NOTE: This article was written in November 2025, however, due to an error, it was not published at the time. It was posted to TPR’s website in May 2026. It is backdated for archival indexing purposes.
Hamilton City Council approved the continuation of the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) for the 2025 occupancy year in the narrowest possible vote, 8 to 7, on October 29.
In favour were: Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11), Craig Cassar (Ward 12), Alex Wilson (Ward 13), and Ted McMeekin (Ward 15).
Opposed: Matt Francis (Ward 5), Tom Jackson (Ward 6), Esther Pauls (Ward 7), Rob Cooper (Ward 8), Brad Clark (Ward 9), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10), and Mike Spadafora (Ward 14).
Mayor Andrea Horwath continues to recuse herself from VUT votes, having declared a conflict of interest because she owns a vacant residential unit.
Previous votes had been 9 to 6. The change in voting margin follows a by-election in Ward 8.
Then-Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko voted in favour of the VUT in 2024. Danko resigned the seat in spring 2025 after winning the federal Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas riding as the Liberal candidate.
Rob Cooper won the September 22 by-election to fill the vacancy. His platform included a promise to “Scrap the Rain and Vacant Unit Taxes.” Cooper was sworn in on September 29.
Staff reported to Council’s General Issues Committee that roughly 4,500 Hamilton property owners had not submitted occupancy declarations even after deadline extensions
As of the October 22 report, only 372 property owners had self-declared their property vacant. The over 4,000 remaining properties will work through the appeals process before final revenue is known.
The 2025 occupancy year declaration period is now open, with declarations due April 15, 2026 and late declarations accepted until May 15 with a $250 fee.
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Published: May 16, 2026
Last updated: May 16, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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