Federal electoral district of Canada
Toronto Centre (French : Toronto-Centre ) is a federal electoral district in Toronto , Ontario , Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto (1872–1903), Toronto Centre (1903–1925, and since 2004), Rosedale (1935–1997), and Toronto Centre—Rosedale (1997–2004).
Toronto Centre covers the heart of Downtown Toronto . The riding contains areas such as Regent Park (Canada's first social housing development), St. James Town (a largely immigrant area and the most densely populated neighbourhood in Canada), Cabbagetown , Church and Wellesley (an historic LGBTQ2 neighbourhood), Ryerson University , The Toronto Eaton Centre and part of the city's financial district (the east side of Bay Street ). At just under six square kilometres, it is the smallest riding in Canada by area.
History [ edit ]
Centre Toronto riding was first created in 1872 from portions of West Toronto and East Toronto . In 1903, the name was changed to Toronto Centre. In 1924, the riding was broken into Toronto East Centre , Toronto West Centre and Toronto South .
A riding covering much the same area was created in 1933 named "Rosedale" after the wealthy neighbourhood of Rosedale . This riding was replaced with "Toronto Centre—Rosedale" in 1996, but the quickly growing population resulted in large areas being shaved off on all sides. In 2003, Toronto Centre—Rosedale was abolished, and a new riding somewhat to the east was created named "Toronto Centre".
Each of the four major national political parties (the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Green Party, and the NDP), have active federal and provincial riding associations which act as the local party organizations in the riding. Since the early 1990s, however, most contests have been between the Liberals and NDP.
This riding lost territory to University—Rosedale and Spadina—Fort York , and gained a small fraction of territory from Trinity—Spadina during the 2012 electoral redistribution . This made Toronto Centre the smallest size riding in the country, beating Papineau in Montreal by 4 km2 .[2]
Historically, the riding was one of the few in central Toronto where the Progressive Conservatives usually did well. The PCs held the riding for 34 of the 58 years from 1935 to 1993. However, it has been in Liberal hands without interruption since 1993. The 2012 federal electoral redistribution shifted much of the wealthier northern part of the riding, which included Rosedale , to the new riding of University—Rosedale .[3]
The riding was represented by former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae after the federal by-elections of March 17, 2008. Rae resigned from Parliament on July 31, 2013.[4] [5] Liberal Chrystia Freeland picked up the riding in the subsequent by-election, and held it until the 2015 Canadian federal election , when she chose to run for re-election in the new riding of University—Rosedale .
From 2015 to 2020, the riding was represented by Bill Morneau .[6] On August 17, 2020, Morneau resigned as MP.[6] Following a by-election on October 26, 2020, the riding has been represented by Marci Ien .[7]
Former boundaries [ edit ]
Demographics [ edit ]
According to the Canada 2016 Census [8]
Ethnic groups: 48.8% White, 11.8% South Asian, 11.1% Chinese, 9.1% Black, 5.0% Filipino, 2.5% Latin American, 1.8% Arab, 1.8% Korean, 1.6% Southeast Asian, 1.5% West Asian, 1.5% Indigenous
Languages: 58.4% English, 4.9% Mandarin, 3.4% French, 2.9% Cantonese, 2.7% Tagalog, 2.6% Spanish, 1.9% Bengali, 1.6% Arabic, 1.6% Tamil, 1.5% Korean, 1.4% Russian, 1.3% Persian
Religions (2011): 45.0% Christian (23.5% Catholic, 4.2% Anglican, 2.5% Christian Orthodox, 2.4% United Church, 1.2% Presbyterian, 1.1% Baptist, 9.3% Other), 9.0% Muslim, 4.9% Hindu, 2.7% Buddhist, 1.8% Jewish, 35.0% None.[9]
Median income: $30,987 (2015)
Average income: $49,909 (2015)
Members of Parliament [ edit ]
These ridings have elected the following Members of Parliament :
Election results [ edit ]
Toronto Centre, 2004–present [ edit ]
Graph of election results in Toronto Centre (2003-, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020 Resignation of Bill Morneau
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Marci Ien
10,581
41.98
-15.39
$116,839.77
Green
Annamie Paul
8,250
32.73
+25.67
$100,008.00
New Democratic
Brian Chang
4,280
16.98
-5.29
$71,222.99
Conservative
Benjamin Sharma
1,435
5.69
-6.44
–
People's
Baljit Bawa
269
1.07
–
Libertarian
Keith Komar
135
0.54
–
Independent
Kevin Clarke
123
0.49
–
Free
Dwayne Cappelletti
76
0.30
–
–
No affiliation
Above Znoneofthe
56
0.22
–
–
Total valid votes/Expense limit
25,205
99.53
$110,649.38
Total rejected ballots
118
0.47
-0.23
Turnout
25,323
30.93
-35.15
Eligible voters
81,861
Liberal hold
Swing
-20.53
Source: Elections Canada[11]
2019 Canadian federal election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Bill Morneau
31,271
57.37
−0.53
$95,538.84
New Democratic
Brian Chang
12,142
22.27
−4.34
$58,656.81
Conservative
Ryan Lester
6,613
12.13
−0.06
$39,309.94
Green
Annamie Paul
3,852
7.07
+4.47
$34,903.20
Animal Protection
Rob Lewin
182
0.33
–
$2,171.71
Rhinoceros
Sean Carson
147
0.27
–
–
Independent
Jason Tavares
126
0.23
–
–
Communist
Bronwyn Cragg
125
0.23
−0.03
$626.58
Marxist–Leninist
Philip Fernandez
54
0.10
−0.05
–
Total valid votes/Expense limit
54,512
99.30
–
$107,308.65
Total rejected ballots
384
0.70
+0.18
Turnout
54,896
66.08
−3.27
Eligible voters
83,076
Liberal hold
Swing
+1.90
Source: Elections Canada [12] [13]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Bill Morneau
29,297
57.90
+18.48
$170,325.26
New Democratic
Linda McQuaig
13,467
26.61
-9.58
$198,294.34
Conservative
Julian Di Battista
6,167
12.19
-5.74
$22,625.73
Green
Colin Biggin
1,315
2.60
-2.56
$3,964.97
Independent
Jordan Stone
147
0.29
–
–
Communist
Mariam Ahmad
133
0.26
–
–
Marxist–Leninist
Philip Fernandez
76
0.15
–
–
Total valid votes/Expense limit
50,602
99.48
$203,952.21
Total rejected ballots
266
0.52
–
Turnout
50,868
69.35
–
Eligible voters
73,351
Source: Elections Canada [14] [15]
Liberal notional hold
Swing
+14.03
^ Change is from 2011 redistributed results.
Canadian federal by-election, November 25, 2013
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland
17,194
49.38
+8.37
$ 97,609.64
New Democratic
Linda McQuaig
12,640
36.30
+6.09
99,230.30
Conservative
Geoff Pollock
3,004
8.63
−14.01
75,557.39
Green
John Deverell
1,034
2.97
−2.05
21,521.10
Progressive Canadian
Dorian Baxter
453
1.30
–
Libertarian
Judi Falardeau
236
0.68
+0.18
–
Independent
Kevin Clarke
84
0.24
560.00
Independent
John "The Engineer" Turmel
56
0.16
–
Independent
Leslie Bory
51
0.15
633.30
Online
Michael Nicula
43
0.12
200.00
Independent
Bahman Yazdanfar
26
0.07
−0.12
1,134.60
Total valid votes/Expense limit
34,821
99.49
–
$ 101,793.06
Total rejected ballots
177
0.51
+0.12
Turnout
34,998
37.72
−25.21
Eligible voters
92,780
Liberal hold
Swing
+1.14
By-election due to the resignation of Bob Rae .
2011 Canadian federal election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Bob Rae
22,832
41.01
-12.51
$ 51,672.12
New Democratic
Susan Wallace
16,818
30.21
+15.12
18,904.44
Conservative
Kevin Moore
12,604
22.64
+4.32
63,141.66
Green
Ellen Michelson
2,796
5.02
-6.83
44,006.84
Libertarian
Judi Falardeau
277
0.50
–
Communist
Cathy Holliday
159
0.29
-0.09
502.10
Independent
Bahman Yazdanfar
108
0.19
653.91
Marxist–Leninist
Philip Fernandez
76
0.14
-0.04
–
Total valid votes/Expense limit/Total expenditures
55,670
99.61
$ 92,663.68
$ 178,881.07
Total rejected ballots
220
0.39
-0.10
Turnout
55,890
62.93
+5.54
Eligible voters
88,810
Liberal hold
Swing
-13.82
2008 general election [ edit ]
On September 21, 2008, Conservative candidate Chris Reid resigned because he said he couldn't commit to four years in government. However, blog entries were discovered that linked him to controversial musings on guns and the murder of Tim McLean aboard a Greyhound bus.[17] Chris Reid was replaced by David Gentili as the Conservative candidate for Toronto Centre.[18] Expenditures listed for Gentili include expenditures reported by Reid.
2008 Canadian federal election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Expenditures
Liberal
Bob Rae
27,462
53.53
-5.94
$ 48,353.21
Conservative
David Gentili
9,402
18.33
+6.01
39,290.89
New Democratic
El-Farouk Khaki
7,743
15.09
+1.21
21,305.27
Green
Ellen Michelson
6,081
11.85
-1.56
23,041.16
Communist
Johan Boyden
193
0.38
432.31
Animal Alliance
Liz White
187
0.36
-0.15
685.91
Independent
Gerald Derome
146
0.28
2,063.60
Marxist–Leninist
Philip Fernandez
92
0.18
–
Total valid votes/Expense limit/Total Expenditures
51,306
99.50
$ 92,067.97
$ 135,172.35
Total rejected ballots
257
0.50
+0.10
Turnout
51,563
57.39
+29.52
Liberal hold
Swing
-5.97
2008 by-election [ edit ]
A by-election , held on March 17, 2008, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Bill Graham was won by Liberal Bob Rae , a former Ontario NDP Premier .
The nominated Conservative candidate in the by-election, Mark Warner , was dropped by the party's national council on October 31, 2007.[19] Don Meredith was nominated as the Conservative candidate in December 2007.[20]
Activist El-Farouk Khaki ran for the NDP and Chris Tindal was the Green Party of Canada candidate. Liz White was the Animal Alliance Environmental Voters Party of Canada candidate, and Doug Plumb represented the Canadian Action Party .
Toronto Centre—Rosedale, 1996–2003 [ edit ]
Graph of general election results in Toronto Centre—Rosedale (1996-2003, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
Rosedale, 1933–1996 [ edit ]
Graph of general election results in Rosedale (1933-1996, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
1933–1965 [ edit ]
Note: NDP vote is compared to CCF vote in 1958 election.
Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1945 election.
Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election.
Note: "National Government" vote is compared to Conservative vote in 1935 election.
Toronto Centre, 1903–1924 [ edit ]
Graph of general election results in Toronto Centre (1904-1925, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
Note: Conservative vote is compared to Unionist vote in 1917 election.
Note: Unionist vote is compared to Liberal-Conservative vote in 1911 election.
Note: vote compared to 1904 election.
Centre Toronto, 1872–1903 [ edit ]
Graph of general election results in Centre Toronto (1872-1900, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
By-election on September 30, 1897
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Liberal
G.H. Bertram
2,212
52.99
+0.36
Conservative
O.A. Howland
1,962
47.01
-0.36
Total valid votes
4,174
100.00
Note: vote compared to 1874 election.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ a b Statistics Canada : 2017
^ "Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census" . 8 February 2017.
^ "Toronto Centre boundaries description, 2013 Representation Order" . Elections Canada . Retrieved 13 August 2014 .
^ Wingrove, Josh (11 July 2013). "Bob Rae sets departure date as First Nations work picks up" . The Globe and Mail . Retrieved 11 July 2013 .
^ "Bob Rae quits as MP in 'very emotional' decision" . CBC. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013 .
^ a b MacLeod, Meredith (2020-08-17). "Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigning" . CTV News.
^ "Federal Liberals hold onto Toronto Centre, York Centre in byelections | CBC News" . CBC . Retrieved 2020-10-27 .
^ https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=FED&Code1=35108&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&SearchText=Toronto%20Centre&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 [bare URL ]
^ https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=FED2013&Code1=35108&Data=Count&SearchText=Toronto%20Centre&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 [bare URL ]
^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election" . Elections Canada . Retrieved 2 September 2021 .
^ Elections Canada. "Official Voting Results" . Retrieved October 27, 2020 .
^ "List of confirmed candidates" . Elections Canada . Retrieved 4 October 2019 .
^ "forty-third general election 2019 — Poll-by-poll results" . Elections Canada . Retrieved 20 August 2020 .
^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Toronto Centre, 30 September 2015
^ – forty-second general election 2015 — Poll-by-poll results
^ Pundits' Guide to Canadian Elections
^ [1] , ctv news , September 21, 2008
^ [2] ,CBC News Online , September 21, 2008
^ Tory candidates forced to withdraw , Unnati Gandhi, Globe and Mail , November 1, 2007
^ Canadian Press Archived December 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
External links [ edit ]
Riding history from the Library of Parliament :
Until 2015 Until 2006 Until 2004 Until 2000 Until 1997 Until 1993 Until 1988 Until 1984 Until 1979 Until 1974 Until 1972 Until 1968 Until 1953 Until 1949 Until 1935 Until 1925 Until 1917 Until 1904 Until 1896 Until 1882
Coordinates : 43°39′40″N 79°22′08″W / 43.661°N 79.369°W / 43.661; -79.369