New Democrats gather in Hamilton, where struggles felt across Canada can be seen 'in real time': mayor

Mayor Andrea Horwath took the convention stage on Friday to welcome NDP members to Hamilton — a city she says represents everything that needs to be top of mind as they debate priorities.

"Hamilton is a city of promise and struggle. And the issues that need to be addressed nationally can all be found right here in real time," said Horwath. 

The former Ontario NDP party leader pointed to the housing crisis and families struggling to make ends meet, the "exploding" demand for mental health and addiction services, overwhelmed food banks and shelters and the city struggling to balance its budget.

"As you fight for real change, fight for the people of Hamilton," Horwath said. "As you envision a better way, picture this city in your mind and everything it can be as you make the case for real policies that can improve people's lives." 

The convention is the first in-person meeting of NDP members to be held in five years and will run all weekend. 

NDP MP Matthew Green represents Hamilton Centre and said in an interview having the event in the "working-class city" is symbolic of the party prioritizing "every day Canadians." 

"Every time I come home I'm grounded by the reality of Hamilton," Green said. "It's very easy for people in Ottawa to get caught in a bubble that's so far removed from the lived experience of people." 

NDP to discuss pact with Liberals

About 1,100 delegates are expected to debate the party's "confidence-and-supply" pact with the Liberal minority government. Under the terms of the formal agreement, the NDP supports key government legislation and the Liberals advance a number of NDP policies. 

The party is also likely to consider an emergency resolution about the recent Israeli-Hamas conflict, which ignited less than a week before the convention began. 

Provincial NDP MPP Sarah Jama, who represents Hamilton Centre, was both supported and criticized for her statement this week voicing support for the people of Gaza and calling for a ceasefire. She later apologized, saying she understood "the pain that many Jewish and Israeli Canadians" must be feeling.

Green said he hopes the discussion will now focus on what he's hearing is important from his constituents impacted by the conflict — ensuring their families in Israel and Gaza are safe and de-escalating the conflict. 

"What we are heading to in that region is way more important than the commentary of any one of us," he said.  

Joanne Webb, a labour advocate and member of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, is a long-time supporter of the NDP and said the party's gaining momentum, especially with the recent election of New Democrat Wab Kinew as Manitoba premier. In her home province in particular, people seem ready for change, she said.

"I know Ontario," Webb said in an interview. "We are not happy." 

The NDP holding its convention in Hamilton could boost the party's profile in the region where they lost seats in recent elections, said Peter Graefe, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University. 

In the provincial election last year, the NDP lost Hamilton East-Stoney Creek to the Progressive Conservatives. And Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner narrowly won the Hamilton Mountain federal riding in 2021, ending a 15-year NDP win streak. 

But what the NDP needs to do to build support across the country is come up with bold ideas to deal with housing, climate change and health care that are "quite different" than what the Liberals have done, said Graefe.