Section 284(1) of Ontario’s Municipal Act mandates municipalities report the remuneration and expenses of elected and appointed officials.
The City of Hamilton is one of the minority of municipalities in Ontario that permits elected officials to claim additional “honourarium” for serving on municipal agencies, boards, and committees, including conservation authorities, municipal entertainment and utility management committees, affordable housing oversight boards, and police boards.
These payments are not included in the ‘sunshine list’ salary disclosure.
Mayor Andrea Horwath is Canada’s third-highest paid mayor, with a total cash remuneration of $271,181.49.
For comparison, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s 2024 pay is $225,304.04. Toronto prohibits its Council members from receiving extra pay for representing the municipality on local boards.
Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang’s is Hamilton’s highest paid councillor, collecting $30,300.00 in payments for sitting on two City of Hamilton municipal corporations. Ward 9 Clr Brad Clark collected $10,000 for sitting on the Hamilton Conservation Authority, which he chairs. Ward 5 Clr Matt Francis collected $3,068.00 as Council’s representative on the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
Other council members on local boards declined to take extra payments for their council work.
| Name | Remuneration | Double-Dipping Payments | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Andrea Horwath | $217,431.49 | $53,750.00 | $271,181.49 |
| Ward 4 | Tammy Hwang | $108,943.12 | $30,300.00 | $139,243.12 |
| Ward 9 | Brad Clark | $108,943.12 | $10,000.00 | $118,943.12 |
| Ward 5 | Matt Francis | $108,943.12 | $3,068.00 | $112,011.12 |
| Ward 1 | Maureen Wilson | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 2 | Cameron Kroetsch | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 3 | Nrinder Nann | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 6 | Tom Jackson | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 7 | Esther Pauls | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 8 | John-Paul Danko | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 10 | Jeff Beattie | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 11 | Mark Tadeson | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 12 | Craig Cassar | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 13 | Alex Wilson | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 14 | Mike Spadafora | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |
| Ward 15 | Ted McMeekin | $108,943.12 | 0 | $108,943.12 |