There were five divided votes during the April 16, 2025, Hamilton City Council meeting:
- Lincoln Alexander Parkway expansion studies: amendment to calculate life-cycle costs, air pollution impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions. [Defeated 6 – 9]
- Lincoln Alexander Parkway expansion: approving public and stakeholder process – the next phases of the Environmental Assessment process to expand the number of lanes on the highway. [Passed 13 – 2]
- Procedural vote on providing notice for the annual Vacant Unit Tax enacting Bylaw: Annual tax bylaws are typically housekeeping affairs; the notice will enable those opposed to the VUT to mobilize opposition for the date of the housekeeping vote. [Passed 13 – 1]
- The Council voted to defer appointing a Council member to fill a vacancy on the Joint Stewardship Board, a six-member board comprising three City of Hamilton members and three Haudenosaunee members. [Passed 9 – 6]
- Vote on Lunch recess: At least three council members opposed beginning lunch recess at 12:15 p.m. [This was a hand vote and not recorded]
Lincoln Alexander Parkway expansion studies
Amendment to add studies to review of adding lanes to the Lincoln Alexander Parkway: “that staff BE DIRECTED to analyze alternatives … to address increasing vehicle usage on Hamilton’s key Central/South Mountain and East Hamilton arterials … that factors considered include but not be limited to; a high-level lifecycle comparison, impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants causing human and environmental health impacts, induced travel demand and mode share outcomes, and the expected effectiveness over time of proposed options.”
The motion was defeated 6 to 9.
In Favour:
Mayor Andrea Horwath
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann
Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang
Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar (Mover)
Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson (Seconder)
Opposed:
Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson
Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark
Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie
Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson
Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora
Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin
Absent:
Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko
Lincoln Alexander Parkway expansion: approving public and stakeholder process
“That staff BE DIRECTED to proceed with a public and stakeholder engagement program focused on potential improvement alternatives for the Lincoln Alexander Parkway;
That Transportation Planning and Parking staff BE DIRECTED to report back to Public Works Committee following the completion of the public and stakeholder engagement process with a Terms of Reference and cost estimate to undertake the next phases of the Environmental Assessment process for potential design improvements for the Lincoln Alexander Parkway.”
The motion was passed 13 to 2.
In Favour:
Mayor Andrea Horwath
Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson
Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann
Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson
Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark
Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie
Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson
Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar
Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora
Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin
Opposed:
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson
Absent:
Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko
Procedural Vote: Notice of Annual Vacant Unit Tax Bylaw
A motion that public notice be issued in advance of the annual by-law bill for the City’s vacant unit tax. [Annual tax bylaws are usually housekeeping affairs; the notice will enable those opposed to the VUT to mobilize opposition for the date of the housekeeping vote.]
The motion was passed 13 to 1, with one declaration of conflict of interest.
In Favour:
Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann
Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark
Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie
Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson
Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar
Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson
Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora
Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin
Opposed:
Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls
Absent:
Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko
Conflict of Interest:
Mayor Andrea Horwath declared a conflict of interest because she owns a vacant housing unit.
DEFERRAL: Appointment of City Representatives to the Joint Stewardship Board
That Council not decide on filling two vacancies on the Joint Stewardship Board and that the matter be deferred to the next Council meeting on May 7.
Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis previously resigned from the Joint Stewardship Board. He is now considering seeking the one open Hamilton Council seat on the Board. Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch was about to be acclaimed.
The motion was passed 9 to 6.
In Favour:
Mayor Andrea Horwath
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson
Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls
Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark
Ward 10 Councillor Jeff Beattie
Ward 11 Councillor Mark Tadeson
Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora
Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin
Opposed:
Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann
Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang
Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar
Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson
Absent:
Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko