Motion calls for end to free lunches for Hamilton councillors

You may be surprised to learn that Hamilton city councillors and some senior staff get free lunches while attending certain meetings at City Hall. But at least one city councillor is saying that needs to end.

Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark put forward a motion yesterday to end the program that gives them free meals during meetings.

Coun. Clark says city councillors in Hamilton make enough money — $108,000 a year. And he says they can bring their own lunches like many others do.

“Bottom line, councillors and senior leadership teams are making six figures, and they are getting a paid lunch or dinner,” said Coun. Clark.

Right now, Hamilton councillors and some senior staff, while attending committee and council meetings, get free food catered in, costing tax payers just under $26,000 a year. But Friday, Coun. Clark put forward a motion to end that funding.

“We have 9,000 employees at the City of Hamilton, they have all figured out how to bring their lunch or buy a lunch and get back in time to continue their job. Surely the councillors and senior leadership team can do the same thing,” said Coun. Clark.

“I make enough money to pay for my own lunch, which I think is the most important part. If councillors want to carry on doing this kind of thing, then go ahead and do it. Have it get taken out of your pay,” said Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch.

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Other municipalities in Ontario have already slashed free food for councillors, according to McMaster political science professor Peter Graefe.

“A number of cities used to do this. But we saw maybe 10-15 years ago, places like Ottawa, Toronto and Guelph backed away from it. The argument that ultimately these elected representatives could bring their own lunches and that it was an unnecessary expense. So I think Hamilton ends up as being a bit of an outlier because it hasn’t moved where other places have,” said Graefe.

So what do tax payers in Hamilton think?

“I think they should pay for their own. I bring a lunch every day,” said one man.

“I don’t get free meals at work. I think you got to pack a lunch,” said one woman.

“I think it makes sense, to a degree, as long as it’s controlled. I work in the public sector myself so I understand, we are working on the tax payer’s dollars. But I think anytime you bring people together during what would normally be their lunch period and they’re there together, I think it should be provided by the business, which in this case would be Hamilton,” said another man.

Coun. Clark’s motion was deferred by the mayor for a later date so staff can report back to council with more information and potential impacts.

“So let’s just make this decision with all of the information because if we do go to a different regime, I think we do need to think about the cost of the impacts of having longer breaks or more regimented breaks. I think we just need to have that information,” said Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath.

Council will vote on this next Friday after hearing from staff.

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