HAMILTON (October 23, 1991) - After five years of debate and controversy, the Jamesville BIA in Hamilton has finally been defeated. Thanks to the persistent efforts of Ron Burridge and supporters (including Freedom Party), what was once believed to be an unwinnable war against provincial and municipal politicians has turned into another example of how one individual can actually "beat the system" that's out to beat him.
Faced with the relentless pressure and arguments that Burridge presented to Hamilton city council, it was
finally forced to concede to the wishes of a majority vote held by BIA members on October 9, 1991 where 67
merchants voted 'NO' to the Jamesville BIA versus 19 who voted 'YES.'
Although there was no legal obligation on the part of councillors to grant the
merchants their wishes, the threat of possible defeat in the upcoming November 12 municipal elections was
the catalyst that helped turn the tide.
Ward 2 Alderman Bill McCulloch, a supporter of the BIA, denounced the outcome of the vote by arguing that the number of merchants who voted represented only 42% of the 157 merchants eligible to vote. Ironically, McCulloch himself was voted into council by only 12% of eligible voters within his ward.
In order to dissolve the Jamesville BIA, council authorized and directed the City Solicitor to prepare a bylaw to repeal By-law No. 85-198 (Designating the Jamesville Business Improvement Area) and By-law No. 86-74 (Establishing a Board of Management), in accordance with Section 217 of the Municipal Act.
According to the Hamilton Spectator (Sept 26,1991), Burridge was quoted as saying that he would begin forming a private business organization operating independently of the municipal government, should the vote turn out favourably. Under the BIA, municipal assessments ranged from $35 to more than $1000 per year, depending on the size of the business.
Longtime members and supporters of Freedom Party may recall when, in 1987, Hamilton city council voted unanimously to approach Ontario's Attorney-General to investigate Fp's BIA Warning brochure under Section 177 of the Criminal Code (i.e., "spreading false news"), the same section under which Ernst Zundel was charged for "denying the Holocaust"
GET THE DETAILS! Copies of documentation, press clippings, etc. relating to this BIA are available to Fp members and supporters on request.
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last updated on April 28, 2002
