News
March 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
Hamilton leaders join together urging Feds to locate Southern Ontario Development Agency in Hamilton Hamilton, ON – Mayor Fred Eisenberger and local members of federal and provincial parliament joined together this past weekend for an emergency meeting to map out a strategy to help deal with the economic downturn and its most recent effects on the people of Hamilton.
The Mayor and local parliamentarians have been meeting on a regular basis quarterly to discuss Hamilton issues, but with news of the idling of operations at US Steel Canada plants in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Mayor Eisenberger convened an emergency meeting of the Hamilton caucus to formulate an action strategy to help Hamilton deal with the local economic situation. “In true leadership style, local politicians left their party affiliations at the door early on Saturday morning in favour of working together in a non-partisan manner on solutions to help navigate Hamilton through the current economic climate,” says Mayor Eisenberger. “These meetings are the basis of sound, strategic suggestions and often form the basis for good, public policy.”
Issues discussed included income sustainability for families in Hamilton affected by job losses or layoffs; the challenges Hamilton faces under the current infrastructure investment formula; and most notably, a joint call to the Government of Canada to give serious consideration to Mayor Eisenberger’s request to locate the newly announced Southern Ontario Development Agency (SODA) within the City of Hamilton. “As southern Ontario’s oldest industrial and manufacturing hub, Hamilton is the ideal location for the new agency,” says David Sweet, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. “Considering the rich industrial history within the Golden Horseshoe, it makes perfect sense to establish SODA in Hamilton,” says Hamilton Centre MP David Christopherson. Minister Ted McMeekin (MPP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) agrees. “Locating SODA in the City of Hamilton will help workers, communities and businesses all across southern Ontario take advantage of new opportunities as economic growth recovers in Canada and around the world.”
A letter signed jointly by all local members of federal and provincial parliament and the mayor will be sent to the Government of Canada in support of locating SODA in Hamilton. “I am pleased that we are working together for Hamilton’s common good,” Mayor Eisenberger says. “It is my hope that we will continue to focus on what unites us as we move ahead with efforts to deal with all issues particularly, the current economic crisis, in a manner that will benefit our entire community.”
The Hamilton Caucus is made up of the following members:
Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton
Honourable Ted McMeekin, MPP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
Ontario Minister of Government Services
Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP Hamilton Mountain
David Sweet, MP Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
Dean Allison, MP Niagara West-Glanbrook
Tim Hudak, MPP Niagara West-Glanbrook
David Christopherson, MP Hamilton Centre
Chris Charlton, MP Hamilton Mountain
Wayne Marston,MP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Andrea Horwath, MPP Hamilton Centre & Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party Paul Miller, MPP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
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Contact:
Sofia Mavumba
Mayor’s Office
905-546-4106
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