5 top political stories in Hamilton in 2023

Politics will always play a big part in the lives of Hamiltonians and 2023 was no different, with plenty of major news stories coming from City Hall or from the hallowed halls of Parliament or Queen’s Park.

Here are the top five political stories in Hamilton this year.

1. Transit strike over

The City of Hamilton and the transit union reached a tentative agreement overnight, ending the seven-day strike that had made travel difficult for Grey Cup festivities and stranded thousands of passengers since November 9 when all bus services were suspended.

The deal between the City and 880 Hamilton Street Railway workers, represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107. was reached in time for the Grey Cup. The deal was ratified by Council ten days later.

Transit strike over

2. Sewergate 2.0 – Sewage leaks into Hamilton Harbour

The City of Hamilton has estimated that around 59 million litres of sanitary sewage discharged into the Hamilton Harbour over the past 26 years before an incorrect connection was found and subsequently fixed.

That’s about 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools and one-sixth the size of the Burlington Street spill (337 million litres) that was discovered last fall. Hamilton Water has launched a “risk-based inspection pilot program” to look for other instances of where sewage from homes and businesses might have been flowing into storm sewers and out into the harbour — rather than to a wastewater treatment plant.

‘Sewergate’ 2.0

3. Homeless registry called “cruel and unjust”

Hamilton Council voted to establish a voluntary registry for residents, advocates and councillors willing to host homeless individuals.

The directive calls for staff to assess the feasibility, financial implications, and liability associated with creating a registry to facilitate housing homeless individuals by residents, council members, and advocates.