By Claude & Parth on 2026-08-04, City: Hamilton, View Transcript
The Audit, Finance and Administration Committee met July 30, 2026, with Chair Jeff Beattie presiding. The meeting focused on a request to waive development charges for Katon's House, a pediatric hospice project led by Kemp Care Network, along with community funding motions, pension investment policy changes, questions about collections and Ontario Works overpayments, and governance for the Elgen transformer community benefit funds. The meeting ended with council receiving a confidential Auditor General report.
A delegation from Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice/Kemp Care Network asked the city to waive development charges for Katon's House, a pediatric hospice project.
Councillor Rob Cooper asked staff and delegates about timing, saying, "By us waving this development charge today, can you give us a sense when Katon's house will will be live and and active in taking in palliative care patients?" Committee discussion indicated the waiver was intended to avoid further fundraising delays and help move the project toward construction.
Councillor Brad Clark supported the request, saying, "Hospicees on Ontario have this unique situation with the government. If you have a hospice in a hospital like St. Peter's Hospital, they have a palliative care program right inside the hospital. They don't pay taxes. They don't pay development charges. But if it is a not-for-profit who sets up a palliative care program, whether children or or adults in a private building outside of a hospital, all of a sudden they're not a part of the healthcare system. It's wrong. It doesn't make sense."
Committee later approved the waiver motion unanimously.
Committee discussed how to formalize the use of community benefit money tied to the Elgen transformer site.
Margaret Bennett referenced the original community commitment, saying, "The community through assembly of residents and Dr. Davy parent and teachers may decide on how to allocate the dollars as they see fit and in keeping with their pledge to fulfill community and school needs."
Members also debated how much authority should remain with council before money is spent. Councillor Cameron Kroetsch described an amendment this way: "So, this is going to change the resolution that is before us in the following manner. A stays the same. There is the addition of a new B - that before funds can be dispersed, a list of final projects to be funded be approved by council."
Committee first suspended the rules to consider the motion, then discussed the amended governance approach for future project approvals.
Delegates raised concerns about the city's handling of money owed to the municipality and province, including Ontario Works overpayments.
One delegate, identified in the meeting record as Aise, asked: "My question is simple. Why has there been no efficient collection efforts? Why are staff not being transparent to the public? I've made several attempts to reach out to staff to provide this information since May 28, but neither staff or the city manager's office have acknowledged my emails or met with me. Why have overpayments increased 1.5 million to 58.4 million as of April 2026?"
Another delegate, Michelle McDonald, asked, "When will the city centralize collections into one department with clear accountability, consistent collection practices, and measurable performance targets."
A separate presentation focused on housing stability and Ontario Works rent payments. Rose asked, "Is the city effectively using the pay direct directive as a homelessness prevention tool for the majority of recipients who are living in private rental housing?"
The discussion centered on collection practices, accountability, and whether existing tools are being used to prevent housing loss.
Committee reviewed changes to the city's pension investment policy, including adding annuities as a permitted investment type.
Councillor Brad Clark said, "I just in my mind it's important that we learn from mistakes in the past and not repeat them." The comment came during discussion of investment risk and the city's approach to pension management.
Staff argued for a lower-risk strategy. General Manager Gary said, "the fact that we're in a surplus position, we shouldn't be pursuing growth income investments. We need to derisk and ensure a stable and consistent funding stream that will benefit retirees and meet our obligation. That to councilor Clark's question, that is the objective is to reduce the risk that the city is currently exposed to with our current investment strategy."
Committee approved the policy changes and received the investment performance report.
Committee approved several community funding items.
For the Ottawa Street BIA sidewalk sale, Councillor Tammy Hwang read the motion into the record: "This is asking committee um that a grant to the Ottawa Street BIAs support the delivery of the Ottawa Street annual um sidewalk sale be funded from the W4 capital discretionary account 3302309400 to an upset limit including contingency not to exceed $9,400."
On Dundas Community Services, Councillor Alex Wilson said the funding was needed to cover technology support outside the previous library arrangement, describing it as support for an organization building its own system: "So when you think about that's getting a contract that's making sure that they have database that's you know from their cloud building their own cloud system as opposed to using something kind of built within the broader city system."
Committee also approved emergency support for Roots Youth Center. Councillor Matt Francis said the funding would help the organization continue operating while it fundraises and restructures: "this funding ensures that uh until the winter season and they can have achance to kind of again six more monthsof fundraising, a new operational planand a new organizational structurecontinue to proide the food securityprogramming that they do provide forstudents in the Dundas area."
Passed: - Agenda change to move Item 9.2, Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice delegation, earlier on the agenda - 9.2A Correspondence - Development charge waiver for Katon's House / Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice-related building permit charges - Motion to suspend rules related to Elgen Transformer Fund community uses - 9.1 Ottawa Street BIA Sidewalk Sale Support - 9.3 Roots Youth Center one-time emergency funding - 9.4 Ward 13 Community Grants (10 applications) - 10.2 Dundas Community Services one-time funding for IT-related costs - FCS26052 Master Trust Pension Statement of Investment Policies and Procedures - FCS26053 Master Trust Pension Investment Performance Report (as of Dec. 31, 2025) - PW26029 Management Response to Report - CM26010 Burton Tiffany Shelter Audit Response Update - AUD260007 / Report 97509 Auditor General confidential report received and kept confidential
The notes identify the following members as present:
Additional participants referenced in the discussion: - Rob Cooper - Tammy Hwang - Matt Francis - Andrea Horwath