Spadina—Fort York

Spadina—Fort York is one of Toronto’s most densely populated ridings, stretching from the Toronto Islands in the south to Dundas Street in the north and from Dufferin Street in the west to the Don Valley Parkway in the east. Its twelve square kilometres encompass iconic urban neighbourhoods including Chinatown, Kensington Market, Liberty Village, CityPlace, King West, Trinity Bellwoods, the Waterfront, the Distillery District, and the Entertainment District. The riding’s population had jumped nearly 18 percent in the years leading up to the election, with more than 136,000 residents living largely in high-rise condominiums. NDP incumbent Chris Glover had won the seat decisively in 2018, defeating Liberal candidate Han Dong by a wide margin, and entered 2022 as the strong favourite in this progressive-leaning downtown riding.

Candidates

Chris Glover (NDP) — Born on September 4, 1961, Glover is a former adjunct professor in social sciences at York University who holds a Ph.D. in Education with a thesis on the impact of university costs and student debt. Before his 2018 election, he was a twice-elected trustee with the Toronto District School Board for Etobicoke-Centre. He joined the Toronto Board of Health after his son’s friend was killed in gun violence and worked to convince the city to adopt a public health approach addressing poverty as a root cause. During the pandemic, he helped launch a community food program.

Chi Nguyen (Liberal) — Described as a social innovator and community builder, Nguyen had served as Managing Director at Parker P. Consulting, a social enterprise consulting firm. She was recognized by the Governor General and the YWCA for her work improving the lives of women and girls, including running a national Young Women Vote campaign and co-creating the McGill Women in House program.

Husain Neemuchwala (Progressive Conservative) — The PC candidate for Spadina—Fort York in 2022.

Cara Des Granges (Green Party), Angela Asher (New Blue Party), and Jan Osko (Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda) also ran.

Local Issues

Housing affordability was the central issue in a riding defined by its condo-tower skyline. Despite the density of new residential construction, affordable units were being lost faster than they were being built. The rapid pace of development created a stark contrast between luxury condominium towers and the low-income communities in Alexandra Park and the surrounding area. Tenants in older buildings faced above-guideline rent increases, and the lack of rent control on units built after November 2018 was a flashpoint for residents in newer towers.

The rapid population growth strained community infrastructure. Many condo residents had limited access to green space, with the Toronto Islands representing the nearest large park but reachable only by ferry. Advocates called for pedestrian and cycling connections to the Islands and better park facilities on the mainland. Schools, community centres, and childcare spaces had not kept pace with the influx of families moving into the condo towers, and candidates debated how to fund the social infrastructure required by one of Toronto’s fastest-growing communities.

Public safety and homelessness also featured in the local conversation. The riding’s downtown location meant that encampments, the opioid crisis, and the visible effects of inadequate mental health services were daily realities for residents. Glover had been vocal as the NDP’s critic on these issues, and the intersection of housing, mental health, and poverty defined much of the riding-level debate heading into election day.