Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas

Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas had been represented by NDP MPP Sandy Shaw since 2018, when she defeated the Liberal incumbent in a riding that stretches from Hamilton's west side across the affluent communities of Ancaster and the town of Dundas. The riding is home to McMaster University, one of Canada's leading research institutions, and includes a socioeconomically diverse mix of urban, suburban, and semi-rural areas. Shaw served as the NDP's critic for Environment, Conservation and Parks during the 2022–2025 term, and her re-election campaign came in a riding where polling suggested a tight contest between the NDP and Progressive Conservatives.

Candidates

Sandy Shaw (NDP) — The incumbent MPP, Shaw had a background as a corporate social responsibility strategist and community organizer. Before entering politics, she 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. She served as the NDP's Official Opposition critic for Environment, Conservation and Parks during the 2022–2025 term.

John Demik (Progressive Conservative) — A construction industry professional with over 37 years of general contracting experience, Demik was president of Demik Construction L.P. He was involved in community volunteer work, including serving on the council of his local church and supporting food drives and charity walks for Neighbour to Neighbour Hamilton. He was acclaimed as the PC candidate.

Julia Brown (Liberal) — Born in Hamilton and raised in Dundas, Brown held a background in financial planning from Fanshawe College and had over a decade of experience in public service, including work with the Premier's office and the Ministry of Education. She most recently worked in the financial assistance department at Mohawk College.

Minor candidates included Guy Bisson (Green Party), Lee Weiss Vassor (New Blue Party), Spencer Rocchi (None of the Above Direct Democracy Party), and Nori Smith (Equal Rights Party).

Local Issues

Health care remained a pressing concern for residents across the riding. Despite the presence of McMaster's academic health sciences centre, capacity constraints and staffing shortages meant that even residents near major institutions faced long wait times for surgeries, diagnostic tests, and specialist appointments. The provincial government's approach to addressing surgical backlogs — including the expansion of private clinics — was debated, with Shaw opposing further privatization and the PC candidate arguing that additional capacity would reduce delays regardless of delivery model.

Housing affordability affected the riding unevenly. In Ancaster and Dundas, where property values had climbed steeply, younger buyers struggled to enter the market, while renters in the western Hamilton neighbourhoods faced escalating costs and limited supply. The Ford government's housing-related legislation, including changes to land-use planning rules and the Greenbelt controversy that unfolded during the term, was a focal point. Green candidate Bisson criticized what he described as an emphasis on profits for developers rather than sustainable development.

The Hamilton LRT project, while primarily serving the downtown and east-end corridors, remained a significant issue for this riding as well. Residents debated how higher-order transit investment would reshape the city's growth patterns and connectivity. Environmental protection was another theme, with Shaw drawing on her role as Environment critic to challenge the government's record on conservation, green spaces, and climate policy during the 2022–2025 term.