Doly Begum, running for the federal Liberal Party in the Scarborough Southwest riding, fixes a fallen campaign sign on March 19. Ms. Begum was the MPP for the provincial NDP but quit to run for the Liberals earlier this year.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum says she spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney before deciding to run for the federal Liberals, crediting him with an ability to unite people from across the political spectrum.
Ms. Begum, who has previously criticized the federal government over its Middle East policy, was elected in the east Toronto riding of Scarborough Southwest three times as a provincial NDP member. In February, she abruptly resigned to run for Mr. Carney’s Liberals in a coming by-election in the federal riding of the same name.
Mr. Carney’s Liberals are now nearing a majority government, with three by-elections to be held on April 13 – in Scarborough, Toronto’s University-Rosedale and Terrebonne in Quebec. The Scarborough seat, in what has long been considered a safe Liberal riding, opened up when former cabinet minister Bill Blair resigned to become Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Ms. Begum said she was attracted to the federal Liberals because she felt she could do more for her community as a member of Parliament.
“I recognize what’s going on right now nationally, and the crisis that we’re facing in Canada,” she said, referring to the country’s economic challenges.
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Asked whether she was offered a cabinet post or committee position for joining the Liberals, Ms. Begum did not answer, saying she is focused on canvassing for her seat.
But if elected, she said, she will defend her constituents no matter what role she holds in Mr. Carney’s caucus.
“Honestly, my community is so important,” she said. “If there were things that I felt did not align with, you know, what the community needed – of course I would stand up for that.”
Born in Bangladesh, Ms. Begum, now 36, immigrated to Canada at 11. She settled in Scarborough, where she was later active in student politics and as a community health care advocate. First elected in 2018 at 29, she was the first Bangladeshi-born member of the Ontario legislature, and, if elected federally, would be the first at the national level as well.
As a provincial politician, she has been a pro-Palestinian advocate and outspoken critic of Israel. In the Ontario legislature last fall, Ms. Begum questioned when the federal government would find its “moral backbone” and stop sending arms to Israel and “enabling this genocide.”
Ms. Begum said she was attracted to the federal Liberals because she felt she could do more for her community as an MP.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
The war in the Gaza Strip began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault on Israel that killed 1,200. The war has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians in Gaza according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and a United Nations independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed genocide, which Israel has rejected.
After she was nominated as a federal Liberal candidate, Ms. Begum was criticized by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which in a post on X pointed to her past criticism of the Carney government.
Asked about her comments on the arms embargo and Ottawa needing to find its “moral backbone,” Ms. Begum said, “Like a lot of Canadians, I have been just horrified by what has happened in Gaza.”
She said she’s talked about many of her concerns and echoed the sentiments of those in Scarborough and across the country, and wants to make sure that no Canadian companies or institutions are contributing to the conflict. She said she’s happy more than 30 export permits to Israel have been suspended.
In 2024, the federal government said it was halting new arms permits to Israel, and Ms. Begum said the rules must be enforced.
“Any institutions, any businesses that are bypassing what the Canadian export regime has already installed should be investigated, and if there are incidents, they should be facing financial or criminal prosecution,” Ms. Begum said.
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She also weighed in on the conflict in Iran that has divided some in the Liberal caucus.
Mr. Carney – who initially came out in support of the U.S. strikes in Iran, and later said Canada was not consulted – has received blowback from some in his own party.
Ms. Begum said she was “really happy” to see Mr. Carney call for de-escalation in the region.
“I really appreciate how he’s always very nuanced in the way he approaches things,” she said, adding that “he’s made it clear that Canada is not going to support in the offensive.”
She credits Mr. Carney – who has now poached three former Conservative MPs and a federal New Democrat – with an ability to represent diverse political views.
“One of the things I really admired is the Prime Minister’s vision to unite and bring people from, you know, across different political spectrums, different beliefs, and bring them at the table and actually value those opinions,” Ms. Begum said.
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She said she’s been embraced by past voters, who have questions but ultimately understand her decision to run federally. She said people in her community are focused on housing, affordability and safety, as well as previously announced Liberal policies such as subsidized dental care.
Other candidates running in the Scarborough by-election are the NDP’s Fatima Shaban, who finished third in the same riding in the 2025 federal election, and Conservative candidate Diana Filipova.
In an interview, Ms. Shaban said she appreciates the work Ms. Begum did as a member of the Ontario NDP and she respects anyone who has put their name forward to serve.
But she said the riding needs an NDP representative to push back against the Liberals and advocate for measures such as lower rents and affordable housing.
“This election is about who will be able to effectively hold the government accountable. We already have a Liberal government in power and this community needs a strong voice,” she said.
(Conservative spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.)
Ms. Begum shocked the provincial NDP when she announced on Feb. 3 that she was quitting to run for Mr. Carney.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles only received notice of Ms. Begum’s resignation on the day it was announced, later calling it “a difficult moment.”
Ms. Begum had only kind words for her former leader: “She’s a friend.”
Despite being in Ontario’s opposition for six years, Ms. Begum said she’d be prepared to work with Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives on common issues, such as affordability measures.
She said she is inspired by her late husband, Rizuan Rahman, who died from cancer in 2024 and was a key part of her political life. His portrait hangs in her campaign office.
“I think he’s, you know, watching me. He’s wanting me to continue.”