Supports
- density over sprawl as the more economically and environmentally sustainable way to add housing supply [source]
- Parking reform: priced on-street parking (e.g. Cleveland Ave) to manage demand, with revenue returned to the affected area such as the Downtown BIA (his campaign site also calls for removing off-street parking minimums) [source]
- Better capital-project lifecycle budgeting - realistic cost forecasts, escalation mitigation, efficient execution [source]
Show 5 more
- Delegating more development-permit decisions to staff for clarity and speed (moved the motion, Feb 2026) [source]
- Six-unit zoning with no parking minimum near future frequent transit [source]
- Bike paths, safe streets and more frequent transit so people can choose lower-carbon travel [source]
- Sunset clauses so upzoned projects get built in a reasonable time [source]
- Self-funded campaign under $500 with no donations [source]
Against
- Free on-street parking and mandatory parking minimums, which he says create shortages and hide costs in food, housing and taxes [source]
- Most of the Garibaldi Estates - voted against three of the five bylaw votes on May 19 2026, objecting to pre-zoning for densities staff said were not financially viable and to treating one neighbourhood differently from the rest of town (he supported the two he judged viable: the ground-oriented residential zone and the District-led rezoning of 2163 Mamquam Road) [source]
- Permissive property tax exemptions for the Squamish Valley Golf Club and Sea to Sky Montessori (voted against, 2023-2024) [source]
Show 3 more
- The 2024 Woodfibre LNG permit as drafted - said the $2M security deposit was too low (he also voted against denying it) [source]
- Joining the Sue Big Oil class action (voted against at Oct 2023 committee of the whole; reasons not stated) [source]
- Council making advocacy its main focus - he calls advocacy 'a necessary role' but says council shouldn't spend all its time on it at the expense of what is within its jurisdiction [source]
Where Andrew stands
Tap any topic to read more.
Growth & developmentManaged mix
States a general preference for density over sprawl and wants zoning that lets supply keep pace with demand. In practice he is a stickler for the zoned rules rather than a height opponent: he voted for the six-to-seven-storey Three Summits downtown development (Jan 2024) and seconded the six-unit transit-oriented zoning bylaw (Sept 2025), but voted against the seven-storey 38026 Second Avenue permit (June 2025) because it needed a height variance, saying council should stop granting height and change the zoning instead; he made the same point about the size, not the principle, of the Valleycliffe height variance. On the Garibaldi Estates (May 2026) he opposed three of the five bylaw votes and supported two, objecting to pre-zoning for densities staff said were not financially viable while stating he agreed with the neighbourhood plan itself. [source]
“Generally, I believe development (density) will lead to a more economically and environmentally sustainable community compared to development (sprawl).”
Some evidence
Housing affordabilitySupply through zoning; reduce parking mandates that raise housing costs
Sees zoning as council's most direct long-term lever and frames affordability as high demand meeting limited land. Argues removing parking minimums would relieve pressure on housing costs. No public statement found on the housing society, / or inclusionary zoning. [source]
“Let's reduce the pressure on the housing stock in our community, increase the housing stock in our community, and make it more affordable for folks to live here.”
Some evidence
Homelessness & supportive housingVoted for ; asks residents to propose alternative sites rather than only object
Part of the unanimous July 2026 vote for the Government Road supportive-housing lease, where he questioned BC Housing on building trust with the community. On the temporary housing site for the downtown he urged residents to suggest alternatives once a site is announced. [source]
“If you don't think this site should be selected, please take the next step and suggest which sites should.”
Some evidence
Policing & community safetyHasn’t said
We could not find anything Andrew has said publicly about this.
Taxes & spendingAccepts increases if money is spent efficiently; strict on project costing and permissive tax exemptions
Voted for the 2026-2035 plan despite misgivings about absorbing capital cost overruns. Names reforming how property tax rates are calculated as his top accomplishment, has the most property-tax dissents on council (mostly against permissive exemptions), moved a failed 2025 amendment to cut the Brennan Park line item, and warns projects such as the Pemberton-Laurelwood bridge are under-costed. [source]
“It's very easy to say somebody else should pay, but if somebody else is paying, they're part of our community, and we are paying.”
Well documented
Environment & Woodfibre LNGSwing vote on Woodfibre LNG; climate action through enabling individual choices
The only member to vote against both denying and approving the in April 2024 (he wanted a security deposit nearer $10M), then voted to reconsider and voted for the two-floatel permit in 2025; voted against the FortisBC lodge permit and against joining Sue Big Oil. Says climate change is human-caused and council's role is infrastructure that lets people choose lower-carbon options. On WLNG money, says the town has many capital needs to prioritise. [source]
“There is no question in my mind that the Earth's climate is changing due to the carbon that humans are emitting into our atmosphere.”
Well documented
Transportation & transitMarket-based parking reform; supports cycling and transit; voted against the 30 km/h downtown zone
His most detailed issue: pay parking where demand is highest ('not a revenue thing'), revenue kept local, and no parking minimums. Usually rides an e-bike when working in town and supports bike infrastructure and more frequent transit. Voted against the Dec 2024 motion that set the 30 km/h downtown limit and asked staff to scope a 40 km/h limit elsewhere; his reasons were not found in the sources reviewed. No statement found on regional transit funding. [source]
“It's not a revenue thing. It's a management of the system.”
Well documented
Jobs & local economyHasn’t said
We could not find anything Andrew has said publicly about this.
Andrew’s own priority list
- Fiscally and environmentally sustainable core infrastructure
- Fair and responsible development zoning
- Reasonable and reliable recreation amenities
- Realistic capital-project planning, cost forecasting and delivery
- Focusing council on what is within municipal jurisdiction
- Spending tax money efficiently
About Andrew
Instructor of Computing and Data Science at Capilano University with a PhD in physics (University of Alberta); worked at CERN on the Higgs boson discovery and has lived in the US, Switzerland and South Africa. Husband and father of two; one-term councillor (2022-2026). Built bcmunicipaldata.org to let residents explore BC property tax data.
Where Andrew leans on money, growth and LNG
Worked out from Andrew’s public statements and votes — not a label they chose. See everyone side by side.
Sources we used (21)
- Andrew Hamilton for Squamish Council (campaign site)
- Andrew Hamilton campaign site - Property Tax Data
- Squamish Chief - Andrew Hamilton emphasizes project planning in re-election bid
- Squamish Reporter - Local elections 2026: Will Squamish councillors run again?
- Squamish Chief - 'Tough budget': council adopts first decade-long financial plan
- Squamish Chief - Squamish council defeats WLNG floatel TUP for now
- Squamish Chief - Council approves two-year permit for Woodfibre LNG floatels
- Squamish Chief - Council rejects FortisBC workers' lodge TUP
- Squamish Chief - Council votes to add the District to Sue Big Oil campaign
- Squamish Chief - Council advances Garibaldi Estates pre-zoning
- Squamish Chief - Should the District make it easier for developers to build?
- Squamish Reporter - Council votes 5-2 on housing near transit routes
- Squamish Chief - Council approves commercial zoning on The Boulevard
- Squamish Chief - Council approves revised Finch Drive townhouse development
- Squamish Chief - Council endorses lease for supportive housing on Government Road
- Squamish Reporter - Public won't be allowed input on location of temporary housing site
- CBC - Speed limit reduction to 30 km/h gets green light in downtown Squamish
- District of Squamish minutes, Oct 3 2023 (permissive tax exemption votes)
- District of Squamish minutes, Dec 17 2024 (30 km/h vote)
- District of Squamish minutes, June 3 2025 (38026 Second Ave DP vote)
- District of Squamish minutes, Apr 22 2025 (Brennan Park line-item amendment)
Hear it from Andrew directly
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