Hamilton mayoral candidate interview: Bob Bratina

Mayoral candidate Bob Bratina sat down with CBC Hamilton on Oct. 11, 2022. He said people in the city are feeling unsafe, and spoke about his plan to add more police to help address crime. While acknowledging that would take money away from other items in the budget, as he wants to keep taxes low, he feels there is plenty of wasteful spending that could be redirected. We also asked him about whether the planned light-rail transit project will continue under his watch, his relationship with the federal government, and a recent text message he sent to Hamilton voters referencing "far left policies" and "special interest candidates."

Following the interview, Bratina clarified that he does not view people fighting racism or any marginalized groups as special interests, saying he meant "the people who sit back and throw pot shots." When asked what constitutes the type of policy the text referred to, he cited defunding the police and trying to eliminate car use as examples.

Watch the video for the full interview. The questions we asked and the corresponding time stamps are below.

1:56- What are you hearing at the doors?

3:20- It seems like you've been focusing a lot of effort on the outlying areas of the city. Why?

5:00- What kinds of voters do you think you are attracting and why?

6:23- Do you still have a strong relationship with the federal Liberals after declining to run again as an MP?

7:41- What do you bring to the role this time that is different from what has been done in the past?

9:55- Can you elaborate on some ways you will better support the Indigenous community?

11:50- How specifically will you do that? Through events? Policy?

12:20- You have said 'far left policies' and 'special interest candidates' would hurt the city. What is a 'far-left policy' and what is a 'special interest' in your view? 

15:00- So it's more about the way they are participating as opposed to their politics?

15:33- What is the better way to have these discussions?