Hamilton city coucillors agree to send formal complaint regarding Bill 23

Hamilton city councillors all agree: the province’s new bill to build more homes quicker doesn’t sit well.

Hamilton’s Mayor and city council request the province to repeal the amendments to the planning act and development charges act as a result of Bill 23.

The bill would remove developer fees that the province thinks would pick up the pace of construction. However, councillors fear Hamilton residents would have to make up for the lost revenues.

Ward 3 councillor Nrinder Nann says she wants to see renters protected, “making sure that we aren’t hindered but in fact enabled as municipalities to provide specific bylaws like that, which is under construction now, by staff and consultants, that speak to an anti renovictions bylaw regime.”

Additionally, Ward 7 councillor Esther Pauls asked for the city to follow other cities to drop its covid vaccine mandate which is currently suspended. The city voted to discuss the matter in February.

The city also announced that it is disbanding its Ukrainian humanitarian crisis and response advisory committee but add that other supports are still in place.