Eglinton—Lawrence

Eglinton—Lawrence is a federal riding in the central-north part of Toronto, stretching from Eglinton Avenue in the south to Highway 401 in the north, and from Yonge Street on its eastern edge to Caledonia Road on the west. The riding encompasses parts of the former cities of Toronto, North York, and York, and includes the neighbourhoods of Bedford Park, Lawrence Manor, Lawrence Heights, Briar Hill—Belgravia, and portions of Lawrence Park and York Mills.

Candidates

Joe Oliver (Conservative) — Oliver was a former investment banker and securities regulator. He held a BA and Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His career in the financial sector included positions at Merrill Lynch Canada and BMO Nesbitt Burns, and he served as Executive Director of the Ontario Securities Commission. The 2011 election was his first run for federal office, and he was challenging a longtime Liberal incumbent in a riding the Liberals had held for over two decades.

Joe Volpe (Liberal) — Volpe was the incumbent MP, first elected in Eglinton—Lawrence in 1988 and serving continuously since then. Born in Monteleone di Puglia in southern Italy, he immigrated to Canada with his family in 1955. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher, heading the history department at a secondary school in Etobicoke and later leading multicultural studies at a college in Weston. In the governments of Prime Minister Paul Martin, he served as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and later as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. He also ran for the Liberal Party leadership in 2006.

Justin Chatwin (NDP) — Chatwin was the New Democratic Party candidate in Eglinton—Lawrence for the 2011 election.

Paul William Baker (Green Party) — Baker was the Green Party candidate in Eglinton—Lawrence.

About the Riding

Eglinton—Lawrence is a riding of significant demographic diversity and socioeconomic contrast. The eastern sections, including parts of Lawrence Park and Bedford Park near Yonge Street, feature established affluent residential neighbourhoods with high property values. The central and western areas include Lawrence Heights, a social housing community that was slated for a major revitalization project, and Lawrence Manor, a mid-century suburban neighbourhood. The riding has the highest concentration of residents of Polish origin of any Toronto riding and a significant Jewish community. Italian and Filipino communities are also well established in the area. Commercially, Yonge Street and the Dufferin Street corridor provide retail and service employment. Allen Road, a short expressway that terminates at Eglinton Avenue, is a major north-south commuter route through the riding. By 2011, the proposed Eglinton crosstown light rail line was a significant local issue, as the route would run through the southern boundary of the riding. The planned Lawrence Heights redevelopment, which aimed to transform the social housing complex into a mixed-income community, was also a topic of local concern.