When Sarah Jama first announced that she was going to run for provincial office, my initial thought was, “The Ontario NDP would be so lucky if Jama joined the legislature. The party would finally push back towards its progressive roots.” I was inspired and felt a revitalized sense of confidence in the electoral system as a tool worth investing my energy into.

After initially supporting Jama’s successful run in Hamilton Centre, the Ontario NDP then kicked her out of caucus. Now, Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles says she will run a candidate against her in the next election. This is a mistake for several reasons: it contradicts the commitment to progressive values that the party showed when they first supported her, it risks splitting the vote, and it throws away an opportunity to uplift a leader who has strong roots to her community.