The Progressive Conservative candidate for an upcoming Ontario byelection was a Liberal donor less than two years ago.
Elections Ontario records show that Zeeshan Hamid, a former Milton, Ont. city councillor, has a history of donations to the Ontario Liberals spanning several years.
Hamid was announced as the candidate for Doug Ford’s PC party in an upcoming byelection in Milton.
The PC Party of Ontario did not respond to a request for comment, but the party lauded Hamid as a “champion” in a post announcing his candidacy Monday.
“Zee is a champion for Milton who will help us get it done by building Highway 413 and extending two-way, all-day GO train service along the Milton line,” the party wrote.
According to public records, Hamid has contributed $3,406 to the Ontario Liberal Party since 2020.
Notably, he made a substantial donation of $950 to the leadership campaign of former Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca in 2020. Del Duca ultimately lost his riding in 2022 and was replaced by Bonnie Crombie as leader the following year.
When asked by True North about his Liberal record, Hamid touted his commitment to reducing highway traffic.
“I want to run for a leader who will get people out of traffic by building Highway 413 and keep costs down for families by opposing the carbon tax. Bonnie Crombie isn’t that leader. Doug Ford is,” Hamid told True North.
The largest single donation by Hamid was a significant $1,200 contribution to the Milton association of the Ontario Liberal Party in 2021.
Additionally, he made a further $310 contribution to the same association in 2022, indicating continued support for the Liberal cause.
Hamid also ran for a federal Liberal nomination ahead of the 2015 election.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has yet to call the by-election. Parties have been fielding candidates to run since former MPP Parm Gill stepped down in January to run for the federal Conservatives.
Crombie has said that she is considering running in the byelection to secure a seat in Queen’s Park after being elected Ontario Liberal leader in December.
“Milton is very close to home for me, so it’s something to consider seriously,” said Crombie.
