Premier’s byelection pick has Liberal past

Premier Doug Ford’s candidate in the upcoming Milton byelection has a Liberal past.

Zee Hamid, named the Progressive Conservative standard-bearer on Sunday, has donated $3,508 to the rival Liberals since 2014 — including the local riding association and former leader Steven Del Duca’s 2020 campaign to helm the party, according to Elections Ontario records.

A tech industry professional and father of six, Hamid served on Milton council for 12 years and ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal nomination ahead of the 2015 federal election.

Hamid and the PC media office did not reply to interview requests Tuesday from the Star.

A key Ford cabinet member brushed aside questions Tuesday about Hamid’s apparent political conversion in a swing riding where the Conservatives are concerned Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie may run for a seat in the legislature.

“We have a lot of things in common. He wants to get more homes built faster, so I’m very excited about the byelection coming up,” said Housing Minister Paul Calandra.

A date has not yet been set for a vote to replace former Conservative MPP and red tape reduction minister Parm Gill, who abruptly quit in January to return to federal politics. Gill won the riding by just 1,680 votes over Liberal Sameera Ali in 2022.

Hamid was also a delegate for Del Duca — now mayor of Vaughan — at the 2020 Liberal leadership convention and served as a campaign captain in the Milton area, helping propel Del Duca to a first ballot victory.

“He’s a kick-ass candidate,” said a source close to Del Duca who spoke privately to discuss internal deliberations. “The Tories are lucky to have him. He’ll bring in people from all sides.”

Hamid ran for Milton mayor in the 2022 municipal election, losing by fewer than 1,000 votes to veteran incumbent Gordon Krantz, who has held the post since 1980.

Crombie, the former three-term mayor of Mississauga, has said she is considering whether to run in Milton but no final decision has been made.

“I can’t speak to why they chose him (Hamid) as a candidate … what I do know is in byelections, they’re very local races,” said Liberal MPP John Fraser (Ottawa South), who heads the party’s nine-member caucus in the legislature.

When Hamid ran for mayor of Milton, he was endorsed by Milton Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden.