Debate spotlight puts Hamilton Waterfront Trust under scrutiny

A recent election debate has shone a spotlight on the Hamilton Waterfront Trust.

One candidate is vowing to dissolve the arm’s-length agency if elected, while the incumbent — the trust’s interim chair — defended its work.

When asked at the debate if he would sit on its board and make its financial reports public, Ward 2 candidate Cameron Kroetsch said he would — to disband it.

“Its mandate has come and gone,” he later said. “There’s no reason it can’t either be folded into the city or have it changed in some meaningful way to make it effective.”

Incumbent Jason Farr said he is a “proud member” of the board.

“We are judging our success by the amount of people who continue to visit and enjoy these amenities,” he later said. “Certainly since people ... have been reporting on the good, the bad and the ugly, we’ve made all sorts of efforts and changes to better communicate and better reflect transparency and accountability as a board.”

Born in 2000 out of a lawsuit settlement with the federal government, the trust began with $6.3 million in seed money, which has run out. Over the years, it has come under scrutiny for its finances, transparency and viability. Former city manager Chris Murray said it would cost close to $1 million a year to bring the trust in-house because of wages and benefits for its employees.

Councillors gave their stamp of approval to HWT last fall. Farr said then the trust would work to increase transparency, including by making its board minutes public.

Kroetsch said more needs to be done as the community still has questions.

The trust recently submitted its 2017 financial statements to council, showing a deficit of more than $612,500.

HWT owns and operates Williams Fresh Cafe, which made $98,031 last year, and the Waterfront Grill, which lost $7,544. The agency runs events and attractions and also holds contracts with the city, including to project-manage the design and construction of Piers 5-7. Revisions to HWT’s “deed of trust” came before the general issues committee Wednesday. Some of the recommended changes include updating its mandate, requiring 12 months’ notice if the city wants to terminate HWT’s deed of trust and imposing a limitation of $250,000 for trust transactions without city approval.