Ham's LRT subcmt has concluded. #HamOnt

Ham GM Planning Jason Thorne says a preliminary design of LRT may be available to public by end of May. #HamOnt

Ham staff says Metrolinx is moving forward with procurement on the city's LRT project. "The ship is sailing," says Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson. #HamOnt

Mount Clr John-Paul Danko says during the LRT subcommittee, the design of Ham's LRT will be "significantly" different "and for the better" than when it was first realized. #HamOnt

Ham clrs return from a 40 minute break and take up the bulk of the council agenda. #HamOnt

Ham clrs opposed to the 2023 budget include SC Clrs. Jeff Beattie, Matt Francis, Brad Clark, Ward 14's Mike Spadafora, Glan's Mark Tadeson, Mountain's Tom Jackson. #HamOnt

Ham clrs approve the highest tax average tax increase in the amalgamation era at 5.84%. It is a decrease from the proposed 6.7 per cent. It means an increase on the average home (382K) of $262. The vote was 10-6, one of the highest number of clrs opposed to a budget. #HamOnt

SC Clr Brad Clark says he "regrets" to inform council he will not support budget, the first time as clr. #HamOnt

SC Clr Brad Clark says clr began the budget process at about 5%. And it never decreased. Says people's ability to pay is "weighing on my mind." Says people are telling him "you have to hold the line." #HamOnt

SC Clr Brad Clark says he backed the police service budget because "we need a police presence in Ward 9." "It is a very, very convoluted process" referring to the city's budget discussions. #HamOnt

Mount Clr John-Paul Danko says residents are struggling to pay for high mortgage, rents, food. Yet, he will support 5.9% tax increase. Says there are "positives" in budget: investments in infrastructure; police services, transit, roads. Says increases is due to province. #HamOnt

SC Clr Matt Francis says he will "never support" such a "dramatic" tax increase of 5.9%. Says the tax hike will "push people" into poverty, impacting people on fixed income. #HamOnt

Now on the overall 2023 budget. #HamOnt

Now up is the encampment pilot program at a cost of $1.3m. It is approved 11-5. #HamOnt

Internet voting is on the table. The motion is carried 10-6. #HamOnt

Now up is the $40k extra to clrs office budgets. It is defeated 8-8, which means it loses. #HamOnt

Now is the accelerated cycling master plan. It is approved 10-6. #HamOnt

Now up is the Ham Police Budget. Clrs approve it 10-5 with one abstention -Mount Clr Esther Pauls. Nobody wanted to talk about it. #HamOnt

Ham clr vote 8-5 with three abstentions to expand living wage to defeat Dundas Clr Alex Wilson's motion. #HamOnt

Up now is Dundas Clr Alex Wilson introducing a motion to enhance number of living wage, including union and non-union summer students. Cost would be estimated about $788k. #HamOnt

Ham Mount Clr John-Paul Danko's motion to reduce the $2.6m funding YWCA by $600k was defeated 9-7 vote. #HamOnt

Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch says the $2.6m to the YWCA is not "an either or, but an and" to address housing supports for women, trans and non-binary individuals at MacNabb. #HamOnt

SC Clr Brad Clark says when a walk-on motion of $2.6m to YWCA it "shocked" the other shelter organizations. Says cutting the $600k it provides "wiggle room" to address other needs and organizations, hopefully by April. "This is a reasonable amendment." #HamOnt

Ham's GM for Healthy and Safe Cm Angela Burden says in 2023 city will be providing $500k in COLA funding to three shelters, including including YWCA. #HamOnt

Ham Ward 1 Clr Maureen Wilson says she also can't accept cutting the $600k. Says poverty, homelessness is a "gendered experience." #HamOnt

Ham Mount Clr John-Paul Danko agrees to remove "pilot" program phrase from his motion. Danko wants to have some sort of accountability. #HamOnt

Dundas Clr Alex Wilson is also opposed to the motion. #HamOnt

Ham Ward 3 Clr Nrinder Nann is opposed to cutting $600k to YWCA to support housing for women. Mount Clr John-Paul Danko has a motion to provide the YWCA $2m for housing support rather than $2.6m. Agrees it is "nickle and diming" the Y. #HamOnt

Flam Clr Ted McMeekin says he was prepared to support the $2m funding that Mount Clr John Paul Danko proposed, a reduction from $2.6m. But he was convinced not to by Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch's passionate opposition to it. #HamOnt

Ward 2 Clr Cameron Kroetsch says the YWCA asked for $2.6m and not $2m. Praises the Y for doing great work. "I don't think we should be nickle and diming them. They desperately in need of the money." #HamOnt