On the eve of an early provincial election that Conservative Premier Doug Ford says will be called next week, Hamilton Centre NDPers are demanding the Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles reverse the removal of Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama from the NDP caucus.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the Executive Committee of the Hamilton Centre Riding Association states that they communicated to Stiles that they want to hold a local candidate nomination process.
“The riding Executive appealed today one last time to the Party to take a principled stand that clears the way to a fair and democratic nomination process in Hamilton Centre.”
“We look forward to this matter to be fully resolved no later than Monday, January 27 at noon.”
.
They [the executive] “support Sarah’s request to be allowed to contest the nomination” because “What we adamantly support and have been fighting for is a fair, democratic process by which the members of the riding association are able to choose the nominee who they think will best represent our riding.”
The NDP constitution does not allow the Leader to appoint candidates, however, when the Ontario election is officially called on Wednesday, the constitution’s rules will be suspended.
In recent days, Hamilton Centre MP Matthew Green shared a letter he sent to Stiles asking, “What’s the hold-up?” in permitting Jama to seek the nomination.
The Hamilton Centre provincial NDP riding association executive says they will hold a press conference on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Note: The NDP riding association vice president contacted TPR to state that the executive body is neutral on who should gain the nomination. An earlier version of this story said the Executive supported Jama being the nominee.
The NDP riding association Executive emphasizes they are neutral as a body and only seek to permit Jama to be allowed to contest the nomination.
“We do not want to create the incorrect impression that The Executive, as a body, supports one candidate in particular. What we adamantly support and have been fighting for is a fair, democratic process by which the members of the riding association are able to choose the nominee who they think will best represent our riding.”
Production Details
v. 1.2.0
Published: January 24, 2025
Last updated: January 25, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
v. 1.1.0 struck a sentence and added statement from NDP riding association.
v. 1.2.0 added more clarity regarding the riding associations position.
If Jama is put back into office under the NDP banner, and the first thing she does is issues a statement saying that the Ontario NDP is full of racists and fascists, nobody can claim to be surprised.
If they nominate her to run they’ll likley lose the seat as shes too toxic. She can still run as an independent if she wants. If they do nominate her to run under the NDP banner it will be seen by the public that they’re scrambling and really not ready to govern. Strategically they’re better off letting the writ drop and parachute in a well known candidate.
Can you explain the reference to the party’s constitution being suspended during a writ? I’m not sure if that was to suggest that they may wait until after the writ is dropped and then appoint her, which I don’t believe they can do. If memory serves correct, the NDP constitution stated that if no candidate is nominated before the writ, the EDA President becomes the candidate by default.
She announced today she’s running as an independent.
If Sarah is put back in I will not be voting NDP. That will be the first time since Trudeau second term (pierre)