Dear Neighbours,

Thank you to all the neighbours who participated in the community clean ups with Beautiful Alleys last weekend. Your efforts have helped beautify #OurWard3. If you missed out or want to do more, the CN Tracks clean up is coming up in May (see Community Events below).

Also, we are working with Roads staff to set up an in-person information session on the much anticipated Main Street Two-way Conversion Plan. It will take place the week of May 22nd. Stay tuned, as we will promote the event online and ensure it is in our next issue of this e-newsletter.

As you will see, this update is a long one. It has been a productive and busy Committee and Council cycle with a lot of emphasis on housing.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance navigating a City service issue, please contact the #OurWard3 Office Squad at ward3@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2702.

Yours in community,

Councillor Nrinder Nann

Spring photo of City Hall with yellow, orange, and purple tulips out front. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Council & Committee Updates"

Renovictions & Tenant Defense Fund

Last term, Council approved a clear direction for staff to pursue - to report back the ways and means of implementing a New Westminster style by-law in Hamilton to deal with the issue of renovictions. At last week’s Emergency Community Services Committee meeting, we received a report that did not fulfill this direction. The report failed to meet the needs of renters in Hamilton who face aggressive and predatory practices in the private housing market across the city.

Renovictions is the practice of bad faith eviction using an N13 notice under the Residential Tenancies Act and issued to tenants when a landlord uses the premise of performing substantial repairs and renovations to vacate units and turn around and jack up rents for a higher profit margin.

Staff also reported that the Tenant Defence Fund has had a successful track record supporting tenants fighting against bad faith N13 notices from landlords. It was also reported that Ward 3 experiences the highest rate of N13s filed and experiences of renovictions. Ward 3 has the second highest renter population in Hamilton and I have an obligation to respond to our renting neighbours needs in our communities.

So, I moved to expand the Tenant Defence fund to include N12 notices, as well as, increase and continue funding the program. I also moved to have staff go back to the drawing board to fulfill the initial direction and bring back a comprehensive anti-renoviction suite of by-laws, policies and tools to bring an end to this practice in the city. At Council, Councillor Kroetsch amended the motion to be even more clear and specific to bring back the initial reference of the groundbreaking by-law regime developed in New Westminster, BC to ensure staff succeed in meeting the needs of our community.

All this was possible thanks to the tremendous organizing effort of tenants across the city supported by ACORN Hamilton. Proving again that when we work with our residents, we can achieve more and hopefully foster a city where all residents feel their rights are protected while also preserving affordable rental housing in the private market.

Tackling Vacancies at City Housing Hamilton (CHH)

Earlier this year, we identified 476 units currently vacant due to need of repair or renovations within the City Housing Hamilton portfolio. Almost annually last term, while serving on the Board of Directors for CHH, I inquired about the vacant unit count and it became clear to me that we did not have a robust enough inventory system to be accountable as an organization.

This became one of the priority items to be addressed through the strategic review that Clr Maureen Wilson and I pushed for last term.

New CHH CEO Adam Sweedland, hit the ground running in his role and has been moving swiftly on actioning the 2023-2027 Strategic Action Plan. This week at the CHH Board meeting, CEO Sweedland tabled the Vacancy Renewal and Management Plan to address the vacancy challenges going forward and to reverse the failing trend to date.This plan establishes accountability and oversight. The plan will serve to achieve two key performance outcomes:

To recalibrate CHH’s ability to sustain and keep pace with unit turnovers on an ongoing basis; and
Establish a manageable trajectory to reset the current backlog of units and achieve the recommended reduced target (2%) by December 2024.

This week, Council approved a financing solution I tabled to get the 476 units repaired and occupied on an accelerated track. This $5.7M funding strategy includes:

$2.792M from 2022 dividends from both Hamilton Utilities Corporation and Alectra
$900,000 in CityHousing Hamilton Reserve funding
$1,000,000 in Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) funding; and
$1 million conditional grant to CityHousing Hamilton be funded via an internal loan from the Hamilton Future Fund Reserve

As President of the CHH Board, I am committed to ensuring CHH invests in our existing housing stock. And, I am confident that the above plan will ensure we fulfill CHH’s core business mandate to house people while also maintaining units so residents feel proud of their home.

Housing Stability and Investment Roadmap Strategy

There is no simple answer in solving the housing crisis and it will take a concerted effort from all levels of government prioritizing investment into housing and health supports. With that said, we are in an era of the housing crisis that requires municipalities to plan and take deliberate action.

At General Issues Committee last week, Council adopted the new Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap Strategy that rests across four pillars for action:

Build - new construction of affordable housing
Fix - maintaining and preservation of existing units
Buy - through strategic land and building acquisition
Support - through a system of care approach focused on the provision of housing-based supports.

This roadmap was developed in partnership with community organizations to prioritize best housing investments that will yield maximum community benefit. Key to this strategy is to establish an Affordable Housing Secretariat Division within the Healthy and Safe Communities Department to lead the implementation of the Strategy. The Secretariat is tasked to work across departments and divisions to develop and recommend an annual program of work to be approved by Council each year and to report annually on progress.

For more information, please read this report.

Image of industrial smoke stacks with an orange filter. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Ward 3 Updates"

Industrial Site Specific Standards - Rain Carbon

Rain Carbon is a Ward 4 company that distills coal tar from the steel industry. The company sent out notifications about two public meetings on April 14th and April 18th. The meetings were a requirement of an “order to prevent discharge of contaminants” issued in November 2022 to the company by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

Kerry from our Ward 3 team attended one of the meetings alongside Ward 4’s Clr Hwang and Ward 4 Constituency Assistant, Pascale Marchand. Together, they spoke at length with Rain Carbon’s technical manager and project consultant.

Rain Carbon has until May 1st to submit an application to renew the Site Specific Standards that permit emissions of two carcinogenic chemicals that exceed the usual thresholds allowed by the MECP. We have used the term exemption to describe this form of regulatory permission for our industrial neighbours, however the MECP states it is instead “a pathway to compliance”. We learned that while Rain Carbon is working towards using BACTs (best available control technologies) to reduce their emissions and plan to switch from carbon to petroleum as a feedstock source in the future, they could not ensure that this would be the last time they seek a Site Specific Standard renewal.

This is not the only industrial neighbour that has been granted Site Specific Standards to exceed emissions guidelines, and will likely continue to ask for that permission to be renewed. To this end, following last month’s Board of Health meeting, Council passed a motion that I moved, to have Mayor Horwath communicate to the provincial environment minister that the City of Hamilton opposes continued special permissions for contaminants above provincially regulated general air standards - especially for known carcinogens.

We want to recognize the degree of fear and confusion that these poorly explained notifications caused to the Ward 3 community who received them. Part of our ongoing efforts to build respectful relationships with our industrial neighbours is urging them to improve when and how they communicate with the communities their operations impact. We thank the many residents who have reached out to us with their questions and concerns about this issue and encourage you to keep in touch with us with further comments. There will be an opportunity to publicly comment on Rain Carbon’s application care of the province's Environmental Registry soon and we will be sure to share guidance on how to do so when that time comes.

We are also in conversation with our Ward 4 colleagues about co-hosting a community workshop on air quality standards, particularly Site Specific Standards, in the coming months.

Photo of Gage Park entrance way with purple flowers in the forefront. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "City Service Updates"

Pothole Repairs

The start of the spring season can bring on an increasing number of potholes across our roadways. While roads are built to repel water, changes in temperatures, freeze thaw cycles, heavy rain, and traffic can cause damage to road surfaces.

Hamilton road crews are currently working diligently to patch potholes throughout the city, with the busiest roads being addressed first. While crews complete their own inspections of roadways, residents and motorists are asked to report potholes by contacting the City’s Customer Service Contact Centre during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 905-546-CITY (2489). When reporting potholes, please provide detailed information such as location (street addresses or intersections) and estimated size of the pothole.

Public Works 2023 Summer Services

The Public Works Department recently sent an update to City Councillors about the 2023 summer program which outlined some key park services to share with residents. Updates include information on trash pick-up, litter removal, spring clean-up and potential service level reductions.

Waste Collection Service:

Trash receptacles are strategically distributed in parks to encourage litter control
During the summer, some receptacles are moved in response to other needs such as events, or to reduce illegal dumping and vandalism in some areas

Ground Litter Removal & Spring Clean-Up:

Ground litter, refuse, and other waste is removed from parks prior to mowing and trimming of green space to ensure the safety of City Staff and to prevent damage to machinery
Clean-up and mowing typically takes about 4 weeks for staff to complete, and is often dependent on the location and how much work is needed to clear the park
This work is primarily done by student staff, but is often supplemented by individual or community driven volunteer clean ups

Staffing Shortage & Potential Service Level Impacts:

Parks has seen a decline in applications from summer students this year
As the majority of the work is completed by student staff, City Staff are warning that there may be a potential reduction in some aesthetic services like trimming around fence lines and other objects.

As always, if you have questions, or need support in navigating a concern at one of #OurWard3 parks, please reach out to our office at ward3@hamilton.ca or 905-546-2702.

Photo of remaining chimney structure at 832 King St. E and a threatened species of bird called a Chimney Swift. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "LRT Updates"

Preserving Species at Risk along the LRT Corridor

The Hamilton LRT demolition at 832 King St. E has been taking place over the past month or so, but you may have noticed that there is a structure remaining on the property.

Prior to demolition works, and working with Six Nations of the Grand River, it was discovered that the building’s chimney was a habitat for a species of bird called the Chimney Swift (Chaetura Pelagica).

Chimney Swifts are listed as threatened on the Species at Risk public registry, which has resulted in prioritizing a plan to retain and stabilize the existing chimney in order to protect this at risk species of bird.

Metrolinx is required to continue to monitor the site and should the birds migrate, then they will be able to proceed with future plans.

Photo of a diverse group of people hugging. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Community Events"

CN Track Clean Up - May 6

On Saturday May 6th at 9:00am, CN will be teaming up with Beautiful Alleys to do a spring clean up from Victoria Avenue to Cheever St. If you are interested in helping with this large clean up and want more information, please email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com.

Green Venture Seedling Sale - May 6

Join Green Ventures at their EcoHouse located at 22 Veevers Drive, Hamilton, ON for a fun-filled, family friendly, seed sale event from 10:00am-4:00pm. You can shop a wide assortment of organic seedlings while taking in the rich history of EcoHouse and all it has to offer. You’ll also be able to connect with local organizations about how you can make a great impact in your garden. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can also RSVP to the annual seedling sale here.

Stinson Community Safety Meeting - May 8

Due to multiple incidents of property damage, theft, and policing in the Stinson Neighbourhood, my office has arranged a meeting with Hamilton Police Services for the local community safety.

Please join us for this hybrid meeting on Monday May 8th, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:00pm at Central Memorial Recreation Centre. RSVP’s are required to ensure there is enough seating for everyone, as well as for our office to provide a virtual meeting link for those who wish to participate online. Please contact ward3@hamilton.ca, or call 905-546-2702 to reserve your space.

Sew Hungry - May 13

Ottawa Street BIA’s Sew Hungry event is celebrating its 10th anniversary and we want you to join in on the food focused fun on Saturday May 13th from 11:00am-8:00pm on Ottawa Street between Main St. & Barton St.

Sew Hungry will feature over 30 food trucks, a beer garden, live music, and an activity zone. For more information on specific vendors and food trucks, as well as an interactive map, please visit www.sewhungry.com.

Barton Village BIA Community Meetup

Join the Barton Village BIA on the 4th Wednesday of every month for a community meet up at 9:30am at Woodlands Park. The group will gather, chat about the neighbourhood, and do a little clean up of the park together. Coffee and juice will be available, and everyone is welcome!

Hamilton Craft Studios - Drop in Programs & Summer Camp for Kids!

Did you know that our friends at Hamilton Craft Studios have a great lineup of drop in programs for the community to participate in? Programs include movement for makers, queer craft club, ceramic studio drop-in, and fibre arts brunch club! Full information on each program can be found directly on their website at: https://hamiltoncraftstudios.com/collections/clubs-drop-ins

Not only do they have drop in programs for the community, but this summer they have a great all day summer camp program for kids ages 7-12. For more information on the camp programs they are offering, please visit: https://hamiltoncraftstudios.com/collections/summer-camp-2022

Photo of City workers planting flowers near City Hall. Transparent white box in centre with navy text reads "Opportunities for Residents"

United Way Period Promise

Nearly one in four Canadian women have struggled to buy period products for themselves or their children. Menstruating transgender and non-binary individuals face additional barriers to accessing period products.

The City of Hamilton’s United Way Committee is collecting donations of packaged menstrual/period products and infant and baby supplies to help those in need up until May 31st, 2023. The Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse is the drop off location for residents in #OurWard3. Simply drop off products with staff during the Greenhouse’s operating hours of 9:00am-5:00pm.

For more information please visit uwhh.ca/periodpromiseor read the UWHH Period Promise Fact Sheet or contact unitedway@hamilton.ca.

City of Hamilton Student General Labour Jobs

Work at the City of Hamilton this summer! The City of Hamilton is hiring for General Labour positions for youth ages 18-24. For more info and to apply, please visit http://hamilton.ca/jobs (Job ID 20431)

Strategic Transportation Network Review

The City of Hamilton is conducting a strategic transportation network review to support Hamilton’s growth. The City is expected to grow by 236,000 people and 122,000 jobs by 2051. This anticipated growth will create more travel demand and the need for additional transportation infrastructure to manage this demand, while protecting the environment, supporting economic development, and maintaining a high quality of life.

The Strategic Transportation Network is hosting a virtual public information session on Tuesday May 9th at 5:30pm. To join the meeting and access the link, please visit: https://engage.hamilton.ca/stnr

Renovictions, Housing Stability, Rain Carbon & Community Events