Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama was removed from caucus following public statements in support of Palestine and now serves her riding as an Independent
On Oct. 23, the Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles released a statement informing the public that Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama had been removed from the caucus. Jama was first elected to caucus in Mar. 2023.
This action was taken following controversial public statements made by Jama in support of Palestinian liberation two days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Jama received immediate backlash following her initial statements on X, formerly Twitter, from both the community and her fellow Canadian politicians.
In response to Jama’s initial statements on X, Premier Doug Ford accused her of antisemitism and he called for her resignation from the caucus.
Stiles’ Oct. 23 statement detailed that following Jama’s initial posts and the subsequent backlash, her and Jama were able to reach an agreement to keep her in the caucus. However, Stiles stated that due to multiple “unilateral actions” that have contributed to "an unsafe work environment", the decision to remove Jama from the caucus was finalized.
Despite this decision to remove Jama, Stiles’ statement noted that the NDP would be voting against the Conservative motion to censure Jama. This motion prevents the Speaker of the House from recognizing Jama until a verbal apology is made and deletion of her original social media post.
Several public figures have spoken out in Jama’s defense, including CUPE Local 3906 President Fred Hahn and Ward 2 city councillor Cameron Kroetsch.
Kroetsch released a formal statement on Instagram, calling Jama’s removal “an extreme move, absolutely uncalled for and a terrible attempt by Premier Ford to distract from the shame and scandal his party has perpetuated while in government”.
Many continue to speak out both in support of and against Jama’s removal from caucus.
This is an ongoing story.
Social media statement made by CUPE 3906 regarding Hamas attacks in Israel has sparked responses from McMaster and community members
cw: discussion of ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict
Cover photo taken during 2022 CUPE 3906 strike and used for illustrative purposes only.
Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, statements have been issued by CUPE Local 3906 and McMaster University representatives. CUPE Local 3906 is the largest union on campus, representing 3,500 McMaster employees, including teaching assistants, sessional faculty and postdoctoral fellows.
On Oct. 7, CUPE 3906 publicly expressed their support for Palestine on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, sparking controversy in the community.
CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn doubled down on this messaging on his personal social media, tweeting support for Palestinian resistance and anti-Israel sentiments.
Some members of the McMaster and Hamilton community have voiced concerns regarding Hahn’s comments, expressing that the union does not represent their beliefs.
CUPE 3906’s Instagram and X statements were taken down due to the backlash.
Soon after on Oct. 7, McMaster issued a statement entitled “Violence is never a solution,” denouncing CUPE’s recent comments on the conflict. A McMaster Daily News article also released that day stated that the university was “shocked and disappointed” with CUPE’s comments.
"While CUPE Local 3906, which represents Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants in lieu, Sessional Faculty and Post-Doctoral Fellows, is an independent group with the right to express its views, the university is in disagreement with any statement condoning violence," read an excerpt from the Oct. 7 Daily News article.
Provincial and federal government representatives, including Premier Doug Ford and federal Labour Minister Seamous O’Regan, also publicly condemned Hahn’s comments.
"This is not a reflection of Canada's labour movement and we cannot let it take away from the outpouring of support union leaders have expressed for Israel," said O'Regan, regarding Hahn’s comments.
Other representatives, including Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama, echoed similar statements to Hahn. In response to the war declared in Israel, Jama released a statement on X calling for an end to apartheid and the occupation of Palestinian land.
Like Hahn, Jama’s statement also drew criticism from government officials. Jama and NDP Leader Marit Stiles released apologies and Jama later amended her original statement to also condemn violence by Hamas on Jewish people.
Despite the overwhelming backlash, as of Oct. 18, CUPE Local 3906 has not retracted from their stance. On Oct. 10, a new statement was issued on CUPE 3906’s website, further explaining their initial stance in support of Palestinian liberation.
McMaster President David Farrar, the Office of the Provost and many McMaster faculties have acknowledged this is an incredibly difficult and mournful time for many student communities and offered support resources.
“As always, the physical and psychological safety of our community is paramount, and we are committed to making sure everyone feels safe and respected in our teaching, learning, working, living, and research environments,” read an excerpt from an email statement from McMaster President David Farrar shared on Oct. 13.
This is an on-going story.
For more information on accessing mental health and support resources, visit the newly formed McMaster community support resource page. This resource includes links and contact information for the Student Wellness Centre, Student Accessibility Services, the Spiritual Care and Learning Centre and several other McMaster services.
Sarah Jama, an activist and McMaster graduate, is the NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre seat in the Mar. 16 byelection
McMaster University graduate Sarah Jama continues to make waves within the Hamilton political sphere. Most recently, Jama’s extensive activism, community engagement and involvement in Hamilton politics have led her to be acclaimed as the Ontario NDP candidate for Hamilton Centre seat.
The Hamilton Centre seat became vacant in Jul. 2022, when Andrea Horwath stepped down from her MPP position to run for mayor of Hamilton. Jama ran and was confirmed as the NDP candidate in Nov. 2022. The byelection to fill the Hamilton Centre seat will take place on Mar. 16.
Jama explained that her experience with politics and advocacy began at McMaster, when a required lecture was being held in a wheelchair-inaccessible lecture hall.
“There was a sign on the door saying this lecture has moved to [Burke Science Building]. Half the class went to BSB, but he continued to lecture in the inaccessible room because he was like, I've taught for years here and I'm not going to switch just because you need to take a different class … So, I got upset and I was like, you know what? I'm going to try to see if I can get involved,” said Jama.
There was a sign on the door saying this lecture has moved to [Burke Science Building]. Half the class went to BSB, but he continued to lecture in the inaccessible room because he was like, I've taught for years here and I'm not going to switch just because you need to take a different class … So, I got upset and I was like, you know what? I'm going to try to see if I can get involved.
Sarah Jama
Jama’s struggle to obtain proper accessibility requirements to attend her lecture prompted her to get involved with the Student Representative Assembly.
Along with the SRA, Jama joined several clubs and organizations dealing with advocacy and policy on campus. Jama was a student representative for the President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community, a member of the McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance, the president of McMaster Womanists and an orientation and transition assistant.
“While I was learning about structures in terms of how to influence change internally, by way of bylaw or policy (which was messed up because even after I got onto the SRA, it was the case that many people didn't look like me or care about the issues I wanted to talk about), I was also learning about organizing outside of systems by joining as many clubs as I could on campus,” said Jama
While I was learning about structures in terms of how to influence change internally, by way of bylaw or policy (which was messed up because even after I got onto the SRA, it was the case that many people didn't look like me or care about the issues I wanted to talk about), I was also learning about organizing outside of systems by joining as many clubs as I could on campus
Sarah Jama
After her time at McMaster, Jama became the lead organizer and co-founder of Disability Justice Network of Ontario. Her lived experience with cerebral palsy has provided her with perspective on the challenges faced by the disabled community in Ontario.
Jama’s other recent work includes rallying against urban sprawl, picketing for underpaid and overworked health care workers and advocating against the expansion of Canada’s Medically Assisting people in their Deaths program.
Throughout Jama’s extensive community and political work, she has maintained a connection with McMaster through volunteer initiatives and as a sessional instructor for INSPIRE 3II3, Intro to Disability Justice, this past spring.
Despite political achievements outside of her time at McMaster, Jama emphasized the power and responsibility that students have in inciting change. The housing crisis, investment into the HSR and the nuisance bylaw have all been major issues within Hamilton’s political sphere that directly affect students.
“Students have the ability to, on a broader scale, influence politics and policy in the city and build the city that we want to see, but we're made to feel as though we don't belong in the city, or that it's not ours. Millions of dollars get paid into the HSR by MSU students. We have a lot of political capital and ability to organize and talk about issues that impact us,” said Jama.
During the Silhouette’s discussion with Jama, she explained that students should seize the opportunity to enact change and reformation while still on campus. Jama explained that she sees campus as a microcosm of society and that its small-scale makes it an ideal environment for students to get a feel for policy and advocacy before entering the professional world.
“Whether it's protesting or getting involved in policy, you lose very little by developing those skills on campus. Whereas people who are outside of campus, sometimes with a lot less privilege and access to these spaces or resources, can face way more repercussions,” said Jama.
As previously stated, the Hamilton Centre byelection is taking place on Mar. 16, 2023. More information can be found at Elections Ontario.
Sarah Jama
Social Psychology Level IV
Sarah Jama considers her presidential campaign a “people’s platform” and her effort to put forward a diverse platform have not gone unnoticed. Her platform breakdown makes it clear that Jama did careful research into the needs of multiple groups on campus, and has set out goals to properly represent them.
One of Jama’s focuses is on interfaith equity. Jama hopes to collaborate with Hospitality Services to encourage a wider variety of food for religious restrictions by making kosher food available beyond the Student Center.
Space on campus is a big point in this year’s presidential election. Jama wants to advocate for prayer space around campus.
In comparison to the platforms of other candidates, Jama strayed away from adding a new building to our campus. “Rather than creating an entirely new space, I think we should use what we have now,” Jama said. As an alternative, she referenced the opportunity for a prayer space out of Bridges Café as well as the ongoing construction of the LR Wilson Building.
In our discussion, Jama put the greatest emphasis on her point to advocate for the reversal of MSAF changes. In May of 2015, the MSAF was changed to allow students to only use it during a three-day span of time instead of five days, and only for assignments less than 25 percent instead of 30 percent.
“Students are intelligent. If we ask them, they will give us better solutions.”
“The MSAF helps people with disabilities as well. People who can’t access accommodations from Student Accessibility Services because they’re newly diagnosed with disabilities,” she explained.
The reversal of the MSAF is only the first step. Jama is also pushing for students to be involved in further dialogues about MSAF changes. “As MSU president, I want to hold working groups to make sure that student voices are being brought to the table,” as they have been scarce in the past. “At the committee discussion MSAF changes, it was students who were lacking. Students are intelligent. If we ask them, they will give us better solutions.”
As for her most ambitious platform point, Jama wants to work with every Student Union across Ontario to lobby the government for lower tuition. Knowing that tackling tuition is no small beast, Jama met with McMaster University President Patrick Deane twice to discuss ideas and was met with approval. “[Deane] actually sits on a similar province-wide board at an administrative level. I want to mirror that at the province level for student unions.” The student unions at Brock University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology have joined the MSU in expressing support for the idea.
If elected, Jama would be continuing the efforts to lower tuition that current President Ehima Osazuwa began this year. The MSU is currently campaigning for a tuition freeze, but Jama is skeptical of how much a tuition freeze can do given that Ontario has the highest provincial tuition rates in the entire country and that it will only continue to rise due to inflation.
Jama also plans to instill an Emergency Meal Plan that will function similarly to the MSU Emergency Bursary. Students demonstrating financial need receive a meal card to use for the month. However, the project will likely face many of the same issues as the Emergency Bursary, which has struggled with exhausted budget in the face of high demand.
While her campaign might not have the most illustrious or attention-grabbing platforms in this year’s election, Jama’s quieter approach shows that she is listening.
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In her words...
Most ambitious platform point
“Lowering tuition”
Candidate platform you are critical of
Justin’s courseware price reduction
I’m unsure of how the current space will accommodate for long lines.”
For or against VP Referendum
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“Jonathon Tonietto”
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Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Reza Moridi, came to McMaster this afternoon to announce an additional $6-million investment in accessibility programs at Ontario Universities.
“McMaster University is a fitting place for today’s announcement. This is an institution committed to creating and supporting a learning environment, and has put a lot of thought and planning into ensuring that students with disabilities have access to the services and support they need to thrive and prosper,” said Moridi.
The province will be investing $4.5 million to help students with disabilities through an Accessibility Fund for Students with Disabilities, and a Summer Transitions Program. Similar to McMaster’s Shifting Gears program, the Transitions Program will offer workshops and courses for high school students with disabilities coming into postsecondary education.
Jama addresses the crowd on the importance of increased accessibility
“It’s very hard for students sometimes to transfer from high school to university without this kind of support, because often, students with disabilities are not taught to self-advocate and speak up for themselves.
“Programs like this, and funding like this, will teach students that they matter, that they belong here, and that there is a space for them and a voice for them at McMaster,” said Sarah Jama, McMaster student and Ontario Director of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students.
This announcement comes on the heel of Jama’s recent presentation to the Student Representative Assembly’s June 21 meeting, on a proposed increase to the services provided for students with both visible and invisible disabilities. Jama, also a member of the SRA’s Social Sciences Caucus and Abilities Ad Hoc Committee, addressed the need for a peer-based program that will allow students with disabilities to help one another, at this past Sunday’s meeting. Today’s announcement will hopefully lead to meeting the clear need and demand for increased accessibility services on campus.
The remaining $1.5 million of the investment will be going towards a variety of programs including: note-taking services for students with visual impairments; interpreter services for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing students; learning assessment services; and computer and tablet applications that change text-to-speech and vice versa.
Previous investments in accessibility on campus have lead to the creation of the Accessible Campus website, the Innovative Design for Accessibility, or IDeA, competition for students, among other campus-based initiatives across the province.
Moridi explained that Ontario universities and colleges have seen close to a doubling of students with disabilities since the first implementations of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act in 2003, thus making accessibility on campus an even more pressing issue.
“Your success matters to all of us. Together we can build a more accessible, more enlightened, more inclusive, and more economically prosperous Ontario.”
