Andrea Horwath

2009 leadership election

On November 7, 2008, Horwath officially launched her campaign to win the party's leadership. The leadership election was held March 6–8, 2009. Horwath led on the first two ballots, and won on the third ballot with 60.4% of the vote defeating Peter Tabuns, Gilles Bisson and Michael Prue.^[11]

2011 general election

The 2011 provincial election saw a rise in support for the NDP under Horwath's leadership. The party won more than 20% of the popular vote for the first time since 1995 and almost doubled its seats to elect 17 members of the legislature. The election also resulted in the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty being reduced to a minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power.

In April 2012, Horwath passed a leadership review at the party's convention with 76% support.

2014 general election

On May 4, Horwath announced that the NDP would be voting against the Liberals' proposed budget, triggering a spring election.^[12] Following this, Premier Kathleen Wynne formally asked Lieutenant Governor David Onley to dissolve the legislature and call an election for June 12, 2014.^[13] In the 2014 provincial election, the NDP was able to maintain its seat count of 21 at dissolution despite the loss of three seats in Toronto, but lost the balance of power when the Liberals took a majority win in the election. Horwath has faced criticism from some party members and progressives for running a populist campaign which they described as right-wing.^[14] Despite criticism of her leadership from some quarters, Horwath received a slightly increased level of support, 77%, at the party's post-election convention held on November 15.^[15]

2018 general election

Horwath ran in her third election as NDP leader against the Liberal government led by Kathleen Wynne and a Progressive Conservative Party led by Doug Ford. Horwath promised to introduce "Canada's first universal Pharmacare plan", highlighted by a universal dental plan and a prescription drug plan that "will initially cover 125 of the most commonly prescribed drugs".^[16][17] She also promised a child care plan in which seventy per cent of Ontario parents "would either have free child care or pay an average of $12 a day in a licensed not-for-profit daycare".^[17] Horwath promised to return Hydro One to public ownership by buying back privately held shares.^[18] She also said that she would close the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station immediately, while the other party leaders have pledged to keep it open until 2024.^[19] The NDP promised to increase corporate tax rates from 11.5 to 12.5 per cent,^[20] as well as introducing an income tax increase for those earning over $220,000 per year.^[21] Horwath said the province would fund half of the operating cost of municipal transit^[22] and indicated that she would not introduce back-to-work legislation.^[18] The party's support in public opinion polls increased in May 2018,^[23] leading to greater media attention and greater scrutiny. With her party gaining official opposition status, she became the Leader of the Official Opposition during the 42nd Parliament, the second highest number of seats in the party's history.^[24] The NDP took all of old Toronto (i.e., what was the city of Toronto before the 1998 creation of the "megacity" of Toronto), as well as all but one seat in Hamilton and all but one seat in Niagara.

2022 general election

Horwath and the NDP released their 2022 platform in April 2022. The NDP's campaign focused on increased funding for social programs and government services, which would be paid for through higher taxes on businesses and individuals earning over $200,000 per year. Funding would go toward reducing class sizes, raising welfare payments and disability payments, subsidies for black, indigenous and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, hiring more healthcare and education staff and increased wages for public servants. The NDP also proposed to expand COVID-19 vaccine mandates, implement a mixed member proportional electoral system, to close down all privately owned long-term care facilities and to stop the construction of new highway projects.^[25] Horwath was re-elected in Hamilton Centre and the NDP won opposition, but it lost 9 seats and placed third in the popular vote.^[26] Horwath resigned as leader election night. The election set a record for the lowest voter turnout in an Ontario provincial election, as only 44.06% of the people who were eligible voted. On August 15, 2022, she resigned as the MPP for Hamilton Centre.

City finances

In the 2023 budget, city council approved a 5.8% property tax increase, with the housing budget increasing by 30%.^[35] Similarly, the 2024 budget increased property taxes by 5.79%.^[36]

Housing

In April 2023, Hamilton city council declared a state of emergency over opioids, homelessness, and mental health.^[37]

In April 2024, following city council's rejection of the plan, Horwath used her strong mayor powers to pass a plan to build affordable housing on a Stoney Creek parking lot.^[38][39] Hamilton’s ethics watchdog later cleared Horwath of wrongdoing in response to a complaint over her role in advancing the plan.^[40] The provincial government had previously rewarded Hamilton with $17.5 million for exceeding 2023 housing targets.^[41]

In August 2024, she endorsed a previously proposed plan on sanctioned encampments offering tiny homes to unhoused people.^[42] The city later banned tents in public parks, and was sued by 14 unhoused residents, citing alleged infringed charter rights. The Ontario Superior Court later ruled in the city's favour in December 2024.^[43][44] The city also approved a plan to build an outdoor shelter on Barton Street, constructed in December 2024.^[45][46]