The Hamilton Centre NDP will now try to overcome the internal divisions of the past 18 months. It will fall to nearly elected MPP Dr. Robin Lennox to lead the efforts.
Lennox is an articulate communicator, good listener, and set out from the beginning of the nomination process in January to build relationships with NDPers who remain steadfastly loyal to former NDP MPP Sarah Jama.
I first met Robin Lennox in March 2013 at a TEDxHamilton event organized primarily by McMaster medical students. I left the conversation and noted that she is articulate and purpose-driven.
During her medical education, she volunteered with street outreach groups, attended neighbourhood meetings, and involved herself in our Hamilton community.
It was no surprise when Dr. Lennox chose to set up her medical practice here.
February 3, 2025, ATU 107 Hall
It’s been a week since Lennox announced she is seeking the NDP nomination. Pick your emotion word for a person stepping into this political fray.
I attended the riding association executive’s in-person nomination meeting to observe and report.
The Ontario NDP headquarters conducted the nomination meeting using Zoom—they had no choice. The Hamilton Centre riding association executive is loyal to Sarah Jama, who has been ousted from the provincial caucus and is not permitted to contest the nomination.
The thirty or so people in the room are, no surprise, mostly Sarah Jama loyalists.
Someone says ‘Dr. Lennox planned to be here tonight, but her daughter has a fever.’
That was unexpected: I thought, she’s brave to walk into this room.
Shortly after 8:00 p.m., Lennox, on Zoom, opened her nomination address by speaking directly to those gathered in the ATU hall, said she wished to be with them in the room, but her daughter came home from school with a fever and she “could not miss bedtime tonight.”
Lennox’s January Outreach
Lennox’s willingness to engage with anyone and her acceptance that reasonable people can disagree means she can slowly mend relationships and rebuild the Hamilton Centre NDP.
Politics is about relationships. Lennox is already building them.
During that February 3rd gathering at the ATU Hall, provincial riding association President Tom Baker declared his support for Jama, saying “This will be the first time I won’t vote NDP.”
A few minutes later, he discussed how the provincial party was not communicating with the dissident executive.
He said Lennox was sharing information with the executive and remarked positively about her efforts to work with them.
There will be roadblocks and challenges – people on each side of this NDP feud have been ‘taking names.’
As a party, the NDP has the right to decide who is, or is not a member – they may need to remove some of the name-takers from both factions.
Dr. Lennox may find healing a political party more challenging than healing patients.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: February 28, 2025
Last updated: February 28, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version