Willowdale (federal electoral district)

Willowdale is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1979. It is the riding with the biggest Korean community in Canada. As per the 2021 census, 9.9% of the population of Willowdale is Korean.[3]

Willowdale
Ontario electoral district
Willowdale in relation to the other Toronto ridings (2013 boundaries)
Federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Ali Ehsassi
Liberal
District created1976
First contested1979
Last contested2021
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2021)[1]118,218
Electors (2021)75,773
Area (km²)[2]19.75
Pop. density (per km²)5,985.7
Census division(s)Toronto
Census subdivision(s)Toronto
Map of Willowdale riding

For a long time this riding was considered a Liberal stronghold, having been won by the Liberal Party of Canada in all but one election since 1980. Longtime Liberal MP Jim Peterson was the riding's MP from 1980 to 1984 and from 1988 to 2007, and Martha Hall Findlay was the riding MP from 2008 to 2011. Long considered a safe Liberal seat, Conservative candidate Chungsen Leung won by 932 votes on the May 2, 2011 federal election. In the 2015 federal election, the seat returned to the Liberal Party with Ali Ehsassi unseating Leung. This district is home to some landmarks like Mel Lastman Square, the Toronto Centre for the Arts and the Claude Watson School for the Arts.

Geography

Consisting of that part of the City of Toronto described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the northerly limit of said city with Bayview Avenue; thence southerly along said avenue to Highway No. 401; thence generally southwesterly along said highway to the Don River West Branch; thence generally northwesterly along said branch to Bathurst Street; thence northerly along said street to the northerly limit of said city; thence easterly along said limit to the point of commencement.[4]

The riding contains the neighbourhoods of Willowdale, Lansing, Newtonbrook and North York Centre.

Demographics

According to the Canada 2021 Census; 2013 representation[5]

Languages: 29.4% English, 12.3% Mandarin, 9.2% Iranian Persian, 8.3% Korean, 6.7% Yue, 4% Russian, 3.2% Tagalog, 1.8% Spanish, 1.3% Arabic, 1.1% Italian, 1% Hindi, 1% Persian
Religions: 38.6% No religion, 38.5% Christian (17.5% Catholic, 3.9% Christian Orthodox, 2% Presbyterian, 1.3% Anglican, 1% United Church), 10.9% Muslim, 4.5% Jewish, 4% Hindu, 2.5% Buddhist
Median income (2020): $37,200
Average income (2020): $55,050

As per the 2021 Census, Willowdale has highest percentage of ethnic Iranians (8.9%) and ethnic Koreans (9.4%) of all City of Toronto ridings, and is one of the only four ridings with Chinese being the most frequent ethnic origin. In the same vein, it is the City of Toronto riding with the highest percentage of people belonging to the West Asian (11%) and Korean (9.9%) visible minorities.

Ethnicity groups: White: 28.7%, Chinese: 25.3%, West Asian: 11%, Korean: 9.9%, South Asian: 7.6%, Filipino: 6.5%, Black: 2.4%, Latin American: 2%, Arab: 1.4%, Southeast Asian: 1.3%

Ethnic origins: Chinese 22.9%, Korean 9.4%, Iranian 8.9%, Filipino 5.9%, Indian 4.8%, English 3.9%, Russian 3.8%, Italian 3.5%, Irish 3.4%, Canadian 3.2%

History

The riding was created in 1976 from part of Eglinton, York North and York Centre.

Willowdale consisted initially of the part of the Borough of North York bounded on the north by the borough limit (Steeles Avenue), on the West by the West Branch of the Don River and Bathurst Street, on the south by Highway 401, and on the east by Bayview Avenue.

In 1987, it was redefined to consist of the part of the City of North York bounded on the north by the borough limits (Steeles Avenue), and on the east, south and west by a line drawn from the borough limit southeast along the Don River West Branch, south along Bayview Avenue, east along Finch Avenue East, south along the Don River East Branch, west along Highway 401, and northwest along the Don River West Branch to the borough limit.

In 1996, it was redefined to consist of the part of the City of North York bounded on the north by the borough limits (Steeles Avenue), and on the east, south and west by a line drawn from the borough limit south along the eastern limit of the city, west along the hydro-electric transmission line situated south of McNicoll Avenue, south along Highway 404, west along Finch Avenue East, south along the Don River East Branch, west 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 northern city limit.

In 2003, it was redefined to consist of that part of the City of Toronto described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the northerly limit of said city with Victoria Park Avenue; thence southerly along said avenue to the hydroelectric transmission line situated northerly of Apache Trail; thence southwesterly along said transmission line to Highway No. 404; thence southerly along said highway to Finch Avenue East; thence generally westerly along said avenue to Leslie Street; thence southerly along said street to Highway No. 401; thence generally southwesterly along said highway to the Don River West Branch; thence generally northwesterly along said branch to Bathurst Street; thence northerly along said street to the hydroelectric transmission line situated northerly of Finch Avenue West; thence generally easterly along said transmission line to Yonge Street; thence northerly along said street to the northerly limit of said city; thence easterly along said limit to the point of commencement.

This riding lost territory (36%) to Don Valley North, and gained territory from York Centre (16%) during the 2012 electoral redistribution. The reduction in land area of the riding was primarily facilitated by substantial population growth along Yonge Street where the on-going redevelopment of land into additional high-rise residential buildings continued with medium-density development (low-rise residential buildings and townhomes) occurring slightly further from Yonge Street and along Sheppard and Finch Avenues. The portion of the City of Toronto north of Highway 401 and east of Victoria Park Avenue (the former boundary with Scarborough) was allocated an additional riding now having five ridings versus the previous four.

Former boundaries

Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following Members of Parliament:

Parliament Years Member Party
Willowdale
Riding created from Eglinton, York North and York Centre
31st  1979–1980     Bob Jarvis Progressive Conservative
32nd  1980–1984     Jim Peterson Liberal
33rd  1984–1988     John Oostrom Progressive Conservative
34th  1988–1993     Jim Peterson Liberal
35th  1993–1997
36th  1997–2000
37th  2000–2004
38th  2004–2006
39th  2006–2007
 2008–2008 Martha Hall Findlay
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–2015     Chungsen Leung Conservative
42nd  2015–2019     Ali Ehsassi Liberal
43rd  2019–2021
44th  2021–present

Election results

Graph of election results in Willowdale (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAli Ehsassi21,04351.2+2.2$98,989.39
ConservativeDaniel Lee13,91633.9-2.3$70,040.08
New DemocraticHal Berman4,23110.3+1.0$2,471.22
People'sAl Wahab1,1022.7+1.5$1,784.10
GreenAnna Gorka8122.0-1.7$1,462.34
Total valid votes/Expense limit 41,10499.1$108,952.94
Total rejected ballots 3830.9
Turnout 41,48754.8
Eligible voters 75,773
Liberal hold Swing +2.3
Source: Elections Canada[6]
2019 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAli Ehsassi22,28249.0-4.4$103,868.26
ConservativeDaniel Lee16,45236.2-0.8$82,193.67
New DemocraticLeah Kalsi4,2319.3+2.3none listed
GreenSharolyn Vettese1,6713.7+1.5$0.00
People'sRichard Hillier5631.2-$1,005.61
IndependentBirinder Singh Ahluwalia2000.4-0.1none listed
IndependentShodja Ziaian710.2-none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,470100.0
Total rejected ballots 410
Turnout 45,88058.2
Eligible voters 78,809
Liberal hold Swing -1.80
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAli Ehsassi24,51953.4+13.5$89,151.49
ConservativeChungsen Leung16,99037.0-4.7$135,960.85
New DemocraticPouyan Tabasinejad3,2037.0-11.4$6,678.16
GreenJames Arruda1,0252.2+1.81$7,484.51
IndependentBirinder Singh Ahluwalia2160.5$39,117.06
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,953100.0   $207,725.33
Total rejected ballots 2510.5-0.1
Turnout 46,20461.46+3.06
Eligible voters 75,172
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.1
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2011 federal election redistributed results[11]
Party Vote  %
  Conservative16,16841.47
  Liberal15,28039.20
  New Democratic7,38318.94
  Green1520.39
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeChungsen Leung22,20741.7+9.2
LiberalMartha Hall Findlay21,27539.9-8.8
New DemocraticMehdi Mollahasani9,77718.4+8.2
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,259 100.0
Total rejected ballots 295 0.6 +0.2
Turnout 53,554 58.4 +6.5
Eligible voters 91,631
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.0
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalMartha Hall Findlay23,88948.7-10.6$47,844.17
ConservativeJake Karns15,93132.5+2.4$75,479.99
New DemocraticSusan Wallace5,01110.2+5.4$8,175.95
GreenLou Carcasole3,1306.4+0.6$4,270.98
Progressive CanadianBahman Roudgarnia8641.8$4,500
IndependentBernadette Michael2600.5$421.93
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,085100.0 $94,573.51
Total rejected ballots 2030.4
Turnout 49,288 51.9
By-election on March 17, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalMartha Hall Findlay13,52459.3+7.1
ConservativeMaureen Harquail6,86430.1+0.8
GreenLou Carcasole1,3255.8+1.7
New DemocraticRini Ghosh1,0844.8-6.6
Total valid votes 22,797100.0$
  Liberal hold Swing +3.1
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJim Peterson30,62355.2-6.2$77,156
ConservativeJovan Boseovski16,25429.3+6.2$81,690
New DemocraticRochelle Carnegie6,29711.4+1.8$12,532
GreenSharolyn Vettese2,2684.1+0.4$5,067
Total valid votes 55,442100.0
Total rejected ballots 2160.4
Turnout 55,65862.8
  Liberal hold Swing -7.7
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson30,85561.4+0.1
ConservativeJovan Boseovski11,61523.1-9.9
New DemocraticYvonne Bobb4,8129.6+4.2
GreenSharolyn Vettese1,8443.7
Progressive CanadianArdavan Behrouzi8831.8
IndependentBernadette Michael2530.5
Total valid votes 50,262 100.0

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson27,03861.3+3.0
AllianceKevyn Nightingale7,41116.8+4.0
Progressive ConservativeChungsen Leung7,13416.2-5.3
New DemocraticYvonne Bobb2,4045.4-0.6
Marxist–LeninistRoger Carter1450.3
Total valid votes 44,132 100.0

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson27,31158.3-2.8
Progressive ConservativeNorm Gardner10,04321.4+4.8
ReformPeter Cobbold6,00712.8-2.4
New DemocraticMikael Swayze2,8336.0+2.4
Natural LawDon Murray2680.60.0
IndependentPaul Coulbeck2660.6
Canadian ActionRandall Whitcomb1280.3
Total valid votes 46,856 100.0
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson28,37261.0+14.0
Progressive ConservativeJohn Oostrom7,73316.6-26.7
ReformGerry Welbourn7,05215.2
New DemocraticMary Maron1,6823.6-5.2
NationalShelley Goldstein6741.5
GreenTom Salsberg4611.0
Natural LawMike Dubinsky2480.5
IndependentOwen Smith2040.4
AbolitionistJewel McKenzie530.1
Total valid votes 46,479100.0
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson24,23047.0+4.2
Progressive ConservativeJohn Oostrom22,34743.4-0.1
New DemocraticAnne Adelson4,5178.8-4.3
RhinocerosPeeter Tammisto2680.5
LibertarianHans Wienhold1470.3-0.4
Total valid votes 51,509 100.0
1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Oostrom22,42543.5+6.1
LiberalJim Peterson22,06342.8-4.6
New DemocraticJohn Fagan6,71113.0-1.7
LibertarianGeorge Graham3290.6+0.3
Total valid votes 51,528100.0
1980 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Peterson22,23547.4+7.5
Progressive ConservativeBob Jarvis17,52737.4-7.4
New DemocraticBob Hebdon6,88914.7+0.4
LibertarianShannon Vale1700.4-0.4
Marxist–LeninistRae Greig460.10.0
Total valid votes 46,867100.0
1979 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeBob Jarvis22,23844.8
LiberalJim Peterson19,84840.0
New DemocraticChris Thurrott7,12814.3
LibertarianRobert Austin Leber3910.8
Marxist–LeninistRae Greig710.1
Total valid votes 49,676100.0

See also

References

  • "Willowdale (federal electoral district) (Code 35100) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2011.

Notes

43.778°N 79.416°W / 43.778; -79.416

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