It was good to see so many community leaders gather at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday to talk about Hamilton’s economic development game plan.

They talked about Hamilton being open for business; they said that ‘ this is Hamilton’s time’.

The enthusiasm exhibited by our business leaders is contagious. Their knowledge and leadership is inspirational.

But, amid all this enthusiasm , is the stark reality that there is still a lot of work to be done to create prosperity for Hamilton.

And , a great deal of the work to be done rests with Hamilton City Council and City Staff.

Perception is reality. And the perception is that Hamilton is not business friendly . Too many businesses become frustrated by red tape and unnecessary delays.

That has to change.

City Council, for their part, has endorsed the economic development initiatives. But they can’t just talk the talk; they have to walk the walk.

Roll out the red carpet, ...