Chandra Pasma | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pasma in 2022 | |
| Member of theOntario Provincial Parliament forOttawa West—Nepean | |
| Assumed office June 2, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Roberts |
| Critic, Poverty, Homelessness Reduction, and Education[1] | |
| Assumed office July 13, 2022 | |
| Leader | Peter Tabuns (interim)Marit Stiles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1979-09-07)September 7, 1979 (age 45) |
| Political party | Ontario New Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Matt Helleman[2] |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Qualicum-Graham Park, Ottawa |
| Occupation | Researcher/Policy Analyst |
Chandra Pasma (born September 7, 1979)[3] is a Canadian politician, who was elected to theLegislative Assembly of Ontario in the2022 provincial election.[4] She represents the district ofOttawa West—Nepean as a member of theOntario New Democratic Party.[5]
Before her election as MPP forOttawa West—Nepean, Pasma worked as a public policy researcher for theCanadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Her published research included an investigation into state of paramedic services in Ontario,[6] and the rising use of contract labour in Canadian universities.[7][8]
She also previously served as an advisor to the federalNew Democratic Party.[citation needed]
Pasma has also worked forCitizens for Public Justice, and prior to that worked forConservative MPDave MacKenzie until 2006.[9]
Pasma first ran for political office in the2018 Ontario election inOttawa West—Nepean. Although she was narrowly defeated byJeremy Roberts, it was then theONDP's strongest result in the constituency.
In the2022 election, Pasma and Roberts would have a rematch of their 2018 contest. This time, she was elected with 15,696votes (37.54%), marking the first time the Ontario NDP had won the constituency. Pasma was also the only candidate in Ontario who defeated anincumbent conservative in what was otherwise a successful election for the rulingProgressive Conservative Party. Her campaign emphasized access to healthcare and housing affordability.[10]
In September 2022, Pasma criticized the government for providing insufficient income support to the disabled. That month she published anop-ed in theOttawa Citizen as part of her campaign to increase theOntario Disability Support Program.[11]
On July 13, 2022 Pasma was named as the Official Opposition critic for poverty and homelessness reduction by interimONDP leaderPeter Tabuns.[12] She was later made education critic afterMarit Stiles resigned to run for the2023 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election. In this role, Pasma has criticized theProgressive Conservative government for underfunding education as well as for poor air and water quality in school buildings.[13][14][15][16] In October 2023, she co-sponsored Bill 140, which aimed to improve air quality in daycares and schools.[17][18] She has also advocated for resources to address growing violence in schools.[19][20]
On November 23, 2022 Pasma put forward aprivate member's bill,Protecting Human Rights in an Emergency Act which would require apartment buildings to possess emergency generators capable of powering water pumps and elevators.[21] The bill was prompted by the impacts of theMay 2022 Canadian derecho inOttawa; which left many apartment residents without water for over ten days, and trapped residents with mobility issues.[22][23] The bill was defeated on second reading by a vote of 30-66; being opposed by the majorityProgressive Conservative government.[24]
In the2023 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election Pasma endorsedMarit Stiles in her successful bid for leadership of the party; replacing outgoing leaderAndrea Horwath.[25]
On December 4th, 2023, Pasma was among 333 Canadianspermanently banned from entering theRussian Federation. This was as a consequence of Pasma's support of Canadian sanctions against Russia, in response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[26]
| 2025 Ontario general election:Ottawa West—Nepean | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Chandra Pasma | 20,087 | 49.33 | +11.79 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Husien Abu-Rayash | 11,697 | 28.72 | –6.22 | ||||
| Liberal | Brett Szmul | 7,229 | 17.75 | –4.69 | ||||
| Green | Sophia Andrew-Joiner | 976 | 2.40 | –1.13 | ||||
| New Blue | Rylan Vroom | 733 | 1.80 | N/A | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 40,722 | 99.34 | +0.76 | |||||
| Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | 271 | 0.66 | –0.76 | |||||
| Turnout | 40,993 | 45.32 | –2.10 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 90,450 | |||||||
| New Democratichold | Swing | +9.01 | ||||||
Source(s)
| ||||||||
| 2022 Ontario general election:Ottawa West—Nepean | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Chandra Pasma | 15,696 | 37.54 | +5.06 | $125,025 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Jeremy Roberts | 14,610 | 34.94 | +2.12 | $90,418 | |||
| Liberal | Sam Bhalesar | 9,384 | 22.44 | −6.86 | $67,587 | |||
| Green | Steven Warren | 1,475 | 3.53 | −0.30 | $4,298 | |||
| Ontario Party | Vilteau Delvas | 649 | 1.55 | $5,110 | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 41,814 | 98.58 | -0.34 | $127,707 | ||||
| Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | 601 | 1.42 | +0.34 | |||||
| Turnout | 42,415 | 47.42 | -9.62 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 91,223 | |||||||
| New Democraticgain fromProgressive Conservative | Swing | +1.47 | ||||||
Source(s)
| ||||||||
| 2018 Ontario general election:Ottawa West—Nepean | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Jeremy Roberts | 16,590 | 32.82 | −1.06 | ||||
| New Democratic | Chandra Pasma | 16,415 | 32.48 | +18.06 | ||||
| Liberal | Bob Chiarelli | 14,810 | 29.30 | −15.54 | ||||
| Green | Pat Freel | 1,937 | 3.83 | −2.35 | ||||
| None of the Above | Colin A. Pritchard | 542 | 1.07 | |||||
| Libertarian | Nicholas Paliga | 251 | 0.50 | -0.18 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 50,545 | 98.92 | ||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 552 | 1.08 | -0.43 | |||||
| Turnout | 51,097 | 57.04 | +1.10 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 89,575 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservativegain fromLiberal | Swing | +7.24 | ||||||
| Source:Elections Ontario[27] | ||||||||
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