Toronto—Danforth

Toronto—Danforth is one of Ontario’s strongest NDP ridings, anchored in the east-end Toronto neighbourhoods of Riverdale, the Danforth, Greektown, and parts of East York. The seat had been held since 2006 by Peter Tabuns, who won a by-election that year and was re-elected in every subsequent general election by wide margins. Tabuns entered the 2022 campaign as one of the NDP’s most experienced members, with the riding considered a safe seat for the party.

The local campaign unfolded against the backdrop of a major transit infrastructure project that threatened to reshape the Danforth corridor. While the NDP’s hold on the riding was not seriously in doubt, the Liberal and PC candidates each brought distinct profiles to the race.

Candidates

Peter Tabuns (NDP) — Tabuns was a former Toronto city councillor for Ward 8 Riverdale from 1990 to 1997, during which time he chaired the Board of Health. From 1999 to 2004, he served as executive director of Greenpeace Canada. He also served as a climate change advisor to federal NDP leader Jack Layton. Before his time on city council, he was president of Citizens for a Safe Environment, helping to end garbage incineration in the Toronto Portlands.

Mary Fragedakis (Liberal) — Fragedakis served as Toronto city councillor for Ward 29 Toronto—Danforth from 2010 to 2018, when she lost to Paula Fletcher in the redrawn ward. Since April 2019, she had been the executive director of the GreekTown on the Danforth Business Improvement Area.

Colleen McCleery (Progressive Conservative) — McCleery was an entrepreneur who campaigned on tax relief and support for small business owners.

Marcelo Levy (Green Party) — Levy was born in Argentina and immigrated to Canada in 1989. He held a Master’s in Environmental Studies from York University and worked as a consultant specializing in ecological compliance in forestry and natural resources, forest biomass, and carbon sequestration. He had been a resident of the Toronto—Danforth riding for nearly twenty-five years.

Milton Kandias ran for the New Blue Party, George Simopoulos for the Ontario Party, Christopher Brophy for the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party, and Jennifer Moxon for the Communist Party.

Local Issues

The Ontario Line, a major new transit line planned by Metrolinx, was the most prominent local issue in the riding. The project called for a new station at Pape Avenue and Danforth, and in the winter of 2022, businesses along the Danforth began receiving expropriation notices from Metrolinx. At least a dozen long-standing businesses on the north side of Danforth Avenue between Pape and Eaton Avenues faced displacement, with several having operated for decades. Business owners expressed concerns about inadequate compensation and the loss of the neighbourhood’s commercial character.

The broader impact of transit construction on Greektown—one of Toronto’s most recognizable commercial strips—generated anxiety among residents and merchants alike. The loss of parking, construction disruptions, and the prospect of years of reduced foot traffic threatened the viability of small businesses still recovering from the pandemic. The GreekTown on the Danforth BIA advocated for stronger provincial support during the construction period.

Housing affordability was another significant concern in the riding, particularly for renters. The cost of living in east-end Toronto had risen sharply, and tenants in older apartment buildings faced above-guideline rent increases. Environmental issues, including climate policy and green infrastructure, also resonated in a riding with a strong progressive voter base.