Moving Hamilton Health Sciences jobs

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A plan to move 350 Hamilton Health Sciences administrative jobs from Hamilton Mountain to the downtown core has generated heated debate among city councillors.

Coucillors were asked to approve a $700 000 city loan to HHS to make renovations for the office move. The money comes from a city program meant as incentive for companies to move to vacant business space in the core.

Supporters of the loan cheered at the chance to get 350 well-paid jobs downtown. but, councillor Terry Whitehead said he felt the move was “ripping and raping” jobs from his ward on the mountain.

Whitehead later posted a statement on Twitter that he did not mean for his language to be disrespectful to survivors of sexual assault.

In the end, council approved the forgivable grant to HHS, but capped it at $450 000.