OPINION: Election 2026 is the time to build

The last municipal election saw just over 35 per cent of eligible Hamiltonians vote. We must do better this time because this city needs to deliver on its potential.  

October 2026 will define Hamilton’s next chapter.

We are entering a municipal election that will shape how our city grows, competes, and supports its residents and businesses for years to come.

A better future will not happen by chance. It requires an engaged community that advocates for meaningful change and helps shape the decisions that matter.

In 2022, just 35.38 per cent of Hamiltonians voted. In a city of more than 400,000 eligible voters, fewer than four in 10 people chose the leadership that shapes our economy, our neighbourhoods, and our daily lives.

That is a statistic of disengagement, and of missed opportunity.

To achieve its potential, our city requires more from all of us. Not just attention, but engagement. Not just opinions, but participation. Because the context facing Hamilton today is very different than it was during the last election.

Four years ago, we were emerging from a pandemic, focused on recovery. Today, we are navigating a more complex reality – economic uncertainty, affordability pressures, and a local economy that is resilient, but constrained.

Hamilton is a city with extraordinary fundamentals: a strategic location, world-class institutions, and generational investments underway – from transit to a reimagined downtown. 

The next phase of our growth will not be defined by vision alone. It will be defined by execution.

That is why this election matters. The next four years will not be defined by what we plan – but by what we deliver.

At the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, we believe the agenda for the next council must be rooted in growth – not as an abstract idea, but as a practical commitment to improving the daily lives of all Hamiltonians.

It starts with safe, healthy communities. Public safety and social stability are the foundation of confidence. When people feel safe – at work, at home, and in our downtown – they participate fully in city life. When they don’t, opportunity leaves.

It continues with housing that supports opportunity. Hamilton must deliver attainable, family-friendly housing close to jobs and transit. Without it, we will struggle to attract and retain the workforce our economy depends on.

It requires a renewed focus on business competitiveness. A growing city must make it easier to invest, build, and innovate. That means streamlined processes, predictable timelines, and a city hall that works with – not against – those creating opportunity.

It also depends on modern, reliable infrastructure. Transit, roads, digital connectivity, and energy systems are the backbone of a functioning city. As Hamilton grows, our infrastructure must keep pace.

Together, these priorities define a simple outcome: a stronger Hamilton for everyone.

But how we pursue those objectives matters.

Across our country – and here at home – we are seeing a decline in civility in public life. Fewer people are willing to step forward into leadership because of the tone and environment surrounding public discourse.

That should concern all of us.

Respect is not a nicety. It is a necessity.

Building on the leadership of the elected women in Halton, the Chamber is adapting its own Elect Respect campaign for this municipal election – because a healthy democracy depends on the ability to debate ideas vigorously while treating one another with dignity.

With a pipeline of transformational projects, Hamilton is building momentum. We are seeing progress. We are attracting investment. There is a growing belief that our city is on the cusp of something significant.

But momentum is fragile.

It requires leadership that is focused, pragmatic, and willing to make difficult decisions – decisions that balance today’s challenges with tomorrow’s opportunity.

And it requires a community that shows up.

This election is our opportunity to shape what comes next: to move from strategy to momentum, to build a city that is safer, more affordable, and more competitive.

Because the Hamilton we build next will not be shaped by circumstance – but by participation, leadership, and the choices we make together.

Greg Dunnettis president and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. He will be contributing to each issue of HAMILTON CITY Magazine.