The Hamilton Centre Ontario NDP riding association met online Monday to choose a new candidate following the decision of Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles to bar Sarah Jama from being a candidate for the party.
Jama was removed from the NDP caucus in October 2023 following her remarks and actions regarding the war between Israel and Hamas.
Hamilton physician Robin Lennox won the nomination against registered nurse Aisha Jahangir.
Lennox says she will “continue the tradition of Hamilton Centre being an NDP riding.”
Dr. Lennox Known for Her Political Activism
Lennox is a family physician who specializes in addiction medicine. She is the Co-Head of the substance use service at St. Joseph’s Hospital, a physician with the shelter health network, and the medical director for the supervised consumption service at the YWCA.
She is also a member of the City of Hamilton’s public health sub-committee.
She says she is running to improve health outcomes for all, address gaps in Ontario’s health systems, repair and expand the social safety net, climate issues, housing, and food insecurity.
“I am just a frontline worker wanting to serve,” Lennox said.
She spoke about treating patients suffering from malnutrition, about seeing people who have full-time jobs but cannot afford their prescription medications because they do not have private health benefits and make too much income to receive government support for prescriptions.
Lennox opposes the City of Hamilton’s past blanket bans on encampments.
“The practice of medicine has always been political,” Lennox said.
30 NDP Members Gathered at the ATU Hall for a Group Viewing of the Nomination
During Monday’s online nomination meeting, just over 30 members of the Hamilton Centre NDP gathered in person at the ATU 107 hall to discuss the future of the riding, participate in the online nomination together, and cast their ballots.
[The riding association roll had 381 active members at the call of the nomination period.]
Lennox planned to join them in person but sent last-minute regrets.
She stated her young daughter came home from school with a fever, “I could not miss bedtime tonight.”
Riding Association Execs Declare They Will Vote for Jama
Judging by the opinions expressed among those gathered at the ATU hall, Lennox will not be able to count on many identified NDP voters to support her.
Before the nomination meeting began, attendees introduced themselves and shared why they joined the NDP.
Most added that they will vote for Jama, regardless of who won the NDP nomination.
“This will be the first time I won’t vote NDP,” Tom Baker told his fellow party members.
Baker is also the current riding association president.
“I am voting for Sarah Jama; nothing can change my mind,” one member in the room stated.
Only two people stated they will vote for the NDP candidate.
One of them, long-time Hamilton Center NDP member Mike Belmore, questioned the executive members about their decision not to support the NDP candidate.
[Belmore posted a thoughtful thread on the matter to Bluesky.]
Riding association vice-president David Mivasair responded that being on the riding association executive at present is challenging, and they worked to ensure a fair nomination process.
Mivasair, a vocal supporter of Jama, recently posted a picture of his new Sarah Jama lawn sign on his personal social media accounts.
Hamilton Centre NDP MP Matthew Green, Ward 2 City Councillor Cameron Kroetsch, and Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann have all publicly endorsed Jama’s independent candidacy.
Outreach Help Lennox Secure Nomination
Lennox spent the last few weeks reaching out to and meeting with NDP members, an outreach appreciated by some of Jama’s most ardent supporters.
Boos and Jeers for Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles
During her speech, Jahangir stated she was running to “win for the Marit Stiles Team,” drawing loud boos and jeers towards the video display among those in the ATU hall. Each reference to Stiles drew similar responses. [Stiles did not attend the Zoom meeting.]
Ontarians will go to the polls on February 27. (Hamilton Centre voters can learn more about voting from Elections Ontario here.)
Related: My opinion piece from last week explains the organizational strength of Jama’s independent riding association and why she is likely to win re-election.
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Published: February 4, 2025
Last updated: February 4, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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