Scarborough Southwest

Scarborough Southwest stretches from Lake Ontario’s shoreline northward to Eglinton Avenue, bounded by Victoria Park Avenue to the west and Markham Road to the east. The riding encompasses the waterfront neighbourhoods of Birch Cliff, Cliffside, and Cliffcrest along the Scarborough Bluffs, as well as the inland communities of Kennedy Park, Oakridge, Clairlea, and parts of Scarborough Village.

Candidates

Dan Harris (NDP) — Harris grew up in east-end Toronto and worked as an IT technician before entering politics. He was a persistent candidate in the riding, having first run for the NDP in Scarborough Southwest in the 2000 federal election and again in 2004 and 2006. He also ran for Toronto city council in Ward 35 in the 2006 municipal election.

Gavan Paranchothy (Conservative) — Paranchothy, also known as Ragavan Paranchothy, ran as the Conservative candidate in the riding. His campaign was the subject of media scrutiny during the election period.

Michelle Simson (Liberal) — Simson was the incumbent, first elected in 2008 when she was appointed as the Liberal candidate by then-leader Stéphane Dion. She had a background in banking. In Parliament, Simson was notable for being the first MP to publicly post her expenses online, fulfilling a campaign promise to show constituents how she spent their money. She also co-chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care and successfully passed a motion calling on the government to support a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare.

Stefan Dixon ran for the Green Party.

About the Riding

The southern edge of the riding featured some of Scarborough’s most desirable waterfront real estate, with the Birch Cliff and Cliffside neighbourhoods perched along the Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario. These lakeside communities had a village-like character, with independent shops along Kingston Road and older single-family homes on tree-lined streets.

Farther inland, the character shifted. The Kennedy Park and Oakridge neighbourhoods contained clusters of high-rise rental apartment towers and townhouse complexes, with a markedly different socioeconomic profile from the waterfront areas. This mix of affluent lakeside homes and lower-income apartment communities gave the riding an unusual internal diversity.

Kingston Road, running diagonally through the riding, served as the main commercial artery, lined with small businesses, restaurants, and strip malls. The road’s revitalization was an ongoing local concern. The riding’s population was diverse, with significant South Asian, Filipino, Chinese, and Caribbean-Canadian communities alongside longer-established populations. Transit was a key issue, as the riding was served primarily by bus routes with no rapid transit connection, making commutes to downtown Toronto lengthy for many residents.