Ted's Priorities for Ward 15
Safe Roads and Real Infrastructure Investment
Rural roads, bridges, and intersections need steady investment, and traffic decisions should make sense to the people who drive them every day. Ted helped deliver a comprehensive Rural Roads Review and a major roads budget.
When residents opposed poor bridge closure planning in downtown Waterdown, he convened a town hall with 20 senior city staff and over 250 residents who advocated for 12 hour east-west alternating crossing times to align with commutes.
When the intention of city staff to limit traffic creep into neighbourhoods from Dundas St. led to senseless gridlock in East Waterdown, Ted and many community members demanded the removal of barriers to traffic flow.
When residents opposed a planned traffic signal at Carlisle Road and Centre Road, he held a town hall, listened, and won unanimous Council support to cancel it and pursue better solutions, saving about $400,000.
Ted will continue advocating for interdepartmental coordination on major roads projects and greater public consultation.
Responsible Development that Protects Farmland
Our rural roots matter. Ted is committed to managing growth while keeping our beautiful farmland safe from urban sprawl. Ontario loses about 175 acres of farmland every day, roughly 135 football fields. Hamilton's agri-food sector is worth more than $2 billion, and much of it is rooted in Flamborough. As a former Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ted understands what local farms and agri-businesses need to thrive: protected farmland, fair rules, and a city that treats its rural communities as partners, not afterthoughts.
A Welcoming, Inclusive Community
When a school bus carrying local Muslim children was defaced with hateful graffiti, Ted spoke without hesitation. His words capture a value he wants reflected across Ward 15: "In Hamilton, dignity and respect is not something granted to anyone, but rather what we affirm for everyone. Our community strives to be a welcoming, tolerant and inclusive place, where the safety of each of us is the concern of all of us."
Responsible Growth That Protects What We Love
Flamborough is growing, and growth must respect what makes our communities special: farmland, source water, green space, and the village character in our rural neighbourhoods. Ted's view is direct: a 30-year urban-boundary horizon stacks the deck in favour of developers, and sprawl never pays. Once a boundary is expanded, it is almost impossible to recover. His alternative is to look up and in, rather than out: complete, transit-friendly neighbourhoods built through real conversation between the development sector and the community.
Recreational Opportunities
Ted advocated for and helped pass funding for a new pool and recreation centre to be located beside Harry Howell Arena. The facility will include opportunities for pickleball, aquatics, seniors, and community gatherings.
Housing and Ending Homelessness
Ted has spent decades on housing, including as Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. His conviction is plain: every family needs a safe, healthy, affordable place to call home, because decent housing provides stability, security, and dignity. He notes that 41% of Hamiltonians living in poverty are children under twelve. His approach is to refuse to merely manage or tolerate homelessness, and instead to commit to solving it, through a housing-first strategy, partnerships across all levels of government, and an all-of-Hamilton sense of shared purpose. He has championed the HATS (Hamiltonians Alliance for Tiny Shelters) pilot as a humane, locally built option for people living rough.
A Council That Listens: Truth, Trust, and Transparency
Trust in local government is earned through honesty and openness. Ted describes himself as a progressive pragmatist, an idealist without illusions, and he believes the most important skill in public life is turning a single resident's case into a broader cause. He backs that up with regular town halls and a ward community council that puts spending decisions in residents' hands. He will keep making sure Flamborough's voice is heard before decisions are made, not after.
Tax Fairness
As Flamborough Mayor, Ted led the only council in Ontario to lower property taxes six years in a row. Fast forward to the 2022-2026 Council term, and Ted has continued to insist on value for money, pitching a 4% tax cap that helped force needed budget discipline, while still leading with values by supporting funding for homelessness, domestic violence projects, and new infrastructure including a Waterdown recreation centre and police/fire/EMT station.
Community Engagement
Empowering residents through a strong community council, listening to residents, responsive communication, and a unwavering rural and suburban commitment that hears every voice.
Smart Growth & Agricultural Heritage
We will protect our precious agricultural lands and unique village character while planning for the future. Ted is committed to managing growth responsibly, ensuring new developments align with our rural values. We will preserve the soul of Ward 15 by balancing necessary expansion with the protection of our scenic heritage.
Public Safety & Community Connection
Keeping Ward 15 safe means providing quick responses to service pressures and fostering authentic collaboration. Through a strong Community Advisory Council, Ted will ensure your voice is heard. We are dedicated to a well-served neighborhood where public safety and community-led solutions create a secure and hopeful future for all.