The following are the liveposts published by Joey Coleman during the City Council ratification meeting on April 22, 2026. The posts have been lightly edited for formatting and spelling errors. The timestamps link to the original posts as published on Bluesky.
Opening and Ceremonial Activity
[9:41 AM]: Good morning, A full agenda: Barton/Tiffany fiasco lobbying, 10-year downtown plan, planning decisions, Ward grants for “social infrastructure”, response to provincial education changes, more
Agenda // Livestream
Follow along for live updates 🧵 #yhmcc
[9:41 AM]: Council Members on Time: Mayor, 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12,13,15
On Time (video): 10
Not on Time: 4,7,14
[9:42 AM]: First up: a ceremonial commemoration organized by Mayor Andrea Horwath. The Hamilton Chapter of the Ukrainian Council of Canada will mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. #yhmcc
Integrity Commissioner: Microshelters Lobbying Report & Prohibition on Influencing Committee of Adjustment
[9:45 AM]: Now onto the Integrity Commissioner, in his capacity as Lobbyist Registrar, report regarding the Microshelters Inc Barton/Tiffany fiasco.
Background story on TPR
[9:48 AM]: Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis is the first on the list to ask questions:
Q) is there a mandatory requirement for staff to verify if lobbyists are registered?
A (from IC Boghosian): There is no requirement on staff.
A (from City Manager): Will review the matter
[9:48 AM]: Francis question’s continued.
Q) Are there safeguards to ensure unregistered lobbying does not result in procurement?
A (City Manager): Senior staff are not usually involved in procurement and redirect lobbyists to the appropriate staff who then follow procurement policy.
[9:51 AM]: Francis says there is a “gap to be addressed” regarding unregistered lobbying of senior city staff. Asks, in the form of a question, that maybe it is time for the City to mandate checks of the registry by staff and council members.
[9:52 AM]: Now asking questions, Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark:
Q) Has the City now released all documentation, emails, communications, between City staff and the Microshelter lobbyists.
A) To the best of his knowledge, the Integrity Commissioner says he received full disclosure from the City.
[9:55 AM]: And that is all the questions on the Microshelter’s lobbying report. Received for info. 30-day lobbying ban now in effect for Denis Fourcaudot, Jeffrey Cooper (Microshelters Inc owners), and Dave Levac (former MPP and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature)
[9:56 AM]: Violation was not registering in advance of lobbying. Under Hamilton’s Lobbyist Registry By-law, anyone communicating with a Member of Council, their staff, or a member of the Senior Leadership Team (City Manager or General Managers) to influence a City purchase must register in advance.
[9:59 AM]: Now Item 6.2 on the agenda: The Integrity Commissioner instructing City Council members to stop trying to influence the Committee of Adjustment. #yhmcc
Background story on TPR
[9:59 AM]: Ward 10 Clr Jeff Beattie wants to know if the Integrity Commissioner’s instruction to not write letters of support for applications at the Committee of Adjustment also applies to Council members seeking to have CoA vote against an item. IC responds Council cannot influence CoA – full stop.
[9:59 AM]: Boghosian: “The Committee of Adjustment is not a political forum” adding Council members should not try to make it one. IC advises Council members to cite his letter to constituents to explain why they cannot intervene in the independent quasi-judicial CoA.
[10:02 AM]: Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark, “it is surprising this is still an issue” referring to council members intervening at CoA. Clark has steadfastly kept out of CoA matters. He asks staff to clarify the roles of professional staff in appealing CoA decisions, and then going to Council for direction post-appeal
[10:06 AM]: Staff have explained their role to provide professional advice, to file appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal whenever the CoA overturns Council-enacted policy, and then to bring to Council the appeal for decision on proceeding or not.
[10:08 AM]: Ward 3 Clr Nrinder Nann asks if “there is any limitation” on ability of council members to inform the community about upcoming CoA meetings and items of interest. Boghosian states they can communicate with neutrality. A follow-up, and Boghosian clarifies they cannot take a position on CoA
Committee Reports
[10:11 AM]: Now onto Item 6.3, Better Homes Hamilton Loan Loss Risk Clarification – summary, “No risk to the municipality” if the loan is not repaid because the loan is on title of the property.
[10:13 AM]: Now onto Committee Reports: 7.1 – Hamilton Utilities Corporation Shareholder 7.2 – Public Works 7.3 – Planning Committee 7.4 – General Issues Committee 7.5 – Audit, Finance and Administration Committee
[10:14 AM]: Item 7.1, HUC Shareholder Council approves re-appointment of Sean Donnelly as a City of Hamilton director on the Alectra Inc. board for a new three-year term, and approval of KPMG as Alectra’s auditor. Mayor Horwath is also paid by Alectra. Hamilton owns a 17.31% stake in Alectra
[10:17 AM]: Now onto the Public Works Committee report. (Item 7.2)
[10:17 AM]: Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson speaks, thanking the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation for contributing $650,000 toward the $2.4-million cost for improvements to the HAAA Grounds field house. Upgrades include: four gender-neutral washrooms, a kitchenette, and AODA accessibility.
[10:17 AM]: Public Works Committee report, all items, approved unanimously. Now onto the Planning Committee report. (Item 7.3)
[10:20 AM]: Planning Committee report, all items, approved unanimously without any comments. Four zoning decision: 36 Taylor Crescent – DENIAL confirmed 1042-1050 West 5th Street – RATIFIED 974-980 Upper Paradise Road – RATIFIED Eight storey building on Wilson Street at Lorne Avenue, Ancaster – RATIFIED #yhmcc
[10:21 AM]: Now onto the Council General Issues Committee report. (Item 7.4) This was a long meeting. A lot of work was not complete when Council adjourned last Wednesday at 6:17 p.m. #yhmcc
Debate: Free Transit For Age 65 and Up
[10:22 AM]: Motion from Ward 6 Tom Jackson to direct staff to report back to Council in Q3 on changing HSR fare policies to provide free transit (and DARTS service) to all residents over the age of 65 This will be voted on in the weeks before the October municipal election. This will be a major debate
[10:24 AM]: Note: the costs of implementing free transit for those over the age of 65 cannot be determined. The reason for this is the municipality must meet all requests for accessible transit. Upon removing fares, there will be increased demand. #yhmcc
[10:28 AM]: Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson asks if income need is a better measure for providing transit subsidies (free fare). Asks questions regarding HSR fare policies. Staff confirm there is no income testing for the free Golden Age pass [free transit over age 80]
[10:28 AM]: Ward 1 Clr Wilson asks for confirmation that Council’s guiding practice and principle has been to focus on income as indicator of need for transit fare assistance. Now asking how staff will study the direction.
[10:38 AM]: Council members go around the horseshoe speaking in favour of the motion. Seniors affordability is a significant priority for Council. Approved unanimously.
[10:38 AM]: MY COMMENT
If seniors begin using the HSR en masse, Council will begin to actually care about HSR operations. I’ve often noted HSR cuts buses to McMaster whenever short of buses, but never the 8-York. (1/2)
[10:38 AM]: MY COMMENT (continued)
I’ve written many times: What’s the difference between a 51-University with 100 Mac students crushed inside and a 8-York bus with three seniors on board? The York bus has three more voters. (2/2)
General Issues Report Debate
[10:40 AM]: Back to the Council GIC report. Ward 11 Clr Mark Tadeson is trying again to have a review of the City’s use of consultants However, this comes as City staff state they are overwhelmed by Council adding work before the election. [Such as moments ago with HSR fare review just added to work]
[10:46 AM]: Tadeson’s motion passes. Council votes to approve the Ten-Year Downtown Revitalization strategy. There were split votes, 13-3, 14-2. I need to go back to ensure my accuracy on the sub-items.
[10:48 AM]: Conservation Authority merger opposition Council now on a motion by Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark (who is also the Chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority) to reaffirm Hamilton’s opposition to the disbanding of local authorities and merger into provincially-controlled regional conservation authorities
[11:09 AM]: Council now on a motion by Clr Kroetsch for staff to study/calculate a “municipal price index” which would be the City of Hamilton’s inflationary pressure. CPI, consumer price index, does not reflect the costs of a municipality.
[11:09 AM]: Ward 9 Clr Clark, Ward 10 Clr Beattie both voting against – saying the municipality needs to “push back” on the ‘concept’ that municipal costs should be higher. Clark acknowledge merits of the motion, but says he will vote against because municipal ratepayers are subject to CPI for their income
[11:16 AM]: VOTE – motion to study Municipal Price Index
PASSES 12-4
In favour: Mayor, 1,2,3,4,6,7,11,12,13,15
Opposed: 8,9,10,14 NOTE: Francis’ vote differs from last week at GIC, he voted against last week.
[11:17 AM]: Council approves the GIC report. Now onto the Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee.
Ward Councillor Funds – Motions
[11:18 AM]: On the Ward 2 “social infrastructure” area-rating grants program allocations.
PASSES 14-2
In Favour: Mayor, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11,12,13,14,15
Opposed: 8,9
[11:20 AM]: On Ward 4 “social infrastructure” area-rated $15,000 grant to the Sudanese Canadian League of Hamilton for the Empowering Tutoring Program
PASSES 14-2
In Favour: Mayor, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11,12,13,14,15
Opposed: 8,9
[11:20 AM]: The remainder of the Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee report is ratified.
Opposition to Provincial Education Act Changes
[11:22 AM]: Now onto a motion for the municipality to formally oppose Education Act reforms tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
[11:27 AM]: Ward 9 Clr Clark says he reads the motion as being neutral, simply asking for the Province to clarify the role of the school board trustee. Which is a technical reading – the root and expressed purpose is opposition to Education Act reforms.
[11:29 AM]: Education Act reforms motion passed unanimously.
Homelessness Services and Residency Requirements Debate
[11:34 AM]: Now on a motion by Clr Francis to have the City of Hamilton study collecting data on geographical origin of people using City emergency shelters and other homelessness services.
[11:34 AM]: A change in tone of response from senior staff right now at Council, compared to last week Last week, Director of Housing Michelle Baird not supportive, saying once someone is in Hamilton, they are a Hamiltonian General Manager Grace Mater, today, says they can provide the info if directed
[11:39 AM]: GM Mater is providing factual neutral responses to Clr Francis. Francis is asking if a stat he says he is hearing (30 per cent of shelter clients have been in Hamilton for less than a year) Mater provides point-in-time count breakdown stats, which is the answer. Back-and-forth.
[11:39 AM]: Clr Nann asks staff to clarify how they would determine place of origin, emphasising that this should be with a human rights approach. Clr Kroetsch asks how the City collects data, and validity of data.
[11:41 AM]: GM Mater says that the City of Hamilton is beginning to see more new arrivals accessing Hamilton’s emergency shelters as other municipalities impose restrictions on new arrivals in their shelters.
[11:46 AM]: Clr Kroetsch says Hamilton councils for over a century have been saying people being sent here for homeless services. Says he is concerned about the human rights and dignity impacts on people. Clr Cassar says he wishes to get legal advice (in closed session) regarding Charter of Rights implications
[11:48 AM]: Clr Jackson says 25-years-ago, after amalgamation, the City of Hamilton studied how many people on social assistance were moving to Hamilton from other places. Over 400 per year, Jackson says, and this cost $1-mil per year for Hamilton. Jackson says Hamilton cannot afford the rising costs.
[11:49 AM]: Jackson is more specific, 23 years ago. [He said at amalgamation initially]
[12:01 PM]: Ward 13 Clr Alex Wilson speaks about the reliability of self-reported data from unhoused individuals as provided on their intake into Hamilton’s homelessness tracking system. He says self-reported data can be unreliable due to incentives (people saying they’ve been in Hamilton when they have not)
[12:04 PM]: Ward 14 Clr Spadafora asks if other municipalities have “return to sender policies” that turn away people accessing their emergency shelters who are not from the municipality. Staff confirm yes. Spadafora notes he has not heard of them facing legal / human rights challenges.
[12:10 PM]: Mayor Andrea Horwath says social services should be funded by higher levels of government. Says Hamilton must respond to need. Says Hamilton needs more data to lobby higher levels of government. Supports Clr Francis motion to get more data.
[12:19 PM]: VOTING is about to begin. Clr Francis’ motion will be split into separate votes. #Yhmcc On Items A, B, D (amendment to consider legal issues) PASSES 16 – 0
[12:19 PM]: On Part/Item C of Francis’ motion — to study implementing residency requirements for access to Hamilton’s homelessness services.
PASSES 13-3
In Favour: Mayor,1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15
Opposed: 2,3,13
Walk-On: Ward 7 Councillor Funds Motion
[12:26 PM]: Now onto a motion from Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls to use her Ward 7 area-rated funds to provide $10,000 to support Hamilton athletes to attend the 2026 International Childrens Games in Hualien, Taiwan. Plus $3,500 from general City travel funds for Clr Pauls to attend the games.
[12:26 PM]: Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark notes that councillors without area-rated funds are capped at giving $550 per year to any individual athletic group. Here the councillor is giving $10,000. Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson notes concerns with City policies regarding parts of this motion.
[12:30 PM]: Ward 11 Clr Mark Tadeson says he supports this, that Hamilton wants to eventually have the “economic uplift” of hosting the International Children’s Games.
[12:31 PM]: Clr Pauls motion, International Children’s Games PASSES: 15-1 Opposed is Clr Clark (Ward 9)
Councillor Motions and Adjournment
[12:36 PM]: Continuing with councillor motions.
– Spadafora: improvements to the play structure at Carpenter Park, 145 Eagleglen Way
– Nann: budgetary line item amendment for Barton Street road work
– Nann: permit Clr Hwang to run for Association of Municipalities of Ontario Board.
[12:36 PM]: More councillor motions
– Nann: a mural revitalization project at 645 Barton Street East
– Pauls: housekeeping motion to confirm the City of Hamilton continues to have a seven member Police Services Board (required housekeeping, no change) #yhmcc
[12:48 PM]: A walk-on motion from Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis.
$3,375 from Ward 5 funds to pay the registration fees for up to $135 per participant for up to 25 youth from CityHousing complex at 245 Kenora to play in the East Hamilton Soccer Club. PASSES
[1:07 PM]: And the morning part of Council is complete. Following lunch, they will deliver Member Statements and then go into closed session. I am going to work from home for a bit, then return to City Hall for open session.
[3:39 PM]: Council returned from closed session. Passed procedural motions, and the meeting is now complete.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: April 23, 2026
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version