Liveblog ReplayLive Coverage: Hamilton City Council Audit, Finance, Administration Committee on July 30, 2026

July 30, 2026 at 9:32 AM:

Good morning,

The meeting is underway.

On Time: Ward 1 Maureen Wilson, Ward 2 Cameron Kroetsch, Ward 4 Tammy Hwang, Ward 8 Rob Cooper, Ward 9 Brad Clark, Ward 10 Jeff Beattie, Ward 13 Alex Wilson, Ward 14 Mike Spadafora

Not Present at Roll Call: Ward 7 Esther Pauls, Ward 11 Mark Tadeson

9:36 AM:

At the request of Councillor Alex Wilson, the agenda order has been changed to move Item 9.2 Development Charges Exemption for Kemp Care Network (Keaton’s Place Hospice) to be the first to be considered immediately after the completion of delegations.

9:37 AM:

Council is now on Item 6.1, Delegation by Danielle Zucchet, CEO of the Kemp Care Network, respecting a waiver of development charges owing for Keaton’s House – Paul Paletta Children’s Hospice

9:41 AM:

The Kemp Care Network is seeking a waiver of approximately $250,000 in development charges for the new Keaton’s House, a 30,000-sq-ft pediatric palliative care hospice.

9:45 AM:

Councillors are supportive of the Kemp Care Network in their remarks to the delegate.

9:46 AM:

Council now on Item 6.2 Delegations Respecting Ontario Works Value for Money Audit

There are three separate delegates on this matter: Hafeez Hussain, Michelle MacDonald, Rose Marie of the Small Ownership Landlords Ontario.

9:48 AM:

Hafeez Hussain is delegating calling on the City to take stronger action to force collection of Ontario Works overpayments. Hussain has been effectively using freedom of information to secure information regarding the state of Hamilton finances from the Ministry of Community Services, and better practices from other municipalities.

Hussain has been very effective at getting action out of City Hall on these issues.

9:53 AM:

Michelle MacDonald is now delegating. She is calling on the City to be more aggressive in forcing collection on OW overpayments, Provincial Offences fines, unpaid recreation fees, outstanding property taxes, etc.

MacDonald says the City should have a centralized collections team with metrics for achieving collection of balances.

9:54 AM:

Note: Hussain, and MacDonald both delegated by video conference.

Rose Marie is now delegating, also by video conference, says the City needs to require direct payments of OW/ODSP shelter allowances to landlords.

9:59 AM:

Council now on Item 6.3 Delegations Respecting Elgin Transformer Fund Community Uses.

Delegates are: Margaret Bennett, Beasley Neighbourhood Association, and Anja Lehto.

This relates to Item 10.1, a motion by Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch to transfer control of $133,513.41 to the Beasley Neighbourhood Association (BNA), the Parent Council at Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School, and the Hamilton Skateboard Assembly (HSA), to decide how to spend on infrastructure at Beasley Park, Simone Hall, and the Beasley Community Centre.

There is correspondence in response expressing concern about the allocation of public funds without clear spending decisions, especially in an election year.

10:14 AM:

Councillors are speaking in favour of waiving development charges, especially because City Council had unanimously approved a NOMINAL LEASE of City lands to support the hospice.

Senior staff decided to add development charges as a clause in the nominal lease. Councillor Brad Clark describes this as inconsistent with the Council direction and “disappointing”

10:16 AM:

Returning to the agenda items in order.

Council quickly approves Item 7.1 FCS26053 Master Trust Pension Investment Performance Report as at December 31, 2025

Council is now on Item 7.2 CM26010 Barton Tiffany Temporary Shelters Audit Response Update

10:18 AM:

Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark opens questions regarding the Barton/Tiffany audit response.

He notes the Barton/Tiffany fiasco involved a brand new company with no experience. He says the City has promised that it learned from the Barton/Tiffany fiasco.

Then he asks what is different about the new corporation that has been selected to building the Stoney Creek downtown parking lot affordable housing project?

Senior management responds they will have to get back to the councillor with that information.

10:19 AM:

Council is now on Item 8.1 Master Trust Pension Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures

10:26 AM:

MOTIONS

Council is now on motions:

9.1 Support for the Ottawa Street Business Improvement Area Annual Sidewalk Sale Event to Offset the Economic Impacts of the Closure of the Main Street East and Ottawa Street Intersection

9.3 Routes Youth Centre One-Time Emergency Funding

9.4 Ward 13 Community Grants

Item 9.2 Development Charges Exemption for Kemp Care Network (Keaton’s Place Hospice) was completed earlier in the meeting.

10:33 AM:

Council approved Items 9.1, 9.3, and 9.4.

Council is now on Notices of Motion, Items 10.1 and 10.2

10.1 Elgin Transformer Fund Community Uses (Ward 2)

10.2 Dundas Community Services

10:37 AM:

Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch explains they were an error in the wording of his motion, “that is on me”, that will allocate $133,513.41 from a reserve account that was created from Hydro One lease payments to use the City’s parking lot at the Beasley Community Centre over the course of over six years.

The motion, as written, wrote that community groups would decide how the funds be spent. The change is to state that once the groups decide on the allocation, it will return to Council for formal approval.

The groups are the Beasley Neighbourhood Association (BNA), the Parent Council at Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School, and the Hamilton Skateboard Assembly (HSA), to decide how to spend on infrastructure at Beasley Park, Simone Hall, and the Beasley Community Centre.

[DISCLOSURE: I reside in the Beasley neighbourhood and have been involved with the neighbourhood association in the past]

10:43 AM:

In 2018, then Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr made a written promise to the Beasley community groups that the groups would decide the allocation of the Hydro One lease funds.

Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark is the first to speak on the motion. He notes that no single councillor cannot bind Council, that council members cannot promise to allocate funds – only Council can do that.

Clark says he “appreciates Councillor Kroetsch trying to correct the situation” by codifying the promise.

The key issue here is wording in the motion to ensure that any actual allocation of the funds must be approved by Council at a later date, that the community groups can make recommendations.

10:47 AM:

The Beasley motion is unanimously approved.

Now onto Item 10.2, funding for Dundas Community Services.

It passes unanimously.

10:56 AM:

Council’s Audit, Finance, Admin committee is not expected to provide any public disclosure following closed session. I am ending today’s coverage.
Thank you for reading.