‘Deep love for Hamilton’; Andrea Horwath joins mayor’s race, resigns as MPP

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Published July 26, 2022 at 11:17 am

Andrea Horwath joined the race for mayor this morning, professing her “deep love for Hamilton” without getting into policy details.

At a media conference across the street from Hamilton City Hall, former Ontario New Democratic Party leader said Hamilton residents “know this race is changing today,” 90 days out from the election on Oct. 24. Horwath is jumping into a race where the challengers include former mayor and Liberal member of parliament Bob Bratina, former taxi drivers’ union head Ejaz Butt, and former Hamilton Chamber of Commerce CEO Keanin Loomis. Loomis was first to announce his plans, launching his campaign over six months ago.

“I have a lot of experience, a lot of networks and connections, and deep love for Hamilton,” Horwath said, while framed by supporters. “I’ve worked for the community of Hamilton for literally my entire life. And that’s with passion and with pride, and people know what they’re getting. I’ve been doing this work for a while, loving every minute, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to do it as mayor of Hamilton.”

Horwath stepped down as NDP leader after 13 years at the helm following the June 2 provincial election, where her party retained official opposition status in the legislature, but with fewer seats. While the NDP failed to form government, Horwath has been elected nine times in Hamilton without a defeat locally — thrice as a Ward 2 councillor before six elections as an MPP.

On June 20, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he was not running for re-election, and endorsed Horwath as a potential successor. That fed into weeks of speculation until Horwath scheduled an announcement for today (July 26). In her remarks, Horwath emphasized her breadth and depth of experience.

‘Today is about the announcement’

Horwath faced specific questions about her platform for Hamilton voters who are facing manifold challenges.

Hamilton declared a climate crisis three years ago, and has shortages of affordable housing and an infrastructure deficit. Over the last term of council, elected leaders have been trying to balance how to increase affordable housing stock without destroying arable farmland. They are also facing pressure about their growth plans from the Ontario PC Party government. The Ontario PCs’ Bill 109, the More Homes For Everyone Act, was passed while Horwath was official opposition leader.

“Today is about the announcement,” Horwath said. “There is a lot of time for those details to come forward, and I will be bringing them forward. We’re not here to announce what all of those pieces are going to like.

“I look forward to the debate, to the conversation, to the working with and listening to, the people of this great city, what their dreams are, what their hopes are.

“You never lead from a position of isolation. You lead by listening to what people have to say, with an openness. That is something I think the people in this city are looking for.”

Joining the mayor’s race means Horwath will resign as the MPP in the Hamilton Centre riding, triggering a byelection only weeks after the provincial election.

Horwath said she gave a lot of thought to leaving her position as MPP. Ultimately, she believes she can better represent her constituents in that downtown riding at City Hall, rather than at Queen’s Park as an MPP.

“I really believe my best way going forward to serve the people of Hamilton Centre, to achieve for them, is through the mayor’s position,” she said. Not only the people of Hamilton Centre, but the people of Hamilton.

“I do respect very much the years of support I received from the people in Hamilton Centre,” she added.

Community organizer Sarah Jama, co-founder of Disability Justice Network Ontario, is seeking the Ontario NDP nomination for the byelection. Hamilton Centre is an NDP stronghold, where Horwath and member of Parliament Matthew Green have had winning margins of 20-plus percentage points in recent years.

“My friends and I have watched for years as people have struggled to survive in (Hamilton),” Jama wrote on Twitter. “We need changes to our healthcare and education systems, and an end to the criminalization of the poor.”

Horwath emphasized that she will be hands-off in the NDP nomination race, and subsequent byelection.

“We have a very democratic process in our party,” she said in response to a media question. “The members of riding association make that choice. I will not get involved in that, especially if I am mayor.”

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