politicians

Tuesday December 28, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 28, 2021

Hamilton’s Efforts to Combat Homelessness this Winter

While the debate rages on about the dismantling of homeless encampments in Hamilton. City staff are gearing up for providing shelter for the homeless this winter with approximately $3 Million in projects. These include:

August 26, 2021

Transitioning the former Cathedral Boys School into a temporary shelter for women (approximately 80-100 beds) at an approximate cost of $1 Million.

Adding approximately 28 temporary emergency shelter beds as men’s overflow at an approximate cost of $350,000.

Something new would be the establishment of a $500,000 fund to support churches, social clubs who have expressed interest in supporting vulnerable residents through the winter months until March 31, 2022 but who may not have the operational funds to be viable.

Creation of a special fund of $500,000 to address homelessness experienced by Indigenous community members who are overrepresented in the homeless population of Hamilton.

A grant of  of $500,000 to the YWCA Hamilton for capital renovations required to continue to operate Carol Anne’s Place as a temporary drop in program for 22 single homeless women.

A grant of of $150,000 to the Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton for capital renovations required to continue to operate Cathedral as a temporary shelter for women.

December 17, 2020

Staff are also recommending that a consultant be hired  to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a New Westminster style bylaw which was used in that BC city to combat renovictions. The city has already taken preliminary steps recently to discourage renovictions by denying some develpers tax increment grants, which were designed to encourage the construction of residential units in the city core.

Director of Housing Services, Edward John also presented Emergency and Community Services Committee with a detailed snapshot of the homelessness situation in Hamilton. The report says over 15 percent of Hamilton residents are experiencing housing need which is defined as requiring more than 30 percent of household income for shelter. The report also says there are 1375 persons in Hamilton identified as homeless. (Bay Observer) 

 

Wednesday October 28, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 28, 2020

Are politics trumping public health in Halton?

Are elected leaders in Halton Region at odds with regional public health officials over the best way to combat the alarming spread of COVID-19?

October 14, 2020

That is certainly one interpretation of events of last week and early this week that culminated with the Ford government’s decision Monday not to roll back reopening to a modified Stage 2 in Halton.

We are not arguing that decision was right or wrong. We are not experts. But until this week, those experts were sounding the alarm over the spread of the virus. And the province said clearly that Halton was among the regions where the spread of COVID-19 was considered serious enough to warrant rolling back reopening. 

Then the mayors of Burlington and Milton, Marianne Meed Ward and Gordon Krantz, Regional Chair Gary Carr and MPPs Jane McKenna and Parm Gill wrote a letter to Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams, in which they publicly disagreed with their own medical officer of health. They wrote: “Even with our numbers continuing to decline, we understand that Halton’s medical officer of health is pushing to move Halton Region back to Phase 2 … in line with Peel, Toronto, York and Ottawa.” A similar letter was written to Premier Doug Ford.

The politicians made a compelling case for not rolling the region back, but instead adopting a more targeted approach. And the province listened. Halton will not be rolling back, at least not yet.

No doubt many businesspeople and citizens are pleased. But this raises some troubling questions. 

June 3, 2020

How is it that these politicians know more than their top public health expert? What does that say about the relationship between them? Why did the politicians go over the head of public health officials to the premier’s office? Do Halton’s top elected officials not have confidence in their senior public health officer? Why are two members of Doug Ford’s own caucus going against the advice of regional health officials?

And most importantly, what are Halton citizens, who look to their elected leaders and public health officials for leadership, to make of all this?

Asked about the situation by The Spectator’s Joanna Frketich at a media briefing, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger sounded critical of the Halton politicians. He stressed that he takes his guidance from public health, and would not be moved by other considerations. You can agree or disagree with that (we agree), but at least it’s clear. In Halton Region, that is less so, and that’s not good.

The Halton leaders were clear about one thing: They want the province to provide clear, consistent metrics on how and why decisions are made about reopening and rollbacks. That’s reasonable, and they are not the first to call for more transparency.

Addressing the situation, Ford said he was the one who recommended the politicians write a letter. Then he spoke about how input from local political leaders is important. Then he said such letters are not considered in the eventual decision. Thanks for the clarity.

Ford is said to take his guidance from a table of health experts. But the public doesn’t even know who sits at that table, never mind what specific measures they consider before making recommendations to the premier. 

As the pandemic drags on, situations like this one are bound to become more common, causing confusion and uncertainty. The government must provide a new level of clarity and transparency about data, priorities and decision-making. When citizens see and understand the evidence behind pandemic decisions, they are more likely to comply. The government should keep in mind the reverse is also true. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Horwath kicks heckler to back row

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek New Democrat MPP Paul Miller has been booted to the back row at Queen’s Park by leader Andrea Horwath for what opponents made an issue out of in the 2011 election — his loud heckling.
Miller said he was called Sunday by NDP House leader Gilles Bisson and told he was being moved from sitting behind Horwath to “a new seat.” It follows a dispute he had with Horwath about toning it down.

The dispute last Thursday in the legislature was not picked up by Hansard, the official legislature record.

Miller said Monday that he would not discuss “internal conflicts” with the press, but said he was “caught off guard, and a little surprised” by the action.

“I said, ‘OK, whatever,'” Miller said, adding that Horwath and Bisson will have to explain their reasons for moving him.

He wouldn’t say if he believes this might hurt him with his constituents in the next election, which could come in the spring.

“I’m not going to make predictions on that,” said Miller. “I have no idea. You’d have to ask Andrea about it. The bottom line is it was, it is, and the results will talk for themselves.”

In the 2011 campaign, the Liberals, PCs and Green party all made an issue of Miller’s behaviour in the legislature, with Liberal cabinet minister Sophia Aggelonitis calling his heckling and behaviour “just so awful.” Miller offered no regrets and said that he was passionate about voicing strong opinions for his constituents.

“I’m Paul and that’s what the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek voted for,” he said Monday.

Asked if there is a rift between him and Horwath, Miller had no comment — or on his conversation with Horwath last week. “I get along with her, usually,” he added.

Horwath and Miller have not been the best of friends over the years. She supported city councillor Sam Merulla against Miller for the riding nomination in July 2007. Miller won.

He backed MPP Michael Prue over the Hamilton Centre MPP for the leadership in March 2009.

Miller did not lose any of his shadow cabinet posts (Tourism, Culture and Sport) in the dispute. And the charges against him in 2011 didn’t wash with voters. He was re-elected with 51.7 per cent of the vote. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday October 9, 1997

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 9, 1997

McKenna’s decade

Retiring New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna will be missed. He was a formidable presence in the premier’s office and at the first minister’s conference table. The fact that his absence from the Canadian political arena may only be temporary is a good thing.

He leaves his province a better place in many ways than when he took office a decade ago. He was a tireless champion of New Brunswick; his efforts are in no small part responsible for the measurable improvement in the province’s moribund economy. Yet, New Brunswick’s unemployment rate remains a depressing 12.5 per cent and its economy still too dependent on the volatile natural resources sector. The fact that New Brunswick remains an economic have-not member of the Confederation doesn’t diminish McKenna’s laudable efforts through the years.

McKenna is the first to insist he’s through with politics, at least in a formal way. Maybe, but it’s a safe bet that his earnest, understated statesmanship makes him an appealing commodity, particularly to a certain national party of the centre that is in the market for leadership candidates.

Regardless of his political affiliation in the future, McKenna is sure to play a role in the ongoing unity melodrama, like Alberta’s Peter Lougheed and others have done. The fact that he cares deeply about a united Canada means he will answer the federalist call when it comes, and will continue to be a passionate, pragmatic fighter in the battle against separatism. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial, A12, 10/9/1997)

s