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November
11, 2003
THE ELECTION RESULTS IN HAMILTON
The
municipal election results in Hamilton are being presented
as a ringing endorsement of the Red Hill Creek Expressway
and an end to the debate about the future of the Red Hill
Valley. The facts don’t support this spin doctoring.
In
the first place, the pro-expressway forces lost ground in
the election. Ward one elected pro-valley candidate Brian
McHattie over the pro-expressway incumbent by an overwhelming
margin. The defeat of an incumbent by such a large margin
(58% to 32%) is very unusual. The four incumbent pro-valley
councillors were all re-elected. In three of those races,
anti-expressway candidates won over 90% of the votes cast.
The allegedly “overwhelming” support that expressway
proponents claim to have apparently couldn’t be translated
into getting rid of any of their council opponents. Certainly,
it would have been desirable if more anti-expressway candidates
had been elected, but it is clear that valley supporters
made gains.
Secondly,
the voter turnout strongly indicates a growing disaffection
with municipal politics. Despite population increases, the
absolute number of people who voted went down in EVERY ward.
In three wards it fell by over 15%. Overall, the voter turnout
declined from 43% in 2000 to 38% in 2003. In Toronto, on
the other hand, voter turnout climbed by 3%. As a consequence
of the low turnout in Hamilton, Mr. DiIanni was actually
supported by only 19.2% of the eligible voters, while Christopherson
garnered 14.8%. Why did the voter turnout fall so dramatically?
One reason could certainly have been the assault conducted
against Red Hill Valley and its supporters in the two weeks
prior to the election. That assault sent the clear message
that voting isn’t going to make any difference —the
pro-expressway forces are going to do what they please.
Thirdly,
nothing in the election results has changed the value of
Red Hill Valley or the disastrous features of the planned
expressway. The vote results haven’t made the poisoning
of the air any better, the destruction of 44,000 trees any
less significant, the elimination of wildlife homes any
more humanitarian, or the blasting of the biggest ever hole
in the Niagara Escarpment any more acceptable. The election
has also not provided any justification whatsoever to trample
the rights of the aboriginal people, violate their treaties,
or desecrate their sacred sites. All these crimes remain
just as horrendous as they were before the votes were counted.
DiIanni and his ilk are trying to make everyone believe
that they now have some moral right to commit these crimes.
Fourthly,
the strength of the anti-expressway movement displayed yesterday
is quite amazing given the obstacles it faces. In Hamilton
there is only one daily newspaper. It is pro-expressway
and actively supported DiIanni throughout the campaign.
There is only one television station. It is openly pro-expressway
and pro-DiIanni. And there is only one news radio station
and it is rabidly pro-expressway and pro-DiIanni. In addition,
the DiIanni campaign spent more money than has ever been
allocated to an election in Hamilton’s history. Despite
this, more than 40% of voters supported an anti-expressway
candidate for mayor.
The
ruling clique would like us all to give up and go home (what
else is new?). They want everyone to believe that they enjoy
overwhelming support, that the expressway is a ‘done
deal’, and that anyone who gets in their way will be
crushed. Don’t believe it! Their bravado is designed
to hide their fear. Their media and their money can’t
overcome the integrity and principles of those fighting
for a better Hamilton or the justness of their cause.
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