Raise the Hammer

3. The priority of road and traffic design should be to promote fast movement of cars and trucks throughout the city:

Strongly disagree: 83
Disagree: 194 / 41.8%
Neither agree nor disagree: 57
Agree: 109
Strongly agree: 21


4. Road and traffic design should give priority to community and environmental concerns (such as noise, levels of social interaction, safety or pollution).

Strongly disagree: 13
Disagree: 17
Neither agree nor disagree: 25
Agree: 190 / 42.0%
Strongly agree: 202 / 44.7%
Don’t know: 5


5. Job growth and economic development should be the main focus of Council.

Strongly disagree: 19
Disagree: 73
Neither agree nor disagree: 61
Agree: 217 / 47.9%
Strongly agree: 78 / 17.2%
Don’t know: 5


6. Council's first responsibility is to ensure residents' quality of life by effectively delivering city services (such as water, sewer, public health, road & transportation, planning, emergency services).

Strongly disagree: 23
Disagree: 30
Neither agree nor disagree: 24
Agree: 246 / 54.7%
Strongly agree: 126 / 28%
Don’t know: 1


8. The City should accommodate the construction of new houses and buildings by expanding into the countryside.

Strongly disagree: 160 / 35.8
Disagree: 195 / 43.6%
Neither agree nor disagree: 32
Agree: 35
Strongly agree: 12
Don’t know: 13


9. The City's goal should be to confine growth to within the current built-up area.

Strongly disagree: 8
Disagree: 46
Neither agree nor disagree: 46
Agree: 211 / 46.2%
Strongly agree: 137 / 30%
Don’t know: 9


10. Hamilton's future well-being depends in part on being able to capitalize on the skills, energy and ideas of new immigrants, new Canadians, an other newcomers to the city.

Strongly disagree: 24 / 5%
Disagree: 63 / 14%
Neither agree nor disagree: 57 / 13%
Agree: 219 / 49%
Strongly agree: 62 / 14%
Don’t know: 21 / 5%


11. In terms of roads, bridges, sewers and water systems, the priority for City spending should be to fix, replace and improve our existing infrastructure.

Strongly disagree: 1
Disagree: 10
Neither agree nor disagree: 29
Agree: 244 / 53.9
Strongly agree: 166 / 36.6%
Don’t know: 3


12. In terms of roads, bridges, sewers and water systems, the priority for City spending should be to extend these types of infrastructure into new areas.

Strongly disagree: 87 / 19.4
Disagree: 226 / 50.4
Neither agree nor disagree: 33
Agree: 71
Strongly agree: 17
Don’t know: 14


13. In terms of the amount of money that the City spends on programs and services to assist those living in poverty, do you think that we spend too much, too little, or about the right amount?

Too much: 64
Too little: 177 / 39.6
About right: 121
Don’t know: 85


14. Do you think that programs that try to improve the conditions of people living in poverty make things better, make tings worse, or have no real impact either way?

Make better: 268 / 59.6%
Make worse: 49
No Impact: 86
Don’t know: 47


15. It costs approximately $10,000 per year to maintain each lane of every kilometre of road. Should developers who build in new areas be charged fees that cover the future costs of servicing and maintaining the roads in those areas?

Yes: 302 / 67.7%
No: 75
Don’t know: 51
Prefer not to answer: 18


16. The City of Hamilton should promote public transit by spending more money to expand service and purchase better equipment, even if this means a tax increase or diverting money from other programs.

Strongly disagree: 28
Disagree: 116
Neither agree nor disagree: 37
Agree: 178 / 39.9%
Strongly agree: 46
Don’t know: 41


17. The City should try to reduce provincial health care costs by spending money on programs, facilities and community spaces that encourage physical activity.

Strongly disagree: 13
Disagree: 43
Neither agree nor disagree: 33
Agree: 231 / 51.6%
Strongly agree: 115/25.7%
Don’t know: 13


18. Farmland around the city should be preserved.

Strongly disagree: 1
Disagree: 19
Neither agree nor disagree: 37
Agree: 205 / 43.8%
Strongly agree: 191/40.8%
Don’t know: 15


19. I usually feel safe in the neighbourhood where I live and in my daily movements throughout Hamilton.

Strongly disagree: 14
Disagree: 38
Neither agree nor disagree: 16
Agree: 311 / 65.8%
Strongly agree: 89/18.8%
Don’t know: 5


20. Candidates for city council and mayor should continue to be allowed to accept campaign donations from businesses and labour groups like they do from private citizens.

Strongly disagree: 94
Disagree: 104
Neither agree nor disagree: 46
Agree: 142 / 31.1%
Strongly agree: 28
Don’t know: 42


21. City employees adequately reflect the diversity of the population that they serve.

Strongly disagree: 50
Disagree: 87
Neither agree nor disagree: 43
Agree: 81
Strongly agree: 13
Don’t know: 153 / 35.8%


22. Select the statement that matches most closely your view of the role of a city councillor.

Decisions on behalf: 83
Decisions by consultation: 335 / 75.3%
Prefer not to answer: 27


23. The populations of the 15 city wards are different. In one ward, a councillor represents 15,000 residents. In another ward, a single councillor represents more that 55,000 residents. Should the ward boundaries be redrawn so that each councillor represents an equal number of residents?

Yes: 222 / 51.7%
No: 123
Don't know: 68
Prefer not to answer: 16


24. I think it is important to walk, bike, or use public transit whenever possible.

Strongly disagree: 4
Disagree: 45
Neither agree nor disagree: 54
Agree: 210 / 51.1%
Strongly agree: 96 / 23.4%
Don’t know: 2


26. For how many years have you lived in Hamilton?

Less than one year: 5
1 to 3 years: 32
4 to 10 years: 82
10 to 20 years: 93
20+ years: 241 / 53.2%


27. What level of education have you completed? (Select one)

Some high school: 37
High school: 95
Some college or university: 83
College or university: 139 / 32.0%
Trade/vocational school: 40
Grad/professional degree: 41


28. Besides affordability, please indicate how important the following factors are when choosing where you live:

a) Size and Space
Not very important: 85
Important: 259 / 59.3%
Very important: 89 / 20.4%
Don't know: 4

b) Close to Schools and Work
Not very important: 115
Important: 179 / 42.8%
Very important: 121 / 28.9%
Don't know: 3

c) Near Shops and Services
Not very important: 64
Important: 171 / 45.7%
Very important: 139 / 37.2%
Don't know: 0

d) Quiet and Privacy
Not very important: 38
Important: 199 / 45.4%
Very important: 200 / 45.7%
Don't know: 1

e) Close to Friends and Family
Not very important: 66
Important: 252 / 59.3%
Very important: 103 / 24.2%
Don't know: 4


29. a)Transit Services: Taxation to support the HSR bus system should be collected equally for all parts of the city that have some bus service, even if the frequency of service is less in some areas than in others.

Strongly disagree: 27
Disagree: 92
Neither agree nor disagree: 24
Agree: 220 / 48.2%
Strongly agree: 53
Don’t know: 40

29. b) Culture and Recreation: Taxation to support culture and recreation programs and facilities should be collected equally for all parts of the city, even if the same programs and facilities aren't located in every part of the city.

Strongly disagree: 22
Disagree: 94
Neither agree nor disagree: 11
Agree: 206 / 46.1%
Strongly agree: 75
Don’t know: 39


31. Does your household rent or own the home you live in?
Rent: 63
Own: 363 / 81.0%
Prefer not to answer: 22


32. How old are you?
18 to 25: 10
26-35: 39
36-45: 129 / 30.4%
46-55: 95
56-65: 89
65+: 62


33. To be eligible to vote in a city election, you must be 18 years of age or older, a Canadian citizen, reside in Hamilton or be an owner or tenant of property here, or be the spouse of an owner or tenant. In 2006, were you eligible to vote in the city election?

Yes: 329 / 87.3%
No: 34
Prefer not to answer: 14


34. If you didn't vote in the 2006 city election, why not? (select all that apply)
I wasn't eligible: 20
I didn't have time: 29
I wasn't familiar with candidates: 31 / 29.2%
Didn't understand what gov't does: 1
City gov't isn't important to me: 7
Didn't think my vote made a difference: 9
Other: 9


35. Will you be eligible to vote in the 2010 city election?

Yes: 415 / 93.3%
No: 22
Prefer not to answer: 8


36. If you will be eligible, do you intend to vote in the city election on October 25, 2010?

Yes: 318 / 86.2%
No: 39
Prefer not to answer: 22