Ontario Votes 2025: Hamilton Centre

• Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the Ontario election here. 

Hamilton Centre has voted for the Ontario NDP in every election since the riding was created in 2005. 

This election will test how orange the lower city riding really is. 

Incumbent candidate Sarah Jama, a disability and anti-racism advocate, won a byelection in 2023 for the NDP, but was expelled from the party months later. She's running again — this time as an Independent. 

The NDP has put forward a first-time candidate, Robin Lennox, a family doctor who works with patients using substances. Members of Hamilton Centre's NDP riding association did not support her nomination and are supporting Jama. 

At a candidates debate on Feb. 18, Jama said she's hearing from voters that they're "really excited about moving forward with a new form of politics" that isn't about party messaging or the party leader. 

Lennox said she's not concerned about vote splitting between Jama and herself, as a lot of voters she's met say they'll continue to vote for the NDP.

"I still see a vibrant NDP community, which is very heartening," Lennox said.

The riding encompasses some of Hamilton's downtown core and runs from Hamilton Harbour to the Niagara Escarpment and between Kenilworth Avenue S. to the east and Highway 403 to the west.

Over 126,000 people live in Hamilton Centre and more than half are renters, according to the 2021 census. 

The average individual income in the riding is about $44,600 — lower than that the provincial average of $56,300.

Liberal candidate Eileen Walker and Green candidate Lucia Iannantuono also participated in the debate, which aired on Cable 14. 

The four candidates focused on how they'd address homelessness and high rents, and all voiced their support for doubling Ontario Disability Support Program payments. 

PC candidate Sarah Bokhari did not attend the debate. 

CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives. Their responses, edited for length and clarity, are reflected below. 

In addition, several of the Hamilton Centre candidates participated in interviews with CBC Hamilton, to be released in coming days. 

Also running for MPP in this riding is Mitch Novosad with the New Blue Party and Nathalie Xian Yi Yan as an Independent. 

Sarah Bokhari, PC

Bokhari did not fill out CBC Hamilton's survey. 

Her LinkedIn profile says she's an executive assistant to the parliamentary assistant. 

Lucia Iannantuono, Green

Iannantuono, 28, studied electrical engineer and works in electronics and hardware design. She said the Green Party is the "ideas engine" of the opposition parties.

"We know how to make a big impact with each MPP at Queen's Park," she said.  

If elected, she will push the Green Party's plan for building "missing middle housing," investing in transit and expanding Ontario Health Insurance Plan to cover mental health care and addictions treatment, among other initiatives. 

Sarah Jama, Independent

Jama, 30, was elected MPP in 2023. Before that she was executive director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, taught at McMaster University and created a curriculum for disability-related history. 

"Party politics has left us behind," Jama said. "I have the freedom to represent the riding without being dragged into party-based arguments that often centre on Toronto." 

She said if re-elected, she plans to address issues related to cost of living, the environment and health care, which are "deeply interconnected." 

Robin Lennox, NDP 

Lennox, a family doctor, did not fill out CBC Hamilton's survey as of Feb. 20.

Her campaign website says she launched an in-patient substance use service at two hospitals and a peer support program. She was also part of the team that opened Hamilton's first and only supervised consumption site, which the Progressive Conservative government plans to close in March.

"My patients have taught me the true meaning of resilience, and they also know what it is we need to do to eliminate homelessness: low-barrier affordable and supportive housing and income assistance that moves beyond legislated poverty," Lennox said. 

Eileen Walker, Liberal 

Walker, 60, is a retired Justice of the Peace, who also worked as a social worker for 21 years. 

"I am concerned about our local economy, and keeping jobs in our community," she said. "I see real opportunity to improve the lives of families in Hamilton Centre." 

If elected, Walker says her first order of business will be to introduce the Buy Canadian Steel Act to ensure all provincially funded projects — like Hamilton's light rail transit — use Canadian steel.