Media Release:

Hamilton City Councillor, Brian McHattie calls for early release of the Provincial Mediator's report on the
fate of Hamilton's historic Lister Block Building
Minister Di Cocco asked to release Ontario Heritage Trust Lister Block Report and Apply Provincial Designation to the Lister Block

September 22 , 2006

On September 27, Hamilton City Council will be presented with the findings and recommendations of the Lister Block Working Group which has been led by Mr. Alan Wells, the Provincial Development Facilitator. It is anticipated that Council will be asked at that time to endorse, in some fashion, a new proposal for the future of the Lister Block.

The working group was formed at the request of the Ontario Minister of Culture, the Honourable Caroline Di Cocco, who became involved in the Lister debate in June, after Council approved a deal with Liuna/Hi-Rise, resulting in a decision to demolish the designated building.

Mr. Wells' working group has worked in private over the past several months in an effort to find a community based "win-win" solution for the historic Lister Block.

In order to properly evaluate any proposal (or alternative proposals) put forward by Mr. Wells' group, it will be necessary for both Councillors and members of the public to have an opportunity to review the findings and recommendations of the working group in advance of the Council meeting.

It is also crucial that Councillors and members of the public have an opportunity to review the advisory report which was prepared by the Ontario Heritage Trust, chaired by the Right Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander. Only through such a comparative review will it be possible to determine whether the proposal of the working group fully addresses any concerns raised by the Trust.

Rendering a decision on the fate of the Lister Block without this disclosure would be undemocratic and would exacerbate public concerns that decisions surrounding the Lister Block are not being made on the merits of the provincial importance of the building, but on the basis of political or other motivations.

Unfortunately, at this time neither the recommendations of Mr. Wells' group nor the report prepared by the Ontario Heritage Trust have been shared with either Councillors or the public.

Accordingly, Ward 1 City Councillor, Brian McHattie calls upon Mr. Wells to release a copy of the report detailing the recommendations of his working group, at least 36 hours in advance of the September 27th Council meeting. At the same time, Councillor McHattie calls upon Minister Di Cocco to release the Ontario Heritage Trust's report, again, at least 36 hours in advance of the Council meeting.

Furthermore, Councillor McHattie is requesting at this time, the immediate intervention of the Minister of Culture to designate the Lister Block as a building of provincial significance pursuant to Section 34.5 of the strengthened Ontario Heritage Act.   Regardless of which proposal is endorsed by Council, it is clear that this building should be provincially designated, to protect it now and into the future.