Ned Kuruc

Nenad "Ned" Kuruc is a Canadian politician from the Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the 2025 Canadian federal election. Prior to being elected, Kuruc worked as an entrepreneur, owning and operating businesses such as Neku Cannabis, and served as Director of Events and Fighter Acquisitions at K-1 Global.

Early life and background Kuruc was born in raised in Hamilton, Ontario, where he has lived his entire life. His parents Ilija and Ivanka immigrated to Canada in 1967 from Strmica, Yugoslavia. He is the father of three children. Kuruc's business experience includes work in the cannabis, real estate, restaurant, and martial arts spaces.

Cannabis business Kuruc is the owner of three cannabis dispensaries, including Neku Cannabis in Stoney Creek and its sister locations on Upper James Street and in Hamilton's Hess Village. The opening of Neku Cannabis caused controversy in Stoney Creek, with news reportings indicating that many residents were opposed to Kuruc's plans to expand his cannabis brand into downtown Stoney Creek. The appointment was made on the recommendation of Ontario's Minister of Tourism, Sport and Culture, Neil Lumsden, who also serves as the Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

Political career

Municipal politics Prior to being elected as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in April 2025, Kuruc had previously ran unsuccessfully for City Councillor in Hamilton's Ward 3 in 2018, finishing third with 13.83% of the vote. thumb A Kuruc election sign in the 2018 Hamilton municipal election, which Kuruc lost to Nrinder Nann.

Federal politics Kuruc was the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in 2021 federal election, where he finished second to Liberal candidate Chad Collins. Following his defeat, Kuruc described Collins as "a mountain of a politician". Bratina had previously served as Member of Parliament for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek for the Liberal Party of Canada, before opting not to seek re-election in 2021 due to his opposition of the federal government's decision to fund Hamilton's light rail transit project. Bratina ran for mayor of Hamilton in 2022, where he finished in third place with 12.27% of the vote, behind Andrea Horwath and Keanin Loomis.

Kuruc opted not to participate in the 2025 Cable 14 televised Hamilton East-Stoney Creek debate. In a post on social media platform X, Cable 14 noted that Liberal candidate Chad Collins was the only candidate to accept an invitation to participate. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Member of Parliament Sheila Copps stated that Kuruc's victory was due in large part to the redistribution of the riding of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. The boundaries of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek changed prior to the 2025 election, adding a large portion of Upper Stoney Creek.

At the time of the 2025 Canadian federal election, he lived in Stoney Creek, Ontario.

Political views Kuruc has criticized what he refers to as "woke" Liberal-government policies. In a 2023 interview, Kuruc criticized the "whole woke agenda", which he said "eople are tired of", and expressed sympathy for the 2022 Freedom Convoy of truckers who protested COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa.

On the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, Kuruc blamed the Canadian government, stating in 2025, "the reason the tariffs are in place is because of the failures of the Liberal government". who has described himself as a "true conservative" and is generally seen as being on the further right side of the Conservative Party.

Electoral record Federal

Municipal

Votes % ±%

1 These candidates did not submit official Financial Statements and are, therefore, ineligible to run in the 2022 election2 These candidates were delayed in submitting their official Financial Statements and have been barred from running in the 2022 Municipal electionNote: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan. Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.