Riding profile: Hamilton Mountain, where a TV reporter, youth worker and former MP are facing off

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In Hamilton Mountain, a youth worker, a TV reporter and a former Niagara MP are competing torepresent 104,877 people, and an area of 33.14 square kilometres.

The NDP have held the seat since 2006, but outgoing MP Scott Duvall isn't running again. Instead, a former Niagara Centre MP who lost his riding in 2015, Malcolm Allen, is running for that party.

Lisa Hepfner, a CHCH reporter, is running for the Liberals, and youth worker Al Miles is running for the Conservatives. It's Hepfner's first run. Miles has run in this riding before.

The Mountain riding goes from the escarpment to Rymal Road, and Garth and West 5th area to Mountain Brow Boulevard. The average age of residents there is 41, and25,815 people live in a single detached house.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2015, the median annual income of someone 15 or older in a private household was $39,328, and the average household income was $81,746.

There are 2.6 people per household, and of the 88,105 people over 15, 40,370 are married. Most people drive to work.

With the federal election on Sept. 20, we reached out to all ridingcandidates to find out what theyoffer. Here's what they told us:

Malcolm Allen, NDP

Occupation: Electrician.

Doyou live in the riding? Yes, I live in the ridingon Crockett Street in the Concession Street neighbourhood.

What makes you qualified to represent theriding?

I'm a working-class person who has served in leadership positions in my union (Unifor), elected town councillor and two- term federal MP. I know how parliament works and how to get things done for the constituents of Hamilton Mountain.I can hit the ground running.

What issues would you like to address on day one?

Affordability. It should not cost an arm and a leg to purchase a home or rent a decent apartment. Youngpeople should not be saddled with student loan debt for decades, and seniors's pensions need to be increased and protected.

What makes Hamilton Mountain different from other ridings?

The people.

What investments should the federal government make to make transit faster and more accessible for people on the Mountain?

Public transit is a major part of our commitment to tackle climate change.An NDP government would provide more then $4.4 billion annually to municipalities to get projects like Hamilton's harbourfront-to-airport corridor up and running quickly.

Lisa Hepfner, Liberal

Occupation: CHCHjournalist.

Do you live in the riding? No answer.

What makes you qualified to represent theriding?

I've represented theridingthroughout my journalism career and have had the privilege of hearing from and telling the stories of Hamilton Mountain residents for more than two decades. I have established strong relationships with cultural, business, and political stakeholders and these, along with my educational accomplishments including a recent masters degree from McMasterUniversity, means I have the tools necessary to work with and for residents to advance their concerns in Ottawa.

What issues would you like to address on day one?

My priorities include housing affordability, which is of course a key concern across Hamilton and the Mountain, along with ensuring access to affordable child care, something I know all parents, particularly mothers, are concerned about. The other priority, of course, is helping to build back a strong economy on the Mountain that recognizes small business expertise and the green tech potential of the future.

What makes Hamilton Mountain different from other ridings?

Hamilton Mountain is poised to grow in a variety of ways, including more housing options, infrastructure investments to strengthen the Mountain economy and to act as a gateway across the city of Hamilton. Mountain residents have diverse backgrounds and represent a broad cross section of Hamilton's makeup, meaning the next member of parliament will need to know how to work not just for their voters but for ALL residents.

What investments should the federal government make to make transit faster and more accessible for people on the Mountain?

The federal government has already shown that investing in Hamilton transit is a priority because we know that not only will it make a huge impact on the environment and help us to meet our climate change fighting goals, it's a boon to local business and growth of the community. I look forward to transit investments that build us up towards a comprehensive, cross and inter-city public transit that benefits all communities including the Mountain.

Al Miles, Conservative

Occupation:Youth worker.

Do you live in theriding:My family has lived in the riding for over 130 years, and I have lived in the riding for over 40 years.

What makes you qualified to represent theriding?

I am a Hamiltonian who has lived most of my life on the Mountain. I understand the issues in Hamilton and on the Mountain.I have fought hard to address issues that matter to residents.I have found our local provincial and federal representatives have accomplished nothing for us.It's time to change this.I understand and will tackle the issues that matter to Hamilton Mountain residents.

What issues would you like to address on day one?

After 16 years of neglect and inaction by the NDP, there is so much to address.I don't believe we can single task the mess being inherited.I will immediately work toimprove quality of life for Hamilton Mountain residents. It'stimeto have a MP tacklethemajor issuesthat matter to Hamilton Mountain residents and get results for you.

What makes Hamilton Mountain different from other ridings?

Hamilton Mountain is the most diverse riding in Hamilton, with all fivegenerations being represented by people from across the world. I love our diversity and all the different perspectives it brings to our community. Sadly, we see the NDP and Liberals using our differences as a weapon to divide Hamiltonians and turn them against each other.I will bring our community together and make it a model for other communities to similarly unite.

What investments should the federal government make to make transit faster and more accessible for people on the Mountain?

Local transportation is a collaborationbetween municipal and provincial levels of government. As the federal government,we are willing to listen to any proposals brought forward in partnershipwith the municipaland provincial levels of governmentto deliver what the communitywants.

Dave Urquhart, Green Party

Urquhart, who's run for the Greens before,didn't answer ourquestions. But he said in early September that a family emergency has prevented him from actively campaigning. "I stepped in so that the constituents of Hamilton Mountain would have a familiar candidate on the ballot," he said.

Chelsey Taylor, People's Party of Canada

Taylor didn't answer ourquestions, but her bio on the People's Party website says she's a mindset and personal development coach who is "relentless when it comes to fighting for things she loves and cares about." She also told CBC Hamilton recently that the PPC's opposition tovaccine mandates was her top focus.

Jim Enos, Christian Heritage Party

Enos also didn't answer the questions, but his bio says he's "a vocal and public figure with a long record of promoting and defending family, life and freedom in the public square and has earned the respect of Canadian voters who agree."

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