Voters in Hamilton EastâStoney Creek are set to cast their ballots on Thursday to elect a new Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). The vacancy arose after MPP Neil Lumsden retired on August 4. This byelection is one of three being held on the same day, with the others taking place in Scarborough Southwest and YorkâSimcoe.
Election day is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, with polling stations open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters are required to visit their designated polling location on election day. To find their assigned polling station, voters can use Elections Ontario’s Voter Information Service or refer to their voter information card.
Eligible voters must be 18 years or older, Canadian citizens, residents of Ontario, and specifically residing in the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek electoral district. Voters on the list are only required to present one form of identification with their name, while those not on the list need identification displaying both their name and address. Photo ID is not necessary to vote, and having a voter information card is helpful but not mandatory.
Six candidates are contesting in the byelection, including Jeff Beattie, Heather Curnew, Wieslawa Derlatka, Heino Doessing, Pascale Marchand, and Monique Taylor. The riding previously belonged to the NDP until Lumsden won it for the Progressive Conservatives in the 2022 election and maintained it in 2025. Monique Taylor, a former MPP, is aiming to return to Queen’s Park.
For those who already voted during advance polling on August 26, 27, or 28, there is no need to vote again on election day. Advance voting locations were available throughout the riding from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If voters received a vote-by-mail kit, it must be submitted to Elections Ontario by 6 p.m. on September 3 to be counted. The deadline for applying for a vote-by-mail kit has passed.
The byelection was triggered by Lumsden’s retirement, who is a prominent figure in Canadian football and Ontario politics. Campaign discussions have revolved around various community issues such as housing affordability, healthcare, education, transportation, and infrastructure.
Results of the byelection will be announced as ballot counting progresses on Thursday night. The winning candidate, determined by the highest number of votes, will secure the seat. The electoral system in Ontario follows a first-past-the-post system, requiring the candidate with the most votes to win the election. Stay updated on the latest results and election coverage through CBC Hamilton’s live updates on Thursday night.