Know your riding — Canada Votes 2025: Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas

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

This west Hamilton riding will be represented by a new member of parliament no matter who wins. 

Former MP Filomena Tassi announced she would not run for re-election in the fall, citing a "deeply personal" reason. Now, major party candidates running to replace her include Hamilton city councillor John-Paul Danko and Erika Alexander, granddaughter of Lincoln Alexander, Canada's first Black member of the House of Commons and first Black lieutenant governor of Ontario.

As of a 2023 riding boundary redistribution, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas spans about 100 square kilometres from Highway 403 in the east to Highway 52 in the west. It also includes part of the west Mountain neighbourhood. The riding's southern boundary is an exurban transmission line and its northern boundary is a Canadian National Railway track north of Governor's Road. 

When she was elected in 2015, Tassi was the first federal Liberal to win in Hamilton since 2004. Prior to that, voters in the riding area supported the NDP. In the 2021 general election, Tassi won about 44 per cent of the vote. 

Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas contains dense, mixed-income neighbourhoods in the old city of Hamilton as well as wealthier suburban and exurban neighbourhoods in the former townships of Ancaster and Dundas. It also includes McMaster University, Mohawk College and Redeemer University. About 120,000 people live in the area.

The median total household income in the riding was $101,000 in 2020, per the 2021 census. About 27 per cent of residents identify themselves as visible minorities.

CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives, asking why people should vote for them. Here's some of what they said, organized alphabetically by candidates' last names.

Erika Alexander, Conservative

Alexander did not respond to CBC Hamilton's survey before publication.

On Facebook, she wrote that it's clear "Canadians want real change," as well as "a lower cost of living and to feel safe and secure in their communities," — a change she says Conservatives will bring about.

Georgia Beauchemin, Green Party 

Georgia Beauchemin, 29, is a full-time student in her fourth year studying disabilities studies and political science at Toronto Metropolitan University. She studied recreation therapy and educational support at Mohawk College and worked as an educational assistant. 

"Voters should be choosing someone who cares about them. My student and work life have all been focused on the needs of other people," Beauchemin said. "The Green Party is the natural home for me and is the natural party to be voting for if you are concerned about climate, affordable housing, taxation fairness, the rights of marginalized people and moving toward proportional representation in Parliament."

John-Paul Danko, Liberal

Danko, 47, is the Ward 8 city councillor and a licensed professional engineer. 

"I am very proud of the work I have done at the City of Hamilton. On Council, I leveraged on my 20 years of private sector experience as a structural engineer and worked collaboratively with my colleagues to improve our Ambitious City," Danko said. "I made a point of working across party lines with our provincial and federal representatives. I believe in the Team Hamilton approach to politics and look forward to continuing to take a collaborative approach to ensuring our city's prosperity."

Roberto Henriquez, NDP

Roberto Henriquez, 37, is a labour and human rights lawyer. 

"I fight for my clients, working-class Canadians, every single day. During this election where working families are taking a back seat to tariffs, Trump, and trade, I commit to keeping the focus on Canadians as a whole," he said. "I commit to advocating for all Canadians and advancing opportunities for all families, both in our riding and across Canada."

Ava Sharavi, People's Party of Canada

Ava Sharavi did not respond to CBC Hamilton's survey before publication. 

On her campaign website, Sharavi describes herself as a "member of the younger generation," who understands challenges like the rising cost of living. She said she is concerned about "uncontrolled immigration," and that Canadian society has been weakened by government overreach, foreign influence and "social engineering in education and media."

Also Running:

Jim Enos, Christian Heritage Party of Canada: Enos's party bills itself as Canada's only "100 per cent pro-life" political party. His website says he has spent 30 years "participating at public tables influencing public policy," and is a "vocal and public figure with a long record of promoting and defending family, life and freedom." Enos has served as a spokesperson and Ontario branch president for his party, including for a recent case in which the City of Hamilton declined to run an ad for the party, deeming it harmful to transgender people.