Hamilton Centre byelection: Where candidates stand on provincial issues, from housing to health care

The byelection for the next MPP to represent Hamilton Centre is fast approaching.

Candidates have hit the downtown streets, knocking on doors and getting to know residents ahead of advanced polling, which runs March 8 to 10, and election day on March 16.

Voters can already cast ballots at the riding's returning office at the Centre on Barton from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The winner will replace former NDP party leader Andrea Horwath, who stepped down to become mayor last year, two months after she was re-elected as MPP in the June provincial election.

Unlike in regular provincial elections, the winner of the byelection won't be part of forming a new government, but rather will need to make their voice heard in Doug Ford's current Progressive Conservative government.

It's still an important election, said Green Party candidate Lucia Iannantuono.

"This is really a 'message' election," she said. "And I think one of the things that's really important is to have an elected official who is getting up and talking about issues we're not hearing about." 

As of March 3, 10 candidates were listed with Elections Ontario as running for MPP. They are: 

• Peter House, Electoral Reform Party
• Lucia Iannantuono, Green Party of Ontario 
• Sarah Jama, Ontario New Democratic Party
• Matthew Lingard, independent candidate
• Deidre Pike, Ontario Liberal Party
• Mark Snow, Libertarian
• John Turmel, independent candidate 
• Lee Weiss Vassor, New Blue party
• Pete Wiesner, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• Nathalie Xian Yi Yan, Independent candidate 

CBC Hamilton caught up with leading party candidates Iannantuono, Jama, Pike and Wiesner, as they were out canvassing this past week, to find out their stance on big issues impacting residents. 

Housing

Iannantuono for the Greens

• Look for housing solutions on vacant city lands 
• Advocate for low-rise buildings in urban cores

According to her website, Iannantuono is a hardware engineer who has been "active in Hamilton's environmental movement."

Jama for the NDP

• Push back on the Ford government's plan to develop sections of the Greenbelt
• Support intensification and building up the urban core
• Advocate for strong rent controls 

Jama is a well-known disability and housing activist, working as the executive director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario and a member of the Hamilton Encampment Support Network.

Pike for the Liberals

• Push back on Greenbelt development 
• Advocate for stronger rent controls and inclusionary zoning rules for affordable housing
• Improve emergency shelter systems and housing options for people experiencing homelessness 

Pike is a researcher and Hamilton Spectator columnist who runs her own equity consultancy and is an outreach program consultant for the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.

Wiesner for the PCs

• Support Ford government's commitment to building 1.5 million homes across the province by 2031

"The ability to help with the homeless crisis in Hamilton also falls on the backs of increasing the inventory of houses which is exactly what this government wants to do," said Wiesner, who has been an officer with the Hamilton Police Service for 22 years, and has been the supervising sergeant of the crisis response branch since 2019. 

Cost of Living

Iannantuono for the Greens

• Combat urban sprawl to ensure communities are better connected to local products and bring down transportation costs

Jama for the NDP

• Fight for higher minimum wage and increasing social assistance programs such as Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW)
• Confront corporations's price "gouging," in particular grocery stores

"Hamilton families are struggling to pay for necessities," Jama said. "No one in our community should be forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table."

Pike for the Liberals

• Revisit the basic income program with "an eye to a fuller roll out down the road"
• Increase minimum wage 
• Reform rules and rates for social assistance programs like the ODSP and OW

Wiesner for the PCs

• Work with all levels of government to bring the cost of living down

Health care

Iannantuono for the Greens

• Invest in mental health and addiction care 

Jama for the NDP

• Revoke Bill 124 and increase nurses's wages
• Invest in the public health care system, rather than private
• Pay home care workers and personal support workers a living wage

Pike for the Liberals

• Revoke the province's Bill 124 to increase nurses's wages
• Strengthen the public health care system

"Nurses and PSWs, I see the tender care in which they work," said Pike. "They're underpaid and their morale is down and Bill 124 has to go."

Wiesner for the PCs

• Reduce red tape so health-care workers from other jurisdictions can practice in Ontario faster 

Other priorities

Iannantuono for the Greens

• Help municipalities reach their tree canopy goals to combat urban heat islands and flooding
• Push for the province to more proactively adapt to climate change

Jama for the NDP

• Represent people living with disabilities
• Improve their living conditions and housing options

Pike for the Liberals

• Increase resources and support for trans and LGBTQ youth

Wiesner for the PCs

• Improve public safety by bolstering programs that help people struggling with homelessness, addictions and mental health challenges