York Centre

York Centre is a federal riding in the northern part of Toronto, Ontario, centred on the former City of North York. The by-election was called following the resignation of Liberal MP Michael Levitt, who stepped down effective September 1, 2020, to become the President and CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies. Levitt had represented the riding since 2015.

Candidates

Ya'ara Saks (Liberal) — A businesswoman and communications specialist who co-owned a yoga studio and served as a director of a mental health charity. Born in Toronto, Saks graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies and Political Science, and later completed a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She had lived in Israel from 1995 to 2006 before returning to Canada.

Julius Tiangson (Conservative) — Tiangson had previously run as a Conservative candidate in Mississauga Centre in the 2015 federal election. He was the party's nominee for York Centre in this by-election.

Andrea Vásquez Jiménez (NDP) — Vásquez Jiménez was the NDP's candidate in the by-election, running as a community organizer.

Maxime Bernier (People's Party) — The founder and leader of the People's Party of Canada, Bernier is a former Conservative cabinet minister who served as Minister of Industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He had represented the Quebec riding of Beauce from 2006 to 2019 before losing his seat in the 2019 general election. He chose to run in York Centre in an attempt to gain a seat in Parliament for himself and his party.

Sasha Zavarella (Green Party) ran as the Green candidate.

About the Riding

York Centre encompasses neighbourhoods in the northern part of Toronto, including Westminster–Branson, Bathurst Manor, Wilson Heights, Downsview, and part of York University Heights. At the approximate centre of the riding is Downsview Park, a large urban park on former federal lands. The riding is bounded by Highway 401 to the south and extends northward toward Steeles Avenue.

The riding is one of the most ethnically diverse in the Toronto area. The Filipino community is the largest visible minority group, with about 16 percent of the population, the highest figure among City of Toronto ridings. There is also a significant Jewish community, historically centred along Bathurst Street, as well as a notable Russian-speaking population in the northern portions near Sheppard and Steeles avenues.

The local economy is driven by retail, healthcare, education, and small businesses. York University lies near the riding's boundaries, and the area is well-served by transit including the TTC subway system. The Downsview area has seen significant redevelopment as the former Canadian Forces Base Downsview lands have been converted into mixed-use development.