Scarlett Gillespie

Gillespie centres her platform on affordable housing, tenant protections and community-led safety.

• As mayor would prioritize community-led safety initiatives, affordable housing, and a thriving arts sector.
• Has fought for tenant protections and infrastructure maintenance at CityHousing Hamilton.
• Platform priorities include housing, tenant protections, climate justice, transparency at city hall, community-led initiatives and strengthening the arts sector.

Confidence:High

Cut pragmatic spending; scrutinize procurement, consultants and cost overruns for measurable outcomes.

• Publish clearer performance and spending information
• Scrutinize procurement, consultants and cost overruns

Confidence:High

Gillespie: police can't be the only response to emergencies; invest in community-led crisis response and prevention instead.

• Strengthen community-based crisis response and prevention programs.
• Expand violence interruption and youth support initiatives.
• Expand access to mental health, addiction and housing supports.

Confidence:High

Fully implement HSR Next and improve sidewalks and active transportation.

• Fully implement HSR Next
• Improve sidewalks and active transportation

Confidence:High

Build an accountable, affordable city hall with clearer budgets and project oversight.

• Clearer budgets and local procurement
• Measurable outcomes and core infrastructure maintenance

Confidence:High

Gillespie: infrastructure must be safe, accessible and maintained year-round — sidewalks, crossings, snow clearing, potholes.

• Improve sidewalk repair and maintenance timelines.
• Prioritise accessible pathways, curb cuts, crossings and public spaces.
• Strengthen snow and ice removal standards for sidewalks, bus stops and pedestrian routes.
• Improve road maintenance and pothole response times.

Confidence:High

Gillespie advocates for climate justice and transparency in local government.

• Advocates for climate justice as part of her platform.
• Links climate advocacy with transparency in local government.

Confidence:High

Gillespie would treat arts as civic infrastructure, review the City Enrichment Fund for inflation, and protect affordable cultural space.

• Calls arts and culture 'essential civic infrastructure,' part of economic development, downtown revitalization, neighbourhood planning and community wellbeing - not an optional expense.
• Would request a comprehensive early-term review of the City Enrichment Fund with artists and sector representatives, supporting inflationary adjustments and sustainable supplementary revenues (including Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues).
• Would create a citywide inventory of at-risk cultural spaces including underused city-owned properties, review municipal venue rental rates, and explore long-term affordable leases and shared cultural hubs.
• Would establish a regular ongoing arts-and-culture roundtable with HACC, independent artists and grassroots organizations, with early consultation before major decisions and public reporting of what was heard.

Confidence:High