Nearly 20 years after her bid to become the first female leader of the federal Liberal Party, Sheila Copps has endorsed Andrea Horwath in her bid to become Hamilton’s first elected female mayor.
Copps was once the most powerful woman in Canadian politics, having served as environment minister, heritage minister and deputy prime minister in a career that spanned nearly 30 years. She received the Order of Canada in 2012.
Now, with an announcement Friday morning, Copps said “Hamilton is very close to my heart, and I think Hamilton needs its first female mayor.” She said Horwath, the former leader of the provincial New Democratic Party, “is the person who can fill that bill.”
Copps said: “It’s a fantastic chance for Hamilton to step up again.”
The announcement was made at an early morning press conference near the Copps Pier Park cranes at Pier 8.
According to the City of Hamilton’s website, the park was named in honor of “the Copps family’s decades-long commitment to improving water quality and providing additional public access to Hamilton’s waterfront. Hamilton”.
“We are here at Pier 8, truly, a monument to the fantastic work of Sheila and the Copps family,” Horwath said.
Sheila Copps’ father, Victor, served as mayor of Hamilton from 1962 to 1976. In 1985, the Copps Coliseum, now known as First Canadian Place, opened and bears the name of Victor Copps. Sheila’s mother, Geraldine, served as a Ward 4 Councilor and Regional Councilor for Hamilton-Wentworth between 1985 and 2000. Prior to that, she served as a Citizenship Court Judge for nine years.
While Friday morning was Copps’ first official statement of endorsement, she tweeted her support for Horwath in late July.
You are wrong this time Mike. Andrea is much loved in Hamilton. His popularity crosses party lines and his provincial experience will boost his municipal chances. She will make a great mayor with lots of well-deserved support. I predict a great victory! https://t.co/YyZ9hkxaNj
Copps said Horwath’s experience as the former leader of the Ontario NDP “will help her reach out to where planning decisions are made provincially and federally.”
She said Horwath’s ties to the provincial government would help with “money for infrastructure, support, everything from cleaning up the harbor to resolving the situation in Cootes Paradise.”
Horwath plans to release his mayor’s action plan on Monday. She said the plan will focus on affordable housing, the LRT and her vision for Hamilton’s future.
Support for candidate Keanin Loomis
Fellow Hamilton mayoral candidate and former president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Keanin Loomis, has the endorsement of former Environment and Climate Minister Catherine McKenna and Local 873 of LiUNA of Hamilton.
McKenna joined Loomis at his Festival of Friends booth in August, wearing a Keanin Loomis for Mayor t-shirt. McKenna wrote a short Twitter thread in late July that questioned Horwath’s intentions to run for mayor and endorsed Loomis as his preferred candidate.
Hamiltonians deserve better. That’s why I support @keaninloomis. He has spent a lot of time working to build a better Hamilton & has smart, actionable policies to make life better for Hamiltonians – making it safer, cleaner, healthier and with good jobs. And do it transparently.
The Hamilton chapter of Local 837 of LiUNA, a union that represents industrial cleaners, janitors, factory workers, food processors and security workers, also endorsed Loomis.
Great conversation with @voteloomis to discuss issues important to the growth and functioning of our city and to our members. We are encouraged by his foresight and leadership in moving Hamilton forward through collaboration and transparency. pic.twitter.com/Q73KNYiAIu
Support for Bob Bratina
Former mayor and mayoral candidate Bob Bratina has no publicly posted mentions on his social media or website.
CBC Hamilton has asked for comment and has yet to receive a response from the Bratina team.
Ejaz Butt Support
Mayoral candidate Ejaz Butt has no publicly posted mentions on his social media.
CBC Hamilton has asked for comment and has yet to receive a response from Team Butt.
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