Hamilton’s Summit 2018: Advancing Hamilton’s Priorities in the Provincial Election aims to keep the city’s priorities in front of those who will form the next provincial government.
The summit is an opportunity for the residents of Hamilton to attend an educational summit intended to address key priorities that impact the city.
Key issues include the impact of health funding at the local level and cost of infrastructure upgrades.
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger says another issue of importance is the shortage of 6,000 affordable housing units in the city of Hamilton.
“We’ve stepped up as a municipality in terms of our $50-million, 10-year plan to at least get more money into that affordable housing stock,” Eisenberger says. “We’re looking for the provincial government to match or make their contribution.”
LISTEN: Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton, joins the Bill Kelly Show
Underlying most of the concerns is a lack of consistent funding from Queen’s Park.
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Eisenberger says there should be a “predictable” revenue stream, so the city doesn’t have “to go cap in hand in each and every instance” to deliver services.
“Why are we disadvantaging cities to the degree that we are handcuffing them in their ability to plan and be sustainable without a sustainable funding mechanism in place?”
Eisenberger says the summit audience will hopefully include candidates running in the next provincial election.
He says Ontario NDP Leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath will be there.
Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne has another event she’ll be attending, while Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford has not responded.
The event is being held Friday at City Hall in the council chambers, starting at 9 a.m. You can watch the summit online on the City of Hamilton website.
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