Matthew Green (Canadian politician) facts for kids

Matthew Green (born September 10, 1980) is a Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamilton Centre. He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 2019. He was re-elected in 2021. In the 2025 Canadian federal election, he was unseated by Aslam Rana.

Matthew Green's Early Life

Matthew Green was born and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario. His father, Raymond Green, was an ironworker. His mother, Susan Scharf-Green, was a school teacher. He studied political science and legal studies at Acadia University.

Learning About Fairness

In 2016, Matthew Green had an experience with a police officer. He felt he was treated unfairly because of his race. He filed a complaint with the Hamilton Police Service. He believed he was just waiting for a bus. The officer said he was checking if Green was okay.

After a hearing, the officer was found not guilty. The hearing decided the officer's actions were reasonable. This event showed how people can use official processes to address concerns.

Matthew Green's Political Journey

Matthew Green was inspired by Lincoln Alexander. Alexander was the first Black Canadian MP from Hamilton. Green joined the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2017. He was inspired by Jagmeet Singh's views on racial fairness.

Serving Hamilton City Council

Green was the first Black Canadian to serve on the Hamilton City Council. He represented Ward 3 from 2014 to 2018. While on the council, he worked to regulate payday lending. This made Hamilton the first city in Ontario to do so.

In 2018, he became the executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI). This group works to promote racial equality. Green identifies as a "Stanley Knowles New Democrat." This means he follows the ideas of a famous Canadian politician.

As a Member of Parliament

Matthew Green was the first Black Canadian to represent Hamilton in Parliament since Lincoln Alexander. As an MP, Green spoke out against police brutality. He supported a national ban on the use of tear gas.

He was re-elected in the 2021 Canadian federal election. This election resulted in a hung parliament. This means no single party won enough seats to form a government alone.

In 2021, Green introduced Bill C-222. This bill aimed to help tradespeople. It would let them deduct travel costs for temporary work.

Working on Committees

Green was part of several important committees in Parliament.

Leading a Committee

He was a joint chair of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency. This committee investigated the Freedom Convoy events. Green believed committee members had a "responsibility" to work together.

Being a Committee Member

He was also a member of other committees. These included the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. He also served on the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

NDP Critic Roles

Green had specific roles within the NDP party. He was the NDP Critic of Ethics. He was also the Deputy Critic for Employment and Workforce Development. He served as Deputy Critic for Labour and Public Services and Procurement.

Matthew Green's Social Causes

Supporting Palestine

Green has spoken about the situation in Palestine. He has criticized Canada's actions regarding Palestinian victims. He has called for a ceasefire.

In January 2024, Green visited the West Bank and Jordan. He met with Palestinian refugees and aid workers. He also met with Jewish peace activists. He shared videos from the Jenin refugee camp. He highlighted the damaged buildings and growing graveyard. This trip followed Canada's vote for a humanitarian ceasefire at the United Nations.

Fighting Poverty

Green supports community efforts to fight poverty. He has spoken against payday lenders. He calls their practices "economic violence." He has also criticized the government's slow response to the cost-of-living crisis. Affordable housing was a key part of his recent campaigns.

Electoral Results