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Andrea Horwath

Candidate for Mayor

In their own words

andrea4hamilton.ca — Andrea Horwath’s campaign website, opens in a new tab

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 16 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Housing

Will I be able to afford to live here?

Horwath says she is building more housing, attracting investment and securing senior-government support.

  • Says 'We are building Hamilton: building more housing, attracting investment and finally securing the support from other levels of government our city deserves.'
  • Is running for re-election to 'build on that momentum,' citing knowledge of the job and a record of results.
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
“We are building Hamilton: building more housing, attracting investment and finally securing the support from other levels of government our city deserves.”

Source: Municipal Election Candidate Profiles - North End Breezes (candidate-submitted profile) · October 17, 2026

Confidence:High

Taxes & spending

What happens to my tax bill, and where does the money go?

Horwath proposed a 4.25% 2026 tax increase, framed as holding the line on affordability while funding roads, infrastructure and transit.

  • Set a proposed 2026 tax budget increase of 4.25%, framed as 'holding the line on affordability.'
  • Says the budget focuses on fixing roads, renewing aging infrastructure, investing in transit and supporting community safety.
  • Says the city must work smarter, find efficiencies and ensure tax dollars are used wisely.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“holding the line on affordability by setting a proposed increase of 4.25%”

Source: Statement from Mayor Regarding the 2026 Proposed Tax Budget | City of Hamilton · October 17, 2026

Confidence:High

Emergency services

When I call for help, will it come fast enough?

Horwath: downtown safety beyond policing — Jackson Square substation, more patrols, a behaviour code, cleaner streets.

  • Downtown safety plan includes a Jackson Square police substation and increased downtown patrols.
  • A downtown code of behaviour setting shared expectations, plus stepped-up cleaning and maintenance.
  • Neighbourhood watch and seniors watch programs so communities look out for each other.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“Policing is not the only solution. There are other solutions, including things like neighbourhood watch programs, things like seniors watch programs, things like us helping to connect people in community so people feel more part of a community and so people are having eyes on each other and eyes on the neighbourhood.”

Source: The Public Record: The 155 Podcast transcript — Andrea Horwath · October 8, 2026

Confidence:High

Transit

Can I get where I need to go without driving?

Horwath says she is making transit more affordable and moving forward with the LRT.

  • Make transit more affordable
  • Move forward with the LRT while improving transit options citywide
Show their words & source (a page or more)
“We're making transit more affordable, moving forward with the LRT while improving transit options across our city”

Source: Andrea Horwath for Hamilton

Confidence:High

Government

Will decisions be made in the open, and will anyone answer for them?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Horwath says she is making City Hall more responsive for people and businesses.

  • Make City Hall more responsive for people and businesses
“We're also making City Hall more responsive for people and businesses.”

(a page or more)

Source: Andrea Horwath for Hamilton

Confidence:High

Horwath: tell the public right away even without full information, and keep expanding open data and dashboards.

  • Tell the public right away when something goes wrong, even before all the facts are known.
  • Keep expanding open data and public dashboards so residents can follow city performance.
  • City information should be accessible in the ways residents can actually use it.
“We're going to tell the public right away and let them know that we don't have all the information. But as we get the information, we're going to give it to them.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: The 155 Podcast transcript — Andrea Horwath · October 8, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Horwath: $106M more for roads and sidewalks, with shorter resurfacing timelines so deterioration doesn't compound.

  • A $106-million increase for roads and sidewalks in the past budget.
  • Roads are also a safety issue for people walking, cycling and driving.
  • Collapse the timelines between resurfacing so deterioration does not compound over freeze-thaw seasons.
“This past budget, we bumped up the attention to roads and sidewalks particularly, I believe $106-million increase in the addressing of that infrastructure particularly.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: The 155 Podcast transcript — Andrea Horwath · October 8, 2026

Confidence:High

Horwath cites investment in roads, bridges and infrastructure across every neighbourhood.

  • Invest in roads, bridges and infrastructure in every neighbourhood
“We're investing in roads, bridges, and infrastructure across every neighbourhood.”

(a page or more)

Source: Andrea Horwath for Hamilton

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Horwath is running on a seven-point tariff response plan and downtown revitalization, citing the $300M TD Coliseum deal.

  • Named fighting Trump tariffs a top platform priority: she put out a seven-point plan and circulated a motion to council (passed unanimously) to protect Hamilton businesses, workers and community.
  • Named downtown revitalization another top plank, calling downtown 'the front door' and 'heartbeat' of the city.
  • Cited getting the TD Coliseum deal over the finish line, growing its investment from $50M to $300M.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“One of the platform priorities I have is fighting against the Trump tariffs.”

Source: FULL TRANSCRIPT: Hamilton Mayoral Candidate Andrea Horwath Answers 20 Detailed Questions on The 155 Podcast - TPR Hamilton · October 10, 2026

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Backs the proposed not-for-profit public AI data centre: sovereign data, brownfield reuse, closed-loop cooling.

  • Not-for-profit public data centre keeping sovereign data in Canada
  • Brownfield reuse, existing power, closed-loop cooling
Show their words & source (a few sentences)
““Hamilton’s AI data centre story is not the American story. What we have in front of us is an opportunity for a not-for-profit, public data centre that keeps Canada’s sovereign data in Canada and gives our scientists, researchers, colleges and universities reliable access to the computing power they need for serious work like cancer and climate modelling.”

Source: Mayoral data centres (CBC Hamilton Q&A) · September 25, 2026

Confidence:High

Healthcare

Will there be a doctor and a hospital when we need one?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Growth & development

How fast should we grow, and who decides what gets built where?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Social & community services

Who looks after the most vulnerable residents?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Active transportation

Can I walk and bike safely around town?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Arts & culture

Does the candidate value what makes this place feel alive?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Data centres

Should energy-hungry data centres be welcomed here?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Water & waste

Is our drinking water safe and our waste handled?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Bylaw enforcement

Are the rules fair, and are they actually enforced?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

Candidates and members of the public can both report a correction. Every one is logged and answered, and corrections about a candidate’s own positions get priority.

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