Hamilton Mountain

Hamilton Mountain had been an NDP stronghold since Monique Taylor first won the seat in a 2011 upset, defeating the incumbent Liberal in a riding that had swung between the two parties for decades. Taylor had been re-elected comfortably in 2014 and 2018, establishing herself as a fixture in the community. The riding sits atop the Niagara Escarpment, encompassing suburban and urban neighbourhoods on Hamilton's upper city, including areas along Concession Street, one of the oldest settlement areas on the mountain. With a population of approximately 116,000 and a diverse socio-economic mix ranging from public housing to affluent subdivisions, the riding reflected the broader tensions around affordability and public services that defined the 2022 election.

Candidates

Monique Taylor (NDP) — Born and raised in Hamilton's east end, Taylor is a graduate of the Toronto School of Business with a background in hospitality and community activism. Before entering provincial politics, she worked as an administrative assistant to Hamilton City Councillor Scott Duvall. First elected in 2011, she served as the Official Opposition critic for Mental Health and Addiction.

Mike Spadafora (Progressive Conservative) — Spadafora served as president of the Kilty B's Junior Hockey Club and general manager of the Hamilton Huskies Hockey Club. He had also worked as a business development manager in the paint industry.

Chantale Lachance (Liberal) — A lifelong educator born and raised in Hamilton, Lachance worked as a learning resource teacher at Académie catholique Mère-Teresa. She had been a member of the Ontario College of Teachers since 1997.

Minor candidates included Janet Errygers (Green Party), Baylee Nguyen (New Blue Party), and Andy Busa (Ontario Party).

Local Issues

Affordable housing was a critical concern on the mountain. Hamilton lost roughly 23 affordable private rental units for every one affordable unit built over the preceding decade, according to local advocates. The Hamilton chapter of ACORN had spent years pressuring city hall to adopt an anti-renoviction bylaw to protect tenants from being displaced by landlords seeking to raise rents after cosmetic upgrades. Residents in mountain neighbourhoods reported increasing difficulty finding rentals within their budgets.

Health care access, particularly around mental health and addictions services, was a prominent campaign issue. As the NDP's critic for Mental Health and Addiction, Taylor had been vocal about the need for expanded community mental health resources. Hamilton's opioid crisis, which saw paramedic responses to overdoses climb steadily, affected communities across the city, including the mountain. Wait times for mental health treatment and a shortage of family physicians were persistent complaints from residents.

The rising cost of living was the thread connecting many of Hamilton Mountain's local concerns. Residents told media outlets that grocery prices, utility bills, and everyday expenses had become increasingly difficult to manage. For a riding with significant numbers of both unionized workers and minimum-wage earners, the question of which party could most credibly address affordability resonated throughout the campaign.