Hamilton Centre riding could see a tight race come election night

The NDP stronghold of Hamilton Centre could see a tighter race when voters head to the polls on April 28.

No other party but the NDP have held the seat for this riding since its inception, and incumbent Matthew Green seeks to be re-elected for a third time.

However, a Liberal wave in the polls may suggest a potential toss-up this time around.

“As a New Democrat, I rose in the House of Commons 349 times, my colleagues in the Liberal backbench 88 times,” said NDP MP candidate Matthew Green. “So I really think we [the NDP] have the ability to speak up more frequently, more notably and more forcibly than any other opposition that can speak up for Hamilton.”

A longstanding track record at Parliament Hill is one element to Green’s bid to regain his seat in Ottawa.

The NDP incumbent has held the Hamilton Centre seat since 2019.

A party stalwart, Green says financial safety nets like employment insurance are a priority, and he also pointed out to gains from a previous supply and confidence agreement.

“9,000 people in Hamilton have dental care when they didn’t have it before, so it speaks to our ability as [the] opposition party to leverage what we could with the liberals, primarily dental care,” said Green.

Projections are forecasting a potentially closer race in the riding, however.

“He’s [Green] always in opposition,” said Liberal MP candidate Aslam Rana. “These residents should vote for somebody who is part of a real party. If people vote for me and my party is already winning [polls], what the polls are reflecting, I can bring more funding.”

Rana is an engineer who lives in Mississauga, but with ties in the riding he intends to make Hamilton his permanent home.

He is campaigning on supports for impacted workers from tariffs, addressing waterfront pollution and fixing city infrastructure.

“Look at infrastructure, mainly the roads,” said Rana. “Two of three of the worst roads are in this riding, so I want to be the bridge that helps the infrastructure projects and bring the fund to collaborate with the municipal government.”

Eight total candidates will be on the ballot sheet come April 28, including four from parties that hold seats on the hill.

CHCH News attempted to reach Hayden Lawrence, the Conservative MP candidate in Hamilton Centre, for an interview.

His campaign manager says that Lawrence will be prioritizing his campaign in the neighbourhood.

“Back when I ran provincially, Mike Schreiner had the best housing policy out there and the NDP took it and ran with it,” said Sandy Crawley, the Green MP Candidate for Hamilton Centre. “So we said ‘okay, go and implement it’, so that’s why we’re here.”

The Green activist and musical artist is running with fewer expectations, but ensures the federal Greens have ideas for housing, supports for the homeless and a push for a guaranteed annual personal income.

“It’s important candidates like Mike Morris can elected in Kitchener, it’s important when Elizabeth May gets elected out west, if we get three or four more people in parliament, we can make a difference,” said Crawley.

Some of the candidates in the riding will have their chance to debate each other next Friday on Cable14, which will include questions from CHCH News.

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