Markham—Thornhill

Markham—Thornhill is a federal riding in York Region that encompasses the northwestern portion of the City of Markham and a western section of the Town of Richmond Hill. Created through the 2012 redistribution from parts of the former Markham—Unionville and Thornhill ridings, it had a population of approximately 111,000 in 2021. The riding is one of the most ethnically diverse in Canada: 42.8% Chinese, 27.5% South Asian, 12.7% white, 3.8% Black, 2.7% Filipino, and 3.0% West Asian. English is the first language of 29.5% of residents, with Cantonese (18.7%), Mandarin (13.8%), and Tamil (7.6%) also prominent. The riding includes the communities of Thornhill, Markham's western commercial districts, and portions of the Highway 7 corridor.

Candidates

Mary Ng (Liberal) * — Ng immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong with her family and has two decades of experience in education, women's leadership, and entrepreneurship. Before entering politics, she worked in the Ontario Cabinet Office, the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Education, and in the President's Office at Toronto Metropolitan University. She served as Director of Public Appointments in the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before winning a 2017 by-election. She was appointed Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion in 2018.

Melissa Felian (Conservative) — Felian is a federal public servant who has worked on files related to export development, foreign direct investment, and broadband connectivity. Over her career, she has served at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Global Affairs Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Paul Sahbaz (NDP) — Born to Armenian-Canadian parents who immigrated from Turkey, Sahbaz studied politics and governance at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). He has campaigned on issues affecting young people, including precarious employment, housing costs, and inaccessible home ownership.

Mimi Lee (Green Party) — Lee is a financial advisor, social influencer, UX designer, and human rights activist. Her political engagement began with lobbying the Canadian government to support Hong Kong human rights advocates. The 2021 federal election was her first time running for office.

About the Riding

Markham—Thornhill sits at the heart of Markham's technology and commercial ecosystem. The City of Markham is home to over 1,500 technology and life sciences companies, and the riding includes portions of the Highway 7 corridor that functions as a major commercial and tech employment zone. IBM Canada, whose national headquarters is located in Markham, is the city's largest employer, and AMD Technologies is another significant presence. The riding also includes numerous Chinese and East Asian-oriented shopping centres, reflecting its large Chinese Canadian population.

The riding's economy is heavily service-oriented, with professional services, finance, real estate, and retail sectors employing the majority of residents. Many residents commute to downtown Toronto via Highway 404 or the TTC's Yonge subway extension to neighbouring areas. The riding includes parts of the Thornhill community, which straddles the Markham–Richmond Hill boundary and features a mix of established residential areas and newer condominium developments.

Federal issues in 2021 included international trade and small business support—particularly relevant given that the incumbent was Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion—housing affordability, immigration and family reunification, and transit infrastructure. The riding's large newcomer and visible minority communities placed emphasis on anti-discrimination measures and equitable access to federal programs. Markham—Thornhill's multicultural character and economic ties to global trade make it a riding where international affairs carry more weight than in many suburban constituencies.