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September
1997 Newsletter
Expressway
to Highest Court in November
The
next few weeks are crucial to the future of the Red Hill
Valley. On November 10, voters in Hamilton-Wentworth elect
a new regional council. It is this court of public opinion
which will probably determine the fate of the valley.
We are definitely within striking distance of getting a
council that will vote to stop the expressway plans, but
it will require serious effort to achieve this goal. Everyone
who cares about the valley must do what they can between
now and November 10.
The massive cost of the expressway is changing many minds
including some on council. In June, we obtained the largest
level of support for the valley in many years. Eight councillors
are now voting against the expressway including the mayors
and deputy mayors of both Flamborough and Dundas all of
whom spoke out strongly about the cost of the road. McMeekin,
Braden, Addison and Powers were joined by Hamilton councillors
Copps, Kiss, Wilson and McCulloch.
Several other councillors are wavering because of the financial
and environmental costs of the expressway, including at
least two who privately say they don't think the project
should proceed. However, regional council has 28 members.
We need at least 14 to stop the road. We must get some new
valley supporters elected in November. We must also show
that anti-expressway views are growing among the voters,
and that those who continue to support this project will
pay a big political price.
Getting new faces on council will be easier this time than
in previous elections. In the first place, at least two
pro-expressway councillors are not seeking re-election (Drury
and Shaw). Secondly, the present council has not exactly
covered itself in glory and many people are itching to turf
out some of the old warhorses (more on this below). Thirdly,
several excellent candidates are coming forward to work
for a new vision for our community. We are actively recruiting
or identifying anti-expressway candidates and we will be
asking you to support them with your time and your money.
Probably the most crucial race will be in Ward 5. It is
one of two east Hamilton wards that border Red Hill Valley.
The other one (Ward 4) is represented by Geraldine Copps
and Dave Wilson who both vote against the expressway. Ward
5, however, is currently represented by two pro-expressway
councillors. In the 1994 election, all of the candidates
in this ward were pro-expressway. This time things will
be different. The expressway now poses an immediate threat
to the property values, clean air and quality of life of
the people of the ward. A petition against the road was
launched in early August in Ward 5. More than two-thirds
of those approached so far have agreed to sign it!
A very strong anti-expressway candidate has registered in
Ward 5. Rita Chimienti is a community activist in the Rosedale
neighbourhood who is well known for her work in improving
parks. Dozens of people have already volunteered to work
on her campaign.
In the past, some councillors have justified the excessway
with the argument that people in the east end want it.
Electing Chimienti in Ward 5 will eliminate that notion.
There also appears to be a good chance that at least one
of the two seats from Stoney Creek will go to an anti-expressway
candidate. Stoney Creek has been a pro-expressway stronghold
up until now, but the local newspaper has now adopted a
strong anti-expressway editorial position (see page 4).
The current council's support for the Taro dump and their
waffling on the Supercity schemes have angered a great many
voters. Mayor Anne Bain is facing strong challenges. The
deputy mayor, Grant Shaw, has announced he is not running,
guaranteeing a new face in that post. If even one of the
new Stoney Creek reps is anti-expressway, it will very seriously
undermine the demands for a valley expressway.
Wards 2 and 3 cover the downtown area of the city of Hamilton.
If the money to restore this area is to be found, the huge
flow of tax dollars to suburban sprawl projects like the
expressway must be halted. There is no doubt that the lower
city is heavily subsidizing its commercial competitors on
the mountain.
There will be at least one new councillor from this area
(replacing Drury in Ward 3), but the changes could be much
greater. It is hard to imagine voters re-electing councillors
who have quietly presided over the incredible decay in the
downtown core, topped off the by the recent Plastimet fire.
An interesting race is also developing in Ancaster where
the deputy mayor is being challenged by a councillor opposed
to unrestricted growth in the town. Both the mayor and deputy-mayor
have been damaged by their support of the Supercity that
would have swallowed Ancaster. In this community too, the
local newspaper has recently adopted a strong anti-expressway
position.
Our objective is simple and achievable. We need to elect
at least one or two new pro-valley councillors. It is also
important that the valley expressway be a significant issue
in the campaign. Cooke and other pro-road councillors are
desperately declaring that the debate must be stopped. They
are saying this because they know they have no convincing
arguments. Strong showings by anti-road candidates will
also send a clear message that public opinion has shifted
decisively against the expressway.
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