Craig's Current - February 2026

Author

Craig Cassar
February 27, 2026

Hello, Ward 12. I hope you have been managing well with this cold winter weather. As I write this, Spring is officially just three weeks away, and the forecast for warming temperatures looks promising! 

There are many upcoming events in Ward 12 and beyond, including the annual Ancaster Community Food Drive. Volunteers are still needed for flyer delivery this weekend (Feb 28th), and for collection next weekend (Mar 7th ). Please consider volunteering. Details can be found in the ‘Happening Around Town’ section below.  

The 2026 tax budget season has wrapped up with this year’s average increase coming in at 3.87%. You’ll find a quick update below, and I’ll be following up with a deeper dive in the coming weeks via my annual budget edition of Craig’s Current. 

Also in this edition, you’ll find a follow-up article about the Auditor General’s report on the Tiffany-Barton Shelter, which I wrote about last month, as well as several development proposal updates within the ward. The final item I will highlight is a brand-new online tool that provides an additional way to report issues and request City services. See “New Report a Problem Tool Goes Live” in the Community Safety section.  

And a reminder: please click ‘Read Online’ above to enable navigation links within the newsletter.   

CONTENTS

COUNCIL NEWS

WARD 12 NEWS

COMMUNITY SAFETY

IN OTHER NEWS

HAPPENING AROUND TOWN

CLIMATE CORNER

Auditor General’s Report on Tiffany-Barton Shelter 

In the January edition of Craig’s Current, I included an article about the Tiffany-Barton outdoor shelters, including an overview of the recently published Auditor General’s (AG) report on the matter. The meeting for Council to discuss the report was postponed from January 15 to February 10, 2026.  You can access the materials and video from February 10th  at this link. To go straight to the AG’s presentation, click here. 

The construction of this shelter, although well-intended and producing excellent operational results, has been the most disappointing and frustrating item during this term of Council. The capital project to establish the shelter went $5M over budget, and the City had to use federal grant money - that could have been deployed elsewhere - to cover the costs.  

As a quick refresher on the impetus for this project, the Mayor issued a directive in August 2024 giving Staff about 6 weeks to propose a plan that would rapidly deploy desperately needed shelter spaces. The 80 spaces created in the Tiffany-Barton project were part of a plan that delivered 272 new shelter spaces across the system. Council approved the solution, but the risks that would send the project off track were not fully disclosed.  

The shelters were established and operational early in 2025, but as the AG reports, “the imperative of urgency overrode the importance of due diligence and good governance”. The rushed circumstances resulted in a number of poor decisions by City Staff, exposing serious and significant governance gaps in City processes. Of the many concerning items revealed in the report, the most egregious, in my opinion, was the fact that an update was not shared with Council until months after the serious challenges and millions of dollars of budget overruns were encountered. Council was not afforded the opportunity to exercise its governance role, and this was completely inexcusable. 

I’m grateful for the AG’s report and the 11 recommendations he has made. City management has accepted all of them and has a plan to implement them. The improvements to City processes will ensure the necessary governance structure and accountability. You can read the complete list of recommendations in Appendix C of the AG’s report. 

You can read the Auditor General’s media release from February 10, 2026, here.  

2026 Budget Process Complete 

A summary of the areas funded by the City of Hamilton’s $2.9B Gross Tax Budget, which includes funding from upper levels of government. The Net Tax Budget funded by property taxes totals $1.3B. This chart was produced prior to Council amendments that were adopted in the 2026 Tax budget on February 24, 2026. The amendments do not have a material impact on the values in this chart, but did reduce the average property tax increase from 4.25% to 3.87%.

On January 20, 2026, the Mayor released a proposed budget that included a 4.25% property tax increase satisfying the directive she issued to Staff and the City’s Boards & Agencies (e.g. Hamilton Police Services, the Hamilton Public Library, etc.). That started the 30-day window for Council to propose amendments to the budget. On February 19th Council confirmed a number of amendments that reduced the budget by roughly $5M. The amendments reduced the average 2026 increase from 4.25% to 3.87%, 0.38% improvement.  $3.7M of that reduction came from successful motions that I brought to Council.  

I plan to have my annual Budget Edition of Craig’s Current in your inbox in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for it. You can expect a similar comprehensive overview as I have provided in previous years.  In the meantime, you can read highlights of the budget in the Mayor’s February 24 media release here.  

Tenant Support Program 

In August 2023, the City of Hamilton approved the creation of the Tenant Support Program (TSP), building on the successful pilot of the Tenant Defense Fund (TDF). This program supports Hamilton residents, especially low-income residential tenants (including students), to understand their rights and prevent evictions. The goal of the TSP is to prevent bad faith evictions, above guideline rent increases, and help tenants stay informed about their rights. Learn more about the program here. 

Update: Old Dundas Rd Closure at Wilson Street 

Old Dundas Rd was closed at Wilson St in September 2025

Traffic flow is a topic on the minds of many in the community. In September 2025, changes to the Wilson St / Old Dundas Rd / Rousseaux St intersection were made based on data collected by our professional Traffic Operations staff. That data demonstrated that this intersection was inefficient and could be improved with a closure of Old Dundas Rd and longer green light cycles for Wilson St and Rousseaux St. The observations since the closure have confirmed the expected efficiency improvements. 

A summary of the traffic network changes

Quick Facts: 

  • A pilot in 2023 demonstrated that improved traffic flow would be achieved with a reconfigured intersection at Wilson St / Old Dundas Rd / Rousseaux St 

  • Access to Wilson St from Old Dundas Rd was closed in September 2025. Vehicles were redirected to Wilson Street, a major arterial road, easing pressure on Old Dundas Road, which was not designed for the volume of traffic using it.  

  • The overall efficiency of this intersection has improved significantly since the change: more vehicles are now able to move through during each cycle of the traffic lights, and overall travel times have decreased. This intersection is now moving any given number of cars in less time. 

  • In early February 2026, an advanced left-turn signal was installed at Montgomery & Wilson to improve southbound travel onto Wilson St from the Ancaster Heights neighbourhood. 

The following table summarizes efficiency improvements as a result of the reconfiguration changes. The top chart (“Southbound”) measures the time to travel the roughly 750m section up the hill from Montgomery to Rousseaux. The bottom chart (“Northbound”) measures time to travel the roughly 325m from Academy to Rousseaux. Both charts show data for both the morning and afternoon peak travel times and display the average of what was experienced in the weeks following the change. 

Due to the closure of Old Dundas Rd, southbound travel was the focus, and the data demonstrates significant improvements. The afternoon peak time between 3 pm and 6 pm generates the greatest amount of vehicular travel on any given day, and the reconfiguration has resulted in a 1-minute and 7-second (27%) reduction in travel time during this time of day. Prior to the change, people waiting on Old Dundas experienced an average wait time of 2:24, while people driving up Wilson waited for 1:42, a total of 4:06. With the closure and increased green light time, the average travel time has been reduced to 2:59 (a 27% improvement). 

A summary of travel times before and after the closure of Old Dundas Rd at Wilson St. Travel times up the Wilson St hill during the afternoon peak period have improved 27%.

It is important to understand that the times are representative of the improvements experienced under normal conditions. When there are collisions on Hwy 403 or elsewhere that result in more vehicles coming through this intersection, or there is adverse weather, etc., travel times will be longer, just as they would have been in the past. The expectation of this project was not to eliminate congestion; it was to make this intersection more efficient, which has been accomplished. 

A key consideration when travelling through this corridor– and a topic I’ve received much feedback about – is the difference between the queuing length on Wilson (the number of vehicles waiting to get through the intersection) and the actual travel time. Queues will certainly be longer on Wilson St since it is now handling the vehicles that previously used Old Dundas Rd, but the time to move those vehicles through the intersection has shortened, as demonstrated in the tables above. This result is achieved through longer green lights in each of the remaining traffic cycles, meaning significantly more vehicles can get through each light. The reconfiguration is moving vehicles through this intersection more quickly and has improved traffic flow.  

Traffic operations staff use multiple methods to measure traffic flow, including on-the-ground monitoring and even experiencing it firsthand by driving through it themselves. They continue to monitor and adjust this intersection– and all intersections through the city – to minimize congestion throughout the network. The map above demonstrates how adjustments in nearby intersections were part of the overall efficiency improvements. 

One adjustment implemented in early February responded to concerns and requests from residents in Ancaster Heights. Staff listened to feedback, and an advanced left-turn signal has been installed for residents turning left onto Wilson St. 

In closing, the change at this intersection has generated a lot of interest from the community, so I wanted to make sure the results were shared publicly. The modifications made to this busy part of town were fact-based and have achieved the goal of improving the efficiency of travel in this part of town. I’m grateful to Staff for their expertise and hard work to realize these results.  

398-412 Wilson Street East Development Meeting 

In case you missed the developer’s Feb 9 in-person meeting for the proposal at 398-412 Wilson St E, the recording is uploaded to my website under the “development” tab here. You’ll also find links to the studies and reports that make up the application, as well as the Staff email contacts if you’d like to submit comments about the proposal.  

342 Wilson Street E Demolition – Demman’s House 

Demman’s house at 342 Wilson St. Date unknown.

Many of you will recognize this property as the boarded-up house beside the Purple Pony that has been vacant for several years. History buffs will know it as Demman’s House, a non-Designated heritage house built c.1870 as the residence and shop of shoemaker James Wilson (1824-1911). The facade of the house is unusual as it is not symmetrical. The larger left side was the shop and features grander windows to allow more light and greater ability to display wares, whereas the right side was the family’s parlour with smaller windows. 

A Heritage Impact Assessment has been completed, and the engineer’s report describes the current interior of the building as “hazardous”. At the February 20th Municipal Heritage Committee meeting, the building was approved for demolition. Read the report and see the photos of the interior in Appendix B here. 

A new structure is proposed and is described in the report as “a 3-storey mixed-use building that has commercial space on the ground floor with parking for 17 cars below grade and 14 residential units above on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The entrance to the parking garage is on Wilson Street East. Outdoor amenity space is provided at the rear.” More information and renderings of the proposal can also be found in the report linked above.  

Note: This development application does not require any zoning changes and has already received conditional site-plan approval, and as such will not be heard at a Planning Committee meeting.  

448 Book Road East Industrial Warehouse Development 

The proposed concept plan for 448 Book Rd E

Another industrial warehouse developer is abandoning the municipal planning process prior to a Planning Committee decision, and instead appealing directly to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for approval of their industrial subdivision application to build five one-storey warehouse buildings on the property. Anyone can submit comments to the OLT, and the deadline to do so is Monday, March 2, 2026. More information and instructions are at my website under the “Ontario Land Tribunal” tab here.  

Craig’s List – Support Local 

I hope you are enjoying my video series, Craig’s List – Support Local. Supporting local businesses is always important, but it’s absolutely critical in the current context of tariffs, threats to Canadian sovereignty, and general economic uncertainty. In this series, I profile local businesses on my list so that you can add them to yours. Click the link below to watch the most recent Craig’s List - Support Local video: 

New “Report a Problem” Tool Goes Live 

As part of the Build Back Better IT restructuring after the Cyber Incident, the City has created a new online tool enabling the public to request City action on a wide range of topics.  

With this new tool, you can report: a dead animal, a pothole, a tree issue, a vacant property, dumped garbage, graffiti, illegal parking, litter or debris, missed snow/ice clearing, and anything else by selecting "other”.  

You can still call the Customer Service line at 905-546-CITY, but you now have this new option as your first point of contact to request action. 

Find the new online tool at Report a Problem. 

More Community Safety Measures Coming 

Two new traffic safety measures were approved at the February 2 Public Works Committee meeting: 

  • A new red-light camera will be installed at Shaver and Garner Rd West 

  • A new 4-way stop at Jerseyville and Shaver – thank you to the resident who sent this suggestion to my office. 

Implementation of these new measures will occur once the weather permits. There are other projects in the workplan, such as: 

  • A temporary left turn lane at Hwy 52 and Powerline Rd  

  • Roundabout reconstruction to improve safety at Kitty Murray Lane and Stonehenge Dr 

  • A paved shoulder for pedestrians on Sunnyridge Rd between Jerseyville Rd and Maple Ave  

  • Sidewalk construction on Southcote Rd between the Hwy 403 bridge and Dorval Dr.  

I’ll provide updates on these in future newsletters 

Vacant Unit Tax Declaration Period Open 

This year’s declaration period is now open with a deadline of April 15, 2026.  All residential property owners must submit a VUT declaration for each property owned, even if the property is their primary residence and is occupied. This includes homeowners living in their own homes, as well as those who own secondary or rental properties. Note that principal residences are one of the many exemptions from the tax, but owners still need to declare. The declaration takes just a few minutes to do via the online portal. I have already completed mine; it was quick and easy.  

To complete a declaration, homeowners need the roll number and access code found on their Notice or Reminder to Declare Letters or their most recent 2025 property tax bill. Declarations can be submitted in various ways, including online, by phone, by email, and by mail. Printed declaration forms will also be accepted at all the Municipal Service Centres across the city. Full details are available online at hamilton.ca/VacantUnitTax. Residents with questions can contact the City via email at [email protected] or by calling 905-546-2573.  

The Vacant Unit Tax applies to all properties classified as residential under MPAC, including single-family detached, townhouses, row houses, and multi-family dwellings (duplexes to sixplexes). In Hamilton, this represents approximately 180,000 properties. The VUT aims to increase the supply of housing in Hamilton by encouraging homeowners to keep their properties occupied rather than vacant, and supports the City’s broader housing strategy.  

Key Dates:  

  • Declaration Period Opened: December 17, 2025  

  • Deadline to declare: April 15, 2026.   

  • Late Declaration Deadline with a late declaration fee: May 15, 2026 

Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Strategic Planning Survey 

Everyone, whether you’re a member or not, is welcome to participate in The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club’s (HNC) online survey to help guide HNC’s actions and activities over the next five years. HNC is a non-profit organization with over 300 members dedicated to the study, appreciation, and conservation of our wild plants and animals. The Club traces its history to the founding of the Hamilton Bird Protection Society in 1919. Early Club achievements include the designation of Cootes Paradise as a nature reserve in 1927! This survey is part of the strategic planning process and will collect feedback on the HNC’s mission, goals, and overall activities to better inform future directions. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete, and you will have the opportunity to add your name to a draw for a prize of up to $200. Find the survey here. 

Sewer and Overflow Information 

The difference between separated and combined sewer systems. Combined sewers are a legacy of the past, whereas separate sewers have been the standard in recent decades.

Do you know where rainwater goes once it disappears down that grate in the road or ditch? Did you know Hamilton has two types of sewers and that overflows go straight into the natural environment? Keeping as much stormwater out of the sewer system as possible is crucial to stop sewage from polluting the environment. Read the next article about this year’s available grants to help you keep your property’s stormwater out of the sewer system.  

Learn more about how the system works by watching this short Combined vs Separated Sewers video.  

Check out the City’s Monitoring Wastewater Overflows and Bypasses webpage, which shows real-time system status information, overflow and bypass logs, and an overview of how Hamilton Water manages wet-weather events. Bypasses and Combined Sewer Overflow events are controlled operational measures used during extreme weather to prevent rainwater and wastewater from backing up and causing basement flooding, road flooding and potential damage to Wastewater Treatment facilities. 

Rain Ready Grants 

The Rain Ready Hamilton program provides funding to residents who install approved projects such as rain gardens and permeable surfaces on their properties with the aim of helping stormwater soak in at source rather than inundate the sewer system. In 2025, the program was approved for 73 projects on residential properties, including in Ward 12. These new installations will reduce stormwater in Hamilton by nearly 1 million litres every year, which benefits the City by: 

  • Reducing urban flooding by enhancing rainwater infiltration 

  • Protecting water quality and groundwater quantity 

  • Reducing pollutants in creeks, streams and Hamilton Harbour that are carried by stormwater 

  • Reducing pressure on City stormwater infrastructure 

  • Increasing the amount of green and pollinator-friendly spaces

This year, residents can apply for two funding tiers: up to $1,500 and up to $5,000. The deadline to apply is April 17, 2026. More information here.  

Municipal Jobs 

Are you or is someone you know looking for a Municipal job? Here’s a great resource to help you find one close to home. Municipal Move 

Electing Youth to Municipal Office 

If you are a youth or know one who is interested in running for municipal council in October 2026, the Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO) is offering free workshops for you! More here. 

Ancaster Food Drive Volunteers Needed! 

Flyer / Package Pick Up Day:  Sat., Feb. 28th   

  • Package pick up 8:30-9:30 am 

  • Flyer delivery from Feb 28 - Mar 3rd 

  • Putting out signs (larger vehicle required) 

Ancaster Firehalls only drop-offs:  Feb 28 - Mar 7 

School donations pick up day:  Mar 5 

Set-up Day:  Mar 6 - POSITIONS FILLED - NO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED  

Food Pick up Day:  Sat., Mar 7 

  • Food/donation and door-to-door pick up starts at 9am 

  • 9:30 am unloading, sorting & loading at the Ancaster Fairgrounds (age 16+) 

  • 9:30 am retrieving signs (larger vehicle required) 

Lots of yummy refreshments provided for volunteers!

Juno Awards Coming to Hamilton  

The Junos are coming to Hamilton from March 26-29, 2026!  For three days beforehand, Hamilton will host multiple events, concerts, and shows honouring Canada's incredible musical talent. The City of Hamilton is hosting a Juno Kickoff Concert on March 26 to get the week started in the best way possible, with a mix of performances from some of Canada’s top-charting and rising stars as they deliver unforgettable moments and some big sound.  

Spring Discovery Days at Gage Park Greenhouse 

Step into spring with Horticulture during Spring Discovery Days at the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse! Join expert gardeners for guided tours through the lush tropical collections, where you’ll explore vibrant plants from around the world, take part in interactive indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, and go behind the scenes to the Production Greenhouse - the place where thousands of City of Hamilton flowers are grown. There is a new event planned for every day. Learn more at Spring Discovery Days 

Environmentalist of the Year Awards 

Hamilton’s Environmentalists of the Year Awards have been held each year since 1979 to honour individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to the protection and/or enhancement of the environment in the City of Hamilton. This year, the awards gala will be held on Friday, March 27, at 6 pm at McMaster University. Nominations are now open, and tickets are on sale!  I’ll be hosting the event again this year, and I hope you’ll join me there! 

EOY nomination form is at this link 

EOY Award Gala tickets available at this link 

Hamilton Jewish Film Festival 

The Hamilton Jewish Film Festival proudly brings together the Jewish community and the wider Hamilton audience to explore Jewish culture, Israel, and Jewish history through compelling cinema. This year’s four carefully curated films share powerful, universal themes of hope, courage, and resilience. Each film offers a moving look at family love—parenthood, sibling relationships, and the bonds that define us—while taking viewers on an emotional journey from drama to comedy, separation to reconciliation, and chaos to harmony. Together, these four films promise an inspiring and memorable festival experience. Starts Sunday, March 15 until Monday, March 16, 2026  

Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre | 357 Wilson Street East, Ancaster, ON 

Tickets here 

Grace Community Christian Reformed Church concert 

Grace Community Christian Reformed Church is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year in June.  Several events are planned, including the well-known Oratorio by Handel, "The  Messiah", which will be performed by Arcady Ensemble under the direction of Ronald Beckett. While often associated with the Christmas holiday, Messiah was originally intended for the Easter season. Programmed for community benefit, the first Messiah performance featured an intimate chamber ensemble.  

Tickets $45 online at arcady.ca or in person at Grace Community Christian Reformed Church 

For more information, please email [email protected]. 

Ancaster Film Festival  

More great Art House films coming up in March as part of the Ancaster Film Festival! Screenings take place at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, including the Hamilton Jewish Film Festival and "Phone", a made-in-Hamilton production! 

Tickets here 

Ancaster Horticultural Society Meeting 

Join Darryl Cheng for his talk “An Engineer’s Approach to Houseplants” on March 17, 2026. This meeting will take place at 7:30 at Ancaster Old Town Hall. Also underway is the Ancaster Horticultural Society’s annual Heirloom Tomato and Pepper sale! Quantities are limited, so act fast. 

More information here.  

Sinfonia Ancaster – Spring Awakening 

March 27, 2026, at 7:30 pm at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre 

Toronto Symphony concertmaster Jonathan Crow will dazzle with Mendelssohn’s romantic violin concerto. One of Canada’s brightest talents and a founding member of the JUNO Award-winning New Orford String Quartet, violinist Jonathan Crow exudes “masterful coolness” (The Montreal Gazette) and “serious intensity”. Also on the program, Sinfonia Ancaster’s presentation of three joyful works will give voice to the thrilling sense of renewal and boundless possibility that comes with the changing season. 

More info and tickets here. 

Dundas Repair Cafe 

Volunteers can help you fix//teach you how to fix your items, including: 

  • Mending and darning (no alterations) 

  • Small home appliance repair 

  • Small wooden furniture repair 

  • Jewelry fixes 

  • Electrical repair-lamps, etc. 

  • General repair  

  • Tool sharpening (limit 1 item/visitor if waitlist) 

  • Kids’ Table-stuffed animal repair 

Saturday, March 28, 10 am –12 pm, Dundas Town Hall upper level 

Info here 

Other Events Around Hamilton 

Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre: 

Three Years of Climate Projects in Hamilton 

Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas, making municipal climate action all the more crucial. Hamilton’s Office of Climate Change Initiatives (OCCI) was established and Council approved their Climate Action Strategy in 2022. Since that time, a small but mighty staff complement was hired, and similar to over 30 other divisions in the City, the OCCI was allocated a reserve fund which they can use to implement climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives. City departments can submit requests for funding to the OCCI, and those projects that were approved and received funding in 2023, 2024 and 2025 are listed on the City’s Climate Change Reserve website. Some interesting projects include full or partial funding of:  

  • Electric Book Mobile for the Hamilton Public Library 

  • Battery-operated grounds maintenance hand tools 

  • Electric portable charging unit for Hamilton’s first electric fire truck 

  • Solar-powered park and playground lighting 

  • Pilot backyard tree planting program 

  • Rec centre pool heat reclamation 

  • The Bayfront Industrial Area Retrofit Grant 

National Zero Waste Council Webinar -  Reuse in Hospitality Food service 

The Hospitality and Entertainment sectors are ramping up reusable food and beverage packaging. Reuse is showing up at major concerts, like Coldplay in Toronto; at sports stadiums across North America, and it’s coming to the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Learn more about reuse at this March 24, 2026, webinar. Register here. 

THANK YOU

Thanks as always to everyone who reaches out to engage with our office. I hope you enjoyed reading this month’s newsletter. Please share it with Ward 12 neighbours and friends. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] and subscribe to the Ward 12 newsletter at CraigCassar.ca. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.