Hamilton Police has issued a news release reporting a shooting in Upper Stoney Creek near the Eramosa Karst, Highland and Winterberry, with no injuries have been reported. Police are actively seeking any potential witnesses to this incident and urge anyone with information to come forward. For residents with security cameras please review your footage around 3:00am.
If you have information to share, call 905-546-4883 or email shootingresponseteam@hamiltonpolice.ca
To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-8477) or visit crimestoppershamilton.com.
Increase in sworn police officers
Given that Ward 9 is one of the fastest growing wards in Hamilton, I have supported all the police budget increases which saw over 60 new hires in the last four years along with replacement hires for retirements etc. These new hires meant more officers for Upper Stoney Creek and Hamilton Mountain.
Moreover, the Police Chief created a permanent, specialized Shooting Response Team (SRT), focusing on investigating non‑fatal shootings and reckless gunfire, linking cases across other incidents, and targeting repeat offenders and gangs.
As of 2024 records, the SRT has the team has carried out 21 investigations, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals for a total of 98 charges.
Let me be clear, Councillors and even the Mayor have no direct power or legal authority over the Police. The Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, much like the preceding Police Services Act is written is such a manner as to limit political intervention in policing ostensibly to prevent politicians from using the police for political purposes.
City staff have recommended the reduction of grass cutting in these parks/parkettes in Ward 9 (see graphics below). I have opposed this plan to reduce grass cutting on these properties without any public consultation. Staff are proposing a reduction in grass cutting in urban right of ways from 12 cycles to 9 cycles.
If you oppose this reduction in services, please write to the Mayor and Councillors to clerk@hamilton.ca
Please find below additional information regarding the proposed grass-cutting changes as provided by General Manager Jackie Kennedy.
Q1. What changes are being proposed for grass cutting in urban right-of-way areas?
A1: The City is adjusting its grass cutting schedule within municipal right-of-way areas, which are maintained by contracted services overseen by the Transportation Division of Public Works. The new approach keeps the current cutting cycle during the spring and early summer when grass grows most rapidly, but reduces the frequency later in the season when grass growth slows or becomes dormant. This means fewer cuts in late summer and fall, reflecting periods when mowing has limited visual or functional benefit. The annual cutting frequency will decrease from 12 to 9 cycles, resulting in a budget savings of $105,000. The City can add extra cuts if unusual weather leads to sustained grass growth. These changes are designed to maintain roadway safety, visibility, and urban appearance.
Q2. Will rural roadside mowing be affected by these changes?
A2: No, rural roadside mowing is not impacted by this proposal. It will continue as usual, following established service levels and practices from previous years. Although there were contractor delays in rural mowing in 2025, these issues have been resolved and are not expected to recur.
Q3: Will the changes affect sports fields?
A3: No, sports fields and key open grass areas in parks will continue to be mowed as usual.
Q4. What changes are proposed for grass cutting in City parks, open spaces, and private properties?
A4: The City is proposing to reduce mowing in certain park areas and open spaces, resulting in a budget savings of $250,000. The reductions focus on non-City lands without service agreements and city properties with areas suitable for naturalization, such as spaces next to existing natural areas, woodlands, and unprogrammed spaces. Sports fields and key open grass areas in parks will continue to be mowed as usual. Areas not owned by the City and without agreements will receive notice that mowing will stop, but landowners can discuss establishing a paid service agreement if desired. Existing agreements, such as those with school boards adjacent to parkland, will continue.
Q5. Why are some areas being removed from the mowing program, and what happens next?
A5: To improve efficiency and focus staff on core services, the City reviewed mowing areas and identified some that could transition to naturalized landscapes. These areas, often adjacent to naturalized zones, will be promoted for biodiversity and healthy, native plant communities as part of the Biodiversity Action Plan. Residents will be informed about opportunities to participate in planting events as plans develop. Maps showing the spaces proposed for removal from the mowing program are available, with red dashed areas indicating where mowing will stop. Sports fields and key open spaces will remain part of the regular mowing program.
Q6. How will residents and landowners be notified about these changes?
A6: Landowners of non-City properties currently receiving mowing services without an agreement will be notified that the service will end. They may choose to discuss a formal agreement with the City if they wish to continue receiving mowing services, which would include compensation for the service.
Q7. Where can I find more information or see which areas will no longer be mowed?
A7: All spaces proposed for removal from the parks mowing program are shown in attached PDF map. The red dashed areas indicate spaces that will no longer be mowed. Key open spaces and sports fields will continue to be maintained by the parks team.
At the January 23, 2026, GIC budget meeting, Council pushed back on the mayors proposed budget increase of 4.25%. Council voted by 2/3 majority to NOT RECEIVE her budget memorandum. What does this mean? It is really a procedural vote. Voting to not receive any document simply reflects the individuals’ opposition to the document. In this case, it sends a clear message. If the votes hold, Council does have the required votes to veto her 2026 budget.
At this time, Councillors are diligently looking for efficiencies and cost reductions based on the budget documents received. I continue to object that council is not receiving gross numbers, actuals and expenditure breakdowns for every division. This lack of clarity can cause confusion for councillors and the general public.
On January 28, 2026, Councillors Beattie and Francis moved a motion directing staff to present all budget mitigations that was considered by staff. The motion passed unanimously.
In February 2025, I moved a motion to have staff show impacts of 2026 budget increase at 2.5% which was supported by Council. The public record shows that I voted against the 2023 budget, as Budget Chair. I publicly objected to every mayoral directive budget under “strong mayor authority”. The budget increases in annual operational spending continues to be unacceptable. Most residents are struggling with food, heating, insurance, mortgage payments, and automobile fuel etc. I have heard from many ward 9 residents who are struggling to pay their bills. Mortgage renewals have dramatically reduced the disposable income of many residents.
An Urban Boundary Expansion application, being an application to amend both the Urban Hamilton Official Plan and Rural Hamilton Official Plan, has been submitted by the Elfrida Community Builders Group Inc., representing over 70% of the different land holdings in the Elfrida area.
The Elfrida lands are an “L shaped” grouping of lands that comprise an area of 1, 209 hectares in size. The subject lands are bounded by Upper Centennial Parkway, Mud Street East, Second Road East, Hendershot Road, Golf Club Road, Trinity Church Road and a Hydro Corridor. The location is shown on the map attached as Appendix 1. A Concept Plan, submitted with the application, outlining intended land uses from a high level perspective. The application proposes a variety of housing for 117,000 residents.
The applications were submitted to city planning staff on November 20, 2025, and deemed complete on March 18, 2025. The Planning Act requires a decision to be made by Council within 120 days of an application being deemed complete which started March 14, 2025 when all materials were submitted. City Council has been advised that the new Provincial Planning Statement was issued October 2024 and permits privately initiated urban boundary expansion applications to be submitted outside of a municipal comprehensive review and Bill 185 now permits a Council denial or non-decision of an application to be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. NOTE: Council has approved a no urban boundary expansion growth strategy that is reflected in policy in the Urban Hamilton Official Plan. The public hearing is likely to generate significant interest and speakers, presentations, and correspondence. The urban boundary expansion application will also likely generate significant discussion by Planning Committee members. Therefore, a Special Planning Committee meeting will be held on June 25, 2025, followed by a Special Council meeting directly after to ratify any Committee decision before the 120 day deadline. The White Church urban boundary Official Plan Amendment application will also be considered at the same meeting.
Be heard on June 25, 2025.
I am encouraging residents to write to the Planning Committee to provide their comments. Whether you support the application or oppose it, you have the right to be heard. All documentation received and delegations helps to inform the Planning Committee’s decision and Council’s subsequent ratification. You can email your written documents to clerk@hamilton.ca no later than 48 hours prior to the public hearing. All residents who have written to the Planning Committee or appeared as delegates for the June 25 Special Planning Committee Public Hearing reserve their rights to appeal the Council decision to the Ontario Lands Tribunal.
Brad Clark Report 
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