Many owners of rural lands want their properties removed from the Greenbelt that was established by the province ten years ago to preserve agricultural lands and natural areas treasured by many urban residents.

The first wave of HSR bus fare increases coming on September first will hit elementary and high school students the hardest.

The fate of tar sands pipelines across the country – including Enbridge’s Line 9 that runs through Hamilton – is now in the hands of whoever wins the October 19 federal election.

Newly revealed legal costs indicate the city abandoned its $75 million Red Hill lawsuit long ago and is using the recent transfer of Pier 8 lands as political cover while privately admitting that its serious accusations were unfounded.

Five city wards – all part of Conservative ridings – got seven of the eight federal grants last week as part of the Canada 150 infrastructure funding announced on the eve of the election call.

Councillors insist they can’t be influenced by campaign donations, but that didn’t stop numerous contributors from pouring large amounts of money into last fall’s municipal elections.

Complaints about campaign financial irregularities have forced councillors to release more information on their spending and fundraising activities.

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of June 2015.

At least two bus-loads of Hamiltonians will join the Toronto march for jobs, justice and climate action starting at Queen’s Park on Sunday July 5 that will be addressed by Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein.

Requests submitted last week to audit the election finances of eight councillors could result in charges and even dismissals from office.

City staff are seeking changes to the provincial growth plan that will encourage more sprawl development in Hamilton.

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of May 2015.

City staff want significant changes to the provincially-protected Greenbelt including removal of parts of the recently-approved aerotropolis as well as lands in upper and lower Stoney Creek.

Dealing with illegal corporate donations is “beyond our mandate” says the chair of the city’s election compliance audit committee.

Nearly a decade after Prime Minister Harper declared Canada an energy superpower, the only tar sands export pipeline that may be operational before this fall’s federal election will run through Hamilton.

The city still owes nearly $70 million for the construction of the Red Hill and Lincoln Alexander parkways and won’t be debt free from the projects until 2026.

Hamilton’s controversial bike sharing project is a major success already serving hundreds of riders every day and accumulating over 3000 registered users in just the first two months of operation.

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of April 2015.

Despite plans to collect an extra $6 million from riders in fare hikes, the HSR faces significant obstacles to improving transit service to the former suburbs.

This is a regular CATCH summary of votes at committee and council meetings. This report covers the month of March 2015.