Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped in Hamilton on Friday to talk about housing measures announced in the recent federal budget, then weighed in on how his government has supported the city’s efforts to deal with the affordable housing crisis and the growing campus protests across Canada in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
In front of a group of students at Mohawk College, Trudeau was asked about demonstrations in support of Palestinians at post-secondary schools in Canada and the U.S., including McGill University, University of Toronto, Western University in London, Ont., and the University of British Columbia.
He was asked if he supported the encampments staying on campus.
“I think we have to remember what universities are. Universities are places of learning. Universities are places where freedom of speech, the freedom of ideas, the challenge of debate, of dialogue, of discussion about how to shape the world, how to see the world … are a core part of what campuses are all about,” he said.
“At the same time, we need to make sure that as part of that everyone can feel safe on campus, whether you’re a Jewish student, whether you’re Palestinian, whether you have strong feelings on one side or the other. And, on that we have to trust both universities to manage their campuses right, and local police of jurisdiction to do their work to make sure that everyone is safe.”
His answer came just two days before McMaster University students set up their own pro-Palestinian encampment calling on the university to cut ties with companies and institutions linked to Israel. Protesters also demanded McMaster end exchange programs and partnerships with Israeli academic institutions and declare Israel’s bombardment of Gaza an act of genocide.
On Friday, Trudeau was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Filomena Tassi, the MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner and Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath.
WATCH | PM Justin Trudeau speaks about campus protests while in Hamilton on Friday:
A group of McMaster University students in Hamilton set up an encampment on Sunday and say they’ll join protests at other post-secondary school campuses in support of Palestinians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about the protests on Friday May 2, 2024, two days before the McMaster protest began.
Horwath to meet with CN this week about Jamesville project
Trudeau was also asked what his government could do to help resolve the dispute between the city and CN Rail that has been holding up the creation of what the city says will be a medium density mixed-income community.
Dozens of vacant townhouses have been empty for years awaiting demolition to make way for 160 affordable units in a pair of 12-storey towers. They will be surrounded by townhouse blocks and a 20-storey condo building with a total of 315 units to be sold at market rate, according to the city.
In April, mayor Horwath said the “the project is facing delay after delay due to the obstinance and obstructionism of CN Rail.”
She added that “for years, this site has sat empty, decaying in front of our eyes, all the while one of the worst housing crises in history plays out across our city.”
Trudeau said Hamilton has been “ambitious” about tackling housing challenges and his government has supported the city with “faster permitting, less red tape, more densification and, quite frankly, significant amounts of funds. We’re talking about $93.5 million to Hamilton so that they can solve some of the challenges around housing.”
Also at the college, Howarth said she was meeting again with CN this week and wasn’t “going to sleep until we get some movement from CN. Bottom line.”
CN Rail spokesperson Ashley Michnowski said to CBC Hamilton in April that “we are part of the Hamilton community and we want to be an enabler for these types of projects.”
CN has concerns about the impacts of odour, vibration and noise on residents, and appealed the city’s plans to the Ontario Land Tribunal in 2022, say documents filed with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
A hearing was set for this May, but has been pushed to 2025.