With the public properly focused on trying to minimize the spread of COVID-19, attention has shifted away from the other global emergency.
Climate not in energy board mandate
The Ontario Energy Board has decided that greenhouse gas emissions linked to a new fracked gas pipeline across Hamilton are not part of its mandate.
City challenging provincial energy board
Ontario’s energy regulator is exploring uncharted territory in the wake of strong Hamilton challenges to a proposed fracked gas pipeline.
Silence on secrecy
Secrecy by public officials is strongly opposed by most media – except when it is not. Outrage about secret police in other countries is always condemned, but evidently not when it happens in Canada.
Pipeline not about climate says Enbridge
The city is intervening in the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) hearing on Enbridge’s proposed new fracked gas pipeline across rural Hamilton.
Moving away from cars
Hamilton will invest a record amount this year in bike lanes and other infrastructure to support cycling and pedestrian safety.
Infrastructure budget approved
The tax hike this year will be at least $39 per household after approval of the city’s 2020 capital budget.
Unequal transit taxes continue
Two decades of much lower transit taxes for most of the richest areas of Hamilton are set to continue.
Being confused is expected
You may be forgiven if you are confused about Tuesday’s downtown public consultation on whether or not to pave over more farmland. There are at least four separate sources of possible confusion.
Hamilton pipeline application submitted
Enbridge’s proposal to build a new 48-inch fracked gas pipeline across rural Hamilton now has been submitted to the Ontario Energy Board.
Less farmland or more density
Whether Hamilton will expand onto more farmland or accommodate growth with higher densities will be decided over the next four months.
Anger over quarry rule changes
City staff are fuming over a Ford government re-write of the rules governing quarrying and related aggregate transportation.
City again battling province
City staff are challenging yet another massive rewrite of planning rules by the provincial government.
Expanding bus use
Secondary school students in Burlington are getting free bus passes in that city’s latest effort to expand transit ridership.
City blocking developer proposals
In the wake of new provincial loopholes, local developers may be lining up to convert their rural properties to subdivisions, but the city says it’s determined to block them.
Welfare for developers
Additional though still incomplete information has come from the province about massive changes being made to rules on planning, community benefit agreements, parkland funding and development charges.
City rejects intervention in pipeline hearings
The city has snubbed a cooperation offer from four neighbouring municipalities and decided to do only the bare minimum in response to a proposed 63 km Imperial Oil pipeline from Hamilton to North York.
Airport pollution not included
Council’s declaration of a climate emergency apparently doesn’t extend to the operations of the city-owned airport.
City climate report
There are still no specific proposed actions but the city’s first report on tackling the climate emergency says the crisis is being taken seriously.
City planning upended by province
It “came out of nowhere”, changed thirteen statutes, and was pushed through the provincial legislature so fast that city staff could only tell councillors after the fact about the multiple problems it imposes.