
Amid internal dissent, Marit Stiles, the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) leader, is contending with increasing demands for her resignation primarily linked to the recent expulsion of MPP Sarah Jama from caucus. The local riding associations, spearheaded by Kitchener Centre, have levelled accusations against Stiles, claiming that she is “out of touch with the one million Muslims in Ontario.”
In an official statement, the Kitchener Centre association claimed Stiles’ inability to foster unity within the ONDP community, coupled with her failure to demonstrate courageous and principled leadership in the face of fascist tendencies rising globally, has pushed them to demand her immediate resignation. The NDP MPP for Kitchener-Centre had resigned in July, with no by-election called yet.
Criticism also stems from the Hamilton Centre association, which denounced Jama’s expulsion from caucus. They labeled the decision as “an assault on democracy” and a “betrayal” on Stiles’ part. The association condemned what they described as Stiles’ surrender to the “anti-democratic censure” by the Doug Ford Conservative government. It also condemned her decision to exclude Jama, who they see as a prominent voice for justice, truth, and human rights, from her caucus.
Sarah Jama found herself in the crosshairs of the Progressive Conservative government and was consequently ousted from the Ontario NDP on Monday. Stiles claimed that Jama had taken actions that undermined their collective work and betrayed the trust of her colleagues, leading to her removal. Reportedly, Jama had also ejected a contradictory speech in the House, leading to legal threats against Premier.
Hamilton Centre association emphasized that this move was a glaring disregard for the constituents, labeling it a betrayal from Stiles and senior ONDP staff. They stressed that it has shattered the hopes of many activists and community members who had rallied behind Jama in the recent by-elections, causing widespread disappointment and resentment. Consequently, the association demands the rescindment of Jama’s ousting along with a review of Stiles’ leadership.
The decision to expel Jama has stirred significant outrage across the board, with critics arguing she should have either been removed sooner or not removed at all. Amid these developments, Stiles reported that no caucus members called for her resignation, but mentioned ongoing constructive dialogues to address the concerns raised. She reiterated Jama was dismissed on grounds unrelated to her stance on the Israel-Gaza situation. Despite this, she felt Jama should have been more considerate in choosing her words.
This argument also echoed in the concerns raised by Jill Andrew, NDP MPP for Toronto-St. Paul, asserting she was sidelined from the decision-making process. Hamilton Centre’s Federal MP, Matthew Green, echoed similar frustrations, underlining that such actions perpetuate historical neglect of racialized voices in decision-making spaces.
Despite these setbacks, Jama continues to hold her elected position and will function as an independent member in the legislature. However, she remains under censure, preventing her recognition by the Speaker until she retracts a social media post concerning the Israel-Gaza war and issues an official apology. The said post remains prominently displayed on her profile.