Hamilton Centre riding byelection set for March 16

Hamilton Centre residents will vote for their new MPP on March 16.

The provincial government announced the byelection in a release Wednesday, the deadline for Premier Doug Ford to call the vote.

Among the candidates vying for the provincial seat vacated by Mayor Andrea Horwath are New Democrat Sarah Jama, who has been intent to replace Horwath since last summer, when the longtime riding MPP and former NDP leader stepped down to run for mayor in Hamilton.

Jama is co-founder and executive director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario and has worked behind the scenes on political campaigns for federal NDP MP Matthew Green and Ward 3 incumbent Nrinder Nann.

The Ontario Liberal Party announced last month Deirdre Pike as its candidate, describing her as a justice advocate, community researcher, and training facilitator for the LGBTQ and Two-Spirit community.

Pete Wiesner entered the race as Progressive Conservative candidate earlier this month. Since 2019, the police sergeant has supervised a police crisis response unit for those facing severe mental-health and addiction issues.

Lucia Iannantuono is running for the Green Party of Ontario “to protect the city’s surrounding farmlands, wetlands and green spaces from Doug Ford’s expensive pro-sprawl agenda,” the party said in a Wednesday release.

An independent candidate, Nathalie Xian Yi Yan, is also registered to run in the riding.

The provincial electoral district stretches from Highway 403 to Kenilworth Avenue, and from the Niagara Escarpment to Lake Ontario.

Elections Ontario says voter information cards will be sent out starting Feb. 28.

Advanced voting begins March 5.