The August 31 decision by Hamilton City Council to include the McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) in its search for an appropriate site for a new stadium unexpectedly drew McMaster into this very important municipal issue. We were pleased to be able to meet with the City Manager and his colleagues to better understand the details of the City's interest in MIP and to be able to discuss our vision for the Innovation Park, the Park's success to date and our plans for future developments and job creation at MIP. We appreciate the professional, focused and sincere approach that was brought to these discussions.

We entered the discussions with the city with a clear set of principles including the need to maintain MIP's vision, visibility and exposure to the 403, and the need to achieve the full value for the premium site that reflected pending development plans. While our meetings were helpful and we kept our minds open to the potential of finding a solution that would work for everyone, our discussions have now ended. It is clear that the significant changes required to place a stadium in the park would not allow MIP to fulfill its vision in building economic opportunity for Hamilton.

McMaster and all three levels of government invested in MIP to bring innovation, investment and jobs to the city. That mission can be seen in action every day with more than 300 people currently working at the innovation park, the CANMET materials technology lab nearing completion, and investments in automotive technology, health research, education and healthcare in various stages of development. Together, these developments are at the heart of what makes an innovation park successful – partnerships, vision, innovation and commitment to a long-term plan.

McMaster values the tremendous public support we have received for our investment in MIP and our commitment to its future. We have been fortunate that the City of Hamilton has been a close partner and has helped to make the innovation park a success. Our discussions provided valuable insight into each partner's objectives. And while we were not able to find common ground on this issue, the partnership between the City and McMaster will continue to bring tremendous value and opportunity to Hamilton.

Sincerely,

Patrick Deane

President and Vice-Chancellor