Hamilton Is No Longer a Satellite
Hamilton isn’t just “near” Toronto anymore. It’s a city with its own culture, economy, and explosive population growth—already home to over 580,000 residents and positioned as a gateway between the GTA and Niagara.
But the Province doesn’t treat it that way.
Despite being one of Ontario’s most strategic cities—connected by GO Train, and QEW access—Hamilton is not included in any provincial or federal high-speed rail (HSR) plan.
That’s a major oversight. And one GTA Weekly is calling out.
Don’t Stop at Toronto: HSR Must Include Hamilton
The federal government has committed to building Canada’s first high-speed rail corridor, linking Quebec City to Toronto.
At GTA Weekly, we say: don’t stop at Toronto.
Extend the line westward to Niagara Falls—with a major stop in Hamilton. Hamilton sits squarely on that corridor, and already has the infrastructure to grow.
HSR would change the game for Hamilton—and housing is where it starts.
A Million People Means 168,000 New Homes
Hamilton’s current provincial housing target? Just 47,000 homes by 2031.
GTA Weekly’s vision? 168,000 new homes—enough to grow the city to 1 million people.
Why?
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The housing demand is already here
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Toronto’s affordability crisis is spilling into the region
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Hamilton has underused industrial lands and a revitalizing downtown core
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The city is adding LRT, mid-rise corridors, and transit-oriented growth zones
We believe Hamilton can be Ontario’s next true metro—not a spillover zone.
Where to Build: A Real Plan for Real Growth
Hamilton’s path to 1 million doesn’t require towers in every neighbourhood. It needs smart zoning, transit integration, and long-term vision.
✅ Downtown & Barton Street: Mid-rise intensification and live-work conversion
✅ West Harbour & McMaster: Mixed-use corridors near campuses and waterfront
✅ East Hamilton & Stoney Creek: Family housing near GO stations
✅ Industrial to Infill: Transform old greyfields into residential opportunity
✅ Mountain Area: Gentle density tied to BRT and commercial strips
This is how you grow—without gridlock, without sprawl.
📎 Provincial vs. GTA Weekly Targets
| Metric | Ontario Govt Target | GTA Weekly Target |
|---|---|---|
| Homes to Build (2031) | 47,000 | 168,000 |
| Projected Pop. Growth | ~125,000 | ~420,000+ |
| Transit Investment | GO + LRT (no HSR) | GO + LRT + HSR |
We commend the province for commiting to LRT and GO connectivity. But without HSR, the city’s long-term housing potential will hit a ceiling.
Final Word: Hamilton Deserves a Station—and a Seat at the Table
Hamilton is not a future city. It’s a right-now city.
The U.S. has 11 cities with populations over 1 million. Canada, so far, has five. But that’s about to change—and Hamilton should be leading that charge.
High-speed rail won’t succeed by skipping Hamilton.
And Ontario’s housing crisis won’t be solved without cities like Hamilton stepping into their full potential.
GTA Weekly’s blueprint says: build the rail, build the homes, build the future.
Because Hamilton’s already on track—we just need to lay the rest of the line.
📐 Square Footage is GTA Weekly’s weekly real estate editorial—tracking how design, density and development are shaping our neighbourhoods—and now, our province.
The LRT is not under construction. They are tearing down homes that are in the way of the proposed LRT but the start of construction is a long way off. There is no updated price tag for the project, the last estimation of $3.4 billion came before Covid. No one knows what current estimates for the project are, but 8 to 10 billion dollars are said to be fairly accurate guesses. And who will pay for this grandiose useless dream. Hamilton cannot afford it, they are already raising property taxes yearly in 15% and 20% chunks.
How much will rent go up with these new proposals? LRT has already demolished over 60 properties, displacing families into less affordable units. Nobody ever moves into something cheaper. Good ol’ gentrification. Not all of us are for it.