LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

Airport Employment Growth District

It has been recognized by members of the public and members of the transportation industry that the Hamilton International Airport (HIA) is an important economic engine for the City of Hamilton. The city has commissioned many reports that point out the value of developing these lands as an employment node for the city. Other communities, notably Brantford, have built a solid success in luring businesses away from Hamilton by marketing our airport and their zoned and shovel ready employment lands. Why can’t our city get its act together?

During my watch as Mayor, and after many years of dallying some might say, Council, on a motion by Terry Whitehead, I believe, moved to explore the lands surrounding the airport for potential jobs-development for the city in the coming decades. The motion passed. City staff, at the time, was working on another important study called GRIDS or Growth Related Integrated Development Strategy. This was a project to look at Hamilton’s population growth over the next 25 to 30 years and project where this growth should be and what jobs might be needed to accommodate the coming population. Both of these projects dovetailed nicely together and were brought under one umbrella by staff and made the subject of extensive public consultation during the GRIDS process.

Almost immediately after Council took the step of identifying the airport lands for possible job creation, the city’s naysayers led by the anti Red Hill opponents who needed a fresh cause, began their moaning and groaning. An instant group sprang up almost overnight to lead the fight. They adopted a different name and found a few fresh faces, but the bulk of the opposition was tried and true in its make-up. One of the newbys lived in the vicinity of the airport which he reputedly disliked. A veteran stalwart was someone who fought against many developments in the city, believing that development was contrary to the way the city should grow. As well, this group found favour with a local and vocal anti city hall organization whose claim to fame was their decades old fight against the Red Hill rehabilitation and transportation corridor. Council took all this opposition in stride welcoming all and every opinion at all public meetings.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs also got into the picture, wanting staff and Council to justify and explain how the airport lands employment proposal was satisfying the Province’s new policies articulated in the Places to Grow documents. Again, staff directed by Council, patiently met with all stakeholders to explain positions, status and progress. I met with Provincial officials who guaranteed their support subject to answering some questions and moving our forward-looking GRIDS process along. It was this process in fact which answered many of the questions the Ministry sought answers to.

With an OMB hearing lurking in the background, Council won the right to examine the airport lands without a legal fight and promised to involve the stakeholders, including the opponents, in a Community Liaison Process that would carefully examine all aspects of the Airport Lands project. The opposition spun this as a victory. In fact it was a face-saving gesture for them. The city is obliged to involve stakeholders in significant land development projects. Council was told to do exactly what it would have done anyway.

Fast forward to today and you will find that finally, after a year of delay since the agreement was struck to move ahead, a group has been put together to examine all aspects of the project.

The opponents have already voiced their disapproval of the group. They state that too many of the group members are supportive of the project. They state that the terms of reference do not allow for stonewalling but rather just encourage the expression of opposition to reach consensus. They also quote made-up costs of servicing the land when they know full well that the purpose of the study is to arrive at real costs. One of the group is also reported to have tried to shut down the first meeting on procedural grounds.

Why is it important to know all of this? It is crucial to understand, because the minority is once again attempting to thwart the will of Council and probably the will of the majority of citizens. Once again, as with the Red Hill saga, a cunning and perhaps procedurally ruthless group will pull out all the stops to discourage progress being made. It is important to be aware of this issue because for Hamilton as many as 49,000 jobs are at stake, jobs which today are passing this city by and moving to other communities.

Will this group get the attention from the media it deserves? Time will tell, but if the last battle for progress is any indication, the opponents of this project are better equipped at manipulating the glare of public attention and existing laws of procedure than are those who want to create jobs and opportunities in the city. I hope I’m wrong but, as the old saying goes, if you don’t learn from history, you are bound to repeat it. Hamilton cannot wait another 54 years to do the right thing!

BACK TO LARRY'S CORNER

HOME