A CLOSER LOOK AT YORK CENTRE RIDING

Eight provincial ridings are located either fully or partially in North York: Humber River-Black Creek, York Centre, Willowdale, Don Valley North, Don Valley East, Don Valley West, Eglinton-Lawrence and York-SouthWeston.

Three of those ridings — York Centre, Don Valley East and Don Valley West — have no incumbents. And, here, we take a closer look at York Centre riding.

The incumbent is running for election - just not for provincial politics. Roman Baber, who was sitting as an independent after being turfed by the provincial Progressive Conservative party for questioning pandemic lockdowns in January 2021, is currently a candidate in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.

THE RACE:

Nick Balaskas, Ontario party

Shelley Brown, Ontario Liberal party

Frank Chu, Ontario New Democratic party (NDP)

Mark Dewdney, None of the Above Direct Democracy party

Parviz Isgandarov, Ontario Moderate party

Michael Kerzner, Progressive Conservative party of Ontario

Alison Lowney, Green party of Ontario

Don Pincivero, New Blue party

THE ISSUES:

The riding has a higher order public transit project under construction: the Finch West LRT, which is expected to open next year. The light rail line will run between Keele Street, in the riding's western border, to Humber College in north Etobicoke. As in other parts of Toronto, housing, employment and health are cornerstone issues for York Centre electors.

We polled candidates on the top issues and four replied.

Progressive Conservative candidate Michael Kerzner said the top issues affecting York Centre residents are the cost of living and the need for good paying jobs. "In addition, we have a young population who are looking for opportunities to break into the trades and apprenticeships and become leaders themselves in science and innovation," he said in an email.

Liberal party candidate Shelley Brown said affordability is the primary issue he hears from local residents. "The cost of housing and of rent is soaring. No one should be forced to move far from their families and their roots, in order to find a home they can barely afford," he said in an email. "The cost of living, including essentials such as gas, food and transit, is becoming unmanageable for many."

NDP candidate Frank Chu said the key issues affecting York Centre are care for seniors, cheaper auto insurance, affordable groceries and improved health-care access.

New Blue candidate Don Pincivero said in an email that the issues affecting residents are "increasing taxes, irresponsible government spending, decaying infrastructure, increasing cost of living, lack of adequate housing, rising energy costs, the demise of the middle class, and lack of trust in political leaders."

BACKGROUND:

Although York Centre had been a Liberal stronghold, represented by Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter from 1985 until his retirement in 2018, Baber handily won the riding for the Progressive Conservatives in 2018 with 49.4 per cent of the vote. Federally, York Centre has been represented by Liberal Ya'ara Saks since 2020.

RIDING PROFILES:

For profiles for all ridings in North York - and Ontario - link to our Metroland story at: thestarqr.com/22022provincialridings (or just scan the QR code). Once there, scroll down and under the heading 'Electoral district profiles', you can choose from any of Ontario's 124 ridings - including all of North York's. You'll find specific riding information such as who's running in the race, the previous election result and demographics.