The Chin Podcast

Ward 8 Councillor Rob Cooper was first to file for Mayor of Hamilton on May 1, 2026. In this full Chin Podcast interview he explains why he is running, what he saw at City Hall, and his plan to cap taxes at inflation, tackle violent crime, fix roads, and confront homelessness before the October 26, 2026 municipal election.

Your Hamilton. Your Voice. Your Future.

Cooper is a lifelong Hamiltonian, CPA, MBA, and executive who has led turnarounds at multi-billion-dollar organizations including Stelco, TD Bank, and McMaster University. He argues Hamilton has a spending problem, not a revenue problem — 23% property tax increases, no full city audit since 2022, roads done twice, and violent crime and street homelessness at levels he says the city has never seen.

We cover strong mayor powers, the rain tax, vacant unit tax, procurement waste, LRT, Rymal Road, downtown safety, gangs and drugs, service levels, and how he would work with council if elected.

📌 Rob Cooper for Mayor

Website: https://voterobcooper.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-cooper-for-mayor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61589044748230/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voterobcooper/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@voterobcooper

X: https://x.com/VoteRobCooper

Contact / lawn signs: https://voterobcooper.com/contact-rob/

⏱️ CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro — first to file for mayor on May 1

1:31 Has he filed his nomination papers?

3:45 Why run for mayor after less than a year on council?

6:48 Strong mayor powers and how they are used

8:28 Rain tax, farmers, and who City Hall listens to

12:11 3.87% election-year tax hike and 30% over four years

14:36 Business background: CPA, Stelco, TD, McMaster

19:00 What people misunderstand about Rob Cooper

22:42 What Hamilton looks like after four years

29:12 Top problems City Hall is getting wrong

37:06 Good government, transparency, and hotel spending

42:12 How to cap taxes at inflation without gutting services

47:56 Waste, audits, and doing roads twice

51:38 Procurement and Barton-Tiffany

1:27:04 Leading a council that may disagree

1:31:24 Stoney Creek parking lot and strong mayor powers

1:37:42 Accountability and publishing audits and service levels

1:40:34 “All sizzle, no steak” — results in Ward 8

1:48:11 Why he is ready to be mayor

1:52:02 Vacant unit tax — a policy he thinks council got wrong

2:00:29 Hardest decision as mayor

2:02:52 Rapid fire: waste, bylaws, first 100 days

2:05:02 What keeps him up at night: violent crime

2:11:33 Why vote for him — and who should not

2:13:56 What’s at stake on October 26

2:15:35 Final message to Hamiltonians: get out and vote

2:17:51 Close

This is an independent Chin Podcast interview with a certified mayoral candidate. Rob Cooper is running for mayor. He is not the sitting Mayor of Hamilton. Election Day is October 26, 2026.

#RobCooper #HamiltonMayor #HamOnt #HamiltonElection2026 #HamiltonOntario #PropertyTaxes #HamiltonCrime #Affordability #TheChinPodcast #MunicipalElection #YourHamiltonYourVoiceYourFuture

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Vote like it is your city. Because it is.

In Part Two, Jason Farr talks about how the last four years changed him, how he would lead Ward 4, and why he calls this a correction election.

This is Part Two of a two-part conversation on The Chin Podcast, recorded ahead of the October 26, 2026 Hamilton municipal election. Part One covered his early life, radio years, time on council, and why he is running in Ward 4. Part Two covers leadership, the 2030 picture of the ward, rapid-fire questions, and what he wants listeners to remember.

Chapters

00:00 Part Two opens

00:45 Ward 4 in 2030

01:54 How he has changed

04:15 Hammer Down with Mike Nabuurs

07:19 Consensus, and when to pick a fight

09:38 Advice to his 2010 self

14:12 Rapid fire

15:26 Lincoln Alexander and Jim McLeod

20:20 Tim Hortons on Ottawa Street

23:50 Why a Ward 4 resident should trust him

24:13 Correction election

25:02 Speaking to the 2022 skeptics

26:58 What he hopes stays with you

28:29 Legacy

36:03 End of the conversation

Jason Farr

Website: https://www.jasonfarr.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.farr.370

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonfarrhamont/

Email: [email protected]

The Chin Podcast is long-form coverage of Hamilton’s 2026 municipal election. This episode is an interview, not an endorsement.

Start with Part One if you have not heard it. The full conversation is also on The Chin Podcast YouTube channel. If you live in Ward 4, or own property in Hamilton, election day is October 26, 2026.

#JasonFarr #Ward4 #HamiltonElection2026 #TheChinPodcast #Hamilton

Jason Farr grew up in Hamilton’s East End, spent more than 20 years on local radio, then 12 years on city council. In Part One he talks about Ellis Avenue, CKOC, and why he is running again in Ward 4.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation on The Chin Podcast, recorded ahead of the October 26, 2026 Hamilton municipal election. Part One covers his early life, radio years, time on council, and the case he is making in Ward 4. Part Two continues with character, leadership, and the years ahead.

Chapters

00:00 Part One opens

00:43 Welcome and Ward 4

01:27 East End, Ellis Avenue, single-parent home

05:10 Mixed income, Boys and Girls Club, Jamesville

09:52 22 years on Hamilton radio, CKOC and CHAM

13:53 Centre on Barton, Committed to Kids

20:56 What is Ward 4

21:44 His mother, public service, Sheila Copps and John Munro

2:32:04 Steel, Dofasco, National Steel Car

2:37:15 First 100 days in Ward 4

2:40:07 Kenilworth and KenFest

2:42:45 Why he says he lives here

2:45:27 Housing in Ward 4

2:50:03 Safety, from Ward 2 to Ward 4

2:52:50 End of Part One

Jason Farr

Website: https://www.jasonfarr.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.farr.370

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonfarrhamont/

Email: [email protected]

The Chin Podcast is long-form coverage of Hamilton’s 2026 municipal election. This episode is an interview, not an endorsement.

Watch Part Two, or the full conversation, on The Chin Podcast YouTube channel. If you live in Ward 4, or own property in Hamilton, election day is October 26, 2026.

#JasonFarr #Ward4 #HamiltonElection2026 #TheChinPodcast #Hamilton

Kelly Oucharek is back for Part 2 — the results-focused half of her Ward 2 conversation. Eastwood Arena’s 2,500-signature save, the three-year Pier 4 tugboat closure, her 178-response survey (68% say safety got worse), Central Library, LRT, and why she says Oct. 26 is a “serious illness conversation” about downtown.

Watch Part 1 first if you missed her roots, nursing years, and FOI fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3FbeeG7KyU

Hamilton municipal election: Monday, October 26, 2026. Ward 2 = North End, Corktown, Beasley, Central, Durand + a sliver of Stinson (Queen to Wellington, escarpment to harbour). Eligible if you live or own property in Hamilton.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome back / election grind
0:12 What still gives her hope
1:29 Eastwood Arena petition — 2,500+ signatures
7:23 Pier 4 tugboat park fenced off for 3 years
11:45 Transparency petition — ~1,500 signatures and $200M in waste
14:08 Website, pride, safety, and the city-owned building at Williams
19:35 Young families: stay, leave, or move to the North End?
21:31 Ward 2 neighbourhoods and boundaries
24:41 How to help: vote early, knock doors, donate
26:41 Message to seniors, families, workers, and small business
27:54 LRT, King Street disruption, and shops that already closed
31:30 “My priorities are your priorities”
33:10 Her anonymous Ward 2 survey — 178 responses
40:11 Central Library card-access pilot
46:12 Jamesville roots and what Part 1 didn’t cover
47:54 Why vote for her on October 26
51:58 To the critics: come talk to me
52:31 Rapid fire
52:39 First 100 days
53:17 Why a young family should stay
54:08 What frustrates her at City Hall
54:58 Favourite Survey / Jamesville memory
55:45 Message to someone on the street with addiction
56:13 Why she’s running — one sentence
56:31 What “Listening, Acting, Your Voice” means
57:27 Parks: tents or kids?
57:52 Stopping wasted tax dollars
58:34 The biggest myth about her activism
1:00:22 Favourite Ward 2 walk (sunset at Williams)
1:01:26 Advice for buyers and renters
1:02:21 Why so many residents feel ignored
1:02:55 One idea to clean up downtown
1:03:44 What restoring pride actually looks like
1:05:28 Message to seniors
1:06:34 Vacant unit tax
1:07:23 Common sense or ideology?
1:07:44 How 27 years as a nurse shapes her
1:08:44 Coaching, church, and the Queen Street minivan
1:10:43 Four-year hope + swimmable waterfront
1:12:15 Why this election matters — wish, worry, wonder
1:13:38 Close

FOLLOW KELLY OUCHAREK
Website: https://kellyoucharek.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/VOTE-Oucharek-Kelly-Oucharek-for-Ward-2-Councillor/61568022688182/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyo4ward2/
Email: [email protected]

This is a long-form candidate interview, not an endorsement. Watch, compare, and decide for yourself.

If you live, work, or own property in Ward 2 — comment the issue you want fixed first. Subscribe to The Chin Podcast for more Hamilton 2026 interviews. Share this with a neighbour who still hasn’t voted in an advanced poll.

#KellyOucharek #Ward2 #HamiltonElection2026 #TheChinPodcast #HamiltonPolitics

Hamilton. Loren Lieberman, Ward 13 councillor candidate. Tax pledge and resignation rule. Festival of Friends. Public safety and rural Ward 13. Hear the record before October 26 — not an endorsement.

Full video: https://youtu.be/0nblffgEvzU

Campaign: https://www.lorenlieberman.ca/

Chapters

0:00 Ward 13 Hamilton election 2026 — open race

1:58 Welcome to The Chin Podcast

2:55 Ward 13 boundaries: Dundas, Flamborough, Rockton

5:18 Resignation pledge: taxes, staff, four-year term

7:36 Growing up in Pleasant Valley Dundas

9:27 Why Ward 13 is not only Dundas

11:27 Why he stayed in Hamilton

12:11 Festival of Friends, Six Nations, Cable 14

15:11 Family

16:08 Mentors, endorsements, how City Hall works

18:27 Real representation for the people of Ward 13

19:54 Taking over Festival of Friends

25:13 Gage Park to Ancaster Fairgrounds

29:02 Were the Ancaster years a mistake

32:24 2012 festival shortfall

34:01 Police costs and the festival bill

37:16 Council withheld festival funding

40:47 Terry Whitehead and Cable 14

47:26 Handoff and return to Gage Park

51:16 Losing a vote at Hamilton City Hall

52:52 Forthright outsider vs popular councillor

56:41 Police funding and public safety

1:01:04 From commentator to council colleague

1:05:20 Ontario Trillium Foundation

1:07:20 Summerset Women’s Recovery

1:10:05 Homelessness mental health addiction town hall

1:16:29 Mark Jankowski Stanley Cup Dundas

1:19:47 Three pillars and the legal pledge

1:27:14 Who decides if a pledge is broken

1:29:45 Why he would resign

1:33:04 Vacant unit tax and what he would cut

1:37:40 Property taxes and renters

1:39:12 Homelessness in Ward 13

1:40:44 Housing vs homelessness Cootes Drive

1:45:49 What one councillor can vote in year one

1:47:57 Rural Flamborough Rockton Greensville

1:51:27 Infill and King Street Dundas

1:53:55 Strong mayor powers Hamilton

1:57:14 No left and right only right and wrong

2:00:35 Office hours and how Rockton reaches him

2:06:25 7000 doors knocked

2:08:37 The other names on the Ward 13 ballot

2:15:32 If you voted for Alex Wilson

2:17:29 Criticisms of the campaign

2:18:40 Signs money and conflicts

2:19:22 Jason Farr and Vito Sgro

2:21:00 Year one test for Ward 13

2:23:40 90 seconds in the voting booth

2:25:42 Campaign phone rings his cell

2:26:40 Close — vote October 26 2026

Loren Lieberman — candidate, Ward 13, Hamilton City Council

Website: https://www.lorenlieberman.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Loren-Lieberman-for-Ward-13-Dundas/61589303711438/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lorenlieberman13/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 905-628-1416

Election Day: October 26, 2026.

This interview is not an endorsement.

Hamilton Ward 14 Councillor Mike Spadafora on 23% tax increases, taxpayer dollars, parks and roads, vacant unit tax, homelessness spending, and what he hopes his kids will say he delivered.

Born and raised on the West Mountain, he won by 79 votes in 2022. In this Chin Podcast interview with Daniel P. Chin, he talks about City Hall accountability (“taxpayer dollars are not your money”), why he voted against city budgets, almost $2 million in Ward 14 park work, the vacant unit tax’s gross vs. net numbers, about $150 million on homelessness, neighbouring cities, Mike Spadafora 2.0, and making people proud to say they live in Hamilton.

In this episode

• The weight of winning by 79 votes
• Business background vs. City Hall accountability
• 23% tax increases and “we didn’t deliver”
• Parks, roads, and sidewalks paid with Ward 14 area-rating money
• Vacant unit tax: gross vs. net
• Homelessness spending and neighbouring cities
• What a second term would look like
• Civic pride — proud to say you’re from Hamilton
• Message to residents, and what he hopes his kids will say

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: roots, 79-vote win

01:29 – Growing up in Ward 14

09:00 – Family

16:00 – Taxpayer dollars are not your money

31:20 – Election night

37:48 – What surprised him at City Hall

44:14 – 23% tax increases

50:53 – Parks, roads, sidewalks

1:18:50 – Vacant unit tax

1:23:58 – Homelessness spending

1:43:55 – Mike Spadafora 2.0

1:52:44 – Civic pride

2:01:24 – Unfinished business

2:07:16 – Message to residents

2:10:17 – What he hopes his kids will say

2:12:22 – Closing

Full video

https://youtu.be/G-ghIfHoc6w

Mike Spadafora

Website: https://www.reelectspadafora14.com/

City page: https://www.hamilton.ca/city-council/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 905-546-2712

The Chin Podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechinpodcast

Website: https://thechinpodcast.com/

If this conversation was useful, subscribe and share it with someone who follows Hamilton city issues.

Kelly Oucharek — lifelong North End resident, 27-year registered nurse, mother of four, and 2026 Ward 2 Councillor candidate in Hamilton — joins The Chin Podcast for an honest, in-depth conversation.

In Part 1, Kelly shares her roots in the Survey (Jamesville), frontline COVID experiences, why she decided to run, and the major issues facing Ward 2 residents: public safety, encampments, transparency failures, Barton Tiffany mismanagement, and the fight for residents’ voices.

This episode explores what it truly means to listen, balance compassion with accountability, and serve your community.

🔗 Follow Kelly Oucharek:
• Official Campaign Website: https://kellyoucharek.ca/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/VOTE-Oucharek-Kelly-Oucharek-for-Ward-2-Councillor/61568022688182/

If you live, work, or own property in Hamilton — especially Ward 2 — this is essential listening ahead of the 2026 municipal election.

👉 Subscribe for more honest conversations on Hamilton politics, housing, safety & local leadership.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Welcome
01:22 Who is Kelly Oucharek & Why She’s Running
03:52 Ward 2 Boundaries
06:20 Growing Up in the Survey / North End Memories
14:03 Personal House Building Delay Story with CN Rail
20:56 27 Years as a Nurse & COVID Frontline
31:40 Decision to Run + Family Influence
42:48 Campaign Slogan: “Listening, Acting, Your Voice”
51:45 HATS Tiny Shelters Fight – Major Turning Point
1:15:25 Personal Family Story with Homelessness
1:29:09 Big Petition on City Governance Failures
1:44:20 Compassion vs Public Safety
2:01:33 18-Month FOI Battle Exposing $2M Hotel Damages
2:13:14 Safe Supply & Drug Diversion Issues
2:24:22 Clearing the Record on Compassion (Dimitri Story)
2:53:35 Her Genie Wish for Ward 2 + Closing Thoughts

#Hamilton #Ward2 #KellyOucharek #HamiltonElection2026

Fred Bennink Ward 12 candidate opens up about what real leadership looks like in Ancaster and Hamilton. A lifelong resident with 35+ years in the community, former business owner, and Vice Chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board, Fred shares practical solutions on safety, roads, taxes, and restoring hope for Ward 12.

Ward 12 Councillor candidate Fred Bennink discusses honest leadership for Ancaster & West Flamborough in the 2026 Hamilton municipal election.

🔑 Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro & Fred’s Personal Story
• 03:23 Raising a Family in Ancaster & Vision for Ward 12
• 07:17 Community Safety & Police Board Experience
• 12:43 Break & Enters, Youth Crime & Feeling Safe
• 18:52 Roads, Infrastructure & Speed Bumps
• 24:20 Rain Tax, Development Charges & Fairness
• 33:25 Smarter Spending & Fiscal Responsibility
• 43:23 Leadership is Service & Non-Profit Work
• 48:40 Provincial Run vs Municipal Race
• 53:16 What Convinced Fred to Run
• 59:55 Low-Hanging Fruit & Fixing the Core
• 1:01:56 Hope for Hamilton’s Future
• 1:19:51 Final Message to Voters

If you live in Ward 12 or want better governance in Hamilton — safer streets, lower taxes, and leadership that actually serves residents — this is an essential episode.

👉 Follow & Support Fred Bennink:

• Campaign Website: https://bennink.ca
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Fred.Bennink
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-bennink-929a06392/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredbennink/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582737594285

Subscribe to The Chin Podcast for more honest conversations on Hamilton politics, real estate, and local leadership. Drop your biggest Ward 12 concern in the comments below — Fred or I may reply!

#HamiltonElection2026 #Ward12 #FredBennink #Ancaster #HamiltonPolitics

Is local democracy quietly being rewritten in Ontario?

Daniel P. Chin talks with Joe Gaetan, independent researcher and Burlington volunteer, about Strong Mayor Powers. Joe has no political stake yet spent months analyzing the legislation. His four-part series reveals how a mayor + 1/3 of council can control budgets and bylaws, 44% tax hikes, missed housing targets, and transparency issues ahead of the 2026 elections.

Key Takeaways: Shift to CEO-style governance, disappointing housing results, and critical questions for voters.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 03:26 – Joe’s Motivation: Fascism & Democracy
• 10:51 – How Strong Mayor Powers Were Introduced
• 18:19 – How They Actually Work
• 54:30 – One-Third Council Rule
• 58:57 – Stratford Charter Challenge

Guest Bio: Joe Gaetan, BGS is an independent researcher with law and Charter background. His series is one of the clearest available.

Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gaetan-bgs-3633902a/

Essential Reading:

https://bayobserver.ca/strong-mayor-powers-the-backstory-article-1-in-a-four-part-series/ https://bayobserver.ca/strong-mayor-powers-the-institutional-verdict/ https://bayobserver.ca/strong-mayor-powers-how-they-actually-work/ https://bayobserver.ca/opinion-joe-gaetan-strong-mayor-powers-not-governance-by-design-but-governance-by-discretion/

More: https://bayobserver.ca/stratford-launches-charter-challenge-against-ontarios-strong-mayor-powers/

Task Force Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KBehmZ7F4f-3XfJuwmd_s1peDIwz7h2Y/view?usp=drive_link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wZg03pPrJJDMnKr0j3kUVIUFxoHvLq_x/view?usp=drive_link

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheChinPodcast

Should Strong Mayor Powers stay or go? Comment below.

In this powerful 2-hour-34-minute conversation, third-generation Hamilton businessman Peter Turkstra — CEO of Turkstra Lumber — delivers an unfiltered look at why Hamilton is spiraling despite its enormous potential. From 23% property tax increases to wasteful spending, declining services, and crippling development charges, Peter explains exactly how current City Hall policies are hurting local businesses, workers, renters, and families.

As a longtime employer and founder of the non-partisan platform Thrive Hamilton, Peter shares why he finally said “enough is enough” and what residents can do before the critical October 26, 2026 municipal election.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Hamilton is spiraling despite its location, institutions, and people
• The real impact of 23% property tax increases and hidden use of reserves
• How development charges and red tape are killing housing affordability and jobs
• Wasteful spending, failed projects, and the $52 million cyber fraud
• Staff growth of nearly 1,000 people while services (potholes, transit, downtown safety) get worse
• The culture of dysfunction, bureaucracy, and anti-business policies at City Hall
• Strong mayor powers, lack of transparency, and the need for real accountability
• Practical steps for residents: informed voting and holding leaders accountable
• Hope for a thriving Hamilton through fiscal responsibility and better leadership

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction & Why Peter Launched Thrive Hamilton
• 03:08 – The 23% Tax Increase & Its Impact on Families and Businesses
• 08:19 – What “Hamilton is Spiraling” Really Means
• 13:39 – Governance Failures, Strong Mayor Powers & Dysfunction
• 20:31 – Launch of Thrive Hamilton & Community Response
• 27:14 – Development Charges & the Housing Affordability Crisis
• 36:16 – Construction Industry at a Tipping Point
• 48:37 – Dogma-Driven Policies vs. Fiscal Reality
• 55:27 – Transparency, Audited Statements & Failed Projects
• 77:24 – The Role of Voter Engagement Before October 26, 2026
• 90:48 – What Good Non-Partisan Governance Should Look Like
• 104:42 – Hamilton’s Hidden Gems & Path to Revival
• 138:45 – The Existential Threat to Local Businesses
• 147:56 – Final Message: Get Informed and Vote

Resources & Links:

• Thrive Hamilton: https://thrivehamilton.ca
• Follow Thrive Hamilton on Instagram: @thrive.hamilton
• Follow Thrive Hamilton on Facebook: Thrive Hamilton

Connect with Peter Turkstra:

• LinkedIn: [Peter Turkstra – Turkstra Lumber]
• Instagram: @pturkstra

Final Call to Action:
If you’re tired of rising taxes, declining services, and wasteful spending, this episode is for you. Get informed, get involved, and make your voice count in the October 26, 2026 municipal election. Your vote matters more than ever.

Follow Thrive Hamilton for ongoing, fact-based updates and transparency in Hamilton city government.