Etobicoke North

Etobicoke North is a densely populated, multicultural riding in Toronto's northwest corner, encompassing the neighbourhoods of Rexdale, The Elms, Humberwood, Kingsview Village, Thistletown, and Willowridge. Situated north of Highway 401 and east of Highway 427, the riding is one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in the country, with over 57 percent of residents identifying as visible minorities and more than half the population born outside Canada. The largest immigrant communities hail from India, Jamaica, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Guyana, among many other countries. The riding was previously held by Liberal Kirsty Duncan from 2008 to 2024, and a new Liberal candidate carried the banner in 2025.

Candidates

John Zerucelli (Liberal)* was born and raised in Rexdale and won the riding in his first run for Parliament. A trained lawyer specializing in dispute resolution, Zerucelli brings over 25 years of experience in government, law, and corporate leadership. He held executive roles at Labatt Brewing Company and Universal Music Canada before entering public service, where his positions included work at the Treasury Board Secretariat of Ontario, the Office of the Premier of Ontario, and the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. He has been active in Liberal campaigns since the era of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Natalie Weed (Conservative) is a political staffer with experience across provincial, federal, and international levels of government. She has served as chair of the advocacy committee at her local chamber of commerce and works as the managing broker of a real estate office leading a team of over 20 agents. She was named the Conservative candidate after the party replaced its previous nominee during the campaign.

Benjamin Abis (NDP) has called Etobicoke North home for 20 years. An experienced public servant and former licensed paralegal, Abis worked at the Toronto South Detention Centre as a correctional officer and was a union officer with OPSEU, advocating for better wages and safer working conditions. He campaigned on national rent control, affordable housing, and expanded pharmacare.

Andy D'Andrea (People's Party - PPC), Sarun Balaranjan (Green Party), and Neil Simon (Independent) also stood as candidates in the riding.

About the Riding

Etobicoke North is defined by its extraordinary diversity and its working-class character. Rexdale, the riding's largest neighbourhood, evolved from a predominantly English, Scottish, and Italian community in the 1960s into one of the most multiethnic areas in the country, home to new Canadians from the Caribbean, South Asia, East Africa, and beyond. Punjabi and Gujarati are among the most widely spoken languages after English. The neighbourhood is home to the Woodbine Racetrack and Casino, a major employer, as well as industrial and commercial areas along Highway 27 and Rexdale Boulevard.

The riding faces significant socioeconomic challenges. Income levels tend to fall below the Toronto average, and residents contend with higher rates of food insecurity, overcrowded housing, and limited access to services compared to wealthier parts of the city. Many residents work in warehousing, logistics, hospitality, and service-sector jobs tied to nearby Pearson International Airport.

In 2025, affordability was the paramount issue for Etobicoke North's residents. Rising rents, grocery costs, and the squeeze on low- and middle-income households shaped the campaign. Healthcare access--particularly the shortage of family physicians and overcrowded walk-in clinics--was a persistent complaint. Settlement services for newcomers, including language training and credential recognition, remained important in a riding that continues to receive large numbers of immigrants. The riding's proximity to Pearson Airport meant that aviation-sector employment and US trade disruptions were also on voters' minds.