Hamilton council votes to denounce province's cancellation of basic income project

Hamilton City Council has votedin favour of officially denouncing the provincial government's decision to cancel Ontario's basic income pilot project.

The vote was unanimous, despite concerns from one councillor that the move could harm the city's "somewhat tenuous relationship" with the new Ford government.

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Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said what worries him is that council's move "won't change the province's mind."

"It's politically right, but is it right for our relationship with the province?" he asked, adding that criticizinga decision the government made over something that's clearly their jurisdiction could "annoy them."

But Ward 4 Councillor, Sam Merulla, who brought the motion, said the denunciation isn't about bothering the government, it's about sending a signal that Hamilton won't condone any attacks on the city's most vulnerable.

"Turning a blind eye to something that's wrong, and this is wrong is so many ways, is being complicit with the fact that it's wrong."

Program was changing lives

The vote means Mayor Fred Eisenbergerwill now communicate with Premier Doug Ford, all MPPs, MPs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and theFederation of Canadian Municipalities to make Hamilton's disappointment at the cancellationof the project clear.

It comes after more than a dozen program participants shared with council how it had helped them during a meeting Wednesday.

Participants spoke about improvements to their mental health, burgeoning small businesses and even small victories like buying food or new clothes.

Merulla's call for council to speak upwas supported by several other other councillors, including Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge who said the PC party promised to keep the program alive twice during the campaign.

"This is a promise made and a promise broken," she added.

"At no time should our city just roll over and take it when we're being treated so unjustly."

Expect more 'vicious cuts'

Matthew Green, councillor for Ward 3, went even further, stating that a broken promise is really a lie.

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He added he anticipates an increase in crime, homelessness and mental health issues as the city's vulnerable are targeted by more "vicious cuts."

The councillor said he's afraid to see what the next four years will bring for Hamilton.

"Ifyou think anybody is going to be playing nice over these next four years, you have another thing coming."