MPP Sarah Jama says she's 'hopeful' to return to Ontario NDP after submitting vetting package

Sarah Jama is "hopeful" for a return to the Ontario New Democratic Party, in the lead up to a potential provincial election, she says.

The Hamilton Centre MPP told CBC Hamilton on Thursday she has submitted a vetting package to the party, which is a step toward being able to seek the local NDP nomination. 

The Independent official was elected as the NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre in a byelection in March, 2023. The disability and housing activist won with 54 per cent of the votes. But she was ousted from the caucus in late October that year. 

In an email on Monday to people who supported her original NDP bid, Jama said she's "prepared to run independently if I have to, but it was never my intention to be kicked out of the party and I am still hopeful for a return."

In an interview on Thursday, she said she sent the email to the supporters because many left the party after her ouster.

"[The email] was me saying, 'I am not giving up yet. I want to see this process through,'" she said. She also asked supporters to sign back up as a party member so they could vote for her in the nomination process. 

While it is unclear when a provincial election may take place, throughout the latter half of 2024, Premier Doug Ford sent repeated signals that he may send Ontario voters to the polls this spring in an attempt to secure a third mandate.

Other local candidates have also made announcements in recent months, such as Dawn Danko running for the Ontario Liberals in Hamilton Mountain. Late last year, NDP MPP for Hamilton Mountain Monique Taylor announced she would be running federally, not provincially, next election.

Jama previously ousted from NDP

Jama's ouster from the party has caused controversy for ONDP leader Marit Stiles. Jama was kicked out after she posted a controversial statement in support of Palestinians after the Hamas attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, prompted Israeli retaliation in Gaza.

Jama's original statement was posted to social media site X and called for an immediate ceasefire as well as an "end to all occupation of Palestinian land."

She focused largely on the Palestinian territories, saying "violence and retaliation rooted in settler colonialism have taken the lives of far too many innocent people." She did not directly mention the Hamas attack.

She later apologized for some of the remarks and repeated her call for a ceasefire.

Announcing her ouster, Stiles said that while the caucus allows different viewpoints, some of Jama's actions since making her comments "have contributed to unsafe work environments for staff."

The Kitchener Centre NDP riding association was among those who criticized the move, and called then for Stiles's resignation as a result. 

Meanwhile, others condemned Jama's remarks. The Progressive Conservatives voted to censure Jama at Queen's Park. 

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario told CBC Hamilton in an email that as of Wednesday, the censure order remained in effect.

Party says anyone in Ontario can submit a nomination

Jama has been serving as an Independent since her removal from the NDP caucus.

In September, 2024, the NDP said it was looking into possibly bringing Jama back into its fold, after the party's executive passed a motion to study "electoral scenarios" in the Hamilton Centre riding that would include nominating her as its candidate.

Jama said in October she was leaving the door open, while Stiles said that month the candidate would not be Jama. 

When asked about whether the NDP had changed its mind, Ontario NDP provincial director Kevin Beaulieu told CBC Hamilton in an email this week the party does not comment publicly on received applications, and said "anyone in Ontario can request a candidate application package." 

"Distribution or receipt of the application package does not imply eligibility or endorsement," said Beaulieu.

In response to Jama submitting a vetting package, Hamilton Centre NDP MP Matthew Green said in a social media post he's "encouraged" by the ONDP's decision to "uphold the party's constitutional processes for candidate nominations."

He said Jama's reapplication for the nomination "ensures that the voices of Hamilton Centre residents are fully heard and accounted for."