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The politics of Toronto , Ontario , Canada involve the election of representatives to the federal , provincial , and municipal levels of government. A total of 23 Members of Parliament (MPs) representing Toronto sit in the House of Commons in Ottawa (the federal capital), and another 22 Members of Ontario's Provincial Parliament (MPPs) sit in the Legislative Assembly at Queen's Park , in Toronto. Being Ontario's capital, many provincial offices are located in the city.
Overview [ edit ]
In terms of electoral politics, Toronto had been an important source of support for the Liberal Party both federally and provincially , though the downtown area tends to support the New Democratic Party (NDP). The federal Conservative Party and the provincial Progressive Conservative Party have historically been weaker in the city, although a number of right-leaning Liberals come from Toronto ridings.
In the past, the Liberals usually dominated the inner portions of the city federally, while the outer portions were split between the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives . However, the Liberals swept every seat in Toronto from 1993 to 2004 , when former city councillor and NDP leader Jack Layton won a downtown riding. The NDP would add two more seats in 2006, but lost one in 2008. In the 2011 federal election , Torontonians sent nine Conservative MPs to Ottawa, eight NDP MPs and six Liberal MPs. It was the first time that a centre-right party had won seats in Toronto since 1988. However, in 2015 , the Liberals swept every seat in Toronto.
Large parts of Toronto--mainly the outer portions--supported the right-wing government of Mike Harris during the 1995 and 1999 Ontario elections . But largely as a result of amalgamating Metro Toronto municipalities -- against the wishes of three-quarters of voters in a municipal plebiscite -- and downloading responsibility for costly services onto the city, the Conservatives were shut of Toronto in provincial elections from 2003 until they won a byelection in 2013.
Mel Lastman won the amalgamated city's mayoralty in the 1997 and 2000 Toronto elections , followed by centre-leftist David Miller in 2003 (the same year the Conservatives were ousted provincially) and 2006. After Miller declined to run again, Conservative ally Rob Ford won the 2010 election handily. Three years later, however, Ford's tumultuous reign and admission to smoking crack (and other indiscretions that attracted international media attention) led City Council to remove many of his powers and much of his office's budget.
The Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2006 (Bill 53) was enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on June 12, 2006.[ 1] It modified the legal powers and responsibilities available to the city under provincial law.[ 2]
Members of Parliament [ edit ]
Members by riding [ edit ]
Riding
Name
Party
Prior Experience
Education
Assumed Office
Born In
Beaches—East York
Kellway, Matthew Matthew Kellway
NDP
Toronto Energy Coalition
Toronto Board of Catholic Education
University of Toronto (MA)
2011
1964
Davenport
Cash, Andrew Andrew Cash
NDP
2011
1962
Don Valley East
Daniel, Joe Joe Daniel
Conservative
London School of Economics (BA)
2011
1954
Don Valley West
Carmichael, John John Carmichael
Conservative
North York General Hospital Board
Canadian Automobile Association Chairman
2011
1952
Eglinton—Lawrence
Oliver, Joe Joe Oliver
Conservative
Ontario Securities Commission
Mcgill University (BA)
2011
1940
Etobicoke Centre
Opitz, Ted Ted Opitz
Conservative
CPC Political Advisor
York University (BA)
2011
1961
Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Trottier, Bernard Bernard Trottier
Conservative
Etobicoke-Lakeshore CPC Riding President
University of Alberta (BSc)
University of Western Ontario (MBA)
2011
1965
Etobicoke North
Duncan, Kirsty Kirsty Duncan
Liberal
Ontario Medical Association
University of Edinburgh (PhD)
2008
1966
Parkdale—High Park
Nash, Peggy Peggy Nash
NDP
Canadian Auto Workers Negotiator
President of the NDP
University of Toronto (BA)
2006
1951
Scarborough—Agincourt
Chan, Arnold Arnold Chan
Liberal
2014
Scarborough Centre
James, Roxanne Roxanne James
Conservative
Defend Marriage Campaign
2011
1966
Scarborough East
Chisu, Corneliu Corneliu Chisu
Conservative
Consul to Moldova
Canadian Forces Major
University of Bucharest (phD)
2011
1949
Scarborough—Guildwood
McKay, John John McKay
Liberal
Canadian Bar Association
University of Toronto (BA)
1997
1948
Scarborough—Rouge River
Sitsabaiesan, Rathika Rathika Sitsabaiesan
NDP
Carleton University Students' Association
Carleton University (BCom.)
Queen's University (MA)
2011
1981
Scarborough Southwest
Harris, Dan Dan Harris
NDP
University of Toronto Students' Union
Seneca College
2011
1979
St. Paul's
Bennett, Carolyn Carolyn Bennett
Liberal
Ontario Medical Association
University of Toronto (MD)
1997
1950
Toronto Centre
Freeland, Chrystia Chrystia Freeland
Liberal
CEO of Reuters
Editor of Financial Times
Harvard University (BA, MA)
University of Oxford (MA)
2013
1968
Toronto—Danforth
Scott, Craig Craig Scott
NDP
University of Oxford (BA)
London School of Economics (MA)
2011
1950
Trinity—Spadina
Vaughan, Adam Adam Vaughan
Liberal
Represented Ward 20 Trinity—Spadina on Toronto City Council
2014
1961
Willowdale
Leung, Chungsen Chungsen Leung
Conservative
Markham Chinese Business Association
Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce
Carleton University (BA)
2011
1950
York Centre
Adler, Mark Mark Adler
Conservative
Economic Club of Canada
Canadian Institute of International Affairs
University of Toronto (BA)
2011
1963
York South—Weston
Sullivan, Mike Mike Sullivan
NDP
University of Toronto (BA)
2011
1952
York West
Sgro, Judy Judy Sgro
Liberal
North York City Council
Toronto City Council
Toronto Police Services Board
University of Toronto (BA, JD)
1999
1944
Members of Provincial Parliament [ edit ]
Members by riding [ edit ]
Riding
Name
Party
Prior Experience
Education
Assumed Office
Born In
Beaches—East York
Potts, Arthur Arthur Potts
Liberal
2014
Davenport
Martins, Cristina Cristina Martins
Liberal
2014
Don Valley East
Coteau, Michael Michael Coteau
Liberal
Toronto Board of Education
Carleton University (BA)
2014
1965
Don Valley West
Wynne, Kathleen Kathleen Wynne
Liberal
Toronto Board of Education
University of Toronto (M.ed)
2003
1953
Eglinton—Lawrence
Colle, Mike Mike Colle
Liberal
Toronto City Council
Toronto Transit Commission
St. Michael's College School (BA)
1995
1945
Etobicoke Centre
Baker, Yvan Yvan Baker
Liberal
2014
Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Peter Milczyn
Liberal
Toronto City Council
2014
Etobicoke North
Qaadri, Shafiq Shafiq Qaadri
Liberal
Ontario Medical Association
University of Toronto (MD)
2003
1951
Parkdale—High Park
DiNovo, Cheri Cheri DiNovo
NDP
Political Radio Host
2006
1950
Scarborough—Agincourt
Wong, Soo Soo Wong
Liberal
Toronto Board of Education
Humber College (BSc)
2011
1961
Scarborough Centre
Duguid, Brad Brad Duguid
Liberal
Liberal Executive Assistant
2003
1962
Scarborough—Guildwood
Mitzie Hunter
Liberal
CEO of CivicAction
Toronto City Council
University of Toronto (BA)
2013
1968
Scarborough—Rouge River
Balkissoon, Bas Bas Balkissoon
Liberal
Toronto City Council
2005
1952
Scarborough Southwest
Berardinetti, Lorenzo Lorenzo Berardinetti
Liberal
Toronto City Council
University of Windsor (BA, LL.B)
2003
1961
St. Paul's
Hoskins, Eric Eric Hoskins
Liberal
Founder of War Child Canada
McMaster University (BSc,MD)
University of Oxford (PhD)
2009
1960
Toronto Centre
Murray, Glen Glen Murray
Liberal
Winnipeg City Council
Mayor of Winnipeg
Concordia University (BA)
2010
1957
Toronto—Danforth
Tabuns, Peter Peter Tabuns
NDP
Toronto City Council
York University (BA)
2006
1951
Trinity—Spadina
Dong, Han Han Dong
Liberal
2014
Willowdale
Zimmer, David David Zimmer
Liberal
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Director of Humane Society
2003
1944
York Centre
Kwinter, Monte Monte Kwinter
Liberal
Toronto Harbour Commission
Ontario College of Art
Syracuse University (BA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BSc)
1985
1931
York South—Weston
Albanese, Laura Laura Albanese
Liberal
2007
1957
York West
Sergio, Mario Mario Sergio
Liberal
North York City Council
Toronto City Council
1995
1940
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]