Statement from Mayor Horwath in response to City’s accountability in the Chedoke Spill

When I was elected, I promised to bring a new era of accountability and action to the City of Hamilton.

Today, I am encouraged by the City’s guilty plea in relation to the Chedoke Spill, the apology that has been extended to Hamilton residents and the accountability measures that are being taken in response to this serious breach of environmental stewardship and public trust.

In this matter, the city failed in its duty to the people of Hamilton, both in protecting our natural environment and in its subsequent handling of the situation.

As I’ve said before, there was too much secrecy in this case and not enough disclosure.

Mistakes will happen, but we owe it to the people of Hamilton to own up to those mistakes and demonstrate real change in our approach going forward.

Today, we have answers and we have a plan of action.

In addition to accepting the appropriate penalties through the court, the City has implemented a number of initiatives to better protect Hamilton’s Watershed, and I will work with staff and City council to ensure their success.

Council has also named as one of its three strategic priorities the working of City Hall and transparency in municipal government. I hope Hamilton residents see the resolution of this matter as an important step in that ongoing process.