Vaughan

Vaughan is a federal electoral district in the northern suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, covering a rapidly growing city that in 2011 had a population of approximately 288,000. The by-election was called after Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua resigned his seat on September 2, 2010, to run for mayor of Vaughan in the October 2010 municipal elections. Bevilacqua had represented the area federally since 1988 and went on to win the mayoral race decisively.

Candidates

Julian Fantino (Conservative) — Fantino had a long and prominent career in law enforcement, serving as chief of police in London, Ontario from 1991 to 1998, chief of York Regional Police from 1998 to 2000, chief of the Toronto Police Service from 2000 to 2005, Ontario's Commissioner of Emergency Management from 2005 to 2006, and Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police from 2006 to 2010. He announced his candidacy for the Conservative nomination in October 2010, shortly after leaving the OPP.

About the Riding

The Vaughan federal riding consisted of the portion of the City of Vaughan lying west of Highway 400 or north of Rutherford Road. It encompassed major communities including Woodbridge, Maple, and Kleinburg, as well as rapidly developing residential areas that were transforming former agricultural land into suburban subdivisions.

Vaughan was one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada between 1996 and 2006, with its population increasing by over 80 per cent during that period. The riding had the highest proportion of Italian Canadians of any federal riding in Canada, with over 54 per cent of residents claiming Italian heritage and 19 per cent reporting Italian as their mother tongue. This Italian-Canadian community shaped much of the riding's cultural character, from businesses to community organizations.

The riding's economy was diverse, featuring major retail and commercial centres along Highway 7, significant construction and development activity, and the Canada's Wonderland amusement park. The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre was emerging as a planned urban hub. Manufacturing, distribution, and small business were important economic drivers, supported by the riding's strategic location at the intersection of major highways including the 400 and 407.

Tony Genco (Liberal) — Genco was a local businessman from the riding who was involved in community initiatives and charitable work. He was seen as a formidable candidate who turned the by-election into a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives.

Kevin Bordian (NDP) — Bordian ran as the NDP candidate in the by-election.

Claudia Rodriguez-Larrain (Green Party) — Rodriguez-Larrain was the Green Party candidate.