Eglinton - Lawrence

This densely populated, ethnically diverse riding is in central and north Toronto. The riding is bordered in the north by Highway 401, Eglinton Avenue West in the south, Yonge Street in the east and the CN line in the west.

According to the 2006 census, 39 per cent of the residents are immigrants. Seventeen per cent are of Jewish origin and 11 per cent Italian. Average family income is the third-highest in Canada at $162,855. The unemployment rate is 5.6 per cent.

Eglinton-Lawrence has a diverse economic base, with professional, scientific and technical services providing 14 per cent of the riding's jobs. The service sector, manufacturing and construction also play major roles. About half the residents over age 25 have university certificates or degrees.

The riding was created in 1976 out of portions of Eglinton, York South, York Centre and York West ridings. In 1996, part of St. Paul's was moved into Eglinton-Lawrence. In 2004, the border of the riding was moved south to take in another part of St. Paul's.

Population: 110,066 (2006 census; an increase of 3% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal Joe Volpe has held the riding since 1988. He kept his seat in the 2006 election when he beat Conservative candidate Peter Coy and received more than 50 per cent of the vote.

During the 2004 election, Volpe defeated Conservative Bernie Tanz. In 2003, Paul Martin named Volpe minister of human resources and skills development with responsibility for Ontario. In 2005, Volpe became minister of citizenship and immigration.

Progressive Conservative Donald Fleming held the former Eglinton riding from 1945-62. In 1963, Mitchell Sharp won the riding for the Liberals and held it until 1978. Sharp ran for the Liberal leadership in 1968 and held several senior cabinet posts under Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau.

Liberal Roland De Corneille held Eglinton-Lawrence riding for three terms, from 1979-1988.

• Since 1979 - LIB