Hamilton council votes to denounce province's cancellation of basic income project
CBC News | Posted: August 17, 2018 6:24 PM | Last Updated: August 17, 2018
Councillors say the city has to speak up for its most vulnerable who were using the program
Hamilton City Council has voted in favour of officially denouncing the provincial government's decision to cancel Ontario's basic income pilot project.
The vote was unanimous, despite concerns from one councillor that the move could harm the city's "somewhat tenuous relationship" with the new Ford government.
Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said what worries him is that council's move "won't change the province's mind."
"It's politically right, but is it right for our relationship with the province?" he asked, adding that criticizing a decision the government made over something that's clearly their jurisdiction could "annoy them."
But Ward 4 Councillor, Sam Merulla, who brought the motion, said the denunciation isn't about bothering the government, it's about sending a signal that Hamilton won't condone any attacks on the city's most vulnerable.
"Turning a blind eye to something that's wrong, and this is wrong is so many ways, is being complicit with the fact that it's wrong."
Program was changing lives
The vote means Mayor Fred Eisenberger will now communicate with Premier Doug Ford, all MPPs, MPs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to make Hamilton's disappointment at the cancellation of the project clear.
It comes after more than a dozen program participants shared with council how it had helped them during a meeting Wednesday.
Participants spoke about improvements to their mental health, burgeoning small businesses and even small victories like buying food or new clothes.
Merulla's call for council to speak up was supported by several other other councillors, including Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge who said the PC party promised to keep the program alive twice during the campaign.
"This is a promise made and a promise broken," she added.
"At no time should our city just roll over and take it when we're being treated so unjustly."
Expect more 'vicious cuts'
Matthew Green, councillor for Ward 3, went even further, stating that a broken promise is really a lie.
He added he anticipates an increase in crime, homelessness and mental health issues as the city's vulnerable are targeted by more "vicious cuts."
The councillor said he's afraid to see what the next four years will bring for Hamilton.
"If you think anybody is going to be playing nice over these next four years, you have another thing coming."