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Leader, MPP Hamilton CentreLeader, MPP Hamilton CentreAndrea Horwath (pronounced HOR-VATH) was elected leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party on March 7, 2009. She is the first woman to lead the Ontario NDP and only the second woman in history to lead a major party in Ontario. Andrea was first elected in a by-election in the former riding of Hamilton East in May, 2004. She was re-elected MPP in the new riding of Hamilton Centre in October, 2007. Andrea is one of only two women ever in Ontario to be chosen to serve as a deputy Speaker and one of the Legislature's presiding officers. Among Andrea's many initiatives, her Bill 111 calling for presumptive legislation for firefighters received the rare privilege of being adopted into law as a government bill on May 3, 2007. Andrea is particularly proud that she successfully pushed the government to compensate firefighters for their occupational diseases. She is also trying to pioneer Ontario’s first Registry for Occupational Disease and Workplace Accidents. Other significant initiatives include Andrea's private members bill addressing workplace harassment and violence and another aimed at stopping big box commercial day care and new, for-profit child care centres from establishing in Ontario. Prior to being elected to the Ontario Legislature, Andrea was the City Councillor for Hamilton’s downtown ward and was first elected municipally in 1997. During her three terms as City Councillor, Andrea chaired the Solid Waste Management Master Plan Political Steering Committee and the Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation. Currently she is the NDP Critic for Children and Youth Services and Intergovernmental Affairs. Andrea’s community activism and work began long before her election to City Council. She was a community development worker at McQuesten Legal Clinic, organizing many groups (including tenants, injured workers, people with disabilities) and providing the community with opportunities for public legal education and participation in legislative reforms. She received a Woman of the Year Award in 1997 from the Hamilton Status of Women Committee in recognition of her work in the community. Andrea also dedicated her time and efforts toward the field of social housing and was subsequently awarded the Graham Emslie Award for Community Development in Housing by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (1996-97).Andrea, 46, has been a life-long resident of Hamilton. She received her BA in Labour Studies from McMaster University and lives in Hamilton with her partner Ben and their son Julian. |
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Queen's Park Office |
Hamilton Centre Community Office |