Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett says the claims that she kept a notice of motion about clearing encampments off a recent city council agenda are “false” and “misrepresent what actually happened.”
In a Facebook reel posted last week on the page called Office of the Mayor – City of Cambridge, Liggett said she wanted to “set straight the false info going around on social media as well as online and in print.”
In the video, she also called out Coun. Scott Hamilton for making media comments that she described as “disingenuous at best, coming dangerously close to political opportunism.”
“As elected officials, we should always be working toward what’s best for the community, not just trying to please our own supporters,” Liggett said.
This all began on July 4 when federal housing advocate Marie-Josée Houle sent a letter to council raising concerns about the city clearing encampments where unhoused people stay during the hottest summer days.
That letter led Hamilton and Coun. Ross Earnshaw to submit a motion to the city’s clerk asking for a pause on clearing encampments during heat events. They requested that this notice of motion be added to the city council meeting agenda scheduled for July 22.
At first, Hamilton said he and Earnshaw wanted to stop forced removals entirely during extreme weather. But after getting advice from staff, they changed their plan and instead asked for a staff report on the issue.
The updated motion would have asked staff “to report back on prevention of forced removals of unhoused persons during extreme weather events upon the issuance of a warning, an alert, or during the occurrence of, an extreme weather event as determined by Environment and Climate Change Canada.”
Hamilton told Cambridge Chronicle he hoped to get that staff report later this year.
However, Hamilton says that notice of motion didn’t make it onto the July 22 council meeting agenda. He says city staff told him it was “delayed” at the mayor’s request so more info could be provided to councillors.
Hamilton has shared this with other media outlets too, but Liggett claimed in her video that his version was “a total misrepresentation of what happened.”
Mayor raises ‘legal risks’ concern
A notice of motion is usually how councillors let others know they want to discuss and vote on something later. Sometimes they can ask for it right away though.
“When I heard there might be a notice of motion – I stress might – I told our legal team and clerks department to give info and advice to all councillors before putting it forward,” Liggett explained.
“It wouldn’t be right if Councillors Hamilton and Earnshaw had special access to information or advice that others didn’t have. That could’ve put council in a tricky legal spot.”
Liggett said in her video if council voted immediately without everyone having equal info from staff or legal advisors, some members would’ve been at a disadvantage because only Hamilton and Earnshaw had those details ahead of time.
Hamilton said he already told city clerks he wasn’t planning anything beyond giving notice at that meeting since council was heading into summer break soon anyway. He expected it would appear on Sept. 2’s agenda-more than 40 days later-giving councillors and public plenty time to learn about it or attend if they wanted their say.
‘I just told what happened’
Hamilton is currently on vacation; he said Friday night he’d watched Liggett’s video once but rejects her claim he made inappropriate remarks to media.
“I never threw shade or accused anyone,” he said plainly.
He mentioned he spoke only when reporters reached out.
“I didn’t try saying anything accusatory or false-I simply told what happened step-by-step including what staff emailed me explaining why we missed [July] 22’s agenda,” he explained.
“As a councillor, I think my job is staying calm and thinking carefully through tough issues so we can move forward.”
Councillor Earnshaw wants focus back on issue
Ear n shaw , who ’ s attending an annual municipal conference in Ottawa , emailed Cambridge Chronicle saying all this fuss over process is taking attention away from what’s important.
“The drama about procedures and mayor’s powers has distracted from caring treatment for unhoused folks during bad weather ,” Ear n shaw wrote.
“We need talk back about original reasons why Coun. Hamil ton brought up his motion with me seconding it.”
Ligget t ’ s statements aside , Hamil ton told Cam bridge Chron i cle Fri day he’d also prefer focusing again on helping people living in encamp ments.
“Remember , this motion just asks for a report about how we can help our most vulnerable residents better ,” Hamil ton noted.
The date when his notice will finally come before coun cil hasn’t been set yet , according to him.
“This could be chance for Cam bridge leading here since many places don’ t even have rules yet because these camps are new problems plus more extreme heat days happening now ,” Hamil ton explained.
“With housing crisis growing worse plus hotter summers becoming regular things , these challenges will keep popping up. So now’s time we come together as council & city learn more & start tackling bit by bit – that’s really all this motion tries doing.”
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