Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas

Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas had been a Liberal stronghold until Sandy Shaw flipped it for the NDP in the 2018 election, defeating the incumbent in a riding that stretches from the west side of Hamilton's mountain across the affluent communities of Ancaster and the historic town of Dundas. The riding is home to McMaster University, one of Canada's leading research institutions, and includes a diverse mix of urban neighbourhoods, established suburbs, and rural areas on the riding's western fringe. With a population of approximately 120,000 and an average individual income above the Hamilton average, the riding had a more centrist and suburban character than Hamilton's other NDP-held seats. Shaw entered the 2022 campaign as the incumbent but in a riding where experts suggested an NDP win was not guaranteed.

Candidates

Sandy Shaw (NDP) — A corporate social responsibility strategist and community organizer, Shaw had served on the board of the Hamilton Port Authority and worked with organizations including FirstOntario Credit Union, the Social Planning Council, and the United Way before entering politics. She won the seat in 2018 by defeating the Liberal incumbent and served as the NDP's Finance and Treasury Board critic before being named the party's Shadow Minister for Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

Fred Bennink (Progressive Conservative) — Bennink served as vice-chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board and was the owner and president of Zip Signs in Burlington for 35 years. He was acclaimed as the PC candidate.

Shubha Sandill (Liberal) — An instructor at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Sandill holds a PhD in Geography and a second master's in Globalization from McMaster University. Her campaign focused on health care, housing, education, and sustainable development.

Minor candidates included Syam Chandra (Green Party), Lee Weiss (New Blue Party), and Frank Thiessen (Ontario Party).

Local Issues

The Hamilton LRT project was a significant issue in this riding, as it was across much of the city. The Ford government's December 2019 cancellation and subsequent 2021 reinstatement of the light rail line, backed by a combined federal-provincial funding package, created a cycle of uncertainty. While the proposed route would primarily serve downtown and the east end, residents of this riding were keenly interested in how higher-order transit investment would reshape Hamilton's growth and connectivity. The question of whether the province would follow through on its latest commitment was a recurring theme in local debates.

Housing affordability affected the riding unevenly. In Ancaster and Dundas, rising property values priced out younger buyers, while renters in the more urban parts of the riding's west Hamilton neighbourhoods faced tightening supply and escalating costs. The provincial government's housing-related legislation, including changes to land-use planning rules, was debated by candidates with varying degrees of enthusiasm and concern about its impact on established neighbourhoods and green spaces.

Health care also featured prominently, with residents expressing frustration over surgical backlogs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, long waits for specialist appointments, and limited access to mental health services. McMaster's academic health sciences centre served the broader region, but capacity constraints and staffing shortages meant that even residents close to major institutions struggled with timely access to care.