Good morning Hamilton. I’m at Carmen’s Banquet Centre for the first head-to-head mayoral debate of Hamilton’s 2026 municipal election. Front runners Rob Cooper, Keanin Loomis, and Andrea Horwath will discuss the issues and debate each other.
The event is organized by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the West End Homebuilders, the Cornerstone Realtors Association, and the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association.
I will be liveblogging throughout the event.
Follow below for live coverage.
Live Updates
Live coverage is in progress. The following are my (Joey Coleman) live posts so far — 26 updates in order from earliest to most recent; times are Eastern. This page updates as the event continues.
September 22, 2026 at 9:34 AM: Good morning everyone. The room is beginning to fill in.
9:45 AM: We are about to get underway.
People have been asked to take their seats.
The executive leaders of each of the four organizations are providing opening remarks.
The debate is underway.
Steve Paikin’s first question is “what are you looking for in a new City Manager?”
Rob Cooper on new City Manager:
They must be “transformational”
“I am not tied to them being from the public sector”
They need to have financial expertise, they need to get the financial statements done.
“The most important hire in the next term of Council not going to be the City Manager, it is going to be the Chief Human Resources officer”
Cooper says culture change is key.
Andrea Horwath on new City Manager
Someone who can help navigate challenges, seizes challenges.
Horwath says that culture change is underway, saying a number of senior people have been let go, and “that’s not by accident”
Says the new City Manager needs to “continue the transformation that is underway”
Keanin Loomis on a new City Manager:
Hamilton needs “world class leadership”
The new City Manager will be the “most important decision that I am make during my tenure.”
Will hire “through an open process” will seek someone with experience who can lead a turn-around, attract talent, and ensure successful change to “implement my SMART plan”
I “want someone who knows Hamilton” saying “we do not have any time to waste.”
Paikin: What is one new thing you want the new City Manager to do?
Horwath: We need to continue with the transformational change underway, a City Manager who understands what it takes to lead and create a great city.
They need to know Hamilton, economic activity, service delivery.
Will use a processional recruitment firm, and a panel of experts from the community, and council members, working together.
Cooper: One of our biggest problems is that City Hall is “all talk, no action.”
Lists all the third-party reviews that find the City of Hamilton is the worst performing municipality in Canada.
No financial statements.
Horwath asks to counter, says the City has improved its planning timelines. As Horwath speaks, her camera person gives two thumbs up from behind his camera. Each of the campaigns have their own media productions teams to ensure they get good content today.
Loomis: “we need world-class leadership” and adds that “under the leadership of both of my contenders here, the City has suffered.”
Loomis’ time was limited as time on the topic ran out.
Next question: ‘what role do data centres have in Hamilton’s economic development?’
Horwath: says the Canadian data centres proposed in Hamilton are not the American style ones that harm communities. These will be research and innovation data centres, that will create research spin-offs, innovation, and will provide economic opportunities when “done properly, done right.”
Loomis: Says every proposal that comes before the City needs to benefit the City, improve quality of life, and data centres need to pay their fair share, pay their own way, and create benefits.
Hamilton needs to be at the table on provincial and federal talks regarding the future Steelport.
Cooper: Hamilton needs to “meet the moment,” and needs to seize opportunities when they become available.
Hamilton should’ve been ready for data centres, to ensure the City could review it.
Notes Hamilton debates things at no end, citing the LRT has been 20 years of debate thus far.
Horwath, in rebuttal, “the data centre issue and LRT are issues we are working on.”
Horwath says she got LRT “unstuck” and got work underway on data centre policies.
That she has been working on this since day one.
Horwath claims that Rob Cooper only changed his position on AI data centres due to his ‘donors pressuring him’
Cooper says this is not true, and says the problem was that Mayor Horwath failed to inform Council about her data centre negotiations and that Council was not provided the information they needed at the onset.
Cooper then turns to the City’s failure of the City to issue financial statements. Horwath then interjects to say that Cooper is on the Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee and should look at himself.
Horwath accuses Cooper of not reading the Council agendas.
There was an insult, and counter-insult in this exchange. I need to go back and review my audio to get it accurate at a later point.
Paikin, next question, is public safety and the downtown.
The statements are already in their platforms, I’ll let you look at the sites.
Both Cooper and Loomis will sit on the Police Board.
Andrea Horwath turns to Keanin Loomis and says “I know you have not been around the past couple of years” and to Cooper that “I know you live on the Mountain” and then says “I live in the Downtown” and as Mayor she is making Downtown safer and more vibrant.
10:24 AM: Horwath just interjected as Cooper was speaking.
Cooper looked around the room, paused for a moment, then resumed speaking. A few people in the room audibly reacted.
Horwath is interjecting as her challengers speak. Both Cooper and Loomis are ignoring the interjections.
Paikin’s next question is on taxation and municipal spending.
Cooper and Horwath both go back and forth at each other for around three minutes, about the role of the Strong Mayor powers and budget responsibility.
Loomis stands silently.
Paikin turns to Loomis, asks his thoughts.
“It is clear that Hamilton needs an adult at City Hall,” says Loomis to much positive response in the room.
Loomis says he will adopt Zero-based budgeting, spending will be brought under control, and that will control tax increases.
Loomis says he will make the Auditor General fully independent of City Council. Horwath claims this is false, that the AG is independent.
The AG is not fully independent, they are also the internal auditor, and all audits need to be approved by Council..
The past few minutes have been a continuation of general statements.
Cooper and Horwath are jointly critical of Loomis for not being on Council.
Loomis is countering by saying not being on Council is an asset.
The rate of interjections has decreased in the past few minutes.
Debate regarding Hamilton’s high taxes, and imbalance between residential and non-residential taxes.
Horwath is very animated as her videographer gives a thumbs up.
In sum, Cooper and Loomis says Hamilton needs to manage tax increases, get more non-residential growth.
Horwath says they are using misleading figures, and they do not understand math.
Paikin says the next section will be a longer discussion of how to get more housing built.
Each candidate is outlining their positions.
Loomis: we need to measure results, the Mayor needs to land, and City Hall needs to get out of the way.
Cooper: Hamilton’s planning timelines are the problem. City Hall needs to approve housing in a timely manner. Then says the City should not be blaming “Trump tariffs” for long-standing problems with City Hall processes.
Horwath: We are already making strives in getting new housing built, improving City of Hamilton processes, and addressing the problems of the past.
Paikin to Cooper and Loomis: “You say faster approvals are needed, and the Mayor is saying that is already happening.”
Challenges Loomis and Cooper to explain what they mean.
Loomis says the City needs to get everyone in the same room, and not leave until the work is done.
Cooper says the City is ranked last in Canada according to the Municipal Benchmarking Study was commissioned by Canadian Homebuilders Association.
Horwath claims the report is not accurate.
Paikin asks the candidates how they will approve housing over NIMBY opposition.
Loomis is the first asked to speak. He begins by saying he is unapologetically running on a YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) platform.
Horwath interjects, “What about Stoney Creek” and a debate breaks out over the affordable housing project planned for a surplus municipal parking lot in Downtown Stoney Creek.
Horwath says Loomis is not in fact a YIMBY, that housing must be built in a housing crisis, that they will always been local councillor opposition to new council, and leadership is needed.
Loomis retorts that communities need to be listened to, that Horwath is ignoring communities.
Paikin: Is housing a human right?
Horwath: “Yes”
Loomis: “Housing is Healthcare”
Cooper: “Housing is a want and a need”
Discussion
0 commentsNo comments yet. Be the first to add your perspective.