GFL withdraws appeal of Environmental Penalties and accepts fines totaling $15,000 for three odour complaints in 2023

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

There has been a recent development with the GFL appeal of the three MECP environmental penalties totaling $15,000. On my motion, City Council unanimously directed legal staff to seek participant/party status to the GFL appeal at the Ontario Lands Tribunal. GFL has now withdrawn their appeal. MECP lawyers have advised that there is no settlement and that GFL will be paying the fines.

Environmental penalties are a relatively new instrument that can be used under Ontario Regulation 222/07 under the Environmental Protection Act. Think of it as ticket or fine for an odours. In fact, the MECP issued just three environmental penalties for three incidents in 2023. Yet the MECP local district office advised me on July 29th, 2025 that the annual odour complaint numbers were as follows:

  • 2021: 1 complaint 
  • 2022: 0 complaints 
  • 2023: 1,109 complaints 
  • 2024: 939 complaints 
  • 2025: 884 complaints (as of July 29, 2025) 

MECP fined GFL for just three odour events that occurred in 2023. Yet, the actual odour complaints received by the MECP in 2023 were 1,109.

From January 1, 2023, to July 29, 2025, there have been 2,932 odour complaints received by the MECP. The odour complaints pinpointed the GFL landfill. Yet, there has only been 3 environmental penalties issued to date, totaling $15,000.

Notwithstanding, GFL’s decision to withdraw their appeal for these three fines. I still find it hard to accept. Three fines totaling $15,000 for a landfill whose landfill prompted 1,109 odour complaints to the MECP in 2023.

Environment Alert – Immediate ban on all open air burning

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

Given the current dry weather conditions, continued forecast of extreme temperatures, and the absence of appreciable rainfall in the near future, the Hamilton Fire Department has issued an immediate ban on all open air burning within the City of Hamilton. This ban suspends all approved Open Air Burning Permits.

Effective immediately and until further notice, the ban includes:

  • Recreational fires, including campfires and backyard firepits
  • Burning of clean wood and brush
  • Controlled grass burns
  • Use of all outdoor wood-burning appliances, such as chimineas.

Click here for more information and updates

Coyote Awareness Information Session

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

August 28, 2025 6:30-7:30pm Valley Park Library

My office has received several reports of an aggressive coyote that may have denned in Valley Park. Animal Control reports 19 complaints about a coyote approaching people. The City has placed warning signs to help prevent encounters. We are also hosting a Coyote Awareness Information Session at Valley Park Library on August 28th at 6:30pm. It is free to everyone and all attendees will be given a free Fox Forty Emergency Whistle.

City of Hamilton Animal Control staff will be present to share helpful tips as to how you can protect yourself, your family and your property from coyote encounters.

Special thanks for the co-operation of Fox Forty and the Foxcroft family. Through their generosity, we have purchased 200 Fox Forty emergency whistles. They recognized the seriousness of this issues and were eager to assist. Thank you, Ron and Ronnie.

I wish to thank a Ward 9 resident, Collen Graham, who reached out to my office and suggested the distribution of emergency whistles to residents, who hike or walk these trails. It was a great idea.

I also want to thank Nancy Mungar, who acted quickly and installed professional signs warning people of the presence if coyotes in Valley Park. I appreciate your willingness to sponsor these signs. Thank you!

The city has installed signs similar to below:

Coyote Awareness in our Neighbourhood

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

Animal control has seen an increase in coyote sightings and complaints since July 27th, 2025. Reports of aggressive coyote behaviour in Upper Stoney Creek, have been noted in the areas of Eramosa Karst Conservation Area, Valley Park between the pedestrian bridge and Marston as well as Echo Valley. Coyotes are a natural part of our ecosystem. They are usually timid animals, but they are naturally inquisitive and are protective of their dens.

It is important that we all take a few simple steps to keep ourselves, our children, and our pets safe

Why Are Coyotes Here?

Coyotes are highly adaptable animals. They are often drawn to residential areas in search of food, water, and shelter—especially during hot weather or when natural food sources are scarce. They are commonly seen along the Niagara Escarpment and in rural areas, but they have been known to follow water courses like Felker’s Creek into residential areas in search of food and water.

Safety Tips for Residents

  1. Keep pets indoors or supervised
    Small dogs and cats should not be left outside alone, especially at dawn or dusk when coyotes are most active.
  2. Secure garbage and compost
    Coyotes are opportunistic feeders. Make sure all garbage bins are tightly closed and compost is not left accessible.
  3. Don’t feed wildlife
    Feeding coyotes—even unintentionally—makes them lose their natural fear of humans. Never leave pet food, bird seed, or fallen fruit outside which can attract their prey.
  4. Walk dogs on a short leash
    Avoid retractable leashes in coyote-prone areas. If you encounter a coyote, stay calm, pick-up small pets, and back away slowly.
  5. Make your yard less inviting
    Trim overgrown shrubs, install motion-sensor lights, and consider wooden fencing if you have pets or livestock.
  6. Pets in back yard.

Do not allow your pets to roam free especially in a chain linked yard.

  • Motion Sensitive Lighting

Using motion-sensitive lights in your yard. Nocturnal wildlife are less likely to be in well-light areas.

If You See a Coyote

Do not run. Instead, back away slowly while trying to haze or scare the coyote off:

  • Keep any children, small and large dogs close to you.
  • Make loud noises (clap, shout, or use a whistle)
  • Wave your arms.

This helps reinforce their natural fear of humans.

Report Sightings

Please report any aggressive behavior or frequent sightings near homes or parks to [Wildlife | City of Hamilton]and to ward9@hamilton.ca or call 905 546-2703

Click here for even more information regarding coyotes.

Together, we can coexist safely with wildlife while keeping our community informed and prepared.

Thank you for helping keep our neighborhood safe!

Toxic air complaints prompt Hamilton landfill probe

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark
High total reduced sulphur counts prompts Clark to request review on possible public health impacts.

A motion by Ward 9 Coun. Brad Clark says a Hamilton Air Monitoring Network found total reduced sulphur compounds (TRS) levels above the provincial standards in Upper Stoney Creek. On July 3, 2025, the air monitoring network captured TRS numbers 17 times greater than the provincially accepted level. Several other tests between midnight and 7am significantly exceeded the provincial 10ppb standard, prompting Clark to call on staff to review this NEW data and advise of any public health impacts as a result of exposure to these high numbers.

https://www.thespec.com/news/canada/toxic-air-complaints-prompt-hamilton-landfill-probe/article_7e84fa83-1a46-5378-a3e8-8310469dae63.html