Sheila Copps endorses Hamilton mayoral candidate Andrea Horwath

Former liberal member of parliament and deputy prime minister Sheila Copps is endorsing mayoral candidate Andrea Horwath.

Copps says Hamilton needs its first female mayor and believes Horwath is the one for the job.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am not only for the endorsement but for everything you and your family have done for our city,” Horwath said.

Hamilton mayoral candidate Bob Bratina who now supports the city’s light rail transit project thinks his previous long opposition to LRT might be why Copps, who is a fellow former federal liberal MP, isn’t endorsing him instead.

The endorsement from Copps comes ahead of Horwath’s planned rollout of her platform on Monday.

Mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis unveiled his platform surrounded by supporters at an event yesterday, promising to being a culture of collaboration to city hall.

Loomis is promising more money for the planning and economic development team to help new businesses come to Hamilton, and aiming to create 5,000 new jobs over five years.

Loomis is also promising an area rating review to address concerns about fair taxation, a 3-1-1 phone information system for the city, more ways for citizens to bring their concerns to city hall, and a homelessness task force. He is pledging he would not support breaking up encampments.