Sarah Jama

Sarah Jama MPP
Jama in 2018
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office March 16, 2023
Preceded by	Andrea Horwath
Personal details
Born	c. 1994 Toronto, Ontario
Political party	Ontario New Democratic
Residence(s)	Hamilton, Ontario
Alma mater	McMaster University
Occupation	Politician activist
Website	www.sarahjama.ca

Sarah Jama MPP is a Canadian politician and disability rights activist who has served as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre since 2023 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). Prior to her election to the Legislative Assembly, she was the executive director and co-founder of Disability Justice Network Ontario.

Background

Jama was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility. After graduating from McMaster University with a social science degree, Jama settled in Hamilton, Ontario. She is of Somali descent.

Activism

Jama co-founded the Disability Justice Network Ontario in September 2018. She appeared before the Senate of Canada's legal and constitutional affairs committee in February 2021 to argue against the proposed Bill C-7, which she said made euthanasia more accessible for people with mental health disabilities, rather than providing mental health supports.

In early 2021, she cofounded the Hamilton Encampment Support Network, focusing on affordable housing access. That same year, Jama received media attention when she was arrested in Hamilton while at a protest against homeless encampment evictions in the city. She was accused of obstructing and assault of a police officer. Charges were later withdrawn after she entered into a peace bond.

Politics

In July 2022, Jama announced that she would seek the NDP nomination in the Hamilton Centre by-election, after former MPP and NDP leader Andrea Horwath resigned to run for mayor. Jama was acclaimed as the NDP candidate in October 2022. Jama's campaign garnered controversy after her statements describing Israel as an apartheid state resurfaced, leading to a request by B'nai Brith Canada for the NDP to drop her as a candidate. She later apologized for her statements.

On March 16, 2023, Jama was elected as the MPP for Hamilton Centre in a landslide, garnering 54.28 per cent of the vote.

Electoral record

2023 Hamilton Centre provincial by-election

External links