The LPASC closure comes at a time that Ontario’s planning appeal framework is in a state of flux, with the new Local Appeal Planning Tribunal (LPAT) which replaced the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) unsure if its authorities, requesting the Ontario Superior Court’s Divisional Court rule on a legal interpretation of LPAT’s governing legislation.
Posted inColeman's Notes
Coleman's Notes: Watching the LPAT at Divisional Court to Figure Out How The LPAT Will Work
Nobody knows how the new Ontario land use planning and municipal decision making appeal framework works, not even the new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.On April 24 and 25th, in a courtroom at Osgoode Hall, the Ontario Divisional Court will rule on how LPAT will operate
Posted inCity Hall News
Hamilton City Council takes Advantage of Change to Municipal Act Allowing Secret Email Meetings
Old City Council discussion by email to fill the 2018 Ward 7 vacancy with our of their former City of Hamilton Alderman colleagues. Changes to the Ontario Municipal Act now allow Council to meet in secret by email.
Posted inHamOnt Media Tracker
CHCH Coverage of Hamilton's Opioid Crisis
Almost lost in the shuffle of City Hall scandals is that Hamilton’s opioid crisis worsened in February, CHCH ran a two-and-a-half minute report on Friday in which CHCH reveals: “In the first few weeks of February, Hamilton had 61 opioid-related emergencies, more than any month since September 2017. “
Posted inCity Hall
New Hamilton City Manager to Be Announced on March 20
The hiring committee held two illegal meetings, in contravention of the Municipal Act, on February 9 and February 23rd to decide their pick.
The full of Council must ratify the pick, and it’s not clear how many of the four Councillors who are consistently voting for transparency, accountability, and reform will support the pick.
The name may also leak in advance of the meeting.
Posted inPhoto Stories
InstaStories: McMaster CityLab Students Present Sustainability Engagement Project to CityHousing Board
A group of McMaster University undergraduate students presented to the CityHousing Hamilton Board of Directors yesterday on their term work project to engage CityHousing residents in sustainability projects. Their work produced impressive results in energy efficiency improvements in the CHH properties they engaged residents.
Posted inHamOnt Media Tracker
Speed Cushions? Meet the New City Hall Speak for Speed Bumps
I thought Matthew Van Dongen was joking when he used the term “speed cushions” to refer to speed bumps. There was no way bureaucrat-speak had decided to spin speed bumps as speed cushions.
Posted inHamOnt Media Tracker
Ed Smith Heading to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Board
Smith, who lead the fight to expose and end questionable practices among the Old Guard of Niagara Regional Council – which was swept out of office in the October 2018 municipal election – was infamously sued by the NPCA for his 2016 report on the rampant problems and questionable practices under the rein of Carmen D’Angelo as Chief Administrative Officer of the NPCA.
Posted inEditors Note
Ontario Court of Appeal Ruling Insightful for Future of LaSalle Park
LaSalle Park is presently zoned as parkland, and Burlington would have to either agree, or more likely the City of Hamilton would have to engage in litigation, to change the zoning.
Posted inCity Hall
Hamilton EcDev Director: Among Developers “Nobody is believing that the LRT is coming”
Norton’s comments came in response to questions about why the City’s Economic Development Division is requesting that Downtown Hamilton development charge exceptions should remain in place.