Author: Councillor Brad Clark

The Highway Traffic Act (HTA), 1990 allows firefighters to display a flashing green light when responding to emergencies. The use of flashing green lights on or in vehicles is restricted to the Ontario fire service. Adoption of its use is strictly voluntary. There are several response considerations that users of such devices must be aware of:

• The purpose of flashing green lights is to help other drivers recognize a firefighter en-route to an emergency and be courteous and yield the right-of-way
• A flashing green strobe light on a fire response vehicle can designate the Incident Command (I.C.) vehicle or the HAZMAT vehicle in some departments
• Firefighters may use flashing green lights on personally owned vehicles while proceeding to emergencies, including response to the scene or to the fire station. Once on scene flashing green lights are to be shut off so that they are not confused with stationary on-scene incident command or HAZMAT emergency vehicles unless the light is being used in a stationary vehicle for the purposes of directing additional incoming emergency vehicles
• Personal vehicles of firefighters are not emergency vehicles
• Driving aggressively, proceeding through stop signs or stop lights without stopping, driving in the on coming lane of traffic when responding to calls with a flashing green light are a few examples of dangerous and reckless driving behaviour that will not be tolerated in the fire service and may serve as reasonable grounds for an insurance company to discontinue coverage if they become aware of such behaviour
• Developing proper behaviour is essential to ensure a safe response

The flashing green light does not afford any privileges or exemptions under the HTA, 1990

Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccination program expansion includes licensed child care workers

HAMILTON, ON – April 27, 2021 – The Hamilton healthcare partners continue to make progress in vaccinating members of the community who fall into Phases 1 & 2 of the Province’s COVID-19 Vaccination Framework. We are pleased to announce that to date, we have administered approximately 180,169 doses of COVD-19 vaccine – with 32.2% of eligible Hamiltonians receiving a vaccine to date.

In alignment with Provincial direction, effective Thursday, April 29, 2021, child care workers in licensed child care settings will be eligible to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination.  In the coming weeks, eligibility will be expanded to child care workers in unlicensed child care settings across the province.

Booking an appointment

Appointments can be booked by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible workers in licensed child care settings will receive a letter from their employer. This letter must be available at the point of booking and taken to the vaccination appointment.

Appointment availability through Hamilton’s large-scale clinics is limited at this time.  More appointments will be available in the system early next week.

Public Health recommends that everyone who is eligible gets the first vaccine that is available to them. We need to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community, to reserve healthcare and hospital capacity and to protect vulnerable populations.

QUICK FACTS

• Vaccine administration rates may differ based on local context.
• Second doses for the COVID-19 vaccine have been extended to a 16-week interval by the Provincial Government.
• Information regarding registration, booking, and sequencing will be available on the COVID-19 Vaccines section of the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines.
• Vaccination phasing and sequencing will continue to be released for additional categories as per the direction of the provincial government.
• All vaccination planning is based on and contingent on available COVID-19 vaccine supply.
• It is vital that members of the public, even those who have been vaccinated, ensure that public health measures still be practiced until it is safe and said to be safe by the health professionals in all levels of government.  Public health measures include:  
  • stay home if you are feeling unwell
  • get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19
  • limit gatherings to only members of your immediate household
  • maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet or 2 meters from others outside of your immediate household
  • wear a mask or face covering indoors and outdoors when not able to maintain physical distancing
  • wash hands frequently

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Read more about Ontario’s COVID vaccination program.

• www.hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines
• www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus
• https://covid-19.ontario.ca
• Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline: 905-974-9848 or phscovid19@hamilton.ca

During my research on the proposed regulation, Prescribing Hamilton LRT as a Priority Project under the Building Transit Faster Act 2020, I came across this surprising report, (Hamilton Rapid Transit Benefits Report 2020). I say surprising because I could not, for the life of me, recall ever seeing it before now.

In fact, I thought that I might have somehow forgotten about it or misplaced it. So, I provided the title of the report to my Assistant, Robert, who promptly searched our office records and found nothing. Subsequently, we asked our most proficient City of Hamilton Records Staff for assistance. They did a thorough search of city records and reported that they could not find any record of this report on any GIC or Council Agendas or Minutes. However, the records staff did find it on the Metrolinx web site. So, to the best of my knowledge and without any intended recriminations, I believe that I can safely say that Hamilton City Council has not received this report.

This report goes beyond the usual debate of LRT or BRT on the Hamilton B Line. It proffers a thoroughly reviewed and innovative “Option 3” that details the way to provide a 14km B line, a 16km A line and priority bus measures on the BLAST network for the capital cost of $1Billon.

My comments to the Ministry are my own and should not be received as a comment from the City Council or the City of Hamilton. My comments respectfully suggest that Option 3 be considered and added to the proposed regulation.

Click to access Hamilton-Options-Analysis-Board-Approved-Nov-26-2020.pdf