Order of Hamilton honouree aiming to keep Hamilton East—Stoney Creek NDP orange in June
Published April 26, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Zaigham Butt, who has made his mark fighting food insecurity in Hamilton, was nominated last week to run for the Ontario New Democratic Party in what could be the most competitive local race in the upcoming provincial election.
Butt will be the NDP’s candidate in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, attempting to hold a riding that was represented by Paul Miller for 15 years. Miller was ousted by the party last month over his membership in what the NDP called an “Islamophobic, racist” Facebook group.
An accountant at the Canada Revenue Agency and Stoney Creek resident, Butt is volunteer director of the Pakistan Business Association. The not-for-profit, in partnership with the Crescent Food Bank, coorindators a year-round food hamper delivery service open to people of all backgrounds.
“I’m ready to work hard for the families of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek and fix the things that matter most to them,” Butt said. “The cost of everything is rising, and young people are having a hard time affording their first home. Our health, home and long-term care systems are on their knees from years of underfunding, cuts and freezes by Liberal and Conservative governments, and Hamiltonians are stuck waiting in emergency rooms or on long waitlists for care. These are the big challenges the NDP is ready to fix, and I will make sure we get the services we deserve here in Hamilton.”
Miller got over 50 per cent of the vote (51.15, to be exact) in the 2018 election. But the riding has added many new residents in the last four years, which could deemphasis party loyalties. Both the Ontario Liberal Party (OLP) and Ontario PC Party have nominated candidates with significant name recognition in the city.
The riding’s current and previous federal representatives, Chad Collins and Bob Bratina, were both municipal representatives. The OLP has also looked to City Hall for their candidate, nominating Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr. The Ontario PC Party is running former Brock University sports director Neil Lumsden, whose Canadian Football Hall of Fame-worthy playing career also included a turn with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
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The Liberals’ best showing during Miller’s four successful election wins was 35.12 per cent in 2007. The PCs’ top tally was 28.81 in 2018, when they won a majority mandate.
Butt is a second-generation community activist in Hamilton. His work with the Pakistan Business Association led to him receiving the 2021 Order of Hamilton. His father, Zahid Butt, who came to Canada from Pakistan and worked as a taxi driver, also earned the the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his community work.
“We’re excited to have Zaigham on board,” Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, whose home riding is Hamilton Centre, said in a statement. “He’s a recognized community leader and he’s committed to helping the residents of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.”
Along with Horwath, the NDP has two other MPPs running for re-election: Sandy Shaw in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas (HWAD) and Monique Taylor in Hamilton Mountain.
The PCs’ Donna Skelly will be seeking a second term in Flamborough—Glanbrook.
(Cover photo via Twitter/@ZaighamButtNDP)
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