Humber River—Black Creek

Humber River—Black Creek occupied the northwest corner of the former City of North York, taking in the neighbourhoods of Jane and Finch, Humber Summit, Humbermede, Humberlea, York University Heights, and the western edge of Downsview. The riding was created through the 2012 redistribution from the former York West riding. It was one of the most diverse constituencies in Canada — more residents spoke a non-official language as a mother tongue than spoke English or French — with large Italian, Latin American, Vietnamese, Jamaican, and Filipino communities.

Candidates

Judy Sgro (Liberal) — The incumbent MP, who had represented the area continuously since winning a 1999 by-election in the former York West riding. Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Sgro moved to Toronto as a child and entered public life through municipal politics, serving on North York City Council beginning in 1987 and later on Toronto City Council. In the Paul Martin government, she served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from 2003 to 2005 before resigning amid allegations she was later cleared of by the federal ethics commissioner.

Kerry Vandenberg (Conservative) — The Conservative candidate in the riding.

Darnel Harris (NDP) — The New Democratic Party candidate in the riding.

Keith Jarrett (Green Party) — The Green Party candidate in the riding.

Christine Nugent also ran for the Marxist-Leninist Party.

About the Riding

The Jane and Finch area, centred on the intersection of Jane Street and Finch Avenue West, was one of the most recognized — and often stigmatized — neighbourhoods in Toronto. Built largely in the 1960s and 1970s as a planned community of high-rise apartment towers and townhouse complexes, the area housed a large population of newcomers and lower-income families. Community organizations worked to counter negative perceptions and to address persistent challenges including youth unemployment, poverty, and gun violence. The Jane-Finch Community and Family Centre and numerous grassroots groups provided services and programming for thousands of residents.

York University's Keele campus, with more than 50,000 students, sat within the riding and was a major employer and economic presence. The construction of the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension, which would bring two new stations to the York University area, was underway during the campaign and represented a generational transit investment for the northwest corner of the city. Downsview Park, the former Canadian Forces Base being redeveloped into an urban park and mixed-use destination, straddled the riding's eastern boundary. Housing affordability in the riding's many rental towers was a pressing concern, as aging buildings required significant capital repairs while tenants faced above-guideline rent increases. Access to social services, healthcare, and employment training programs were central issues for a riding where a significant share of residents lived below the poverty line.