre, like a really good first line centre. He has Mikhail Grabovski who at times can be brilliant, but he's no true number one. Mistake number three.
Brian Burke knew when he came to Toronto that he would need a top ten NHL goalie. He hasn't found one yet. Mistake number four.
Ron Wilson. Mistake number five.
Phil Kessel. Mistake number six. I have defended THE  trade numerous times. I'm through defending. If 29 other teams leave Phil to his own devices, he's an excellent player. The moment any of those 29 lay on the body he disappears. Watch his body language around the big boys who hit in the league, especially Zdeno Chara. Phil looks like a deer in the headlights.
I know, I know, not to many people like playing against Chara but at least they show up for work.
What to do smart guy you might say? They need to do what they probably should have done years ago and that's make sure they are the worst damn team in the league next year. They have tried the trading route and the free agent signing route. They've spent as much as they can without success. The only other recourse to blowing it all up and going with the kids is to fire Brian Burke and that's not likely to happen. Brian himself could offer up another alternative which is a resignation letting someone else have a go at it. Why so down on Brian? I'm fed up with my team losing. I'm sick to death of sitting down to watch them and then turning to another channel when they let in two goals on four shots in seven minutes. I've shut them off this season more often than I've watched them to the conclusion of a game. In other words my blue and white affection is disappearing against my will.
What should they do? Oh boy where to start? They need to find a keeper but there aren't any under the age of 35 who are worth a damn on the free agent market.
They need to eliminate the right side of their defence. Schenn has regressed, Komisarek is passed his due date and the captain outside of his big shot really isn't a good skater, nor a real tough guy. He is making way too much money to be just mediocre. Liles has just been given an extension which may also turn out to be a mistake. Prior to his concussion he was playing terrific offencive hockey, but after he came back his offencive stats headed south of his defencive stats and that's saying something. Gardiner and Gunnarsson and Franson are keepers because they all have an upside. Up front, thanks for the scoring Phil but with two more years left on that deal I won't be able to watch him without thinking of Tyler Seguin let alone Taylor Hall. Tim Connolly was a gulp decision last summer and he has now proven the Sabres correct. He is also passed his due date unless we want to use him as a third line checking centre man. You don't want to do that! Fine! He and Mathew Lombardi can help each other move.
Colby Armstrong? A chirpy bust.
Mike Brown? More hustle than most but really we can't do better?
Jay Rosehill? Time for a permanent stay in the "A".
I'd keep Lupul because I think he has found his way back from purgatory in Anaheim and to me he was the best Leaf until his injury.
I like Frattin's speed, Bozak's creativity, Kulemin's work ethic and MacArthur's quick release. I'd keep them along with Mikhail. Joey Crabb can play on my team any time because he will go into Chara's corner even if it's just to find Phil. Big David Steckel I'd keep around for face offs and special teams. Joe Colborne in my opinion will never be. And Nazem Kadri? Don't get me started. He might be the second coming of Ramzi Abid.
There is some talent on the Marlies that may grow into NHL talent over the next couple of years but,  until this collection of players is bolstered by real leaders it's not going anywhere. If anyone thinks that we are just one trade away from the playoffs well, I have a railway system in Northern Ontario I can sell you.

This is no tempest in a tea pot!

This notion that people are sick to death of the Peggy Chapman affair is plain wrong. Every where I go people ask, "what's up with the Mayor?". Even for those people who would rather talk about anything else than a significant pay increase for the Mayor's Executive Assistant here's why this story needs to be seen out to it's conclusion hopefully tomorrow night, and why it's important for our city.
Number one, I think everyone would agree that upon further review back in December the Mayor in his efforts to lay blame elsewhere for a 33 per cent pay increase or 30 thousand dollars for Ms Chapman gave himself a black eye. This was a self inflicted punch to the face. His office leaked the amount and when people began asking questions he tried to suggest that Human Resources approached him about a review of the EAs pay. That was patently false and when staff called him on it, he backed down and admitted he instigated the review and then made the decision. It really wasn't about the money, it was more about the Mayor once a little bit of heat was applied to the front burner trying to slide away and blame someone else. When council heard the details they called the Mayor to task which is point two of this discussion. In January thoroughly upset that the integrity of a department and it's senior manager had been tarnished by the Mayor's original stance council threatened to censure him at that point in time. Behind closed doors for several hours the Mayor argued back and forth with councillors asking them to look beyond the process to the money he was saving in his department. He finally accepted the will of council and admitted to them he had done wrong and he apologised. Some two months later after going off the deep end over a cartoon in the editorial pages of the Spectator the Mayor went ballistic in an email he assumed wouldn't be released by the managing editors of the local daily. Naive or what? If you've read the email you know how vitriolic it was, claiming the daily was out to get him and his family. This episode number two erupted not only because of the cartoon but because of the imminent publishing of the "sunshine list" across all of Ontario from Provincial to Municipal and Health Care executives we by law were about to learn who made over 1 hundred thousand dollars. Peggy Chapman's name was going to be on the list because she cashed in vacation time pushing her from 90 thousand bucks to just over 1 hundred thousand dollars. Rumours had been swirling and thus the Spectator's Andrew Dreschel picked up the phone and asked the Mayor to comment. Not only did he comment he spilled the exact beans which the Spectator did not have until that point in time. Thus the e mail to the Spec which published on a Wednesday just before the next GIC meeting (General Issues Committee). At that meeting Councillor Sam Merulla who had read Dreschels column where the e mail was printed for the first time put forward a notice of motion of censure because in that e mail the Mayor once again reiterated that he had not been the one to promote a pay raise for Chapman in the first place. Wow. The reaction, the body language as the ramifications began to dawn on Councillors was an amazing sight to see.
The ramifications were clear, the Mayor had back tracked from the apology he had given only two months before. Censure was on again. Censure indeed will take place tomorrow evening but beyond censure what can council collectively do to punish the Mayor who by the way went on an email rampage over the weekend sending nasty notes including some filthy language to those he perceives most want to take him down a notch. The buzz is all over the city about what the Mayor was saying in those emails which began this past Friday evening. This afternoon in camera, council discussed a personnel matter. I have no doubt they concluded exactly what their collective approach will be tomorrow evening and I can assure you that from two sources I have spoken to, they have the votes to censure this Mayor.
So what are the ramifications in detail?
The Mayor, Bob Bratina on two occasions has not told the whole truth and nothing but the truth on the process regarding the pay increase.
He has privately and publicly now either forgotten his apology (I'm being nice here) or with a huge streak of stubbornness has decided to revoke his apology to his council colleagues.
He has recently and privately attacked select members of council for daring to challenge and/or punish him for his attitudes.
He has unilaterally demanded that senior staff, those who could possibly have known what names were on the sunshine list to sign sworn affidavits that they in fact did not leak information that was going to be public within a week of leaking. He can not do this and nor can any other individual member of council. Only through a vote at council can such an action proceed legally.
He has dug himself a hole that he is not apparently prepared to climb out of.
What are the ramifications for the city of Hamilton? Across the country people have a certain perception of Hamilton don't they? This will reinforce that won't it?

When council censures the Mayor tomorrow evening and the news makes it's way across the nation people will say, "take a look at this, there goes Hamilton again". "They couldn't get the Pan Am stadium right and damn near lost the Ticats now their Mayor is getting spanked in public". It isn't going to look good and that's a fact, but here's the good news. Despite the antics of this Mayor this city is on the move. Wherever I go I see new development, new initiatives, new ideas and new blood pushing this city forward. We not only have  turned a corner we are pressing the pedal to the medal on a number of economic fronts. Rest assured, from what I have seen of this council there are more than enough leaders and qualified people who won't let this city tumble off the tracks

Spread the news!

There is a re-birth happening at the Head of the Lake. Hamilton is expected to generate close to 900 million dollars in building permits this year, it's second highest number dating back to 2007.  Today at the General Issues Committee which had a lot on it's plate Neil Iverson Director of Economic Development gave his annual update. All the 2011 numbers are in and here are the highlights; building permits 731 million. The number of industrial buildings available to the market place decreased from 6.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent outperforming Burlington, Oakville and Mississauga. Downtown Hamilton office space for properties with at least 5 thousand square feet has dropped from 15 to 13 to 12 per cent since 2009. Assessment growth held at 1.3 per cent despite the fact 2011 came in three hundred million dollars shy of the record building permit year of 2010.
What does the future look like? In 2011 over 3 hundred companies were extensively interviewed by the department to find out what shape we are in. Fourty six per cent of companies said they will be hiring in 2012 with 37 per cent reporting room for expansion with 62 per cent of the companies suggesting in the survey they are growing. Over 77 per cent reported they would be introducing new products over the next two years.
Although steel and steel related industries remain a big player, Hamilton Health Sciences remains the largest employer with the Agra business becoming a very large player especially in the Red Hill Business Park and on the Harbour. The only area of concern was raised by Ward 5's Chad Collins who suggested that although he has been a supporter of banking business park lands around the airport he needs to know from airport officials themselves what they foresee in the short and long terms before he is willing to put any more financing into that particular portfolio especially with expansion of business park lands currently at an expensive OMB hearing. Staff has been asked to bring all interested parties together for a presentation before GIC sooner than later. By the way the Ward Councillor for the airport will be our guest tomorrow on "For the Record, Council Edition". Brenda Johnson will discuss airport development, PFOS contamination, economic development in her ward and of course the story of the week another paranoid implosion emanating from the Mayor's office. More on that is still to come. #HamOnt

A toxic relationship!!!

Toxic is a strong and harsh word don't you think? At what was a very polite and more often than not amiable Planning Committee meeting this day Ward 4's Sam Merulla used that harsh word to described the ongoing problems at the City Motor Hotel on Queenston Rd a story I'm sure most of you are aware of. From prostitution to drug deals to a recent public shooting incident with police calls every day, Merulla is pushing for an amendment to city bylaws that would place hotels and motels in the same category as bed and breakfast businesses currently covered. The motion was unanimously received and you should watch for it on the March 28th City Council agenda.
As well that evening keep an eye out for mention of this issue regarding sub licensing of taxi cabs. Representatives from the cab industry went before planning to ask that bylaw enforcement of what is an illegal action be stepped up or else there would be dire consequences for the cab industry in this town. When city legal staff were asked for input they advised that they had tried a prosecution under the existing bylaw and won the case only to lose on appeal. The reason, the current wording is "antiquated" and needs revising. Those revisions will be back before council before the end of the year.
Also before planning this day a proposal to expand the development at 401 Rymal East and 1620 Upper Wentworth better known as the Village of Wentworth Heights. There had been some design concerns that have been favourably resolved between staff, the developer and Councillor Scott Duvall who attended committee to explain his approval of the revised plans. This expansion is worth 60 million dollars with the committee voting unanimously to accept. As I mentioned this meeting was civil and business like with next up the General Issues Committee tomorrow morning at 9.30am.

Sentiment but no cigar!

The motion; Whereas the Caterpillar Corporation has breached the Investment Canada Act, and has been subsidized by Canadian taxpayers who have been betrayed by the closure of its Caterpillar Plant in London, Ontario, be it resolved, the City of Hamilton review its policy related to any business relationship with the Caterpillar Corporation and boycott Caterpillar and encourage all Hamilton, Ontario and Canadian businesses from doing business with the Caterpillar Corporation. Pretty clear right? Not so much. The issue of course the Caterpillar pullout from London. The sympathy for the workers who have now lost their jobs was palpable. The sentiment is to naturally support those workers and that was expressed by the majority of those who spoke at Hamilton City Council this evening. But. And there's always a but the motion failed 10 to 4 with Councillor Lloyd Ferguson not involved due to a conflict of interest. Voting for a boycott were Duvall, Collins, Merulla the author and McHattie. Why didn't this go through? Several councillors believe that if a boycott were put in place companies who have relationships with Caterpillar would then be hurt with job losses resulting, companies like Toromont who had appeared before the General Issues Committee. Some felt like Councillor Brad Clark that this was not a municipalities purview, that although pressure should be applied and concerns expressed to higher levels of  government cities are not in the business of worrying about the Investment Canada Act. Others thought if the motion had used the word condemned instead of boycott they could have supported. In the end this long and sometimes tedious debate almost erupted into open warfare when on a second go round mover Merulla tried to imply that Councillor Clark a former Provincial Conservative Cabinet Minister and former federal conservative candidate somehow in the same sentence was related to robocalls in Hamilton East and Stoney Creek in the last federal election. Like where was that going? The Mayor stepped in to caution Merulla at that point and then finally after some byplay ruled Merulla out of order who then suggested an amendment or was it a new motion, or was it an amendment to an amendment to a new motion, who knew? We were all looking at each other as Merulla continued to chirp and the Mayor appeared to be ready to blow. Finally the Mayor ruled everyone knew the intent so lets get on with the vote which failed.
In other news, baseball as far as Pan Am baseball or softball is concerned is dead. A recommendation to refer to the GM of Public Works for a report to the GIC on any interest the city of Hamilton might have was lost on a tie vote. The Mayor who received through his office the request for expressions of interest pleaded with councillors to at least gather information from staff to see if this request made sense for Hamilton to even consider. Leading the charge against was Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie who said he had no stomach to revisit any Pan American games initiatives based on how Hamilton he felt had been treated in the past regarding the stadium debate and the Velodrome. Voting against gathering any information at all were McHattie, Merulla, Morelli, Collins, Clark, Pearson, Johnson and Partridge. The Mayor asked the clerk plaintively do ties mean a loss? "Yes". The correspondence was received. Good bye.
In brief the expanding where you can't smoke bylaw has been put off for further study and input until October. A motion to appoint Farr and McHattie to a special committee comprised of city and Hamilton Wentworth District School Board trustees and support staff was passed unanimously. They should report back within a month re potential sites that will keep the school board downtown. And finally a little kfuffle near the end when a motion to forward some monies to Opera Hamilton enabling them to sign a significant guest performer in the fall raised a few alarm bells since Opera Hamilton has had some fiscal problems in the past. In the end the motion to make sure they were forwarded monies to sign the deal even though the 2012 budget has not been passed and won't be until March 28th was passed with two dissenting voices, Whitehead and Jackson. Good night.

When unanimous means thanks but no thanks!

Interesting start to Hamilton's General Issues Committee budget discussions this day. The Mayor's Executive Assistant Peggy Chapman had a quiet conversation with Councillor Brad Clark who is in the chair for the month of March. As the meeting got underway a piece of paper was circulated for discussion, receipt or whatever council wished to do with it. What was in the piece of paper you wonder? It was the opinion of ex city clerk Kevin Christensen recently hired by Mayor Bob Bratina as his Municipal Adviser that on the issue of decorum at last Friday's meeting of the GIC  (perhaps better known now as "gavel gate") that the Chair, Brad Clark had done nothing wrong, that even his very loud use of the gavel was appropriate. When Clark asked what anyone wanted to do with the opinion from the Mayor's office he received this opening salvo from Sam Merulla, "I'm not willing to accept it, it usurps the position of the clerk's office. Ward 5's Chad Collins joined 4's Merulla pointing out that going down this road could be very dangerous. Around the table it went to the point a motion was put forth by Merulla to "not receive" the advice. It passed unanimously. One wonders what the Mayor or his office was thinking by putting this opinion forward. Clearly the clerk of the committee is in charge of decisions regarding what is in order and what is not. It is their opinion that matters under law and no one else's. Clearly the Mayor who ought to know better or someone else in his office who should know better interjected themselves into council business and pretty much got smacked up the side of the head for sticking their nose where it wasn't wanted.
Onto other business now. Just what is going on with the controversial "swing space" that McMaster University claims is integral to their three way deal with the city and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. As you know the University has given its other two erstwhile partners an ultimatum to either get this issue resolved by the end of the week or else "Mac" is walking away from the deal. The latest events went something like this;  withdrawn from today's agenda was the entire issue of "swing space" since it now appears according to representatives of the Right House where Public Health currently leases space that the City Centre is now part of ongoing talks. And we also know that the Right House itself has been in discussions with city staff and will be allowed to make a more formal presentation to the GIC either Thursday or Friday of this week. We are well beyond the 11th hour on this one.
As for the budget discussions we are told now that city wide the current preliminary budget increase has dropped to 1.3 %. However because of reassessment and area rating Glanbrook this year will see a 4.4 % increase Flamborough 3.5, Dundas 3.1, Stoney Creek 2.8 and  Ancaster 2 %. But the budget is still not done and will not be completed until at least two more budget meetings take place after the March break for presentation to council on March 28th.
Oh, and one final note and you can see the sides lining up on this issue GIC did today authorise the General Manager of Public Works to move forward on the Accessible Transportation Services program enhancement to the tune of 850 thousand dollars in 2012. I'll back up and explain. This enhancement becomes law Province wide in 2017. It allows those people who are cognitively disabled and unable to get on a DARTS bus without a companion to qualify. In total the program implementation could cost 5.7 million dollars to comply. Councillors were quite happy to provide the funds and applauded staff on their prudent planning but then those dividing lines started to appear. Several councillors are questioning some of those who currently qualify with Russ Powers of Dundas suggesting everyone around council knows of individuals who abuse the current system. Others namely Merulla and Jackson have stated clearly during past discussions on this that they do not require any review of current qualifications because they don't want to see "that can of worms opened up". Tomorrow evening a full city council beginning at 5pm with a tape delay broadcast on Cable 14 at 7, and I'll be there arming myself  for a chat with Councillor Clark on Thursday's "For the Record, Council Edition".

The art of gavelling!

Crack!  Most of us jumped six inches.  You're out of order sir! No you're out of order! You are out of order councillor, crack again. Oh boy we've got two very angry men going at it. Finally silenced Ward 10's Loyd Ferguson after the second use of the gavel by Deputy Mayor of the month Brad Clark half rising out of his chair wanted to know if Clark wanted him to come over and use the gavel on Clark's head. Ferguson then saying I've had enough of you, picked up his budget documents and left the General Issues Committee meeting not to return. This followed an angry confrontation between Clark and Councillor Terry Whitehead their third in two meetings. Is there something in the drinking water at the hall? Is this information overload during the budget session that is bringing on the heated exchanges? Don't know, but although it was entertaining for the media I do know this, today's lack of decorum has tongues wagging and social media buzzing. Clark at the end of today's session calmly explained why he had to bang the gavel so hard. What couldn't be explained however was the abruptness of the confrontation seemingly out of nowhere. Councillor Clark by the way will be my guest on "For the Record, Council Edition" next Thursday at 5pm on Cable 14.
Couple more GIC notes from today with the first revolving around a request from the Pan Am games organising committee who have asked communities if there is any interest in hosting some baseball and softball games in 2015. This was brought forward by Mayor Bob Bratina. Immediately glasses were tinkled. First up Ward 1's Brian McHattie who suggested he wanted nothing further to do with the Pan Am organisers after their handling of the Velodrome and stadium files. Ward 5's Chad Collins suggested that if the Pan Am people wanted to rent Bernie Arbour stadium for a couple of weeks then they should get in line with the rest of community to do so. Tom Jackson from Ward 6 suggested if there is one extra dollar of impact on the community he would not be supportive. Ward 8's Terry Whitehead on the other hand pointed out that the city does have recreational needs and so at the very least should listen to what the Organising Committee has to say for the needs may align with the proposal. Staff will get back with a report. Speaking of staff many thanks were expressed for the hard work they have done on getting budgets down. Currently the operating budget sits at a 1.4 per cent increase but again several councillors said they were not prepared to sign off on the budget at next week's city council meeting without further attempts to get the budget under 1 per cent. Last year for example it came in at .8 per cent. The next budget session is set for March the 6th.

If it ain't broke no need to fix it!

A reprieve but no end game. With the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board agreeing to partner with the City of Hamilton to find an appropriate site for a new education headquarters in the downtown core we are still left with the thorny question of what to do with 100 Main Street West, the current headquarters. Let me back up a bit. There is no guarantee that the Board and the City will find an appropriate site downtown and Crestwood could still be the ultimate destination but at least after intense pressure the Board has recognised that with consultation and the potential of very cheap square footage there is the possibility of staying in the core. Now to the very thorny and divisive issue of knocking down 100 Main for that is still the plan of the Board if it signs off on a deal with McMaster University. Where does that stand? McMaster officials made it clear yesterday in front of city councillors that they are now up against time constraints if they can't sign off soon with the Board. Holding up their deal is the issue of swing space in the Robert Thompson building where the Board would find themselves while building elsewhere with the intent on the city's part (supposedly) to move a concentrated Public Board of Health in afterwards. But more than one councillor is questioning not only the process for chosing the Thompson space, for instance there was no RFP done although in the real estate department an RFP isn't necessary it's just one of a number of options, but also the fact that the Right House which will have more than 53 thousand square feet available to lease when Community Services moves into the Lister Block, and that happens soon, is also the current home to most of Public Health. The required space is 53,200 square feet and thus many asked why was the Right House not considered and if there were concerns about the location were they ever addressed with the Aragon Group who manage a number of properties in Hamilton. The answers at times seemed to distress certain councillors who had heard a presentation from Irene Hubar who manages the Right House that she only knew of the Thompson building option when she read it in the paper. She went on to tell councillors that if the city moves out, the income from other tenants would only add up to 2 hundred thousand bucks forcing her as she said "to buy a lot of plywood to board up the windows". The upshot to this leasing deal is council deferred a decision until their March 7th council meeting where all heck could break loose. If the city decides to tender this project at this late date which is an option, the McMaster/Board of Ed deal could fall apart because of the aforementioned time constraints. If the city decides not to move to the Thompson building managed by Yale Properties and decides to stay in the Right House what happens to the McMaster/Board of Ed deal? It likely collapses because then the Board and/or McMaster would have to come up with their own "swing space" deal which when uttered openly during yesterday's marathon session brought a quick smile to Councillor Chad Collins face. This is going to be a very interesting vote because although the city wants McMaster to increase it's presence in the downtown core they don't want that presence at the cost of the demolition of 100 Main W. Here's an early look at the players and their attitudes. I will go ward by ward. In 1 McHattie was part of the presentation before the Board that helped create some breathing room looking for a new home for the Board. He's also a heritage guy and I personally don't think he's in favour of giving up on the current building. In 2 it was Jason Farr who led the charge to involve the Board in looking for a new home. His questioning of Hubar led me to believe that he's back on the fence regarding the "swing space". Morelli was in and out and did not speak but I think would follow the lead of Councillors Merulla and Collins. Merulla has already declared his support for the deal to bring Mac downtown is rescinded because he doesn't want to lose the Right House or spend the city's contribution of 20 million dollars. In 5 Collins from day one has not liked this deal but reluctantly supported it. If there is a force on council who can bring together a block of votes against  the swing space deal, it's Collins. Jackson in 6 has stated repeatedly he did not like the fact the City was hustled into a deal last summer that he was led to believe was imminent and hinged on city support. With no contract signed he remains a leaner I believe away from the current deal. Duval in 7 didn't have many questions but he's starting to feel the heat from his constituents who are just waking up to the Board of Education's plans for Crestwood. There is a growing movement to stop the Board from going there because of the number of  vehicle visits to the so called "birdland" neighborhoodMerulla and Clark join forces the majority will soon follow. Pearson in 10 a hard read on this one for she has stated this is a school board decision and if they want to do a deal with Mac and move to the mountain so be it but on the "swing space" aspect it's hard to say which way she will turn. Johnson in 11 gave the impression she was not convinced the Thompson building move was necessary and she is usually very tight with the taxpayers dollars and cents. Ferguson in 12 did not appear to buy into the Thompson building arguments at all and is a fiscal conservative. Powers in 13 is a consensus builder with recent proof the compromise worked out with Collins and followed readily by the majority of council regarding our new waste management contract. Powers is sensitive to the authority of the Board and does wish to see McMaster downtown. I got the impression that if somehow there was a good compromise to be found he'd be there to support if not craft it. Pasuta in 14 had little to say on this particular issue but is a team player and if there is consensus building that this "swing space" is not palatable with his colleagues he'll be there with them. Partridge in 15 although she has stated publicly in the past that this is the Board's affair I believe moved back to the fence after the presentation from the Right House. At the very least she'd probably like more time to study all the ramifications of this deal that was knocked together last summer. Mayor Bratina's thoughts are very clear on this. He wants Public Health in the Thompson building and the deal done between Mac and the Board of Ed completed tout suite. So what am I trying to say here? I think there are enough votes on council to nix the "swing space" move to Robert Thompson. If that is council's decision it may be the only way to save 100 Main from the wreckers ball. If there is no deal for space and costs become prohibitive and time runs out on a deal McMaster at least for now does not move downtown and knock down that 1966 building. But how then does the very big picture get resolved? The best result in my estimation is McMaster comes downtown with their jobs and occupies vacant office space in the Stelco Tower or the Robert Thompson building. It doesn't need a Taj Mahal at the corner of Bay and Main to stroke any philanthropist egos. The Board itself can renovate and expand into it's own parking lot at less cost than to move to the mountain. To me that's a win-win for the downtown. The worst case scenario sees the Board taking 4 hundred jobs to a site in someones back yard on the Mountain, McMaster moving downtown but knocking down the Board of Education headquarters in the process, "swing space" arranged in the Robert Thompson building so Public Health can eventually coalesce there with the end result that the Right House is boarded up for lack of tenants. That's the big picture that some people adhere to. That's not a big picture I can support and like many Hamiltonian's watching this debate closely one I suspect they can't support either. In other words if that building ain't broke............

U.S Steel, show us the money!!!

And so another dance with an American company resumes.
You know the story. American company buys Canadian property but doesn't treat it the same as its U.S holdings. On one nationalistic level I get that. If there is a downturn around the world and there was and we're still crawling out of it the tendency is to take care of your own meaning American steelworkers vs Canadian. That's an understandable reflex. However I seem to remember arguing in the late 80's against free trade with our American friends because once they had a deal in place they would not respect the deal they had been signatories to. All through the 90's especially during the recession our American friends continuously threw road blocks in front of that free trade agreement that Brian Mulroney so desperately wanted. Many many times and you can check this out, Stelco, Dofasco, Ipsco and Algoma Steel had to band together to attend hearings, lobby Ottawa, lobby Washington to have the American government actually live up to what the free trade agreement stated and at some cost. We, their greatest trading partners at the time (somebody will tell me if China has now surpassed us) were constantly lumped in with the dumping nations of Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan et al, nations pushing their businesses to do whatever it took to undercut American and Canadian steel makers. Has anything changed today? U.S Steel made a decision to purchase Hamilton Steel/Stelco because they thought they might make a profit especially off of the relatively up to standard Nanticoke operation. They knew there would be resistance and so they made promises. Promises to this day they have not lived up to. They have tried to break unions at Nanticoke and at Hilton Works and to some monetary degree they have by locking out their employees and forcing agreements they the steel maker can live with. They could lock them out of course because the world was in recession and so the corporate mentality was let's give the business of steel making to plants in Gary Indiana and elsewhere while we put the screws to the Canadians who apparently believe in health care, safety and pensions. Yeah, I get it U.S Steel. When times are good, when money is there to be made Hamilton and Nanticoke are great acquisitions, but when there is a recession and apparently your economists didn't recognise we were headed for a bubble that had to burst, it's a different story. It's called screw the Canadians and instead of actually putting money into the Hamilton plant you put it into hiring some of the biggest legal names around to fight against the Canada Investment Act all the way to our Supreme Court where you were told again and again through the legal process you didn't have a leg to stand on. So you did a deal and got an out of court settlement with Ottawa, brokered a deal with the Hamilton local, promised to fire up the plant and then, pulled the plug again. Now despite assurances at Hamilton City Council from Mayor Bob Bratina that there are signs U.S. Steel is getting close to firing up Hilton Works in the second quarter to actually make steel instead of just shipping coke to Nanticoke there are many sceptics in this city who want to see it before they believe it. And so at city council Ward 4's Sam Merulla passionately appealed to his colleagues to ask U. S. Steel to come before City Council and explain themselves, and explain to the people of Hamilton what is going to happen at Hilton Works. Part two of that motion which carried unanimously by the way also wondered out loud what the current official stance is of the Federal Government who did sign on to that out of court settlement last year. Indeed a further motion from Councillor Terry Whitehead is coming that will query the very makeup and execution of the Canada Investment Act. In fact it was Whitehead who suggested that under the Harper government there is one rule of thumb for the west and another for the rest of us.  Merulla who as I mentioned addressed council with great passion suggested this was a matter of sovereignty, that in fact the Canada Investment Act was operating like the "screw Canada act" his words. I can't disagree.
And folks it's not just about my community and it's heritage of steel making, this is also about London where Caterpillar is the big ugly American who first took our incentives, then tried to beat our workers into the ground and who has now announced those workers are toast because they're shutting the plant and stripping the place of it's equipment that many Ontarians and Canadians helped pay for. Hello Dalton, how about an injunction to stop them from moving anything out of that plant. This is about our friends in Quebec where aluminum was god, until a foreign entity purchased Alcan and started selling off divisions. Rio Tinto Alcan is no longer a Canadian owned manufacturing giant but is now just another division of another Multi-National.
What about Inco and Falconbridge giants that made us the leading Nickel producers in the world? Gone as well. What about steel? Wholly owned Canadian companies like Stelco, Dofasco and Algoma Steel are owned by Americans and Indians. From all over the world companies are looking at buying Canadian made assets and doing so while our federal government does nothing except for the case of  Potash Corp. The Government of Canada said it did not see a net benefit to allowing BHP Billiton to take it over and thus BHP backed away. That was 2010. When was our last federal election that gave Stephen Harper his majority? May of 2011 is the answer and in Saskatchewan you might suspect because of the federal intervention the NDP was shut out in what is traditionally a strong NDP province. The final tally there Conservative 13 Liberals 1 cuz nobody can beat Ralph Goodale. Folks this issue is bigger than our city council motion. I hope you are taking notice. There is a majority in Ottawa that has an agenda which we are just going to have to survive for the next three years. What we should not have to survive however is an assault on our working force by our so called friends from south of the border. We have been targetted and jobs in London, Hamilton and wherever there is a Zellers store are on the line. If we don't do something, if we don't start fighting back those jobs will be gone or they will be minimum wage. Hats off to Councillor Merulla for bringing the fight to council and hats off to his colleagues for supporting unanimously his request for an explanation about our future. I hope other municipalities and then provinces get in on the act to defend Canadian jobs. I hope we have the guts to say enough is enough.

It's almost done, for now!

Well we have a compromise on waste management that appears to have legs. Tomorrow evening city council is expected to handily accept a seven year contract that maintains weekly garbage pickup plus 26 days throughout the year beginning in April of 2013 where an extra tagged bag or container of garbage can be put out for pickup.
This compromise hatched by councillors Russ Powers and Chad Collins wooed enough rural councillors to easily pass today at the General Issues Committee with only three dissenters, Councillors Johnson, Ferguson and McHattie. The majority patted themselves on the back for avoiding a divisive council debate and possible rupture along urban and rural lines. The majority also patted themselves on the back for being seen to be attacking the widespread disease of illegal dumping of garbage that they believe has plagued the city since the one bag a week policy was adopted. We'll see. Indeed a friendly amendment to the main motion was passed unanimously asking staff to report back one year after implementation to see whether the tag system has worked, and whether illegal dumping was impacted. Frankly several councillors touched upon my greatest concern and that is, responsible citizens will always do what they're told in the waste management department from separating recyclables to filling their green bins with organic waste. Unfortunately there is a segment of society who don't care one bit about their fellow citizens. These are the folks who dump waste wherever, who dump their used furniture at charity bins, who paint walls and call it art, who spit on our sidewalks, who empty their ash trays in parking lots, who don't shovel snow off their side walks, who in general are anti social, anti citizen and anti order. They will never change whether there is an amnesty, tag days or a member of public works in their front living room trying to educate them about waste and land fills. They just don't care about the rest of us. So we'll see if illegal dumping is impacted and we'll see just how many extra tags the citizens of Hamilton use up which will have an impact on our landfill and our waste diversion. And of course we will witness whether or not our councillors can stick to their plan or tinker some more down the road for they have allowed themselves the room to do so. People we are told want garbage peace. We shall now see, if that will be so. Call me a cynic but in two years time I expect new instructions in the mail from the city on how to handle waste. I hope they're positive ones for I have to tell you what was passed today and will be passed tomorrow evening, is not progress.

Ground Hog Day!

Those words in a tweet from Councillor Chad Collins during the middle of three public budget presentations centred around parking meters in Waterdown and to some extent on tax increases in Flamborough.
Look, today was a mixed bag of issues a heavy bag mind you, so here are some of the highlights.
Those parking meters are likely toast in downtown Waterdown. A motion will likely be put forward by the local councillor Judy Partridge and based on today's sympathy around the table will likely be passed easily.
A proposal to move forward on design work for a new central Police Investigative Services Division Headquarters costing 1.5 million to be split by the City and the Police Service was approved as a prudent step toward ultimately building a 15 million dollar Forensic Services Facility. There was some push back however. Councillors although acknowledging the need for the facility wanted to know how the heck the 15 million dollars would be found and where. You see this capital request is currently not part of the 10 year capital project plan for the city. There was concern that taking on any additional debt in addition to that ten year list might push Hamilton's debt to a point where our credit rating might be impacted negatively, in other words costing us more to borrow. Staff was directed to come up with suggestions on where and more importantly when this 15 million expense could be injected into that long list of capital projects. The sentiment around the table this day seems to be projects in my ward better not get bumped back. In other words, no jumping the queue for our Police. By the way their first choice for this new facility is bounded by  Cannon, Mary, Catherine and Rebecca.
In this blog I hope you'll indulge me for I am leaving the lead story for last which is the presentation regarding those companies who would love to manage our HECFI facilities, Hamilton Place, the Hamilton Convention Centre and Copps Coliseum, something I wrote about on Tuesday.
Before that however a couple of interesting numbers. Did you know that in the Golden Horseshoe alone gross farm receipts total just over 1.4 billion dollars with 222.3 million of that coming from the City of Hamilton?
Did you know that in Hamilton alone the Agra-business including farming, processing and storage is worth well over a billion dollars? It is one of Hamilton's best kept secrets. The General Issues Committee received the presentation and report from reps of the Golden Horseshoe Agriculture and Agra-Food Strategy.
Now to the final big issue of the day.
As you know six different groups have shown interest in HECFI properties, three of them local and only interested in one entity of the package with three multinational entertainment groups willing to take over management of all three facilities. A representative of KPMG made this initial presentation basically explaining who the proponents were and what their preference was. Now the hard work the nitty gritty of crunching numbers begins with a report back to the GIC April 4th. Before I leave this subject an explanation as to some of the push back from councillors led by Ward 4's Sam Merulla who was one of the key figures in pushing for a complete HECFI review. For him there needs to be significant mitigation of current liabilities, in other words this process must lead to savings for taxpayers. One other significant comment came from Ward 5's Chad Collins who asked city staff to make sure all ideas are explored including hybrid solutions. By this he meant maybe a local group might run the Convention Centre for example with one of the multi nationals taking on the entertainment facilities of Copps Coliseum and Hamilton Place. As mentioned we learn more April 4th.
Tomorrow on "For the Record, Council Edition" Ward 6 councillor Tom Jackson is my guest beginning at 5pm and airing at the top of the hour throughout the evening.

Hope springs eternal!

I still have my Hamilton Predators down payment receipt. I was ready to stand in line all night to get my Hamilton Coyotes seasons tickets. Sound like an NHL fan, a Hamilton booster and  idiotic optimist? You got me for it's a blend of all three.
Tomorrow we learn more about six proposals from outside interests who want to get their hands on some civic property namely, Hamilton Place, the Convention Centre and Copps Coliseum. Of course this is good news for all taxpayers since we won't be on the hook down the road for tax subsidies HECFI  lived on since day one of it's inception. One wonders what these suitors actually want to do with these three excellent properties? Well we know the three local bidders only want what works for them. Carmen's Group for example is only interested in the Convention Centre and Sonic Unyon is only after Hamilton Place. The three big boys, all multinationals who would run all three facilities range in ascending order from GlobalSpectrum/Live Nation owned by Comcast Spectacor who happen to own the Philadelphia Flyers to SMG/Forum Equity who manage 77 arenas including the homes of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders, to the biggest of them all AEG Facilities/Katz Group owners and operators over a hundred stadiums and arenas around the world plus the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, LA Galaxy home to David Beckham and Robbie Keane plus running the Staples Centre home to the Lakers and Clippers. Trust me when I say whenever the NHL plays games in Europe to open the NHL season it's playing games in AEG operated facilities and Philip Anschutz the world's 124th richest man at 7 billion is one of the most powerful figures within the NHL. In other words if Phil sends a message via twitter or pigeon to New York Gary Bettman is listening. And so what to make of the interest of these three international groups. Are they here to manage the building for the Bulldogs? Do you think they're hear to host a Star Trek convention? Maybe they want the Moody Blues to play three straight nights instead of two, do you think? Or do you think the three biggest players in arena and stadium management believe it's only a matter of time before the NHL succumbs to it's losses in the desert and moves the struggling, gasping, buried in debt Phoenix Coyotes to a friendlier venue and more supportive city not to mention supportive hockey nation.
We know from all the studies done over the past decade including last weeks study by the Conference Board of Canada that Southern Ontario is ready for a second National Hockey League team. Only one city has a building (yes it needs to be renovated and upgraded but it has a downtown footprint doesn't it) in operation that could handle an immediate transfer in a hockey mad country. Sure we all know the Sprint Centre managed by AEG is NHL worthy but it is not exactly located in a hockey mad location. Remember the Scouts failed in Kansas City in a previous incarnation. Nope there are two hockey mad markets that are ready for expansion or relocation to be found in Canada and they are Hamilton and Quebec City where currently the shovels are employed moving snow not earth. In other words folks even as other media explore for the umpteenth time the market that is Seattle where local folks are trying to resurrect the NBA and bring in the NHL to make the operation viable (the existing building would need massive changes to configure for hockey) only one city stands prepared to open its arms to immediate relocation and that is Hamilton. And now that it's not Jim Balsillie thumbing his nose at Gary and his rules but influential existing partners in the very clubby NHL bidding to take control of the HECFI venues one does even though one does know better, get there hopes up. Knowing that within a half hour drive of Hamilton 750 thousand people could become their customers these big players I believe have set their course for Hamilton to grab any team that may be relocated to Canada and to market and promote concerts that can't be held in Toronto due to Leafs and Raptors schedules in the Air Canada Centre. And remember both Gary B. and his right hand Bill Daley have said out loud ever since their court dates in Phoenix (and trust me they didn't want to say this out loud) that the Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a veto when it comes to a team moving into their market place. Hmmmm, should I get my hopes up or not? I certainly can't wait for tomorrow's presentations by the bidders (wonder if council will go in camera) to see what their intentions might be then we can all wait in line together outside of Copps overnight if needs be to get our Hamilton Coyotes seasons tickets. By the way should we start the name the team contest before tomorrow's briefing or after?

They should all be fired!

I'm taking deep breathes. I really am.
Why?
The newly posted information from the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board is actually giving me heart palpitations.
Why?
I can't wait to craft them a new ...you know what I mean.

Here are the facts as released by the school board regarding their scoring of a site for a new education headquarters. They through the services of Cushman and Wakefield looked at 18 different sites for a re-located head office for they are entering into an agreement with McMaster University to take over their current location at 100 Main West.
You know the debate right? People want to save the building. People want the Board to stay downtown keeping 350 white collar jobs where the city needs them most, right, you know this.
You know the Board has unveiled plans to build on the Central Mountain in Cardinal Heights just off Upper Wentworth and just a stone's throw, although we don't advocate that, from Toy's R Us. As a taxpayer you know all of this is happening and you might wonder why Crestwood was chosen as the new headquarters over 17 other potential sites investigated by the aforementioned Cushman and Wakefield on behalf of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. Here's why.
Using 12 criteria from amenities and accessibility to location, parking and proximity C and W concluded the Crestwood site scored 3.67 points and weighted scored 86.69 total points. Nice score. What was the next nearest score you might wonder and how badly did they do in comparison since the Board's decision has all the appearances of a slam dunk?
You really want to know?  It's Friday night. I don't want you to choke on your pretzels and beer or gag on your Chinese take out. You want to know. O K, here we go.
The next best score was given to Jackson Square, yes our under inhabited Jackson Square which has struggled for at least 20 years to be the vibrant place envisaged by another generation of decison makers.
What was the score you wonder out loud as you digest a second round of chicken wings washed down with a lovely Heineken? I'll tell you.
Jackson Square scored 3.65 points or point zero two off the Crestwood score and weighted 86.49 total points, or point two off the Crestwood score.
Have you digested those numbers along with your slice of Friday night pizza? You have? Then here goes.
These trustees and their Director of Education need to first of all be spanked and then fired for incompetence or should I say in a calmer manner their lack of civic pride/involvement.  For .02 they would move 350 white collar jobs to the central mountain instead of keeping them right smack dab downtown at the corner of King and James? Really? What are they smoking? Isn't this in fact a statistical tie? Indeed as you look at the criteria, the Jackson Square site actually won 8 of 12 categories with one tie. Gadzooks who's cooking the books to make a win for Jackson Square look like a nice silver medal? I couldn't possibly begin to speculate because then I would need to find a lawyer but this decision smells to high heaven. Apparently when the Board (I doubt the trustees established the criteria, hello Mr. director and staff) established their criteria they didn't think about city building they only thought about where the might be most cozy thus coming in in third place was Highland at 83.65 for a total weighted score. I'm sorry you thought the Board of Education for the City of Hamilton, sorry, the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board should move from a property in the heart of downtown donated by the City of Hamilton in the 60's to a property you own in Dundas that you are actually considering tearing down? Is that what you thought? In fourth place was the Innovation Park. O K, I see some merit in that but wouldn't there be remediation problems like the remediation problems you site for the West Harbour lands which only ranked tenth on your list? But I digress. You see the pattern I see here is very clear. Lets look at properties we own (meaning the board, that's why Ancaster High is on the list scoring 11th) and then through this process since we know we'll be scrutinised lets throw in a couple of city locations we don't own to keep the lawsuits away. Once we've done that with an outside firm using whatever weighting they want to establish we can announce a grand plan of moving out of the core of the city to the mountain using the proceeds of the sale of 100 Main to help pay for Crestwood while closing seven high schools and building 2 while refurbishing others. Oh now I start to see it. It's all about the money, the Board's money which is actually your money but who's counting you in the decision making loop? It's clear this Board doesn't give a rat's behind about the big picture. It's clear that a majority of trustees don't care about partnerships unless there's a picture of a Canadian Prime Minister on it. It's clear they haven't got a clue for one of the criteria  they had studied was parking and Jackson Square beat Crestwood
Monday they meet. I hope the taxpayers of this city who support this Board with their tax dollars are there to meet them, sullenly and vocally.

Are you kidding me?

So let me get this straight.
I get it that it's passed the 11th hour in fact it's probably a minute to midnight.
I get it that a proposed second tower to house the Hamilton Wentworth District Public School Board may have been explored to some degree over the years.
I get it that the Board has probably made it's mind up after a lot of considered discussion and debate, I mean when you release drawings of where you're going it pretty much means you're going.
I get all that.
What I also understand is the Board has not yet signed a deal with McMaster  giving up 100 Main Street West to the University. I also know that an important part of this deal is the City of Hamilton's leasing move at the Robert Thompson Building which allows the Board of Ed temporary space for it's staff while building on the property at Crestwood with the Public Health Department consolidating there afterwards. I also know that many councillors will not spend one penny more than is budgeted to get a lease done with Yale Properties which IS still an issue.
Given those facts I wonder why on earth the former Councillor for Ward 2, the current Mayor of Hamilton, one Robert Bratina would not support a motion to direct staff to approach the Board one more time with a proposal to explore a long term very friendly lease at the back of City Hall? The proposal to re-open very late in the hour discussions came from the current Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr. His explanation in short. We have never formally said to the Board that we want them to remain a part of the downtown core, indeed he suggested it might be a bridge to enhancing relations between the two legislative bodies.
As the debate went around the table it appeared the motion might fail since there seemed to be a great deal of reluctance to get involved in another legislative entities back yard, to be seen to be meddling in an area where the City has no jurisdiction. Indeed Ward 9's Brad Clark suggested this Hail Mary pass to the Board left him uncomfortable since obviously the Board on it's own using it's own experts had finally come to this decision as is their right. Surprisingly at least to me the Mayor echoed many of those same comments suggesting that for years as the Ward 2 Councillor he too had attempted to keep the Board downtown but at this late hour with the Board clearly going in another direction this was not the time to interfere in someone else's jurisdiction.
In one of the most impassioned pleas to at least throw the pass and see what happens Ward 8's Terry Whitehead called the Board's decision to vacate the downtown and build their new offices on a significant green space off of Upper Wentworth with 4 hundred parking spaces to boot, was "asinine".
The vote was finally called after a second speech from Farr to at least throw the pass and see if there could be a completion. In favour of directing staff to approach the Board regarding the second city hall tower site  were Whitehead, Jackson, Collins, Merulla, Morelli, Farr, Powers and Pasuta. That drew some slight gasps as people realised the motion was passing. Against were Mayor Bratina and Councillors, Partridge, Ferguson, Johnson, Pearson and Clark.
Where I come from if there is still time left and your quarterback can throw the ball 70 yards into the end zone to see what might happen, that's the play you call. You don't drop your knee to the ground and let that time tick off the clock when you are losing and losing we will be when those jobs move out. As I carry on the analogy is the Mayor not in his role somewhat related to any coach who's message always must be do not give up until there is no time left on the clock. Isn't that what we try to instill not only in professional but amateur sports?
It seems to me if you are going to wear the chain of office you need to lead the way no matter how lost the cause might be. Council with all due respect to the Board and its decision is simply saying with this motion we really really really want you to stay downtown, won't you please at least examine this possibility before all T's are crossed and I's dotted. It's a reasonable and responsible thing to do considering millions of city taxpayers dollars are on the line here.  The Mayor in my opinion failed the  litmus test of leadership on this occasion. It's a shame.

Echoes of amalgamation!

So on a nice sunny day eleven years on.......as the Corporate Services Department presented their initial budget figures for 2012 to the City of Hamilton General Issues Committee (a cut by the way of minus point one per cent) rearing out of the mists of time echoes of a distant debate. What to do with Municipal Service Centres. Hamilton has six from the rejuvenated City Hall on Main Street West to the former city halls of the five amalgamated communities of Dundas, Ancaster, Flamborough, Stoney Creek and Glanbrook. Raising the issue of seeming duplication of services was not a councillor representing an inner city or former City of Hamilton ward but the suburban Brad Clark who represents Ward 9 mostly existing of upper Stoney Creek While most former City of Hamilton Councillors had given up this particular argument after several attempts to eliminate these service centres, as Ward 5's Chad Collins explained, after butting their heads endlessly against brick walls Clark an avowed enemy of duplication wondered out loud would a motion to give every ward in the city a service centre fly? He feels its grossly unfair that large areas of the city do not have these service centres which he believes could easily be eliminated as city run operations and rather rented out for valuable income from others looking for solid facilities. His basic stance was this; if we all can't have one why are we continuing to perpetuate this duplication when on many days of the week work is not being done at these centres which he described as drop in centres where folks can share a cup of tea. Whoops. This elicited heated comments from Councillors Brenda Johnson and Marie Pearson representing Glanbrook and lower Stoney Creek who praised the work being done. Indeed Pearson in a passionate defense listed the RCMP and the Hamilton Public Library as two significant occupants of the former Stoney Creek City Hall and that whenever she visits,there are all kinds of people seeking the services of the City of Hamilton. As Councillor Collins told me afterwards a number of services were rationalized after amalgamation for that was the whole idea, save money wherever possible, but the matter of Town Halls was too sensitive an issue during the early years of amalgamation to push over the finish line. One wonders with the defection of Clark whether or not a move to shutdown these regional service centres might gain strength if not during this budget period but next year's?
On another issue several councillors discussed the last election and certain irregularities that took place. Corporate Services through the City Clerks department handles municipal elections. Ward 3's Bernie Morelli expanding on comments from Tom Jackson in Ward 6 talked about the names of dead people being found on the voters list, of entire Seniors homes being left off, and of certain locations being non-accessible to all voters.   When told that all polling places in the city had been personally visited by City Staff to make sure they were accessible and that the city was held hostage by lists provided to them by MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) Morelli said, "respectfully I have heard this response before" and he went on, "I want this fixed or relatively better" before the next election. A report will come back with recommendations to see what might be done including the inception of a citizen's committee to work with the Clerk's Department. I would like to confirm Ward 8's Terry Whitehead will be with us this week on "For the Record, Council Edition" Thursday at 5pm with many repeats of our interview following.