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Keanin Loomis

Candidate for Mayor

Elected (official result)

In their own words

voteloomis.ca — Keanin Loomis’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?

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

Loomis: measure success by moving downtown's 200–300 unhoused people into housing, project by project — housing is health care.

  • His first KPI would be the number of unhoused people on downtown streets.
  • Focus on the roughly 200 to 300 people in the city's core.
  • Transition them into housing project by project.
“So how do we, project by project, transition those folks into housing? Housing is health care, and that is the group of people that need it first.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: The 155 Podcast transcript — Keanin Loomis · October 8, 2026

Confidence:High

Loomis: City Hall shouldn't be Hamilton's housing provider; it should create conditions for homes to be built and preserved.

  • Faster, more predictable approvals with clearer service standards and fewer unnecessary costs and delays.
  • Preserve and reinvest in the rental housing Hamilton already has.
  • Responsible housing providers and tenants get a seat at the table on rental policy.
“I don't believe that City Hall's job is to try to become Hamilton's housing provider. Its job is to create the conditions for housing to be built, preserved, and improved, and to work with the private and not-for-profit partners, all of you, who can deliver it.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: Loomis remarks to the Hamilton District Apartment Association · September 9, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Taxes & spending

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

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

Loomis: rebuild every department budget from zero — zero-based budgeting to control spending and keep tax hikes as low as possible.

  • Zero-based budgeting across his first term: every department rebuilds its budget from zero.
  • Every dollar must be justified, rather than rolling the previous year's budget forward.
  • Goal is to control spending and keep tax increases as low as possible while protecting core services.
“Looking at every single service we deliver over the course of my first term and forcing every department to start its budgeting not from the previous year's budget but from zero, building it up from there and having to justify every single dollar spent in rebuilding that budget.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: The 155 Podcast transcript — Keanin Loomis · October 8, 2026

Confidence:High

Get city hall working and taxes under control; residents pay more and get less.

  • Launch city hall turnaround review
  • Introduce zero-based budgeting for city services
“Hamiltonians are paying more and too often getting less. That's not sustainable.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Mayoral priorities (CBC Hamilton Q&A) · September 24, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Emergency services

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

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

Loomis makes safety his number-one SMART Plan plank with a coordinated downtown response.

  • His SMART Plan stands for Safety, Mobility, Accountability, Responsive Government and Taxpayer Respect.
  • Safety is the number-one plank: says residents across the community lack confidence in Hamilton's future because of what is playing out on downtown streets.
  • First-100-day agenda: hire the next city manager, pass the first budget, and make an appreciable impact downtown - particularly on homelessness - via a far more coordinated response to homelessness, mental health and public disorder.
“There's a reason why safety is number one.”

(reported remarks)

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

Confidence:High

Loomis's Safe Public Spaces plan: clear safety standards, faster hazard response, safer routes linking schools, parks and rec centres.

  • Set clear safety standards for public spaces.
  • Respond faster to hazards.
  • Create safer routes connecting schools, parks and recreation centres.
“We will set clear safety standards, respond faster to hazards, and create safer routes connecting our schools, parks, and our recreation centres.”

(reported remarks)

Source: The Public Record: Loomis remarks to the Hamilton District Apartment Association · September 9, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Transit

Can I get where I need to go without driving?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Government

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

Loomis's 100-day agenda starts with hiring the city manager and passing a budget.

  • Top items of his first 100-day agenda: hire the next city manager (calls it the most important and first decision), get the first budget passed, and make an appreciable downtown impact on homelessness.
  • Says he cannot yet say what the tax rate will be because he would 'inherit your mess' from the current administration.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“First, hire the next city manager, because that's the most important decision I will make and the very first decision I need to make.”

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

Confidence:High

Roads & infrastructure

Will the things I use every day actually get fixed?

Loomis would coordinate infrastructure work via 'Dig Once Hamilton' and add a rural infrastructure strategy.

  • 'Getting Hamilton Moving Again': every Hamiltonian should get where they need to go safely, reliably and efficiently.
  • Would introduce 'Dig Once Hamilton,' a city-wide approach to coordinate infrastructure work, reduce disruption and get better value from road investments.
  • Would introduce a Rural Hamilton Infrastructure Strategy for rural roads, bridges, culverts and drainage, prioritized by safety, condition and community needs.
  • Would launch 'Routes to Opportunity' to improve connections between HSR, LRT and GO and address transportation gaps for residents facing barriers.
Show their words & source (a page or more)
“As mayor, Keanin Loomis will introduce Dig Once Hamilton, a city-wide approach to coordinate infrastructure work, reduce disruption and ensure Hamilton gets better value from every road and infrastructure investment.”

Source: Keanin Loomis for Mayor - Mobility (SMART Plan) · October 17, 2026

Confidence:High

Economy

Will our main streets and local jobs thrive?

Build conditions for economic growth: investment, jobs and a stronger assessment base.

  • Coordinate infrastructure and keep Hamilton moving
  • Strengthen industrial assessment base to ease residential taxes
Show their words & source (one sentence)
“keeping Hamilton moving, coordinating infrastructure and building the conditions for economic growth.”

Source: Mayoral priorities (CBC Hamilton Q&A) · September 24, 2026

Confidence:High

Environment

Is the candidate protecting the nature we live in?

Loomis pledged to oppose AI data centres lacking stringent, enforceable regulations.

  • At the televised debate, when challenged by Gillespie on AI data centres, Loomis answered 'yes, absolutely' to opposing any data centre without appropriately stringent and enforceable regulations.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“yes, absolutely”

Source: Summary and Replay: Hamilton's Televised Mayoral Debate 2026 - TPR Hamilton · October 9, 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?

Loomis would grow the City Enrichment Fund with demand and pilot 'meanwhile leases' for vacant spaces.

  • Calls arts and culture 'one of Hamilton's biggest competitive advantages' and an integral part of his economic development strategy.
  • Would commit to reviewing and strengthening the City Enrichment Fund in collaboration with the sector, growing it alongside demand once finances are back on track.
  • Would explore a 'meanwhile lease' approach letting artists temporarily use vacant spaces, and cut City Hall fees, red tape and permit delays for cultural venues.
  • As mayor would keep a direct line to artists and organizations, work with HACC as the city-wide convening body, and bring the sector in early on funding, cultural space and downtown planning.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“I see arts and culture as an integral part of Hamilton's economic development strategy.”

Source: CANDIDATE SURVEY: HAMILTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2026 - Hamilton City Magazine (Hamilton Arts Council survey) · September 23, 2026

Confidence:High

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?

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