City Manager Marnie Cluckie brought a message of change and a changed message to Monday’s Hamilton Chamber of Commerce State of the City Event at LiUNA Station.
She began her address by stating that someone recently told her ‘We’ve started to lose hope. Hamilton needs hope now’ and another person told her ‘You’re a great cheerleader for the city and that matters, and people need to see results.’
“That has really stuck with me because this role [being City Manager] isn’t just about inspiring belief, it’s about backing it up with delivery, real outcomes, tangible progress.”
“They weren’t talking about blind optimism. They meant hope grounded in action, a belief that progress is possible and that things can get better. And they can, and they are, and they will.”
The City needs to deliver “hope and results, not one or the other, but both,” Cluckie told the audience of 400 business and public sector leaders.
“We’re building a city that is resilient, inclusive and future ready. Hamilton’s not just here to stay, it’s here to thrive,” Cluckie continued before turning to listing City Hall accomplishments.
Cluckie highlighted the City’s AAA credit rating, a record first four months for building permits to start 2025, the opening of the 483,000 square foot IKEA distribution centre, and new industries at the Port.
Later in the speech, Cluckie talked about housing, the expansion of shelter spaces, the work underway on 440 new affordable units and 435 supportive units.
“We’re building or helping to build 1,200 new units focused on those who need it most: singles, families, Indigenous communities and women-led households.”
Tariffs, Economy, and Local Government Action
Cluckie told the audience that Hamilton is facing the challenge of “global economic uncertainty.” “Tariffs from the US are hitting us hard.”
“We’ve updated our procurement policy to prioritize buy local and buy Canadian,” Cluckie said. “The City is investing $4.85 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years.”
“The LRT is no longer a concept. It is in motion,” she continued. “We are laying tracks, literally and figuratively, for Hamilton’s next chapter.”
Cluckie added City Council is “reviewing the City’s development charges bylaw, exploring temporary exemptions or discounts to help keep projects moving, protect construction jobs and maintain momentum,” before returning to the theme of trust.
Distrust and Hamilton City Hall
She addressed the recent City Hall survey that found 80 percent of participants do not trust City Hall.
“It was tough to hear but we needed to hear it,” Cluckie said. “Trust and confidence has to be earned, not assumed.”
The address returned to the familiar listing of City Hall accomplishments.
The 20 minute address ended with Cluckie stating, “Let’s move forward with hope, with action, delivering results in this amazing city that we have and continue to build together.”
Picket Outside & An Unhappy Landlord Inside
The City’s striking Hamilton Water workers picketed the event, only permitting one car into the parking lot every 15 minutes. Attendees had to find on-street parking, with many choosing to park instead in the nearby GO Transit lot.
Hamilton Police were on site, with one of the constables confirming this was a permitted strike activity.
During a lull between Cluckie’s address and the panel discussion, MC Mike Fortune tried to fill time by asking the audience to share good news.
A landlord who is engaged in disagreements with the City regarding short-term rentals rules and other policies took the opportunity to instead complain about City Hall.
Beni Colalillo, who lost at the Landlord-Tenant Board in 2024 when he applied to renovict tenants from an East Hamilton apartment building he owns, took the microphone.
“I’m 60 years old, turning 61. I own a lot of properties in the city, OK, and so does my family entirely. I’ve got three sons, all married, all self-employed,” Beni Colalillo said before criticizing the City’s vacant unit tax.
Fortune unsuccessfully attempted to grab back the microphone.
Colalillo continued, “We are the developers and people who own property in the city who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars …,”
At that moment, the microphone was muted at the control board.
Call to Action: Be Heard
In her closing remarks at the end of the event, Cluckie gave a call-to-action:
“I guess this is a bit of a call to action. Just keep stepping up and having your voice heard at the city as you have and as I know Hamiltonians always do because we need to hear from you on all fronts.”
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: June 16, 2025
Last updated: June 16, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version