Hamilton's Public Health Committee Addresses Diesel Emissions, Naloxone Access, and Immunization Concerns

Hamilton's Public Health Committee heard delegations urging federal action on diesel emissions from CN's Stewart Street shunting yard, with North End residents describing exhaust drifting into homes, Bayfront Park and pedestrian routes near the yard. The committee also reviewed public health items on naloxone access in city facilities and Hamilton's immunization program, including school record compliance, measles activity and limits in the province's vaccine data systems.

Topics Discussed

1. CN STEWART STREET YARD: residents describe diesel exhaust impacts

Delegates from neighbourhood associations and nearby residents asked the city to support electrification of CN's Stewart Street shunting yard. Chair Cameron Kroetsch said the issue was being raised across multiple parts of the ward: "all those neighborhood associations are advocating here because they represent both the south part of the ward and the north part of the ward so people get a sense of how widespread this issue is for people."

Residents described diesel exhaust affecting the North End and routes used by pedestrians and cyclists near the yard. John Davyy said, "Besides cars and traffic, the number one environment related complaint that we hear from north enders is about industrial pollution, including those from the CN Shunting Yard on Stewart Street." He added that Bayfront Park users on foot, bikes and mobility devices often have to pass through "clouds of diesel exhaust."

Resident Ian Borsick described fumes entering homes in winter: "opening the door in the middle of winter and your entire house just being flooded with diesel fumes." Councillor Alex Wilson said the problem is constant even when smoke is not visible: "whether there's a polluting plume of smoke or not, diesel fumes are pouring into this neighborhood 24/7 in the winter."

2. FEDERAL ADVOCACY MOTION: committee backs call for rail electrification

A motion from Chair Kroetsch and Councillor Nrinder Nann called on the federal government to support electrification of the Stewart Street yard and broader action on urban rail emissions.

Nann framed the issue as both economic and environmental, saying, "A healthy economy is defined when it integrates both thriving human and environmental health as well." She also argued Ottawa needs to intervene more directly with CN: "The federal government needs to step in when it comes to CN in general because right now they're being regulated as a for-profit corporation that's also given protections as if it was a crown corporation."

The discussion noted that rail regulation falls under federal jurisdiction, limiting what the city can do directly.

3. NALOXONE ACCESS: staff outline barriers to placing kits in city facilities

The committee discussed whether naloxone kits could be placed in city facilities alongside AEDs. Medical Officer of Health Elizabeth Richardson said the city does not currently provide naloxone through that kind of municipal installation program.

She told the committee, "there isn't the lock zone provided in those city facilities," and said any such system "would have to be paid for by the city itself." Richardson added that existing programs make naloxone available directly to the public or through community agencies, rather than through city-run facility placements.

Members discussed the issue in the context of cost, maintenance and how naloxone is currently distributed through Hamilton Public Health's harm reduction work.

4. IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM: committee reviews school records, measles and staffing

Staff reported on Hamilton's immunization program, including school and child-care record review, vaccine distribution and outbreak prevention work. Hamilton Public Health reported that "During the 2023 2024 school year, only 57.3% of Hamilton students had an up-to-date immunization record on file with public health, reflecting a decline from prepandemic levels."

Staff said vaccine-preventable disease remains a continuing concern. Citing provincial public health guidance, the committee heard that "vaccine preventable diseases remain an ongoing risk and can reemerge if immunization efforts are not sustained."

Hamilton Public Health also reported that in 2025 the immunization program accounted for 3 per cent of the department's gross expenditures, with "a budget of approximately $1.7 million and a dedicated team of 17.5 full-time equivalent staff."

5. IMMUNIZATION DATA SYSTEMS: local improvements, provincial limits

Committee members raised concerns about families having to manually report vaccinations and the risk that students can face school suspension when records are incomplete.

Mike Spadafora said Hamilton has changed its notification process: "we are now moving forward with screening notifications," sending reminder notices "upfront in the fall of every school year" to give families more time to contact health-care providers or public health.

He also said the larger solution depends on provincial systems, telling members that "the path forward to a a much improved system and data infrastructure around this topic is one that really the benefits would be reaped at the provincial level."

Motions

• Item 8.1 (File 26028) - Board of Health delegation policy for Medical Officer of Health absence — Approved (9-2-0)
• Item 8.2 - MFIPA delegation authority to Matt Cottier, Legislative Coordinator — Approved (9-0)
• Item 9.1A - Correspondence/Motion regarding electrification of Canadian National Railway Stewart Street Yard — Carried unanimously / received unanimously (9-0)
• Item 12 - Board of Health proceedings — Confirmed (9-0)
• Ontario Public Health Standards Update (confidential matter) — Motion to keep confidential approved (9-0)

Attendees

Councillors and officials identified in the meeting materials:

• Mayor Andrea Horwath
• Councillor Cameron Kroetsch
• Councillor Nrinder Nann
• Councillor Alex Wilson
• Councillor Craig Cassar
• Mark Tadeson
• Mike Spadafora
• Legislative Coordinator Matt Cottier
• Medical Officer of Health Elizabeth Richardson
• Brendan Lew, Associate Medical Officer of Health