NOTICE: Elfrida Urban Boundary Expansion Application Public Hearing June 25, 2025

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

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
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 to continue as Chair of Hamilton Conservation Authority

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

At its Annual General Meeting on February 6, the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) Board of Directors reaffirmed Councillor Brad Clark as Chair. Susan Fielding was also reacclaimed as Vice Chair.

The HCA Board comprises of 11 members appointed by municipalities within the HCA watershed. This includes ten representatives from the City of Hamilton—seven elected officials and three citizen appointments—and one representative from the Township of Puslinch.

Councillor Clark has been a dedicated member of the HCA Board of Directors, serving from 2007 to 2014 and returning in 2019. He has held the role of Chair since August 2023. In addition to his work with the HCA, Clark has served on Hamilton City Council for 16 years and is the current Ward 9 Councillor. His experience also includes serving as the MPP for the Stoney Creek riding from 1999 to 2003, during which time he was appointed Ontario’s Minister of Transportation and Minister of Labour.

After his reelection, Councillor Brad Clark addressed the board and staff, expressing his gratitude and pride in their collective work: “I want to thank everyone for their support. I take great pride in our work at the Hamilton Conservation Authority—our board, our staff, and our collective accomplishments. Through my work with the Conservation Ontario board, I’ve seen firsthand how highly regarded our organization is across the province. We have an exceptional organization, and I’m proud of what we continue to achieve together.”

Susan Fielding, a citizen board member from the Township of Puslinch, continues in her role as Vice Chair, a position she previously held in 2018. She has been on the Board of Directors since 2016 and served on the Conservation Advisory Board from 2016 to 2019. As Vice Chair, Fielding also chairs the Budget & Administration Committee. Alongside Clark and Fielding, Councillor Alex Wilson and Lisa DiCesare were confirmed as committee members.

Following her reelection as Vice Chair, Susan Fielding expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for continuing her work with the team: “I’m thrilled to be re-elected and to continue working alongside Brad and our dedicated team. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support. We have a fantastic group here, and it’s a pleasure to collaborate with such committed members.”

Councillor Craig Cassar and citizen member Wayne Terryberry were appointed to the Conservation Advisory Board (CAB). Terryberry, currently the Coordinator of Natural Lands and Outdoor Recreation at McMaster University, was re-elected as Chair of the committee. He had previously served two terms on CAB from June 2015 to June 2023 and held the position of Vice Chair from 2019 until the end of his term.

https://www.flamboroughtoday.com/local-news/brad-clark-to-continue-as-chair-of-hamilton-conservation-authority-10248076

Residents are encouraged to get involved in the City’s 2025 budget process

Posted on by lyndzeefreeman

The City of Hamilton’s budget serves as a roadmap, outlining
priorities that help shape the future of our community. Each year, Council determines
how funding will be allocated across city services, programs, and infrastructure to
ensure the City can continue delivering over 70 programs and services to residents,
while balancing affordability and competitiveness in tax rates. Members of the public are
encouraged to have their voices heard over the coming months by providing their
perspectives on this year’s City budget.

First Public Delegation Opportunity

The first public delegation opportunity will take place on Monday, November 18, 2024, at the Budget General Issues Committee (GIC) meeting, where members of the public can speak to Council on priorities in advance of the staff presentation of the preliminary 2025 Water and Tax budgets. Delegates will be heard in the order their requests are received, with a limit of five (5) minutes per presentation.

  • Applications to speak virtually, in person, or provide a written delegation for the November 18, 2024, GIC meeting are due by 12 noon on November 15, 2024.
  • Applications for video delegations are due by 12 noon on November 14, 2024.


Delegation requests should be sent to clerk@hamilton.ca or submitted via the Submit Request to Speak form on the City’s website.


Second Public Delegation Opportunity

The second delegation opportunity for the 2025 budget process will be held at the January 20, 2025, Budget GIC meeting, before presentations from City departments, boards, and agencies. This meeting will focus specifically on the Tax-supported budget. Delegates will be heard in the order they are received, with a five (5) minute presentation limit.

  • Applications to speak virtually, in person, or provide a written delegation for the January 20, 2025, GIC meeting are due by 12 noon on January 17, 2025.
  • Applications for video delegations are due by 12 noon on January 16, 2025.


Delegation requests can be sent to clerk@hamilton.ca or completed through the Submit Request to Speak form on the City website.

“The City’s budget is a plan for Hamilton’s future. By participating in the budget process, residents can help guide investments that make a real difference in our neighbourhoods, from safe streets to reliable services,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “I invite everyone to make their voices heard through delegations or our new online tool when it’s available to ensure the 2025 budget reflects our community’s values and vision.”

Hamilton Council is scheduled to approve the 2025 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budget at a Council meeting on December 11, 2024, and the 2025 Tax Budget at a Council meeting on February 12, 2025.

In planning for 2024 to 2027, the City’s budget plans will be shaped by Council Priorities for 2022 to 2026 – Sustainable Economic and Ecological Development, Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods, and Responsiveness and Transparency, as well as the 2025 Budget Mayoral Directive.

While the February 25, 2024 cybersecurity incident has created some challenges and delays, the public can still be assured that a comprehensive, data-driven budget will come forward for approval, consistent with previous years.

Budget presentations, staff recommendations, public delegations and community feedback will inform all City Council decisions around the budget. The City is also planning to launch a new online budget simulation tool this month, allowing residents to consider different service and funding options, which can inform future budget discussions.

Members of the public interested in the City’s 2025 budget process can monitor the City’s website for budget-focused GIC meetings, which will be streamed on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube channel.

For more information, visit hamilton.ca/budget.