Hamilton MP Filomena Tassi will not seek re-election

Citing “deeply personal” reasons, longtime Hamilton MP Filomena Tassi announced she would not seek re-election.

Tassi announced her “bittersweet decision” on Oct. 17. She said despite her love of serving the people of Hamilton, it is time for her to spend more time with her family.

Please see my statement: pic.twitter.com/AH14lSZZUJ

— Filomena Tassi (@FilomenaTassi) October 17, 2024

Tassi won her position as Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas MP in 2015. Conservative David Sweet had previously held the riding since 2006. However, it was redistributed in 2012 and Sweet ran for the newly created Flamborough—Glanbrook riding.

Her nomination provoked controversy due to the Catholic Tassi’s earlier comments opposing abortion. This was against Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s pledge all Liberal candidates would support abortion access. However, she later committed to protecting the right to abortion.

She handily won the 2015 election with 47 per cent of the vote. She retained about 45 per cent of the vote share in both the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Trudeau tapped Tassi to serve as Deputy Government Whip in 2017. She then served as Minister for Seniors in 2018, Minister of Labour from 2019 to 2021, Minister of Public Services in 2022 and currently serves as Minister in Charge of  the Southern Ontario Economic Development Agency.

According to parliamentary sources, three other Liberal MPs are also considering running for another term. The decisions come as the Liberals continue to struggle in the polls after nearly 10 years in power.

This struggle is reflected in recent by-election results. There have been four federal byelections this year, all of which the Liberals lost.

First Conservative Jamil Jivani replaced former Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole in Durham. While the riding has long been a Tory stronghold, Jivani swept the byelection with 57 per cent of the vote.

Next, longtime Toronto-St. Paul’s MP Caroline Bennet stepped down to become Ambassador to Denmark. She had held the riding since 1997 and served several ministerial portfolios under Trudeau and Prime Minister Paul Martin. In a crushing blow to the Liberals, Conservative Don Stewart squeaked by to take the former stronghold.

Later, another cabinet minister, David Lametti, resigned his post in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun in Quebec. This newer riding was also considered a Liberal stronghold, with Lametti holding it since 2015.

When it was created, the riding combined four other ridings, all of which had strong ties to Liberals, including Martin’s own seat from 1988 to 2008. However, the byelection proved a close three-way race. Ultimately, the Bloc Quebecois’ Louis-Philippe Sauvé eked out a victory by one per cent.

The Liberals also lost a byelection in Manitoba that same day, though this was no surprise since the NDP have held the riding almost uninterrupted since 1988.

Current polling indicates a crushing Conservative victory if an election were held today. Poll tracker 338 Canada found the Tories would likely win about 222 seats. This is nearly double their current seat count and well above the 172 needed for a majority government. Under this projection, the Liberals would fall to roughly 57 seats, nearly 100 fewer than they currently hold.

The next election is scheduled for October 2025 but could come earlier if the Liberals lose a non-confidence vote.