Hamilton councillors vote down Indigenous seat proposal

Hamilton councillors have voted not to explore the addition of a new seat designated for a representative of the urban Indigenous population.

Advocates in Hamilton, led by the coalition Circle of Beads, are calling on elected officials to create a new council seat that would represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the city, a step that they said would be "extremely important" for better representation.

At council's general issues committee meeting Monday, councillors present were split on whether to explore the issue further, and with a 6-6 tie vote, the motion was therefore defeated. 

A final vote will need to be ratified at the next council meeting, this Friday. 

In a debate before the vote on Monday, councillors opposed to the motion said they were against an appointed seat for any group.

"I will not support the exploration of adding a non-elected seat," Coun. Tom Jackson told council. 

For a Hamiltonian of any background to serve on council, he said, they should run a campaign and be voted into an existing seat.

"Imagine the supreme, ultimate honour of an Indigenous person from Circle of Beads, Six Nations, Haudenosaunee, Seneca, Mohawk, Iroquois, running for elected office here in Hamilton and winning," Jackson said.

Other councillors echoed Jackson's comments before the vote. 

However, the initial proposal by the Circle of Beads, the coalition of Indigenous groups that called for the seat, did include the idea that the seat would be voted on.

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, who put forward the motion, also clarified Monday the motion did not say the position would be appointed. 

The committee was voting to request city staff report back with information and recommendations concerning a new designated Indigenous seat. 

Coun. Craig Cassar was one of multiple councillors who voted in favour of exploring the new seat. He told council that the next step was exploring how an Indigenous seat would be selected, and that could still include a vote.

"I think there are a number of us here that are jumping to conclusions," Cassar said.

"It is a very small step, asking for information," he said. "It's the least we can do under our responsibilities for truth and reconciliation."

Coun. Tammy Hwang said she is also "highly supportive" of the ask for more information to understand how the seat "may or may not fit within our governance structure." 

Advocates want better urban Indigenous representation

Circle of Beads has said they wanted the seat to be voted on by Indigenous people who live in the city.

There are about 12,500 Indigenous people living across Hamilton, who make up about two per cent of the city's population, according to 2021 census data.

They've asked for the seat multiple times in the past year. Their latest request asked council to request the province make changes to the Municipal Act to allow for an Indigenous seat, and appoint a non-voting Indigenous adviser in the meantime.

Last month, member Audrey Davis told reporters at a news conference the request aligned with the national Truth and Reconciliation Report's recommendations.

"For Indigenous people to have a recognized Indigenous voice at the city level could make life a little easier for us," she told reporters in early June. 

Davis couldn't be immediately reached for comment after Monday's vote.

NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun, a member of the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nations and Indigenous justice co-ordinator at the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, shared Davis's view. 

"It's extremely important to have an Indigenous voice and perspective at the table on all matters brought there, particularly those that have to do with the land, air and water," NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun said last month.

Hamilton would have been the first city in Canada with such a designated seat for an Indigenous representative. Halifax council is meanwhile undergoing a process to potentially create a designated Mi'kmaw seat.

How they voted 

For city staff to report back to council on the issue: Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11), Craig Cassar (Ward 12) and Alex Wilson (Ward 13), and Ted McMeekin (Ward 15).

Against: Matt Francis (Ward 5), Tom Jackson (Ward 6), Esther Pauls (Ward 7),  Jeff Beattie (Ward 10), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14) and John-Paul Danko (Ward 8).

Absent: Mayor Andrea Horwath, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3), and Brad Clark (Ward 9).