John Best

A proposal to remove restrictions on the number and location of residential care facilities in Hamilton will be decided at the next full Hamilton Council meeting. Staff presented a report to Planning Committee that would have seen all of the current restriction on the number and distancing of such facilities from similar ones removed. While part of the discussion took place in closed session it appears from some comments during the debate that staff had concerns that the current policy might be in violation of human rights legislation among other issues.

Members of the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) 2 District Risk Mitigation Team (RMT) have arrested a man following a complex internal theft investigation involving a local aerospace company in Oakville.

A man has been charged with Arson after an early morning house fire that involved about a dozen pieces of fire equipment from several Hamilton Fire stations. Hamilton Police and Hamilton Fire responded to a residential fire in the Landsdale neighbourhood at approximately 4:40 a.m. Friday. Emergency crews were dispatched after multiple 9-1-1 callers reported hearing several explosions and observing heavy smoke coming from a third-floor attic apartment. The fire was being treated as suspicious. As a result of the investigation, a 35-year-old Hamilton man was arrested and charged with several arson-related charges. Investigators have applied for a Criminal Code search warrant to examine the residence and gather additional evidence related to the offences. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

Trying to keep as much traffic movement while sewer work along Garner Road was underway has simply not worked. So now Garner Road will be closed to through traffic between Southcote Road and Glancaster Road beginning July 13 while the City completes critical sewer repairs. A full road closure will be in place between Springbrook […]

A 24-year-old has been arrested and charged by the Hamilton Police Service Sex Crimes Unit, with sexual assault, sexual interference and luring a child under the age of 16. Joshua King Mcrea, 24, was arrested earlier today. Police believe the accused used social media platforms to communicate with and meet young people. Police recognize that […]

Since the beginning of 2026, multiple copper thefts have been reported to police in Milton and Halton Hills. These incidents involve telecommunications lines being cut down and copper cable being stolen from utility poles. The stolen copper is then sold for cash at scrap yards. Each theft results in significant damage, costly repairs, and service outages for rural residents. Now Halton Regional Police have made an arrest and laid multiple charges following an investigation into a series of copper thefts in Milton and Halton Hills.

When presenting to council and committees, Grace Mater, General Manager of Healthy and Safe Communities is always unflappable, but one wonders what she thinks privately of Hafeez Hussein, a frequent delegate and correspondent to council. Hussein, who has an MBA and a Bachelor of Commerce, in addition to several other certifications, has extensive experience in the insurance industry. He is an expert in actuarial analysis and risk assessment and right now he is making life miserable for the Ontario Works division of Mater's portfolio.

Hamilton Police are reporting a home invasion that took place in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday. Police say shortly after 04:00am, Hamilton Police were called to the area of Rymal Road East and Arrowhead Drive. Upon arrival, officers learned that three masked men forced their way into a unit of 565 Rymal Road East. One suspect was armed with a firearm. Once inside, they demanded money from the residents. Police believe the act was targeted.

There may be some empty seats around the horseshoe at a special meeting of Hamilton City Council has been called by Mayor Horwath to hear expert speakers on AI Centres. The Bay Observer has learned that a number of councillors will boycott the meeting which comes a day before Council is to vote on a Committee of Adjustment ruling to impose a one-year moratorium on the approval of AI centres in Hamilton. Billed as an education and training session, speakers include Dr. Martin Karsten, University of Waterloo; Dr. Michael Schull, Chief Executive Officer, The Digital Research Alliance of Canada, the organization proposing a possible site on the former Stelco site, Dr. Gianni Parise, PhD, Vice-President (Research), McMaster University; Dr. Matthew S. Miller, PhD, Executive Director, NexusHealth; and Michael G. DeGroote, Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University.

Unless it's based on out-of-date data, a risk analysis presented to Hamilton Board of Health is suggesting not much has improved since the Board was revamped last year to include more equity-seeking voices. Notwithstanding that revamp, the report, presented at the last meeting of the board, rated as “high” that there is a “decrease in public and stakeholder trust and understanding of Hamilton Public Health and its services.”