Hamilton joins other cities to push for new highway

City councillors will vote Wednesday to join a coalition of municipalities pushing for a new Niagara-to-Toronto highway.

The general issues committee will vote to sign the Western Golden Horseshoe Municipal Network Charter, which will see Hamilton join Niagara, Halton, Peel and Waterloo in the network.

The group will push for extended GO transit and a mid-peninsula highway. The Ontario government has shelved the highway project for now, but councillors voted in October to urge the province to move ahead with it.

Its all about getting the governments attention, Mayor Bob Bratina said.

Its easy to ignore one community or another. But its hard to ignore a group of municipalities and regions who cover 36 different federal and provincial members.

The vote will authorize city manager Chris Murray to sign the charter with the other municipalities.

The highway has had its critics, including Coun. Brian McHattie of Ward 1 who worries about its environmental impact. But McHattie says he wont push the issue on Wednesday.

Its clear to me that the rest of council is on side (with the highway) anyway, he said.

Other issues at Wednesdays meeting:

• Scott Warren of Global Spectrum will ask to be a delegation at a future meeting to ask to rename Copps Coliseum. Councillors could move to let Warren speak on Wednesday.
• Councillors will vote to continue the Hamilton Downtown/West Harbour Remediation Loan Pilot Program, which offers grants of up to $100,000 to developers remediating properties. Now that the city has gained control of Piers 7 and 8, the city anticipates more interest from developers wanting to build on the waterfront.
• Bratina will move a motion to investigate funding a public art piece in memory of Lincoln Alexander.
• Staff will recommend spending $50,000 to establish a new film and music office, as well as a formal music strategy for Hamilton.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. at city hall council chambers. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 15 but was postponed with the death of Coun. Bernie Morelli.

Reporter Samantha Craggs will tweet live from Wednesday's meetingat @SamCraggsCBC.