Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill, a suburban city in York Region with a population of roughly 202,000 as of the 2021 census, had been represented by Progressive Conservative MPP Daisy Wai since the 2018 election, when she defeated long-serving Liberal cabinet minister Reza Moridi. Previously a Liberal stronghold, the riding shifted decisively in 2018 as part of the broader PC wave under Doug Ford. Heading into the 2022 election, Wai sought a second term in a riding characterized by its rapidly growing and ethnically diverse population, with significant Chinese and Iranian Canadian communities along the Yonge Street corridor.

The contest drew seven candidates, though the primary competition was expected between the incumbent PC member and the Liberals, who had historically held the seat.

Candidates

Daisy Wai (Progressive Conservative) — Wai is a businesswoman and longtime Richmond Hill resident who launched her Canadian business through Prosper Canada’s Self-Employment Benefit program. Before entering provincial politics, she served as chair of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce and sat on the boards of York Regional Police Services, Mackenzie Health, and Easter Seals Society. Following her 2018 election, she served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility.

Roozbeh Farhadi (Liberal) — Farhadi is a banking professional and community advocate who immigrated to Canada from Iran as a child. He co-founded Hearts for Hunger, a local initiative that delivered over 700 meals to residents in need.

Raymond Bhushan (NDP) — Bhushan was a fourth-year mining engineering student at the University of Toronto and a graduate of Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill. He ran on the NDP platform of addressing the housing crisis and expanding public healthcare services.

Hasen Nicanfar (Green Party), Les Hoffman (New Blue Party), Ramtin Biouckzadeh (Ontario Party), and Olga Rykova (Ontario Moderate Party) also sought election in the riding.

Local Issues

Transit infrastructure was a dominant issue in Richmond Hill during the 2018–2022 term. The Yonge North Subway Extension, a provincial priority project led by Metrolinx, promised to extend TTC Line 1 approximately eight kilometres north from Finch Station into York Region, with stations planned at Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Bridge, and High Tech. The project was expected to accommodate 90,000 daily transit trips upon completion. For Richmond Hill commuters reliant on bus connections to reach the subway, the extension represented a significant improvement in transit access.

Housing affordability and development pressures were also central concerns. In April 2022, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing filed a zoning order to facilitate transit-oriented community development near the planned subway stations. Residents expressed concern about the pace of development outstripping local infrastructure capacity, including roads, schools, and water systems.

Healthcare access remained a persistent issue, particularly the capacity pressures at Mackenzie Health, which serves much of York Region. Residents noted long wait times and overcrowded emergency departments as the population continued to grow faster than hospital infrastructure could expand.