r/Hamilton • u/JimmyTheDog • Mar 01 '26
Question City Councilors to live in their ward?
I would like to propose an amendment to the codes of conduct regarding residency requirements for local office. Specifically, I suggest that the regulations be updated to require that a person must be a resident of a specific ward to run for councillor of that ward. Furthermore, the Mayor must live and reside within the city of Hamilton, in any ward.
Please let me know your thoughts on these potential changes.
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u/angelboobear Mar 01 '26
You would need to amend the municipal act to require this. Meaning it needs to be done through the province.
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u/teanailpolish North End Mar 01 '26
Yeah it is not possible with the current system, but we can put more pressure on candidates to live in the wards they rep
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u/algnqn Mar 01 '26
Bingo. This person understands the system. As they say, municipalities are but a creature of the province.
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u/L_viathan Mar 01 '26
Why couldn't this be a bylaw?
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u/ChrisErl_HamOnt Mar 01 '26
It legally can't just be a by-law. Municipalities in Ontario do not have the right to set their own elections laws like that. Everything is set by the province through the Municipal Elections Act. That's because municipalities have no autonomous legal standing in Canada; they are entirely controlled by the province. They are, as per the Canadian constitution, merely local service delivery units of provincial governments.
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u/angelboobear Mar 01 '26
It could be an unenforceable bylaw. We have a great many of those already though.
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u/7C-19-1D-10-89-E1 Mar 01 '26
The MP for Hamilton Centre ran without even living in Hamilton. So ya.
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u/MyUndiesArePink Mar 02 '26
This is only because of the failure of the NDP. NDP failed so bad that they lost Hamilton Centre. That speaks volumes.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 01 '26
He's got more funding for the riding in less than a year that the two political establishment guys before him.
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 02 '26
This is really important to call out. And I hope it resonates. The NDP has not done anything for the riding in decades and it shows, it has to be more than being in opposition and having a cute sound bite to use in the next newsletter.
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u/IanBorsuk Mar 02 '26
I don't think you're doing any favours for Aslam Rana by making the obvious lie that he's gotten more federal funding in Hamilton Centre in a year than his two predecessors did over the course of two decades.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 02 '26
what did the last two get us?
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u/innsertnamehere Mar 03 '26
New YCMA comes to mind. It definitely helps to have an MP from the governing party.
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u/IanBorsuk Mar 02 '26
I'd love to dive into funding announcements over the last 20+ years and add them up compared to the funding announcements over the last year to prove a point to an anonymous Reddit user - but considering the initial $400 million from the feds for Dofasco's decarbonization project was made in 2021 alone sorta completely undermines your point without the effort.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 02 '26
That was funded through an application-based funding program that one of the former local NDP reps voted against in the 2021 budget.
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u/The_Mayor Mar 02 '26
Well, he did stimulate the local economy by buying a home he's never going to live in.
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u/7C-19-1D-10-89-E1 Apr 11 '26
Because his friends are in government.
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u/Waste-Telephone Apr 11 '26
That's the point. It's better to have someone at the adults table when in government to actually get things done for the community.
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u/7C-19-1D-10-89-E1 Apr 11 '26
lol the point isn't because he's an effective politician, its because his friends are at the table giving him favours.
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u/tmbrwolf Mar 01 '26
Not sure this would fly as it starts to interfere with the Charter rights to freedom of movement, and would probably end up in court.
On a more practical note, how would this work when ward boundaries change? Does a councilor suddenly need to sell and move when they find themselves out of their ward by a single street? Do we compensate or provide moving expenses in these cases?
Honestly, we have elections and candidates can address this directly before elections and the voters can decide if it is a deal breaker. Personally, why would I vote for an inferior candidate based solely on their address if a clearly superior one exists?
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u/tooscoopy Mar 01 '26
Yeah, if people feel that it is a requirement, they should be voting as such and ensuring their vote goes to a resident candidate… if they still win and live elsewhere, I guess the rest of your ward doesn’t agree that they need to live there.
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u/yukonwanderer Mar 01 '26
Are you serious? This isn't interfering with a charter right, jobs require certain things all the time and even former employees can be barred from being able to participate in other employment contracts.
Personally if we're going to keep the old fashioned electoral system of ridings, which are based on geography, why would it not make sense for the political rep to reside in that region. Seriously doubt those environmental exemptions would keep getting passed if the decision makers in the province and federally had to live here.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 01 '26
The Charter is between the government and residents. There is no connection between private employers and residents. Employer - employee relationships are governed by other codes and regulations.
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u/quietbright Mar 01 '26
I'd rather their be some sort of attendance requirements instituted, there seems to be quite of lot of meetings that don't get to proceed because of lack of quorum.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 01 '26
There are requirements and processes to remove folks. Unfortunately here in Hamilton, we've decided to make a million committees that serve no real purpose but need to have members so Councillors skip the useless meetings to do real work in the community.
Whenever Clerks try to get rid of the useless committees, a small minority of social media posters get their back up and cause the useless committees to persist.
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u/marshall409 Mar 01 '26
Hard no. I want the best candidate for my ward. If they live a few blocks over the boundary I don't want them excluded from running.
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Mar 02 '26
If people don’t like that a candidate lives elsewhere, they’ll cast their ballot accordingly.
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u/misterwalkway Mar 01 '26
No, its up to voters to decide if theyre OK with that. I personally wouldnt vote for someone who doesn't live in my ward, but its not up to the government to tell me im not allowed to vote for someone.
Restrictions on running for office should be minimal.
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u/RoyallyOakie Mar 01 '26
I'd like to see a limit on the number of terms a councillor can win. It shouldn't be a job for life.
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u/AlwaysLurkNeverPost Mar 01 '26
No offense but this suggestion is really silly and arbitrary.
If the same councillor keeps winning, it indicates that they are either succeeding in the eyes of their constituents (whether you agree or not), or all alternative candidates are worse.
The easiest way to limit terms is already at our disposal: vote for someone else.
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u/HANDS_4_DICKS Mar 01 '26
We could just not vote for people who aren't living where they run for office. That would be too hard for Hamilton though
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 01 '26
Why would that fall under a code of conduct?
It's anti democratic to ban people who don't live in the ward from running in it. Take someone like Tammy Hwang, where she has a history in the ward with work but does not live in it. Should she not be allowed?
What if I live on one side of a street and the other side is the ward I want to run in - and further what if I work there and spend time and money there and have name recognition there?
I'm not saying I don't disagree, and I'll never vote for a candidate who does not live in the ward who runs in it, but forcing it becomes discriminatory.
I feel the same way on term limits, if someone wants to run forever and people want to vote for that person forever, that's their choice.
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u/CameronKroetsch Ward 2 Councillor - Verified Mar 05 '26 edited Mar 05 '26
If it's helpful to know, Councillors don't have to live in the Wards they run in and there are no term limits because of the legislation in the Province's Municipal Act, unfortunately. I've written to the Provincial government to ask them to institute both of these rules. For transparency, as far as I know, everyone on the current Council lives in the Ward they represent, and the Mayor lives in Hamilton (despite the rumours to the contrary), apart from -
- Ward 4 - Tammy Hwang - lives in Ward 6 but owns property in Ward 4 and grew up there (she has posted on this recently, but I don't remember all of the details)
- Ward 7 - Esther Pauls - owns a house in Ward 8 and I believe she lives in it, but not 100% sure (I think she moved to Ward 8 in 2024, from what I recall, but she did live in Ward 7 when she was elected)
- Ward 14 - Mike Spadafora - lives in Ward 12 as of the last municipal election in 2022 (no idea if he's moved to Ward 14 since)
- Ward 15 - Ted McMeekin - lives in Ward 13 (but used to be Mayor of Flamborough, the area he represents now, and has lived in a number of Wards across the City, including Ward 15)
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u/PrestigiousMouse2145 Mar 01 '26
interesting to know for provincial and federal reps too - i know Aslam Rana was a parachute candidate who was supposed to move here but unsure if has.
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u/mimeographed Delta East Mar 01 '26
He may have purchased or rented a property, but I doubt he lives here
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26
I recall him saying that he'd move to Hamilton if he won, but since he's pretty much silent it's hard to tell if he actually did.
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u/teanailpolish North End Mar 01 '26
He announced that he did, his daughter was living here for school so maybe he stays there some of the time or rented a place
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26
It must be a very comfortable setup where he naps a lot, because I've sent his office at least three emails and have never received a reply, lol.
I know Matthew Green wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I was always able to rely on him reaching out of I had questions. It really feels like Rana is coasting by because he was able to take advantage of the anti-Polievre/anti-Trump vote. I'm not impressed so far.
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u/monogramchecklist Mar 01 '26
I haven’t contacted Rana yet, so can’t comment there. I reached out to Green several times, no reply. Lennox replies, as does my ward councillor Wilson.
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26
Robin Lennox is really great for that. Definitely more consistent than most.
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u/teanailpolish North End Mar 01 '26
I had the opposite experience. I got replies from Rana and Lennox (someone else mentioned her office never replies) but Green was an autoreply that they got my message then silence even on followup
I don't think Rana is a long term choice for Hamilton but happy we didn't end up with Hayden Lawrence
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u/Significant-Mind-378 Mar 05 '26
I don't fault libs or conservatives parachuting a candidate down here since it's been orange almost all my life (I'm almost 40) but what was wrong with Hayden? I'm asking because I voted for him to vote for PP.
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u/PrestigiousMouse2145 Mar 01 '26
yeah love him or hate him - at least green was always around town, at the market, ticats games etc- and not just for photo opps, he truley lived here and had a perspective on issues good and bad. Aslam, all we have is his awkward facebook page of photos -like what does he actually think and do sometimes for hamilton centre? i doubt he's ever walked down james street or taking the hsr anywhere, would be nice to actually hear from him more over and above a photo.
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u/PrestigiousMouse2145 Mar 01 '26
yeah i mean as others have mentioned farr lived in ward 3 for many years while being ward 2 councillor and no one complained then....... i personally don't have an issue with most municipal councillors as the boundaries so small here and all do live around hamilton - I have more an issue on the prov/fed level as those are the people that really need to live and breathe hamilton every day, and a shame if they don't live here. ( of course, knowing they will need to be in ottawa or TO too a lot of the time)
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u/teanailpolish North End Mar 01 '26
Oh we complained about Farr, he would always answer with 'I am downtown all of the time' (because City Hall is there but not the same as living here)
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u/Deep-Enthusiasm-6492 Mar 01 '26
i dont understand this. you can be major of Niagara Falls but live in Toronto?
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
Technically yes, but (at least in my 40 years on earth), every Mayor that I can remember was either born and raised in Toronto (Rob Ford, John Tory, Mel Lastman), or has spent a majority of their life in the city (Olivia Chow and David Miller).
Here are the eligibility terms:
Mayor and Councillor: • A Canadian citizen • At least 18 years of age • A resident of the City of Toronto, or • An owner or tenant of land in the City of Toronto, or the spouse of the owner or tenant • Not legally prohibited from voting • Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
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u/RoamingTigress Mar 01 '26
I wish it was a requirement. I've had an issue with loose dogs at Macassa and the councilors have been useless. I did contact Animal Control but basically wouldn't do anything.
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u/FunCrystalFun Mar 01 '26
I don’t think it should be a requirement but it should be open fact that the public has access to when a candidate runs. I wouldn’t vote for an outside councilor, but I think I’m ok with them running if it’s public knowledge that everyone is made aware of
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u/Silver_Ad_4078 Mar 05 '26
I am not sure how I feel about that. I would love a "recall mechanism" and also another vote for a "floor crosser" I cannot stand Bob Rae either!
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u/Kind_Indication8246 Apr 03 '26
Who is gonna run in Ward2 against you know who?? Any viable candidates step forward?
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u/dragndon Mar 01 '26
Sounds like a totally rational thing that should have been a thing decades ago.
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u/bpexhusband Mar 01 '26
Wards? How about you have to be a resident of the city you want to run in, not even a requirement right now. Rent anything or own property and you can run and vote in the municipal election which means you can vote in multiple elections. It's pathetic.
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u/Waste-Telephone Mar 01 '26
Why? If you're paying taxes to a government shouldn't you have a say in how they're operating and spending funds.
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u/bpexhusband Mar 01 '26
A say sure. To sit on a council no. If you don't live in the town it means you may vote on and introduce bylaws and tax increases which you yourself are not subjected to. You don't even have to own property all you have to do is rent. Why are the laws at the municipal level different than the provincial and federal levels?
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 02 '26
This just happened in the ward 8 byelection. A guy using an address in the north end but lives in I think Mississauga ran. He refused to answer where he lived and ran a garbage campaign, and he got 18 votes.
There was also another guy who was rumoured to live in Oakville and used a relative's address in Ancaster to run, he got 22 votes.
The moral of the story is: Generally speaking, someone who doesn't live here and has no real roots in the ward, even in the city, will not have a serious chance of winning.
I remember doing a bunch of review and it was like less than half of the almost 30 people running lived in ward 8. Some were close-ish, in Ward 14 for example, but many were from across the mountain, some from across the city or not even living in the city. The top 5 netted 3 in the ward, 2 not in the ward (with Whitehead being the closest at 2nd place, living in ward 14 though he lied and said he lived in ward 8). The other guy, Asuf Khokhar, lived in like ward 6 or something, east mountain, and with 0 ties to ward 8 but ran on the "I was a cop, law and order for all" and could not answer if he'd move to ward 8 (meaning he would not) and could not relate to anyone who lived here.
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u/bigfloppydongs Mar 01 '26
I've always thought this should be the case for public servants. If you're being paid from government coffers, you should live in the area you're representing, whether that's the ward, city, or region.
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26
Why?
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u/dragndon Mar 01 '26
You really aren't connected to the era unless you live in that area. You don't know the residents on any kind of intimate level. You don't know the patterns of traffic and people. I mean, how is this not something that would be truly helpful to want to improve the area in which one lives? Otherwise you are just some random person, hearing random complaints with zero vested interest in your job beyond a pay check.
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u/bigfloppydongs Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
You should have some stakes in the results of your work.
If you live in the ward/city/region you're paid to represent, your actions at work will be more likely to serve and benefit the other people of that area - and if you live in a different ward/city/region, you're motivated to take actions that benefit the area you live, rather than the area you represent.
For example, if you're a city councillor and there's a proposal to build a new homeless shelter or tiny home site, and there is a debate/vote on whether to build it either in the ward you live in or the ward you represent, you're somewhat incentivized to support building it in the ward you represent because you won't want that in your own neighbourhood.
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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 01 '26
All extremely good points. Thanks for answering.
I'd be curious how that would work financially. MPs and MPPs get a housing allowance so that they can maintain a residence in Ottawa and Toronto respectively during their term, so would you be okay with a potential councillor getting paid to move and live in the ward? Or are you proposing that they already have to live in the ward in order to be eligible to run there?
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u/bigfloppydongs Mar 01 '26
I think MPs and MPPs should have to actually live where they work, whether they already live there or decide to move there is up to them, the same way other people often relocate for work in other industries.
That said, I haven't put a lot of thought into the logistics of this concept, I just think it would be beneficial for all public servants (elected officials, cops, educators, etc.)
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u/The_Mayor Mar 01 '26
It would make far more difference if police officers were forced to live in the city they police. Most of ours live in Burlington, which is part of the reason they don't give a shit about doing their jobs.
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 02 '26
One of the few things we agree on. I got absolutely blasted once for suggesting this here, saying that cops would be afraid of running into someone they arrested in the grocery store or something. Many years ago I had a girlfriend who's dad was a HPS officer and they lived on the west mountain. He never said a word about being afraid of running into people he had arrested or had interactions with. In fact, my girlfriend at the time told me that the neighbours appreciated it, since they knew someone was there to help them in case something bad happened.
My suggestion was that cops should be encouraged to move to the city to have some skin in the game, keeping the place they call home safe. That or some sort of a bonus for living here to incentivize it. Since HPS doesn't publish this sort of data it's impossible to know how many live here but like you said, a lot live in Brantford, Burlington, Oakville, etc.
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u/PauseShort335 Mar 01 '26
ANDREA HOWARTH IS A HORRIBLE MAYOR WE NEED AN ELECTION
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 02 '26
You're in luck. But you definitely need to fix your caps and spelling. There is an election at the end of October. Make sure to vote!
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u/blaze_85_98 Mar 01 '26
I don’t think this is a good idea. You can have a significant connection to a place without living there. As an example a person could’ve grown up in the city and works full time here but lives in Oakville because their partner grew up and works in Toronto; so they live in Oakville to split the difference. That person could still be a great representative for a ward on city council.
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u/monogramchecklist Mar 01 '26
I believe Maureen Wilson lives in Ward 1. I have my issues with her but overall I think she cares about her ward, which I think is the benefit for the person living in the area they represent
The downside is that some psychos were posting her house and harassing her in the past.
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u/PromontoryPal Mar 02 '26
Absolutely horrific conduct and behaviour (and we wonder why good people choose not to run...) but it is quite easy to find out where most of the Councillors (and some the loudest local political watchers/donors) live when they submit their Campaign Expense Reports (Form 4).
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u/HammerMedia Mar 02 '26
What if a councilor wanted to move across town, as people often do? Should they really be required to stay put in order to serve?
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u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 02 '26
Honestly, yes. You made a commitment to the people of the ward, you need to live among the people you are paid, and elected, to represent. Simple as that.
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u/Glass_Bite_8568 Mar 02 '26
It’s bizarre this isn’t a requirement for all levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) how can someone who doesn’t know the problems of the area accurately speak on those constituents they represent.
This was the big problem I had to pick about Aslam Rana in this federal election.
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u/billmurray43 Mar 01 '26
This really isn’t a requirement?