Street Advisor Consulting

City spending is on unsustainable path

2011-11-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hamilton city council has a spending problem, no doubt about it. More telling is the amount of accumulated debt, which is $355 million for 2011, and will be $745 million for 2012 and will reach $1,042 billion by 2020.

This is unsustainable, given our shrinking property tax base. This year, over 14,000 Hamiltonians are collecting social service payments and another 14,000 are collecting ODSP. This too, is unsustainable.

On top of all this, council is still in the entertainment business, that cost property tax payers millions to bail out this year, due to mistakes made by the brain trust charged with running the three entities that make up HECFI.

Obviously this is not sustainable, no matter how much tax money is poured down a black hole. Even the city council live feed hardly ever works properly, despite the vast improvements in technology we have grown used to over the last 10 years.

Having lived in Hamilton most of my adult life, I can honestly say I’m not impressed with this council, compared to all the other I have observed over the years. Hopefully other fed up taxpayers have long memories and will say so at the ballot box in 2014.

Mark-Alan Whittle
Hamilton Mountain

Put money back: City’s in cash crisis

2011-10-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

We’re a no-go for Games velo; Council’s spending cap not enough (Oct. 12)

Now that Hamilton city council has not been awarded the velodrome project for the 2015 Pan Am Games, I can only hope the $5 million set aside for the project will be returned to the Future Fund from whence it came.

Ditto for any cash as a result of selling toxic west harbour lands on the open market, as $10 million was expended buying out homeowners, thereby forcing them to move. In hindsight, this was a big mistake, given the facts of today.

Meanwhile our deficit going into 2012 is $35 million and the accumulated debt will double to $600 million by the end of the year. Hamilton has an elephant in the room nobody on council will admit exists. We have a spending problem.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

Mandatory treatment saves lives

2011-10-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

re: Crack pipe distribution

Hamilton Police operate on zero tolerance for crack cocaine. In the first six months of 2011, they arrested 101 individuals for possession of crack cocaine and 58 drug dealers for trafficking, and laid a total of 637 drug-related charges.
Judges have to start committing crack addicts to mandatory treatment as part of their sentence.
This will save lives, instead of enabling the suffering and destruction of a human being who is hooked on crack cocaine.

Mark-Alan Whittle
Hamilton Mountain

The key to stopping bullying starts at home

2011-10-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Bullying has been around since the beginning of time and I consider it a learned behavior.

I vividly recall my own experiences in elementary and secondary school. I had large ears, which other students constantly flicked from behind. In class they used pencils to flick my ears. I took this abuse for many years until I finally decided to do something about it.

I was standing by my locker when a regular tormentor tried to flick my ears, but with lightening speed I spun around and delivered a lefft upper-cut square in the eye of my tormentor. Falling to the floor to nurse a nice goose egg and black eye, my tormentor was equaled.

I quietly closed my locker and walked away. I went to the principal's office to explain what happened; I was sent home. My parents were glad I stuck up for myself.

From that moment on I was left alone and not bothered again.

That summer my parents paid for me to have plastic surgery to reduce the size of my ears and all the bandages were gone before school started in the fall.

Needless to say, my problem was solved.

The root cause of bullying starts at home, so that's where it can be solved. Parents have to ensure their children learn the true meaning of compassion and understanding of those that are different, yet equal.

Mark-Alan Whittle

Hamilton Mountain

Hamilton in the dark again

2011-09-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

After watching Hamilton council recently, I was shocked at how many councillors claimed to be left in the dark regarding the velodrome and new replacement stadium.

The new stadium will not increase the contribution of the city, unlike the proposed velodrome, which will cost four times the $5-million investment Hamilton council originally slated for the project.

Most shocking is the fact that staff has finally admitted the West Harbour lands are fully toxified, which means the soil, up to 30 feet deep, will have to be removed and trucked to an off-site soil remediation facility. There’s only one in Ontario.

The motion that passed at council also stops all expropriation activity, leaving a $10-million hole in its wake. Homeowners still living in the area are surrounded by boarded up houses infested with rats.

Nothing can be constructed there without a huge premium cost, soil remediation.

All in all, I must say it seems the senior management team at city hall, and the associated staff helping them, have been moving in their own direction regarding the Games facilities, thereby keeping the councillors and public completely in the dark.

That’s Hamilton, get used to it.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

As flood anniversary nears, much work still needed

2011-07-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

As recent as June, many basements in a Hamilton neighbourhood were flooded, some for the first time, with sewage ejected into their basements when it rained.

Two years ago I opined that rampant development may have contributed to the problem because the trunk sewer line, which this development was hooked into, may have been too small in diameter as runoff from this area overwhelmed the combined storm water/sewer system.

Since I'm a retired mechanic and not a plumber, I decided to contact city hall to get some answers. I posed the following question to a number of officials who are responsibility for, and educated in, this area: “What I would like to know is, what have we done about the root cause, a combined sewer system that can’t deal with run-off, thereby flooding basements with raw sewage?”

Here is the answer I got. Hopefully it will come true for the citizens affected.

“Currently, we have completed the design for improvements to the city's Real Time Control (RTC) Operating Strategy, utilizing flow control gates to strategically direct flow in a dynamic environment while the rain is occurring. As the RTC improvements are implemented, more runoff will be captured for treatment.”

What this means is that the city will try computer modelling to simulate a flood, and measure various ways to prevent this from happening, before any actual work begins.

“An analysis of the Lower East End Drainage System recommended a series of capital improvements to increase the level of stormwater service in problematic areas. Included in the study recommendations were Storm Relief Sewers (twinning the capacity of the existing combined sewer) as well as increasing the size of sewers in other parts of the catchment.”

In plain English, new, larger sewer system pipes need to be put into the ground.

As far as the recent flooding goes, there’s a gravity problem that will need extensive work.

Here's how the city proposes to address it. Once again, capital expenditures will be needed very soon, before next spring.

“We are currently meetings with the residents affected by the most recent rain on June 7th and 8th. Our engineering consultants have completed a series of solutions; which will be presented to a public information center.”

“We are looking ways to move runoff out of the 'sag' areas by conveying it to a safe, c o n t r o l l e d Stormwater Facility (storage). The specifics of each alternative will be shared with the public and are subject to refinement and completion of the Class Environmental Assessment. Ongoing maintenance will keep the existing system operating at its designed standard.”

Keeping my fingers crossed for the residents who have suffered and will continue to suffer until the sewer pipes are replaced in their areas.

By MARK-ALAN WHITTLE, COMMUNITY COLUMNIST

Mark-Alan Whittle is a city hall watcher and Mountain resident. July 26 marks the second anniversary of a rain storm which caused extensive flooding on the east Mountain, the Red Hill Valley Parkway and other sections of Hamilton.

Much ado about road hockey

2011-05-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Re: Let our children play, Editorial April 28

Here on my street in Hamilton, the kids play hockey and basketball on the street frequently. The odd time I may need to venture down the street in my car, I have no problem waiting while they get out of the way.

Life is way too short to get bent out of shape over my neighbour’s kids letting off a little steam, while learning to play together.

After all, only a grumpy old man or woman, who think the whole world revolves around them, would consider waiting for the road to clear a bother, something to complain about.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

Harper made my son smile

2011-04-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Re: Stephen Harper

After reading many negative comments about Prime Minister Stephen Harper in The Spectator’s letters section, I fondly recall meeting Harper and his wife Laureen a number of years ago with my disabled son Logan, who suffered from cerebral palsy.

The hall was packed and we were stuck at the back until one of Harper’s staff asked if we would like to move closer to the stage so Logan and I could hear his speech.

After the speech, as we waited to leave, the Harpers made a beeline to us and stopped for a chat. Flashbulbs popped as the prime minister bent down to Logan’s level in his wheelchair so they could communicate eye-to-eye. Harper leaned over and whispered something in Logan’s ear, which caused Logan to crack the biggest smile I’d ever seen. He giggled and become animated and excited.

Only a loving father and family man such as Harper could understand the hurdles my son faced and spending time with us to discuss it amid the hustle and bustle of an election campaign proved to Logan and me that Harper cares about disabled kids who just want a fair shake in life.

Although Logan passed away from the complications of cerebral palsy a few years ago, I will never forget the kindness and caring shown by Harper and his wife. This is the prime minister Canada needs — an honest, hard-working family man who loves all children equally.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

Spring thaw could open the floodgates

2011-02-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

We are fast approaching the spring and the eventual rainstorms that come with it.

Back in 2009, I wrote about what I considered the problem to be: massive over-development leaving almost no grass to absorb any excess rain, with all of it (runoff) running into the sewer system in the street.

It may be relevant in a month or so if nothing has been done to remedy the problem.

When all the snow melts, spring begins and the rains come, it could be Ground Hog Day for a lot of Hamilton residents if they experience sewerback- up flooding in their basements.

The question we should be asking politicians and staff, as early in 2011 as possible, is what has city hall done about it, other than paying out millions in compassionate grants to affected homeowners to pay for the installations of sewage backup valves, some of them multiple times, while not taking responsibility for the combined sewer system that caused the problem in the first place.

Presently there are hundreds or thousands of homes which still have their eavestroughs hooked up to the sewer system.

When I bought my house on the central Mountain, I had to cut them off and use a rain-barrel and direct run-off onto my front and back yards where all the grass can absorb all the rain after the snow melts.

I also had new weeping tiles installed and a sump pump system, just to be on the safe side.

Luckily my humble abode is situated on a high point of land and has a long, steep run to the sewer system.

Other than that there's not much a citizen can do, especially in low-lying areas downtown, or developed neighbourhoods with sewer mains smaller than what is required to handle run-off from all the rampant development going on here on Hamilton Mountain.

Latimer had no right to end daughter’s life

2010-12-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Re: Robert Latimer granted full parole (Nov. 30)

When my disabled son Logan was born compromised, the doctors wanted me to pull the plug. I refused and Logan lived till he was almost 10 years old, with cerebral palsy the result.
Tracy Latimer was 13 years old — with many of the same symptoms as my son Logan — when her father murdered her.
Robert Latimer had no right to decide who should live or die; only God can make that decision. As to getting help with Tracy, all he had to do was ask. That’s what I did for my son, and he lived life to the fullest.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

TheSpec - Latimer had no right to end daughter’s life

Question-and-answer session with mayor elect ends with arrogance: Bratina

2010-10-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Q: In four years, what will be the legacy of your first term as mayor?

A: The vision statement that you asked me to give you is the outcome that I hope will be my legacy — that Hamilton will have rejoined the ranks of great Canadian cities.

Q: And how are we going to be able to measure that?

A: That’s enough.

Q: You don’t want to answer any more questions?

A: No.

Q: Why not?

A: Let’s not go through this again, OK? You’re asking me how I’m going to go and do this. And then, my colleagues are going to say, “Who are you to say what we’re going to do or not? You haven’t even talked to us yet.” Don’t you understand that?"

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In association with The World According to MAW

Don’t take accommodation back to Stone Age

2010-10-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

After reading the story about wheelchair accessibility in schools, and the strange notions of Ward 7 public school trustee Lillian Orban respecting children that use them, I’m left with fond memories of the way things used to be for children with disabilities like my deceased son, Logan. He only got a fair shake because the law told the school board to accommodate Logan up to the point of hardship, something I think I’m pretty qualified to speak to, given what Logan and I accomplished at Ridgemount Public School.

During the years that Logan attended this Ward 7 school, neither one of us saw hide nor hair of trustee Orban, but accommodation and equality won the day, thanks to my advocacy and the rules and regulations the Ministry of Education demanded the school board follow.

Fast forward to today, progressive accommodation and accessibility policy seems in the offing, unless parents and voters in Ward 7 want to regress back to the Stone Age when school boards like Hamilton warehoused disabled children like cord-wood. This is completely unacceptable in this day and age of enlightenment, where all children are important, no matter their disability, they should be equal.

That’s why I’m supporting the candidacy of Marlon Picken for public school trustee in Ward 7. A young man who agrees that accommodation and equality of all students is an important principal to have, and an honourable one, in my humble opinion.

Voting is a municipal responsibility that we should all exercise at the ballot box. Please take the time to cast your ballot, so we get the government we deserve.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton Mountain
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In association with The World According to MAW

Letters to the Editor in the Toronto Sunday Sun

2010-09-12T05:30:00.001-07:00

Tracy Latimer was just like my son Logan. My wife Laurie and I did everything possible for him. Latimer deserves no mercy, IMHO.

Latimer: Show remorse

Re “Justice system needs to rethink Latimer parole restrictions” (Alan Shanoff, Sept. 5): My son Logan had cerebral palsy just like Tracey Latimer. He lived 10 years before passing away from the complications. Not once during the long hours of physical therapy, which helped tendons to relax and lessen the effects, did Logan suffer any pain. Botox injections ensured this therapy was pain-free. My wife and I changed to different shifts so one of us could be with our son 24/7, we took our jobs seriously. When Logan was old enough (two) he went to a day care with support, a worker to help him learn one-on-one. We took Logan everywhere to see the wonders of Ontario, Marineland and the African Lion Safari. All Robert Latimer has to do is show some remorse and admit it was wrong to kill his daughter. When he does that, he can be free. His debt to society will finally be paid.

Mark-Alan Whittle

Hamilton

(Thanks)

Letters to the Editor | Letters | Comment | Toronto Sun

Mountain wards hot political tickets

2010-09-10T10:30:00.001-07:00

City hall is a swamp that needs to be drained.

“I see a lot of the frustration over the last few years bubbling over into this election,” said Mark Alan-Whittle, a Ward 7 resident who ran in every municipal election this decade and finished last. He is sitting out this election. “There are a lot of residents who are angry at this stadium issue, at their taxes, and the lack of infrastructure. We could see a few changes.”

HamiltonMountainNews.com: News: Story: Mountain wards hot political tickets

Seen, heard and thought this week

2010-08-26T11:52:00.001-07:00

Things are looking up for ward seven tax-weary residents. Amen.

As of Monday, no one had stepped forward to challenge Ward 7 (central Mountain) Coun. Scott Duvall in this fall’s municipal election. Expect that to change soon, as Mark-Alan Whittle, who also ran in 2006, announced via Twitter he planned to file his papers on his birthday, Sept. 7.

HamiltonMountainNews.com: News: Story: Seen, heard and thought this week

Where are paying supporters of west harbour site?

2010-08-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of hours reading reports and anything else available to the public regarding where to build a stadium and velodrome for the Pan Am games.

I have been in constant contact with Pan Am games CEO Ian Troop, nice fellow. Open, honest and transparent, he wants what's good for the games, above all else.

I certainly understand what he means by legacy, a paying user, or group of users, like football teams or soccer teams, as the case may be.

Anyhow, having made visits to both areas to see for myself, it wasn't that hard to figure out which location will serve this community well for generations to come, one with a park, instead of a stadium.

What I really find sad, and I’m sure Ian Troop would concur, is we are losing sight of the heart and spirit of the games, why we are participating in this world class event in the first place.

I’m impressed that Mr. Troop has allowed council to carry on as they have, everyone chipping in their partisan two cents worth, instead of dealing with the fundamental principles of the Pan Am Games.

Who will be footing the bill after the games have left? Having paying tenants lined up before you build something is always a good idea.

Why has nobody (paying users) stepped forth to support Mayor Fred’s insistence on the west harbour site for a 15,000-seat stadium and Velodrome?

The Tiger-Cats, and Bob Young, have done their homework and much, much more, in preparation for the Pan Am games on the east Mountain, a pastoral setting unlike any other I’ve seen.

We have to have a Pan Am stadium on the east Mountain that pulls its own weight — only Bob Young has offered to assume this responsibility, taxpayers will not be on the hook for one thin dime.

The recent discussions about a greenfield parking lot across the street from the lobe of land proposed for the stadium structure, fails to note that two-lane on-and off-ramps spill right into the side of this property at a T-intersection. If you were to drive straight through, you would be in the east Mountain stadium parking lot. Crosswalks are already there because this section of road is four lanes wide at this point. Other arterial roads lead away from this area in every conceivable direction.

In case nobody has noticed, the Highway 20 area and Highway 6 is bustling with ongoing development of every single type — residential, commercial, the works.

This part of the Mountain is booming at an incredible pace; to call it suburbia is ridiculous.

I keep hearing how the best interests of the public will be served, I hope that includes the hopes and dreams of the 250,000 Hamilton residents who live on Hamilton Mountain and the surrounding communities who want to get behind the spirit of the games as well, not treated as second-class citizens by those living in the lower city because we support the east Mountain location.

People drive cars in huge numbers in this city. Look in any driveway on any street you pick, an average two cars or more. People also like convenience, that's why all shopping centres have huge parking lots. They are a fact of life and a reality.

I have also been doing research on parking lots and how to make them more environmentally acceptable and how to lower their carbon footprint.

I was surprised at some of the innovative ways, one I saw had a canopy of solar cells used to offset the power requirements of the stadium when in use and feeding back into the grid when the stadium was not in use, or another lot paved with non-permeable surfaces with drainage that is used to flush the toilets in the stadium.

I could go on, but you get the idea. I look forward to reading the assessment report we have all been waiting for. The sooner the better, the public has a right to know, especially a decision of this magnitude.

Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton Mountain

EMED – East Mountain Entertainment District

2010-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s my take on the Pan-Am Stadium debate, comments welcome.

HostCo rules and regulations stipulate that the Stadium must have a legacy tenant/partner, the Tiger-Cats are it. The EMED (East Mountain Entertainment District) has one, and the WHSP (West Harbour Stadium Precinct) doesn't have one.
Mayor Fred is the Architect of his own demise and should be held to account at the ballot box.
That's why Games CEO Ian Troop gave Hamilton time to get their act together with the Tiger-Cats, or lose the Stadium and track events completely, even the Velodrome is now in question. IMHO,It should be severed from either proposed location and built right downtown, near Copps Coliseum.
And any huge parking lots at the EMED could be paved with the latest permeable materials, that allow rain water to be absorbed by the ground underneath. Enviro-technology and construction have come a long way in recent years, whereas road construction has not.
All the roads that run parallel to the Linc on the Mountain provide local access to this area, as well as at least four bus routes that originate from various nodes, like Gore Park or Limeridge Mall.

But what surprises me the most is the reaction of the West Harbour supporters, none of which actually live in the area itself. Most of those people are being ignored and their rights trampled. The people affected are having their homes expropriated and their businesses destroyed are being ignored.

The bill For demolition (Rheem property) and soil remediation will dwarf councils contribution to the actual Stadium.
Remediating contaminated soil is very expensive and only one location in Ontario is allowed to do it. Millions of metric tons will have to be shipped there by truck, and will be using inner-city truck routes to get to the closest highway out of town.

• View topic - Ticats/City of Hamilton Stadium Talks Thread

Ticats to commit $74-million to stadium site

2010-07-06T15:11:00.001-07:00

Now this is what I call a real game-changer, awesome letter to council from Bob Young, the owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have responded to facilitator Michael Fenn's report on the new Pan-Am Stadium.
In a letter to Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger, Ticats owner Bob Young says the CFL club has selected the east mountain location, at the Linc and Red Hill Parkway, mentioned in Fenn's report as their preferred location.
The Tiger-Cats are committing $74-million to the proposed 2015 Pan Am Games stadium, including $15-million towards the cost of the stadium, and $10-million toward the transition costs between today and opening the new stadium.
The Ticats will also cover estimated operating costs of the new stadium at the price of $3-million over the next 10 years, totaling $30-million.
As well, the Cats are committing $14-million to bring two Grey Cup games to Hamilton as soon as possible.
To view the full letter sent from Tiger-Cats caretaker Bob Young to Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, click here.

http://www.900chml.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocalGeneral/Story.aspx?ID=1249529

Katz stadium proposal is a game-changer, undermines discussions with Tiger-Cats

2010-06-30T07:45:00.001-07:00

Talk about getting stabbed in the back or thrown under the bus.

There's good-faith negotiating and there's bad-faith negotiating.
And from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' perspective, city council's willingness to consider handing over management of the proposed Pan Am stadium to the Katz group from Edmonton falls solidly in the second camp.
According to Tiger-Cats president Scott Mitchell, the startling proposal undermines discussions with Michael Fenn, the facilitator brought in to help solve the disagreement between the club and the city over the west harbour site.
"We've acted in good faith through this process the whole time, " Mitchell said. "Obviously, things like this represent something other than good faith."

TheSpec.com - Opinions - Katz stadium proposal is a game-changer

Get convicted vandals to clean up graffiti

2010-06-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

http://thespec.com/Opinions/LettertotheEditor/article/795996

Mark-Alan Whittle
Hamilton
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 25, 2010)

Re: 'Vandalism rampage targets North End' (June 23)

After reading about the graffiti and vandalism rampage in the North End, I wonder why the principle of restorative justice isn't being applied to the sentencing of the 130 and counting vandals charged and convicted due to the vigilance of Hamilton police.

These convicted vandals should be made to clean up the public and private surfaces they defaced and abused, instead of the tax-weary residents and businesses that are the life blood of this community.

Father's Day stories at the Hamilton Spectator

2010-06-19T04:52:00.001-07:00

There are other great stories at the Spec’s web-site at the link below.

How to persevere in the face of hardship

The best lessons my father, Bert Whittle, taught me were the notions of perseverance and faith in the face of hardship, like when a mountain seems too high to climb.

During the ten short years that I had the honour and pleasure of being the dad of a disabled child named Logan, who had cerebral palsy, I drew upon these notions many times.

From the moment he was born and revived after 20 long minutes without a heartbeat, to the moment that I realized that my resuscitation efforts had failed, I knew in my heart-of-heart that I had made every sacrifice necessary to provide a better quality of life, and to level the playing field so Logan could enjoy life to the fullest.

I fondly recall the time he sang with a killer whale at Marineland or when he was the first child to answer a question using a computerized voice synthesizer in a regular classroom in a public school with the assistance of a one-on-one educational assistant, right among his peers in class.

No matter how high that mountain seemed for Logan I had faith that we would both be able to climb it because living and learning with Logan taught me just as much about life, as the notions my father instilled in me when I was growing up.

For this I am truly blessed.

— Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton

TheSpec.com - Life - Father's Day stories

Two-year-old found unconscious, taken to hospital after being revived by a Hamilton Police Officer.

2010-06-05T16:43:00.001-07:00

After reading this story I was happy and sad. Happy that a Hamilton Police Officer was able to revive this child, and sad remembering when I attempted the same life-giving exercise with my deceased son Logan when he passed away due to complications of cerebral palsy a few years ago. I hope there is a way for Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire to give this Officer a great big pat-on-the-back, or a citation for his efforts. Hero's of this sort are reflective of the caring members of the Hamilton Police Service and should be recognized publicly. Simply inspirational.

Hamilton police officer Mason Murphy gave CPR to the one and a half year old at a home on Peachwood Crescent just after 3 p.m., police said.
He revived the girl before ambulance crews arrived.
“He basically breathed life back into her,” said Acting Staff Sergeant Chris Wills.

TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Two-year-old found unconscious, taken to hospital

Embattled ombud Marin reappointed for five years

2010-06-01T13:55:00.001-07:00

This is the best news I’ve heard all day, Marin rocks!

TORONTO — Ontario’s Liberal government has backed down on its attempt to appoint a new ombudsman and has handed André Marin another five-year term.

Marin had been the subject of a smear campaign by unnamed Liberals after the government announced it wanted a new process for hiring the ombudsman and the privacy and environmental commissioners.

TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - Embattled ombud Marin reappointed for five years

Hamilton Police arrest Westdale indecent act suspect, released on a promise to appear

2010-05-26T09:33:00.001-07:00

Kudos to the Hamilton Police Service and all those who phoned in tips that resulted in an arrest.

As a direct result on tips arising from the release of the video footage of the suspect, Hamilton Police arrested a 34 yr. old Hamilton man alleged to be involved in the indecent act in Westdale. The man was released on a Promise to Appear on charges of Indecent Act, Criminal Harassment and Mischief in Relation to Property.

Investigators are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information about the recent indecent act incidents to contact Det. Oleniuk, Division One Detectives at 905-546-3818 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Update.......Hamilton Police release video footage of indecent act suspect

Dalton McGuinty wants André Marin again

2010-05-22T05:55:00.001-07:00

This is the best news I’ve heard all day. Dalton came to his senses.

Premier Dalton McGuinty is poised to back the reappointment of Ombudsman André Marin despite an apparent Liberal-orchestrated smear campaign against the government watchdog, the Star has learned.

Dalton McGuinty wants André Marin again: sources - thestar.com