Hamilton needs to fix ‘democracy deficit’, say urban councillors

For the last eight years urban councillors have lamented what they are calling a “democratic” deficit in the city’s governance structure.

That “deficit”, they argue has cost Hamilton over $2 million in lost taxes, says Ward 8 councillor Terry Whitehead.

Councillors had an opportunity last week to make a dent in that deficit, but they instead will allow an unelected group of citizens to decide the fate of the city’s controversial area-rating tax policy for their residents.

“It is very clear, there are inequities here,” said Mountain councillor Scott Duvall.

Duvall, along with his mountain colleagues Whitehead, and Tom Jackson, point out there are, for example, about 350 households in Ancaster, just across the street from the border of Ward 8 on the west side of Upper Horning/Scenic Drive North of Mohawk, that receive the same level of services as the homeowners in Ward 8, but are paying about $750 less in taxes per year then the residents in Ward 8.