Ontario Greens bring convention to Hamilton to re-energize caucus, target growth

The Ontario Green Party is looking to re-energize its caucus in Hamilton this weekend. 

The provincial Greens are holding their 2026 convention in the downtown core, and say they intend to prepare for “a long campaign.”

Members of the Ontario Green Party were seen chatting following caucus workshops today, one of many items on the schedule of the party’s convention.

“We’re just really bringing our party together this weekend to help continue to build a ‘people powered movement,'” said Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner. “We need politics that’s going to put every-day people ahead of the rich and powerful.”

At the Hamilton Convention Centre downtown, Schreiner said that on top of environmental policies, the party continues to prioritize its campaign for more funding in health care, education and affordable homes.

“The Ford government’s housing policies have led to the worst housing crisis in the Ontario’s history,” Schreiner said. “Housing costs are at an all-time high, and housing starts are at all-time lows.”

“I put forward a bill that would legalize multiplexes and mid-rises as of right across the province, which is the fastest way to build homes that people can afford,” he added.

With just two MPs at Queen’s Park, Schreiner also believes his party’s growth can be found in Hamilton, adding that the party’s policies fall in line with voters and potential candidates.

“The times that I’ve been involved with the Greens, the topics of our air quality, our water quality, taking care of people in heat,” said Hamilton Green Party candidate Lucia Iannantuono. “These are things that nobody would mention if the Greens weren’t there. It’s important to me that we keep showing up and we keep having those conversations.”

Trailing behind the Ontario Liberals, the NDP and the Ford government, one expert believes the Greens have their work cut out for them.

“We see they’re bringing in the leader of the UK Green party to try and fire up the troops here,” said Peter Graefe, a political scientist at McMaster University. “There seems to be a lot of emphasis on building organizational capacity to run better campaigns. But, it remains they’re a fourth party in a political system which really only rewards two. And so, it’s hard to see them making a great deal of gains. And really what the next step forward — it’s not clear for them. So I guess finding that third seat, because if they’re going to succeed it’s really going seat by seat.”

The Ontario Green Party convention wraps up tomorrow afternoon.

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