Lloyd Ferguson

Wednesday May 10, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 10, 2017

The Spectator’s view: A mayoral veto is just musing, but …

March 24, 2017

You had to know that when Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger used the word veto, hackles would be raised. Not all hackles equally, mind you. Reaction on social media was more mixed, with some actually seeing merit in the mayor’s observation. But in the minds of many — see today’s letters — Eisenberger may as well have suggested doing away with council entirely and running the show himself.

http://www.mackaycartoons.net/yahoo_files/2012/huh2012-01-12.html

January 12, 2012

Let’s be clear: the mayor was musing, no more. The province would have to change the municipal act to enable something like a veto, and there is no appetite for that. Eisenberger knows that and said as much.

He was trying to make a point, and it’s one worth discussing. Hamilton city council, like many others, is a dichotomy in many ways. You have 15 councillors who are elected by citizens of the ward they represent. Then you have the mayor, who is elected by the community at large. In that respect, the mayor has a mandate from the entire city, while councillors have a mandate from their ward constituents only.

March 10, 2011

Ward councillors justifiably feel great responsibility to respect the will of the people who elected them. They zealously guard the interests of their ward. That’s parochial politics, and it’s not always a bad thing. But what happens when what’s best for the city overall butts up against the interests of ward councillors?

LRT is an example. Councillors for the wards most heavily impacted by LRT construction and disruption are solidly behind the project because they see its overall benefit to their wards and eventually the city overall. Citizens in other wards don’t agree. They don’t see any direct benefit so don’t support the project. (Though it’s hard to fathom how some don’t see assessment growth and new commercial tax revenue as overall benefits.)

May 11, 2009

Another example: ward boundaries. Looking at the big picture, it’s hard to argue against redrawing boundaries so all citizens have roughly equitable representation. But such changes are trouble for ward-heeling councillors whose wards might have to change for the greater good. And so, we spent thousands on consultants, ignored their work and ended up kicking the can down the road.

Eisenberger’s point was that there must be a better way. Councillors elected at large instead of by ward? A mix of both? A board of control, or “executive committee” as its called in Toronto? A mayoral veto with appropriate checks and balances to prevent abuse?

October 14, 2003

As noted earlier, the discussion is academic. But maybe it shouldn’t be. The current system certainly has its share of drawbacks, although it generally works. But would it be so bad to study, perhaps even pilot, an experiment in doing local government differently? And why not in Hamilton, a city where challenges are overshadowed by ever-growing potential? (Source: Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

 

Saturday February 6, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday February 6, 2016 Ferguson unrepentant and ÔoffendedÕ by accusations (By Andrew Dreschel) An official with the Colombian consulate says it's not up to him to say whether Coun. Lloyd Ferguson should apologize for controversial comments about his country being backwards. "I leave that to the City of Hamilton," Toronto-based trade commissioner Alvaro Concha said Thursday. But far from entertaining apologies, an unrepentant Ferguson is on the attack. He's "offended" that his reference to Colombia as a "backwards" place where the only wealthy are "drug lords" and chickens ride buses has been branded as stereotyping by politicians and members of the public. "I wasn't making that crap up; it's what I visibly saw," said Ferguson, who visited Colombia 12 years ago for a weeklong business conference. "I don't like being accused of stereotyping because I wasn't stereotyping. I witnessed it first hand." Ferguson made his controversial comments during a budget meeting this week. He was responding to the city's transit director using a quote from the Mayor of Bogota, Colombia's capital city, stating a developed country is not where the poor have cars, but where the rich use public transit. Calling the ensuing kerfuffle a "tempest in a teapot," the Ancaster councillor and police board chair says he was objecting to benchmarking Hamilton against Bogota, a city of eight million. Coun. Mathew Green immediately took Ferguson to task for stereotyping. When the story went mainstream, it lit up social media and online commentary. Many demanded Ferguson apologize. The pitchfork-and-torch mob called him a racist and xenophobe. One twit on Twitter accused Mayor Fred Eisenberger of agreeing with Ferguson because he was silent on the issue. Eisenberger pushed back, calling that and other comments as "outrageous" as Ferguson's own. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6264566-dresche

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 6, 2016

Ferguson unrepentant and ‘offended’ by accusations

(By Andrew Dreschel) An official with the Colombian consulate says it’s not up to him to say whether Coun. Lloyd Ferguson should apologize for controversial comments about his country being backwards.

Tuesday November 10, 2015“I leave that to the City of Hamilton,” Toronto-based trade commissioner Alvaro Concha said Thursday.

But far from entertaining apologies, an unrepentant Ferguson is on the attack.

He’s “offended” that his reference to Colombia as a “backwards” place where the only wealthy are “drug lords” and chickens ride buses has been branded as stereotyping by politicians and members of the public.

“I wasn’t making that crap up; it’s what I visibly saw,” said Ferguson, who visited Colombia 12 years ago for a weeklong business conference.

“I don’t like being accused of stereotyping because I wasn’t stereotyping. I witnessed it first hand.”

Ferguson made his controversial comments during a budget meeting this week. He was responding to the city’s transit director using a quote from the Mayor of Bogota, Colombia’s capital city, stating a developed country is not where the poor have cars, but where the rich use public transit.

Thursday March 12, 2015Calling the ensuing kerfuffle a “tempest in a teapot,” the Ancaster councillor and police board chair says he was objecting to benchmarking Hamilton against Bogota, a city of eight million.

Coun. Mathew Green immediately took Ferguson to task for stereotyping. When the story went mainstream, it lit up social media and online commentary. Many demanded Ferguson apologize. The pitchfork-and-torch mob called him a racist and xenophobe.

One twit on Twitter accused Mayor Fred Eisenberger of agreeing with Ferguson because he was silent on the issue. Eisenberger pushed back, calling that and other comments as “outrageous” as Ferguson’s own. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Tuesday November 10, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 10, 2015 New film raises bothersome questions about city hall culture A new documentary film raises troubling questions about corporate culture at Hamilton City Hall. "The Push" analyzes a controversial 2014 incident in which Coun. Lloyd Ferguson pushed independent journalist Joey Coleman during a heated exchange in the lobby outside council chambers. The film was publicly screened for the first time at The Zoetic Theatre on Concession Street Sunday as part of the Hamilton Film Festival. Coleman alleged actions against him by city staff following the incident were nothing more than an attempt to silence him. "This is an effort to end independent journalism at city hall," he said. In the incident, Coleman said he was standing in the foyer outside council chambers holding his video camera and waiting for the start of a news conference. Ferguson, Coun. Brad Clark and city staffer Mike Kirkopoulos were standing nearby in a huddle. Ferguson, thinking Coleman was eavesdropping on their conversation, physically moved him away. "He took a very tight grip on my arm; we were going to the floor," Coleman said. "Everyone else was frozen with shock and I thought he was going to punch me in the face." Bystanders separated the two and the next day Ferguson apologized to Coleman personally and to city council, backing his words with a self-imposed $1,000 donation to an Ancaster charity. Coleman accepted the apology and said he considered the matter closed. It was revived, however, by complaints to the city's integrity commissioner. The incident was also investigated by provincial police and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. (Ferguson was, and remains, chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board.) The city commissioner found Ferguson did violate Hamilton's anti-violence policy but no sanctions were recommended. The other investigations also concluded there were no grounds for other c

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 10, 2015

New film raises bothersome questions about city hall culture

For SaleA new documentary film raises troubling questions about corporate culture at Hamilton City Hall.

“The Push” analyzes a controversial 2014 incident in which Coun. Lloyd Ferguson pushed independent journalist Joey Coleman during a heated exchange in the lobby outside council chambers.

The film was publicly screened for the first time at The Zoetic Theatre on Concession Street Sunday as part of the Hamilton Film Festival.

Coleman alleged actions against him by city staff following the incident were nothing more than an attempt to silence him.

“This is an effort to end independent journalism at city hall,” he said.

Tuesday March 3, 2015In the incident, Coleman said he was standing in the foyer outside council chambers holding his video camera and waiting for the start of a news conference.

Ferguson, Coun. Brad Clark and city staffer Mike Kirkopoulos were standing nearby in a huddle.

Ferguson, thinking Coleman was eavesdropping on their conversation, physically moved him away.

“He took a very tight grip on my arm; we were going to the floor,” Coleman said. “Everyone else was frozen with shock and I thought he was going to punch me in the face.”

Bystanders separated the two and the next day Ferguson apologized to Coleman personally and to city council, backing his words with a self-imposed $1,000 donation to an Ancaster charity.

Coleman accepted the apology and said he considered the matter closed. It was revived, however, by complaints to the city’s integrity commissioner. The incident was also investigated by provincial police and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. (Ferguson was, and remains, chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board.)

The city commissioner found Ferguson did violate Hamilton’s anti-violence policy but no sanctions were recommended. The other investigations also concluded there were no grounds for other charges or actions.

In the two-hour film Coleman and others argue the incident and its aftermath illustrate a culture of fear at city hall in which employees are held to a policy dictating “zero tolerance” for violence while a veteran councillor can manhandle a citizen with impunity. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Wednesday April 29, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday April 29, 2015 ÒEmbarrassed in front of the world:Ó Stadium woes put Pan Am Ôat riskÕ says councillor The city and its stadium contractor are at odds over whether the unfinished $145-million facility can open before the Pan Am Games Ñ or even in time for the international event. Councillors were outraged to learn Monday the 10-month-late stadium won't be completely outfitted with furniture and equipment until the end of June Ñ two weeks or fewer before Pan Am soccer matches kick off. As it is, ongoing construction and repairs to faulty waterproofing have already forced cancellation of dozens of stadium bookings, with a community welcome event and an international women's soccer friendly on the bubble for late May. "The Pan Am Games are now at risk," said committee chair Lloyd Ferguson, who urged committee members to write the province demanding a guaranteed stadium delivery date or risk being "embarrassed in front of the world." Terence Foran, spokesperson for provincial project overseer Infrastructure Ontario, said the agency doesn't believe the games are in danger. "From our perspective, anyone suggesting that furniture delivery equates to an incomplete stadium is choosing to ignore all the successful events hosted at the stadium last year," he said, referring to Hamilton Tiger-Cats football games held in the partially finished facility. David Kirkland, a representative of contractor Ontario Sports Solutions argued the stadium would be "essentially complete" and usable for events after May 8, even if negotiations continue over contract disputes. But the stadium isn't expected to reach "substantial completion" under the contract until the end of June, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger in a letter sent to Premier Kathleen Wynne and top Infrastructure Ontario brass late Monday. (Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5588398--embarrassed-in-front-of-the-world-stadium-woes-put-p

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday April 29, 2015

“Embarrassed in front of the world:” Stadium woes put Pan Am ‘at risk’ says councillor

The city and its stadium contractor are at odds over whether the unfinished $145-million facility can open before the Pan Am Games — or even in time for the international event.

Councillors were outraged to learn Monday the 10-month-late stadium won’t be completely outfitted with furniture and equipment until the end of June — two weeks or fewer before Pan Am soccer matches kick off.

As it is, ongoing construction and repairs to faulty waterproofing have already forced cancellation of dozens of stadium bookings, with a community welcome event and an international women’s soccer friendly on the bubble for late May.

“The Pan Am Games are now at risk,” said committee chair Lloyd Ferguson, who urged committee members to write the province demanding a guaranteed stadium delivery date or risk being “embarrassed in front of the world.”

Terence Foran, spokesperson for provincial project overseer Infrastructure Ontario, said the agency doesn’t believe the games are in danger.

“From our perspective, anyone suggesting that furniture delivery equates to an incomplete stadium is choosing to ignore all the successful events hosted at the stadium last year,” he said, referring to Hamilton Tiger-Cats football games held in the partially finished facility.

David Kirkland, a representative of contractor Ontario Sports Solutions argued the stadium would be “essentially complete” and usable for events after May 8, even if negotiations continue over contract disputes.

But the stadium isn’t expected to reach “substantial completion” under the contract until the end of June, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger in a letter sent to Premier Kathleen Wynne and top Infrastructure Ontario brass late Monday.  (Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday March 12, 2015

Thursday March 12, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 12, 2015

Killing rats and licensing cats

(by Andrew Dreschel) Talk about calling in the SWAT team. The ever resourceful Coun. Sam Merulla wants to enlist captured feral cats in the city’s growing battle against swarms of rats.

Merulla’s idea is to expand the local SPCA’s program of trapping, neutering and returning stray cats to the street by strategically placing feral colonies in rodential hot spots.

“If you have an abundance of cats in those areas, those mice and rats are dealt with quite efficiently,” he says.

Last year, the SPCA’s trap-neuter-return (TNR) program treated 355 cats deemed unsuitable for adoption. So far this year, 34 cats have also become program alumni.

Widely-practised across North America, TNR is a humane way of managing fast-breeding wild cat populations and reducing euthanasia rates. But Merulla, a member of the SPCA’s board of directors, wants it ramped up and run by the city’s animal control services in partnership with the SPCA.

The idea came to him when the public health department recently identified rat infestations as an emerging priority and service demand during its budget presentation to council.

According to Merulla, it feeds into the motion he’s bringing to Wednesday’s council meeting for a study on licensing cats to promote responsible pet ownership, control overpopulation, and shave big dollars off the tax levy.

Currently, dogs in Hamilton require licensing but not cats. If they were, Merulla says the revenue could be used to grow TNR and other programs aimed at reducing euthanasia as much a humanly possible.

“The No.1 objective and purpose of all this is to hit the same target as Calgary and become one of the lowest kill-rate cities on the entire continent.”

The Hamilton-Burlington SPCA does not kill cats or dogs. That’s done by city-operated Animal Services, where both intake and death rates for cats is vastly higher than for dogs. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)