Sarah Jama is a Canadian politician and disability rights activist who has served as the

member of Provincial Parliament Member of Provincial Parliament is the title given to provincial legislators in two legislatures: * Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada) * Member of Provincial Parliament (Western Cape) In the Western Cape province of South Africa, Member of P ...

(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 The Senate of Canada (french: region=CA, Sénat du Canada) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the House of Commons, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The Senate is modelled after the B ...

'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 Charges were later withdrawn after she entered into a peace bond.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, garnering 54.28 per cent of the vote.

Electoral record

2023 Hamilton Centre provincial by-election The 2023 Hamilton Centre provincial by-election was held on March 16, 2023. The election was triggered by the resignation of Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) MPP Andrea Horwath. ONDP candidate Sarah Jama won the election, retaining the se ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jama, Sarah Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs 21st-century Canadian politicians 21st-century Canadian women politicians Living people Women MPPs in Ontario Canadian disability rights activists 1990s births Black Canadian politicians Canadian politicians with disabilities Black Canadian women People with cerebral palsy McMaster University alumni Politicians from Hamilton, Ontario Canadian people of Somali descent Wheelchair users Canadian activists with disabilities