Hamilton city staff apologize for 'minimizing' health impacts of insect and rodent infestations

Public health staff have apologized to residents for not enforcing the city's pest rules for over four years and recently making comments that minimized the health impacts of living with insect and rodent infestations.

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, made the apology on Thursday, following CBC Hamilton's story.

"I want to apologize on behalf of the City of Hamilton as well as public health services to those in the community who felt our level of service for not addressing pest control complaints was not up to their expectations," Richardson told reporters.

Public health manager Matthew Lawson previously told CBC Hamilton there's little evidence to suggest rats, cockroaches and bedbugs carry diseases. 

Lawson also apologized Thursday, acknowledging pests can affect people's physical and mental wellbeing, and cause allergic reactions, infections related to scratching, as well as anxiety and insomnia.

"I take the health and wellbeing of those in Hamilton very seriously," Lawson said. "That's why I'm here today to extend an apology to those who felt pain based on my comments in a recent media story minimizing the negative impacts pest infestations can have on community members." 

Earlier in the day, Mayor Andrea Horwath urged city staff to apologize. 

Following their apology, she told CBC Hamilton she was shocked when she read the story and said residents felt diminished and insulted.

"I want to articulate how sorry I am," Horwath said. "People need to know the city is on their side. When they call with issues, we need to respond and if we're not able to, we need to know why." 

A bylaw officer will be in charge of responding to new pest complaints starting next Tuesday, while also working through hundreds of cases the city has yet to respond to, Richardson said. 

Horwath said she expects the city to contact every resident who has lodged a complaint and find ways to expedite the process. 

Kevin McDonald, a city public health director who oversees the healthy environments division, previously said Hamilton's public health division paused pest control in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started. 

That means landlords who fail to keep buildings free of cockroaches, bedbugs or rats, as required under the city's property standards bylaw, haven't faced bylaw orders or fees.