Elections
The Province has shelved a proposal to build a mid-peninsula highway from Niagara Falls or Fort Erie around Hamilton to connect with Hwy 401 or 407 north of Burlington. Do you agree with the Province's decision to put its development on hold?
Responses to the question: "The Province has shelved a proposal to build a mid-peninsula highway from Niagara Falls or Fort Erie around Hamilton to connect with Hwy 401 or 407 north of Burlington. Do you agree with the Province's decision to put its development on hold?"
In This Page:
48 Candidate Responses (top)
| Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Baldasaro, Michael | Yes | Yes. This highway has been on the table since as long as I can remember, as
far back as the talks over Red Hill Expressway. We should repair our streets and traffic corridors first. |
| Butt, Ejaz | Yes | Agree with the province |
| Eisenberger, Fred | Yes | |
| Lavigne, Crystal | No | I would like to see this go through. |
| McHattie, Brian | Yes | I do support the province’s decision to not move ahead with this project. I believe we need to fully explore and implement other modes of transportation before we even consider the addition of this major highways.
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| Pattison, Michael A. | Yes | I absolutely agree with this decision. I look at future trends and wonder why we keep making strange plans for a transportation device that is on the decline. I know we will always have some form of personal transportation but in the time it will take to build this highway are we not dedicated enough as taxpayers in this province to figure out ways to truly lighten our load on society? Trains, buses and high speed cargo carriers should be thought of and implemented first. If we are trying to up the golden horseshoes economic portfolio then efficiency has to be the word of the day. Connect the region(s) with better forms of supply chains and all commerce will benefit. The environment may breathe a little easier as well. Are these plans feasible today? They can be. Since we are looking at amalgamating our pedestrian transportation systems, cargo systems should not be deemed out of line in regards to discussion and fact finding missions for all surrounding municipalities. |
| Ward 01 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Allen, Jason | Yes | Yes. A Mid-pen highway is going in the exact opposite direction of where we should be. We need to further encourage Hamilton as a connecting point for the shipment of goods from the U.S. to the Golden Horseshoe by strengthening the Port Authority (they are in desperate need of more land) and improving rail access to and through Hamilton (as well as demanding full reporting on freight manifests, to ensure Hamilton is safe from what is being transported through our city). We also need to encourage greater transit use (e.g. GO Service to the Niagara Region) to move people. A new highway should be at the bottom of the list of our priorities. |
| Greco, Tony | Yes | Yes. Cutting a large swath, through the countryside, would not be of great benefit to Hamilton or to the Niagara area. Continued improvement of the existing QEW would probably be a cost effective and more viable alternative. The mid-peninsula highway, apart from being very expensive to build and maintain, would result in a much longer driving distance than what is now required on the QEW.
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| Johnson, Aidan | Yes | I believe that creating a highway through vibrant Ontario farmland would have little if any benefit to Hamilton, and would not address transit issues as the bottleneck does not begin until well-past the point at which this proposed highway connects with the 407. I prefer a mass transit solution to highways through beautiful green space.
|
| Rosen, Ira | Yes | Yes, however I believe it is an absolute must that the province look at better ways of moving traffic around are area, transportation costs are only going to increase and we need to find better ways to move goods to assist in lowering those costs.
|
| Shaw, Sandy | Yes | Yes. But beyond that I do not feel this is a project that we should even be pursuing. |
| Ward 02 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Farr, Jason | Yes |
I do. I believe the Province is on the right track by concentrating on the Big Move and the greater Go capacities. The POV's are good and could be better. Even double decker Go buses were a better way forward. With a non-reusable commodity that is oil, multi-model, rail, shared rides and live-work communities with electric options are the smarter conversation. Of course we need still to move goods by truck, but we can make that easier by making smart commuter choices, or locating ourselves and our businesses where a commute is hardly necessary. |
| Heaton, Kristina | Yes | It was inevitable, since the Province recently pumped billions into the auto industry, and now is pumping billions to the various municipalities for transit improvements. We are apparently in debt for at least 15 years now and will be paying interest on interest pretty soon, if they don't put the brakes on.
|
| Wallis, Terri | Yes | |
| Ward 03 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Agostino, Ralph | No | No; I don’t agree with the Province’s decision |
| DiMillo, Mark | Maybe | When the mid-peninsula highway was first proposed I thought it was a good idea. I don't know if it was shelved for financial reasons or environmental concerns. I would need to look into the reports and reasons for not pursuing the idea. Frankly, having been engaged in ward issues and on the campaign trail, the focus has been on issues that concern voters and residents in the ward. A mid-peninsula highway hasn't made any traction on the campaign trail locally. As a city builder it is always worth investigating major infrastructure projects, especially if there is potential benefits to our City, like attracting employers and residents alike. If all the employment lands around our airport get filled with employers who need to transport goods, combine that with increased traffic with the new Windsor-Detroit bridge, at the right time it may be necessary and make sense to revisit the project. |
| Green, Matthew | Yes | I support the province's decision to put the mid-pen highway on hold and support priority given to regional mass transit as a more effective way to combat congestion while preserving our agricultural Green Belt. |
| Mejia, Victor | Maybe | that's really up to province we have no say in it really |
| Omazic, Drina | No | Generally, I am not a proponent of more highways and roads however; there is a congestion problem to the Niagara Region that needs to be addressed. Any mid-peninsula proposal needs to be combined with a plan to manage and protect green belt agricultural lands. |
| Simmons, Tim | Yes | |
| Ward 04 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Merulla, Sam | Yes | At this time the hold makes sense but, we need to evaluate future trends to accommodate potential demand in a proactive manner.
|
| Moreau, Lorna | Yes | |
| Ward 05 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Brown, David | No | Absolutely not! The construction of this highway is critical to the long term prosperity of the City of Hamilton linking our airport and industry to important United States markets with access to the large Greater Toronto Area market. The Queen Elizabeth Way from Hamilton to Niagara is nearing capacity and when there is a serious accident which closes the highway, millions of dollars of goods are prevented from getting to their destination. The mid-peninsula highway would alleviate this congestion and provide a necessary alternative. |
| Storm, Larry | Yes | This is a hindrance to people of south Niagara more than anywhere else (currently). Yes it theoretically eliminates a possible future urban boundary. But I think there is opportunity here. Here we have a chance, for a while anyway to look back into the city for redevelopment of light industrial and residential areas. We can also look at the land south of the current urban boundary and encourage sustainable, local farming. We can be a major metropolitan area that can provide a significant percentage of its food locally! How amazing would that be! |
| Ward 06 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Rodrigues, Dan | No | Failing to have an alternate roadway from Fort Erie to Toronto is costing our City millions of dollars in infrastructure costs due to increased local road use from Provincial traffic. This was most prevalent during the closure of the Skyway Bridge. While Hamilton should continue to properly allocate and categorize our roadways, we should not be burdened with traffic destined for other locations other than Hamilton. Our City also requires a proper ‘through-way’ map, to eliminate unnecessary traffic on our City streets. New York City has done a great job of allocating road use maps, which allows for proper distribution of the variety of transportation modems. There is no reason why Hamilton cannot reach similar road mapping. |
| Ward 07 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Beck, Keith | Yes | I agree with the province on the mid-pen. I don't see the need for the road anytime in the near future. |
| Burghall, Greg | No | I wish we could push the mid-peninsula highway through now. Traffic congestion and safety on the QEW isn’t horrible yet, but it will be if we drag our feet any longer. We need to be proactive with these issues rather than waiting until they are unbearable. Look at the traffic problems in Toronto – we don’t want to get that far behind! |
| Ward 08 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Czerniga, Joshua Peter | No | I do not agree with the provice's decision i think it is the wrong decision because gridloc is getting worse every year and we need a better transportation in this
province . |
| Ward 09 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Conley, Doug | No | |
| Galindo, Cam | No | No. It's time to start thinking about the future. Our current highway systems are at their maximums, and with an increasing population, we need to work with the province to ensure that we build the necessary infrastructure that will be needed in the near future.
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| Marrone, Tone | Yes | theres no need for the corridor as i see it,i drive my daughter to Brock weekly,never a problem...
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| McMullen, Geraldine | No | No, I would have liked the mid-peninsula highway to be built to take the heavy truck traffic away from our streets and parkways and reduce the congestion on the Red Hill Parkway and the LINC. |
| Robbins, Marie | Maybe | This question that has come up earlier in the campaign, and frankly, I don’t think it is very honest for city councillors to be making commentary on provincial issues in this manner. When councillors (or candidates) speak to issues outside of their jurisdiction, they often do so in a manner that misleads the public into thinking that they are responsible for enacting change on issues for which they have no legal authority. I have heard municipal campaign promises as outrageous as that if elected to city council they will widen the QEW, decrease hospital wait times or even adjust federal income tax. Not only is this practice deeply cynical and a horrible abuse of the political process, it also takes away energy from areas where city councillors can actually have an impact.
With all of that said, I have not been party to the province’s decision-making process on the Mid-Peninsular highway proposal and don’t want to comment hypothetically about this bygone project. If in the future there is another provincial highway proposal that will have a strong impact on Hamilton, it should be judged based on its own merits and shortcomings with consideration for what, if anything, Hamilton City Council can do to effect the project’s direction in the best interests of its residents. |
| Rosser, Christopher | Maybe | The province is running a deficit. Putting a hold on this development might make sense. If planned properly though the economic benefits of this proposal could far outweigh the costs.
|
| Rukavina, Frank | No | We need to build the "Mid-Peninsula highway". One needs to look at the positive impact the Redhill Creek expressway has had in attracting new business. |
| Ward 10 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| DiFalco, Teresa | Yes | I am concerned with giving up green-spaces and agricultural resources. The plan could see millions of acres of prime farmland paved. I believe we need to be very thoughtful and think about this long term and from many perspectives. It is not only about moving products and people, it is also about preserving our agricultural lands. I would want to see a plan that strikes the right balance in finding environmentally responsible solutions. |
| Pearson, Maria | No | No, I support the mid-peninsula highway to divert traffic away from the very narrow stretch of the QEW that runs through Stoney Creek. The Province currently is proposing the addition of an HOV lane in each direction on an already very congested stretch of highway.
|
| Ward 12 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Bryson, K. Grace | Yes | That Mid Peninsula Highway cuts right through prime grade A farmland. This is the wrong place to build it. I agree 100% to eliminate this proposal. We need to widen Highway 403. |
| Ferguson, Lloyd | Maybe | |
| Iachelli, John F.F. | Yes | Yes, I agree with the Province's decision to put its development on hold. |
| Nicholl, Anthony | Yes | Yes. I agree that the development should be put on hold. We should focus on adding an extra lane each way on the 403 to accommodate increased traffic. |
| Ward 13 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Norton, Kevin | Yes | Regardless of anyone's desire to see projects realized the limiting factor of most is finance. That being case I support the decision made by the province in light of the fact that the economy of the province simply cannot bare the expense at the moment. Shelving a plan does not mean that when the budget is reviewed that it will not be implemented again. In reality it is very likely we will see the realization of this project in the not too distant future.
|
| Risdale, Marc Rhéal | Yes | Yes. I agree that the mid-peninsula highway should be reviewed more thoroughly and I also believe that in light of the recent closure of the Burlington Skyway due to an unfortunate accident that we think seriously about an alternative route to the QEW. As a major trade route in our region, it would be wise to look at some form of redundancy both as a safeguard against the type of closure we suffered but also as a way to ease volume on the QEW, which can be a very dangerous stretch of highway through Hamilton. |
| Scime, Danya | Yes | I would prefer to see expanded GO TRAIN and bus Service from Fort Erie/Niagara to Hamilton through to Toronto. |
| Vanderbeek, Arlene | Yes | |
| Yull, Toby | Maybe | I am not prepared to answer this as I do not know the subject well enough without doing further research. I do know that when the skyway got banged up recently and all the traffic that typically bypasses Hamilton flooded into the city, it was a brutal weekend. We do benefit from highway bypasses. |
| Ward 14 | ||
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Knowles, Steven | Yes | |
| Stewart, Scott | Maybe | I need to do more reading on the Mid-Penn Highway situation, especially as it may pass through my current property or close to it. Unfortunately, this is another Provincial initiative that takes resources and time to sift through. I believe that the Golden Horseshoe/GTHA is very entrenched in personal travel via car but more importantly, commercial transit from ports such as Hamilton, border locations in Windsor, etc., that existing highway expansion or additional highways will become needed. Based on my reading, there are various options and locations that I will want to look into further to determine how to manage such a new highway or advocate for another option. |
Response Summary (top)
| Brief Response | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 29 | 60.4% |
| No | 12 | 25.0% |
| Maybe | 7 | 14.6% |
39 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)
| Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clancy, Mike | ||
| Clark, Brad | ||
| Francis, Warrand | ||
| Iamonico, Nick | ||
| Ryerson, Phil | ||
| Tavares, Ricky | ||
| Ward 01 | ||
| Lewis, Brian | ||
| Ward 02 | ||
| Dallas, Ed | ||
| Henry, Ryan | ||
| Vail, John | ||
| Ward 03 | ||
| Anastasiou, Maria | ||
| Assadourian, Bob | ||
| Gibson, Sean | ||
| Hess, Jol | ||
| John, Eva | ||
| Kelly, Brian | ||
| Millette, Byron Wayne | ||
| Pinho, Carlos | ||
| Szajkowski, Bernie | ||
| Ward 04 | ||
| Laurie, John | ||
| Whalen, Tina | ||
| Ward 05 | ||
| Collins, Chad | ||
| Rusich, George | ||
| Ward 06 | ||
| Jackson, Tom | ||
| Olynchuk, Brad | ||
| Ward 07 | ||
| Duvall, Scott | ||
| Ward 08 | ||
| Whitehead, Terry | ||
| Ward 09 | ||
| Austin, Lee | ||
| Fiorentino, Nancy | ||
| Ward 10 | ||
| Yachetti, Luana | ||
| Ward 11 | ||
| Johnson, Brenda | ||
| Rigitano, Vincenzo | ||
| Ward 13 | ||
| Coull, Mark | ||
| Court, Rick | ||
| Mitchell, Pamela | ||
| Urquhart, Christeen | ||
| Ward 14 | ||
| Pasuta, Robert | ||
| Ward 15 | ||
| Bos, Neil | ||
| Partridge, Judi | ||
