Matthew Van Dongen

5 days ago | thespec.com | Matthew Van Dongen

Steve Lechniak was worried about the cost of living — even before Trumpian tariffs “turned the world upside down” for the retired steelworker and his family. Now, the unofficial Stelco historian — and longtime NDP voter — feels “torn” over how to view an ongoing federal election dominated by “megalomaniac” U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariff-driven threats of economic annexation.

1 week ago | thespec.com | Matthew Van Dongen

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is calling for “bold” government stimulus spending — locally, on projects like the LRT and a new Dundas sewage plant — to help keep residents working in an increasingly tariff-battered economy.

1 week ago | thespec.com | Matthew Van Dongen

Mark Carney’s first election visit to Hamilton spurred hundreds of people to line up around the block in the snow for a chance to hear — or in a few cases, heckle — the Liberal party’s new leader. What looked like a few hundred supporters were unable to get into the Bridgeworks event space in the west harbour that quickly filled to its 500-person capacity Thursday afternoon.

2 weeks ago | thespec.com | Matthew Van Dongen

Rail improvements in Hamilton will increase commuter service to West Harbour GO Station — and eventually make it easier to hop the train at a new East-City station expected to open this year. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria was in the city Wednesday to announce the completion of track construction to directly link the James Street North station to the main Lakeshore West rail line between Toronto and Niagara.

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Matthew Van Dongen

Rail improvements in Hamilton will increase commuter service to West Harbour GO Station — and eventually make it easier to hop the train at a new East-City station expected to open this year. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria was in the city Wednesday to announce the completion of track construction to directly link the James Street North station to the main Lakeshore West rail line between Toronto and Niagara.