Summary: Boundary redistribution means the Toronto Centre incumbent, Liberal Chrystia Freeland, is now running in the new riding of University-Rosedale. The Liberals have found a high-profile candidate to carry the banner here, in the form of Bill Morneau, the chairman of Morneau Shepell, Canada’s largest human resources company. He’ll face Linda McQuaig, who finished second in the 2013 by-election that sent Freeland to Ottawa.
Boundaries: This riding is about half the size it was in 2011 due to densification in the downtown Toronto core. It now begins near Bloor Street in the north, and stops just short of Lakeshore Boulevard in the south. It includes Regent Park, Moss Park, Cabbagetown-South St. Jamestown and North St. Jamestown.
Last Election: In the 2013 by-election, Freeland won with 49 per cent of the vote, followed by the NDP’s McQuaig with 36 per cent. Had these boundaries been in effect in 2011, the Liberals would have won with 39.7 per cent, followed closely by the NDP with 36.5 per cent.
History: This riding has elected only Liberal MP’s since its creation in 2004. Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae held the seat from 2008 until he resigned in 2013.
Demographics: 41.8 per cent of residents said they were not religious in the 2011 National Household Survey, the second highest number in the province. There is an average of 0.8 children per household in this riding, second lowest in the GTA.
Candidates
Conservative: Julian Di Battista, financial analyst
NDP: Linda McQuaig, author
Liberal: Bill Morneau, businessman
Green: Colin Biggin, software developer
Independent: Jordan Stone
Marxist-Leninist: Philip Fernandez
Libertarian: Tom Armstrong
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