Sarah Jama

Jama was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility.[1] After graduating from McMaster University with a social science degree, Jama settled in Hamilton, Ontario.[2][3] She is of Somali descent.[4]

Jama co-founded the Disability Justice Network Ontario in September 2018.[2] 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.[5]

In early 2021, she cofounded the Hamilton Encampment Support Network, focusing on affordable housing access.[2] That same year, Jama received media attention when she was arrested in Hamilton while at a protest against homeless encampment evictions in the city.[6] She was accused of obstructing and assault of a police officer.[7] Charges were later withdrawn after she entered into a peace bond.[8][9]

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.[10][11] Jama was acclaimed as the NDP candidate in October 2022.[12][13] 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.[14] She later apologized for her statements.[15]

On March 16, 2023, Jama was elected as the MPP for Hamilton Centre in a landslide, garnering 54.28 per cent of the vote.[16][17]