Eglinton--Lawrence

Eglinton--Lawrence spans a wide section of midtown Toronto, running from Eglinton Avenue in the south to Highway 401 in the north and from Caledonia Road in the west to Yonge Street in the east. The riding straddles the boundaries of the former cities of Toronto, North York, and York, incorporating the neighbourhoods of Bedford Park, Lawrence Manor, Lawrence Heights, and parts of Lawrence Park. The district encompasses a pronounced socioeconomic divide, with some of the city's most valuable residential real estate sitting within walking distance of one of its largest social housing developments.

Candidates

Marco Mendicino (Liberal) -- A federal prosecutor for a decade before entering politics, Mendicino studied political science at Carleton University and earned his law degree from the University of Windsor. He was involved in the prosecution of the Toronto 18 terrorism case, served as president of the Association of Justice Counsel, and taught as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School. Elected in 2015 after defeating the sitting Minister of Finance, he entered the 2019 campaign as the incumbent.

Chani Aryeh-Bain (Conservative) -- A school teacher, small business owner, and lifelong resident of the riding, Aryeh-Bain operated a uniform supply company serving the medical, hospitality, and education sectors for twenty-five years. She raised five children in the Eglinton-Lawrence area and was active in community organizations. Her candidacy drew attention when she launched a federal court challenge over the election date coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret.

Alexandra Nash (NDP) -- A psychology student at Ryerson University at the time of the campaign, Nash mounted an energetic campaign that involved canvassing, attending debates, and distributing flyers across the riding.

Reuben DeBoer (Green Party) -- DeBoer carried the Green Party banner in Eglinton-Lawrence.

Michael Staffieri (People's Party) -- Staffieri ran as the People's Party of Canada candidate in the riding.

About the Riding

Lawrence Heights, a social housing development built in the late 1950s containing approximately 1,200 rent-geared-to-income units, was in the midst of a major revitalization during the 2019 campaign. The multi-phase project aimed to demolish the existing low-rise public housing and replace it with a mixed-income community of several thousand units. The first new rental replacement building at 20 Zachary Court opened in June 2019, marking a visible milestone in the decades-long redevelopment plan. Concerns about tenant relocation and the pace of construction were prominent local issues.

The Bathurst Street corridor supported a notable Jewish population, including a substantial Orthodox community, while Polish, Filipino, and Latin American residents contributed to the riding's demographic mosaic. Retail strips along Yonge Street, Bathurst Street, and Avenue Road sustained a mix of independent shops, restaurants, and professional offices.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, under construction along the riding's southern boundary, had disrupted businesses and commuter patterns along Eglinton Avenue for years heading into the 2019 election. Residents and business owners were eager for its completion. Housing affordability was another pressing issue as condominium development intensified in the Yonge-Eglinton corridor at the riding's southeastern edge, placing strain on local infrastructure including schools, parks, and sewer capacity.