York Centre (federal electoral district)

York Centre (French: York-Centre) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1904 to 1917 and since 1953.

York Centre
Ontario electoral district
York Centre in relation to the other Toronto ridings (2015 boundaries)
Federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Ya'ara Saks
Liberal
District created1952
First contested1953
Last contested2021
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2021)[1]108,307
Electors (2015)63,682
Area (km²)[2]37
Pop. density (per km²)2,927.2
Census division(s)Toronto
Census subdivision(s)Toronto
Map of York Centre

As per the 2016 Census, 17.0% of York Centre residents are of Filipino ethnic origin and 16.0% belong to the Filipino visible minority, which are the highest such figures among all City of Toronto ridings. At the same time, the York Centre riding has the highest percentage of residents of Russian (9.5%) and Jewish (5.6%) ethnic origins (in the 2011 National Household Survey, 13.6% of York Centre residents had entered a Jewish ethnic origin). The riding has a large Jewish population, currently the fourth-largest in Canada at 14 percent behind Thornhill, Mount Royal and Eglinton—Lawrence.[3]

The riding was previously considered one of the safest Liberal Party seats in Canada; however, this changed as the Conservative Party gained ground in the 2000s, and its candidate Mark Adler won the seat in 2011. However, the Liberal Party regained the seat in 2015 with its candidate Michael Levitt. Levitt was re-elected in 2019, and resigned as of September 1, 2020, to become the CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies.[4] A by-election to fill the vacancy took place on October 26, 2020, which was won by Liberal Ya'ara Saks.[5][6]

Demographics

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According to the 2021 Canadian census[7]

Ethnic groups: 46.9% White, 19.3% Filipino, 8.0% Black, 5.4% Latin American, 4.1% South Asian, 3.7% Southeast Asian, 3.3% Chinese, 2.5% West Asian, 1.6% Korean
Languages: 42.0% English, 9.5% Tagalog, 6.3% Russian, 5.2% Italian, 5.1% Spanish, 2.1% Vietnamese, 1.6% Portuguese, 1.5% Ilocano, 1.4% Korean, 1.3% Mandarin, 1.1% Cantonese, 1.1% Turkish, 1.1% Persian
Religions: 57.3% Christian (36.0% Catholic, 4.4% Christian Orthodox, 1.7% Pentecostal, 15.2% other), 14.3% Jewish, 5.0% Muslim, 2.5% Buddhist, 2.1% Hindu, 18.3% none
Median income: $36,400 (2020)
Average income: $50,440 (2020)

Geography

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York Centre consists of the part of the City of Toronto bounded on the north by the northern city limit, and on the east, south and west by a line drawn from the city limit south along Bathurst Street, southeast along the Don River West Branch, southwest and west along Highway 401, north along Jane Street, east along Sheppard Avenue West, northwest along Black Creek, east along Grandravine Drive, and north along Keele Street to the city limit.

It contains the neighbourhoods of Westminster–Branson, Bathurst Manor, Wilson Heights, Downsview, and York University Heights (a small section south of Grandravine Drive, east of Black Creek).

At the approximate centre of the district is Downsview Park, an urban park controlled by the federal government, on former grounds of Canadian Forces Base Toronto.

History

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York Centre was originally created in 1903 from parts of York East and York West ridings. It was created when the county of York (excluding the city of Toronto) was divided into three ridings: York Centre, York North and York South. The centre riding consisted of the townships of Etobicoke, Markham, Scarborough and Vaughan, and the villages of Markham, Richmond Hill, Weston and Woodbridge. The electoral district was abolished in 1914 when it was redistributed between York East, York South and York West. In 1952, York Centre was re-established with parts of Eglinton—Lawrence, Willowdale, York North and York West ridings.

The new riding consisted initially of the part of the township of North York west of Yonge Street, the part of the township of Vaughan south of Highway Number 7, and the town of Woodbridge.

In 1966, it was redefined to consist of the part of Metropolitan Toronto bounded on the north by the northern limit, and on the west, south and east by a line drawn from that borough limit south along Highway 400, east along Sheppard Avenue West, south along Jane Street, southeast along Exbury Road, east along Calvington Drive, south along Keele Street, east along Highway 401, south along the Canadian National Railway line, east along Lawrence Avenue West, north along the Spadina Expressway, northeast along Highway 401, north along Bathurst Street, east along Sheppard Avenue West, south along Easton Street, east along Cameron Avenue, and north along Yonge Street to the Metro Toronto limit. It is unclear why the name York Centre was retained as the district was now predominantly in the Borough of North York rather than in the Region of York.

In 1976, it was redefined to consist of the part of the Borough of North York bounded on the north by the borough limit, and on the west, south and east by a line drawn from the borough limit south along Highway 400, east along Sheppard Avenue West, south along Keele Street, east along Highway 401, north along Bathurst Street, and northwest along the West Branch of the Don River to the borough limit.

In 1987, it was redefined to consist of the part of the City of North York bounded on the north by the city limit, and on the east, south and west by a line drawn from the city limit southeast along the Don River West Branch, west along Highway 401, north along Jane Street, east along Grandravine Drive, and north along Black Creek to the northern city limit.

In 1996, it was redefined to consist of the part of the City of North York bounded on the north by the city limit, and on the east, south and west by a line drawn from the city limit south along Dufferin Street, west along Sheppard Avenue West, north along Keele Street, west along Grandravine Drive, south along Jane Street, east along Highway 401, northwest along the Don River West Branch, north along Bathurst Street, east along Drewry Avenue, north along Chelmsford Avenue, west along Greenwin Village Road, and north along Village Gate to the city limit.

In 2003, it was given its current boundaries as described above.

This riding lost territory to Willowdale and a small piece to Thornhill during the 2012 electoral redistribution.

Former boundaries

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Members of Parliament

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This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:

Parliament Years Member Party
York Centre
Riding created from York East and York West
10th  1904–1907     Archibald Campbell Liberal
 1907–1908 Peter Douglas McLean
11th  1908–1911     Thomas George Wallace Conservative
12th  1911–1917
Riding dissolved into York East and York South
Riding re-created from Eglinton—Lawrence, Willowdale,
York North and York West
22nd  1953–1957     Al Hollingworth Liberal
23rd  1957–1958     Fred C. Stinson Progressive Conservative
24th  1958–1962
25th  1962–1963     James Edgar Walker Liberal
26th  1963–1965
27th  1965–1968
28th  1968–1972
29th  1972–1974
30th  1974–1979 Bob Kaplan
31st  1979–1980
32nd  1980–1984
33rd  1984–1988
34th  1988–1993
35th  1993–1997 Art Eggleton
36th  1997–2000
37th  2000–2004
38th  2004–2006 Ken Dryden
39th  2006–2008
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–2015     Mark Adler Conservative
42nd  2015–2019     Michael Levitt Liberal
43rd  2019–2020
 2020–2021 Ya'ara Saks
44th  2021–present

Election results

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Graph of election results in York Centre (1953–, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

2020–present

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2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ya'ara Saks 17,430 47.3 +1.6 $106,060.49
Conservative Joel Yakov Etienne 13,949 37.8 -4.0 $98,838.17
New Democratic Kemal Ahmed 3,753 10.2 +4.4 $5,586.43
People's Nixon Nguyen 1,726 4.7 +1.1 $1,816.68
Total valid votes/Expense limit 36,858 98.6 $106,565.66
Total rejected ballots 507 1.4
Turnout 37,365 53.4
Eligible voters 69,971
Liberal hold Swing +2.8
Source: Elections Canada[8]
Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020: York Centre
Resignation of Michael Levitt
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ya'ara Saks 8,253 45.70 −4.50 $96.612.31
Conservative Julius Tiangson 7,552 41.82 +5.11
New Democratic Andrea Vásquez Jiménez 1,046 5.79 −4.05 $2,462.86
People's Max Bernier 642 3.56 $27,917.42
Green Sasha Zavarella 461 2.55 −0.70 $463.46
Independent John The Engineer Turmel 104 0.58
Total valid votes/expense limit 18,058 99.09 $105,734.74
Total rejected ballots 166 0.91 −0.61
Turnout 18,224 25.83 −35.84
Eligible voters 71,100
Liberal hold Swing −4.81
[9][10]

1953–2019

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2019 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Michael Levitt 21,680 50.20 +3.32 $93,151.84
Conservative Rachel Willson 15,852 36.71 −7.29 $89,344.00
New Democratic Andrea Vásquez Jiménez 4,251 9.84 +2.51 none listed
Green Rebecca Wood 1,403 3.25 +1.45 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,186 98.48
Total rejected ballots 665 1.52 +0.78
Turnout 43,851 61.76 -3.96
Eligible voters 71,000
Liberal hold Swing +5.31
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Michael Levitt 20,131 46.88 +13.64 $108,171.17
Conservative Mark Adler 18,893 43.99 −4.54 $139,711.85
New Democratic Hal Berman 3,148 7.33 −8.56 $9,236.24
Green Constantine Kritsonis 772 1.80 −0.54 $2,969.38
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,944 99.26   $198,977.91
Total rejected ballots 319 0.74
Turnout 43,263 65.72
Eligible voters 65,832
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.09
Source: Elections Canada[13][14][15][16]
2011 federal election redistributed results[17]
Party Vote %
  Conservative 17,249 48.53
  Liberal 11,814 33.24
  New Democratic 5,649 15.89
  Green 831 2.34
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Mark Adler 20,356 48.5 +10.5 $79,794.56
Liberal Ken Dryden 13,979 33.3 −10.2 $73,675.98
New Democratic Nick Brownlee 6,656 15.9 +3.8 $409.63
Green Rosemary Frei 979 2.3 −4.1 $342.41
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,970 100.0 $83,892.08
Total rejected ballots 350 0.1
Turnout 42,320 60.3 +7.6
Eligible voters 70,216
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.35
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken Dryden 16,164 43.5 −9.2 $70,386
Conservative Rochelle Wilner 14,132 38.0 +7.9 $78,946
New Democratic Kurtis Baily 4,503 12.1 −1.7
Green Rosemary Frei 2,390 6.4 +3.8 $3,440
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,189 100.0 $81,864
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 52.7
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken Dryden 22,439 52.7 −2.1 $74,395.87
Conservative Michael Mostyn 12,758 30.0 +3.7 $69,571.51
New Democratic Marco Iacampo 5,834 13.7 0 $13,721.44
Green Constantine Kritsonis 1,558 3.7 +0.5 $1,644.87
Total valid votes 42,589
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ken Dryden 21,520 54.8 −16.3 $64,620
Conservative Michael Mostyn 10,318 26.3 +5.8 $72,837
New Democratic Peter Flaherty 5,376 13.7 +7.7 $10,017
Green Constantine Kritsonis 1,240 3.2 +1.7
Independent Max Royz 824 2.1 $23,589
Total valid votes 39,278
2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Art Eggleton 24,793 71.1 −1.0 $56,516
Alliance Jeffrey Dorfman 4,630 13.3 $19,703
Progressive Conservative Mark Tweyman 2,518 7.2 −1.4 $1,280
New Democratic Maurice Coulter 2,104 6.0 −3.4 $8,831
Green Constantine Kritsonis 532 1.5 +0.5 $2,401
Communist Christopher Black 163 0.5 $202
Marxist–Leninist Diane Johnston 142 0.4 0 $8
Total valid votes 34,882
1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Art Eggleton 27,864 72.1 +2.4
New Democratic Mark Berardo 3,618 9.4 +5.4
Progressive Conservative Anthony Figliano 3,323 8.6 +1.7
Reform Anthony Chol 2,876 7.4 +1.9
Green Constantine Kritsonis 389 1.0 +0.4
Natural Law Mike Dubinsky 242 0.6 0
Canadian Action Jozef Izsak 186 0.5
Marxist–Leninist Diane Johnston 168 0.4 +0.2
Total valid votes 38,666
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Art Eggleton 27,150 69.7 +9.2
Independent Peter Li Preti 3,918 10.1
Progressive Conservative George Tsiolis 2,688 6.9 −15.5
Reform John Beck 2,141 5.5
New Democratic Israel Ellis 1,557 4.0 −11.4
National Kurt Loeb 734 1.9
Natural Law Linda Dubé 253 0.6
Green Alan Jones 216 0.6
Libertarian Douglas Quinn 174 0.4 −1.3
Marxist–Leninist Diane Johnston 83 0.2
Abolitionist Randy Armour 60 0.2
Total valid votes 38,974
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bob Kaplan 24,962 60.5 +9.3
Progressive Conservative Rocco Sebastiano 9,248 22.4 −5.0
New Democratic Cathy Mele 6,350 15.4 −4.4
Libertarian David Kenny 683 1.7 +1.1
Total valid votes 41,243
1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bob Kaplan 20,810 51.2 -9.8
Progressive Conservative Mike Cohen 11,138 27.4 +9.6
New Democratic Van Newell 8,037 19.8 −0.5
Libertarian Simon Srdarev 244 0.6 −0.1
Independent Sol Roter 226 0.6
Independent Bonnie J. Geddes 203 0.5
Total valid votes 40,658
1980 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bob Kaplan 23,116 61.0 +9.7
New Democratic Cris Liscio 7,696 20.3 −5.4
Progressive Conservative Anne Silverman 6,736 17.8 −4.0
Libertarian Sheldon Gold 284 0.7 +0.1
Marxist–Leninist Jeffery Forest 86 0.2 0
Total valid votes 37,918
1979 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bob Kaplan 20,859 51.3 +0.6
New Democratic Vince Del Buono 10,464 25.7 +2.2
Progressive Conservative Bill Schiavono 8,856 21.8 −3.1
Libertarian Shannon Vale 229 0.6
Independent Victor Heyn 97 0.2
Marxist–Leninist Jeffery Forest 81 0.2 0
Communist Gerrit van Houten 63 0.2 0
Total valid votes 40,649
1974 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bob Kaplan 32,402 50.7 +8.8
Progressive Conservative Barry Swadron 15,877 24.9 −4.9
New Democratic Michael Copeland 14,992 23.5 −4.3
Independent John J. de Niet 191 0.3
Social Credit Roger Drouin 169 0.3
Marxist–Leninist Rick Hundal 129 0.2
Communist Tom Morris 123 0.2
Total valid votes 63,883
1972 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James E. Walker 26,912 41.9 −14.7
Progressive Conservative Barry Swadron 19,097 29.8 +17.5
New Democratic Michael Copeland 17,837 27.8 -3.3
Independent Harold Sparks 189 0.3
Independent George Paxton 153 0.2
Total valid votes 64,188
1968 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James E. Walker 26,758 56.6 +10.2
New Democratic Douglas Fisher 14,714 31.1 −5.0
Progressive Conservative Donald Stirling 5,804 12.3 −4.8
Total valid votes 47,276
1965 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James E. Walker 41,553 46.4 −3.7
New Democratic Val Scott 32,352 36.1 +1.7
Progressive Conservative Fred C. Stinson 15,301 17.1 +1.6
Independent Malcolm Cairnduff 302 0.3
Total valid votes 89,508
1963 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James E. Walker 41,485 50.1 +12.0
New Democratic Val Scott 28,505 34.4 +0.1
Progressive Conservative Bill Durovic 12,807 15.5 −11.2
Total valid votes 82,797
1962 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James E. Walker 30,432 38.1 +5.1
New Democratic Val Scott 27,369 34.3 +20.6
Progressive Conservative Fred C. Stinson 21,343 26.7 −26.6
Social Credit David H. Horwood 746 0.9
Total valid votes 79,890
1958 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Fred C. Stinson 30,764 53.3 +5.9
Liberal Al Hollingworth 19,065 33.0 −1.4
Co-operative Commonwealth Larry Sheffe 7,888 13.7 −2.9
Total valid votes 57,717
1957 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Fred C. Stinson 23,295 47.4 +11.9
Liberal Al Hollingworth 16,925 34.4 −9.7
Co-operative Commonwealth Roy Begley 8,164 16.6 −2.3
Social Credit Rod Gorrill 777 1.6
Total valid votes 49,161
1953 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Al Hollingworth 13,903 44.1
Progressive Conservative Roy Thomson 11,180 35.5
Co-operative Commonwealth William Newcombe 5,960 18.9
Labor–Progressive David Kashtan 483 1.5
Total valid votes 31,526

1904-1917

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Graph of election results in York Centre (1903–1914, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
1911 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas George Wallace 2,838 54.9 +4.5
Liberal Herbert Hartly Dewart 2,328 45.1 -4.5
Total valid votes 5,166 100.0
1908 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas George Wallace 2,614 50.4 +0.7
Liberal Peter Douglas McLean 2,569 49.6 -0.7
Total valid votes 5,183 100.0
Canadian federal by-election, 23 December 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
On Mr. Campbell being called to the Senate, 22 November 1907
Liberal Peter Douglas McLean 2,282 50.3 -0.6
Conservative T.G. Wallace 2,256 49.7 +0.6
Total valid votes 4,538 100.0
1904 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Archibald Campbell 2,222 50.9
Conservative W.H. Pugsley 2,146 49.1
Total valid votes 4,368 100.0

See also

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Notes

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  • "York Centre (federal electoral district) (Code 35103) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2011.

References

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  1. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census". Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Statistics Canada: 2011
  3. ^ "Statistics Canada: Estimation of the Jewish Population". Elections Canada. 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Lim, Jolson (August 4, 2020). "Toronto-area MP Michael Levitt to resign to head Jewish human rights organization". iPolitics. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Byelections called for Toronto Centre, York Centre on Oct. 26". CBC News. September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Federal Liberals hold onto Toronto Centre, York Centre in byelections | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 9, 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - York Centre [Federal electoral district (2013 Representation Order)], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Elections Canada. "Official Voting Results". Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Canada, Elections. "Final Election Expenses Limit for Candidates – York Centre (Ontario)". www.elections.ca. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  12. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca.
  14. ^ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  15. ^ Canada, Elections. "Résultats du soir d'élection - Circonscriptions". enr.elections.ca.
  16. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  17. ^ Pundits' Guide to Canadian Elections
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North: Thornhill
West: York West York Centre East: Willowdale
South: Eglinton—Lawrence, York South—Weston


43°45′46″N 79°26′44″W / 43.7627°N 79.4456°W / 43.7627; -79.4456