Humber River—Black Creek

Humber River—Black Creek is a diverse, densely populated riding in northwest Toronto that encompasses the neighbourhoods of Jane and Finch, Humber Summit, Humbermede, Humberlea, and York University Heights. The riding is home to one of the most ethnically diverse populations in Canada, with roughly 58 percent of residents born outside the country and significant Italian, Vietnamese, and Jamaican communities. NDP incumbent Tom Rakocevic had won the seat in 2018, flipping the riding that had previously been held by the Liberals under the old York West name. The 2022 contest shaped up as a competitive race between the NDP and Liberals in a riding where the Progressive Conservatives had historically struggled to gain traction.

The riding’s median individual income of approximately $31,400 placed it well below provincial averages, making affordability and access to social services central preoccupations for local voters. At the same time, the Finch West Light Rail Transit line was under construction, promising 18 stops over 10.3 kilometres and raising both hopes for improved connectivity and fears about displacement and gentrification.

Candidates

Tom Rakocevic (NDP) — The incumbent MPP, Rakocevic grew up in the riding and attended local schools before earning a master’s degree from York University. Before entering provincial politics, he spent years as the executive assistant to Toronto City Councillor Anthony Perruzza. At Queen’s Park, he served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as the NDP’s transit critic.

Ida Li Preti (Liberal) — A University of Toronto graduate, Li Preti served as a Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee for Humber River—Black Creek and sat on the Toronto Board of Health. She also ran a small business in the community.

Paul Nguyen (Progressive Conservative) — An award-winning activist and filmmaker, Nguyen is the founder of Jane-Finch.com, a hyperlocal news platform covering the Jane-Finch neighbourhood. He has more than 20 years of public sector experience in government and education and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community work.

Keith Berry (Green Party) — A graphic designer and small business owner, Berry was an active community volunteer who campaigned on housing equity, living affordability, and transit access.

Also running were Lee Miguel Gonzalez (Ontario Party), Iulian Caunei (New Blue Party), and Knia Singh (Independent).

Local Issues

The construction of the Finch West LRT was the dominant local issue during the 2018–2022 term. The 10.3-kilometre light rail line along Finch Avenue West promised to bring better public transit to an underserved part of the city, but years of construction disrupted local businesses and traffic patterns. Residents and community organizations pushed for a community benefits agreement to ensure local hiring and the construction of a long-promised Jane-Finch Community Hub and Arts Centre on surplus Metrolinx land. In early 2021, the provincial government announced it would donate approximately 2.2 acres of LRT land for the community hub.

Housing affordability and the threat of gentrification were closely linked to the transit investment. Many residents worried that new transit infrastructure and the City of Toronto’s Jane Finch Initiative—a comprehensive planning study whose Ideas Report was adopted by City Council in May 2022—would drive up rents and displace long-time tenants. The riding’s large renter population was particularly vulnerable to above-guideline rent increases in aging apartment towers.

Community safety remained a persistent concern. The Jane-Finch area had long contended with gun violence and a lack of investment in youth programming and mental health services. Residents called for a community-led approach to public safety that emphasized social supports over policing alone, while also seeking greater provincial investment in schools, recreation centres, and employment programs for young people.