MPP Sarah Jama reopens Hamilton Centre office as Independent member

Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama has announced that her office will be reopening to the public next week, introducing her as an Independent member of Parliament following her removal from the Ontario NDP caucus.

Jama says the Hamilton Centre Constituency Office is currently operating and available to support members of the community.

An official opening day is scheduled for Nov. 14 when the public is welcomed to tour the renovated space.

READ MORE: MPP Sarah Jama removed from Ontario NDP caucus

Attendees can expect to hear directly from Jama about how she plans to operate as an Independent member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, as well as her next steps with the office.

Jama also says she plans to challenge a Progressive Conservative motion to censure her for her post.

Jama was kicked out of the Ontario NDP caucus after she came under fire for a post she made last month involving the Israel-Hamas war.

READ MORE: Ford government tables motion to censure Sarah Jama for statement on Israel-Hamas

She quoted Michael Lynk, former United Nations special rapporteur, for the situation of human rights in the Palestine territory, calling the situation “apartheid.”

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said that Jama was removed from caucus having “undertaken a number of unilateral actions that have undermined our collective work and broken the trust of her colleagues.”

Stiles had originally defended Jama after the legislator issued an apology for her initial statement, but now says in a statement that she and Jama had agreed that in order for her to stay in caucus they would work together “in good faith with no surprises” but now some of her actions “have contributed to unsafe work environments for staff.”