Sol Mamakwa

Sol Mamakwa MPP (/ˈmɑːməˌkwɑː/ MA-mə-KWA, Oji-Cree: ᓴᐧᓬ ᒣᒣᑫᐧ)[1] is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[2] He represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP). Mamakwa is currently the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.[3] Mamakwa is a member of the Kingfisher Lake First Nation and speaks Oji-Cree as a first language.[4]

Prior to his election to the legislature, he worked for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Sioux Lookout. Mamakwa was one of three MPPs of Indigenous heritage elected in 2018, alongside ONDP colleagues Suze Morrison and Guy Bourgouin, and the second person of full First Nations descent elected to the assembly after Peter North in 1990.[5]

On May 28, 2024, Mamakwa gave a speech in an Indigenous language in the Ontario Legislature. Mamakwa spoke for 10 minutes in Oji-Cree at the start of question period.[6][7]

As of August 11, 2024, he serves as the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and critic for Indigenous and Treaty Relations as well as for Northern Development.

Electoral record

2025 Ontario general election: Kiiwetinoong
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Sol Mamakwa 3,512 62.19 +4.62
Progressive Conservative Waylon Scott 1,438 25.46 –4.48
Liberal Manuela Michelizzi 409 7.24 +1.34
Green Carolyn Spicer 152 2.69 –0.63
Northern Ontario Theresa Leppich 136 2.41 N/A
Total valid votes/expense limit 5,647 98.45 –0.82
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 89 1.55 +0.82
Turnout 5,736 27.65 –2.75
Eligible voters 20,746
New Democratic hold Swing +4.55
Source: Elections Ontario[8][9]
2022 Ontario general election: Kiiwetinoong
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Sol Mamakwa 2,742 57.57 +7.67 $28,237
Progressive Conservative Dwight Monck 1,426 29.94 +2.69 $14,030
Liberal Manuela Michelizzi 281 5.90 −9.28 $0
Green Suzette A. Foster 158 3.32 −2.95 $4,216
New Blue Alex Dornn 156 3.28   $0
Total valid votes/expense limit 4,763 99.27 +0.55 $32,252
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 35 0.73 -0.55
Turnout 4,798 30.40 -15.40
Eligible voters 15,775
New Democratic hold Swing +2.49
Source(s)
2018 Ontario general election: Kiiwetinoong
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Sol Mamakwa 3,232 49.90 –15.60 $17,963
Progressive Conservative Clifford Bull 1,765 27.25 +15.22 $46,104
Liberal Doug Lawrance 983 15.18 –3.56 $28,390
Green Christine Penner Polle 406 6.27 +2.53 $269
Northern Ontario Kenneth Jones 91 1.40 N/A $0
Total valid votes 6,477 98.72
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 84 1.28
Turnout 6,561 45.80
Eligible voters 14,326
New Democratic notional hold Swing –15.41
Source: Elections Ontario[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ @ONPARLeducation (July 13, 2022). "Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867. The names for the 42nd Parliament were recently added. For the first time a Member's name was inscribed in Oji-Cree syllabics" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Ontario Votes 2018: Sol Mamakwa wins new Kiiwetinoong riding". CBC Thunder Bay. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "Sol Mamakwa | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sol Mamawka elected Kiiwetinoong NDP candidate". Sioux Lookout Bulletin, May 16, 2018. He currently serves as Deputy Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party along with Doly Begum
  5. ^ "Sol Mamakwa, seul membre d'une Première Nation à Queen's Park". Ici Radio-Canada Espaces autochtones, June 8, 2018.
  6. ^ "Ontario First Nation legislator makes history at Queen's Park". CBC News. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "'We receive strength in speaking our language': Indigenous MPP makes history at Queen's Park". Toronto Star. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Kiiwetinoong Unofficial Election Results". Elections Ontario. February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Vote Totals From Official Tabulation" (PDF). Elections Ontario. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 12. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Electoral District Inforation - 123 - Kiiwetinoong". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  12. ^ "Political Financing and Party Information". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.