Scarborough Centre

This mainly suburban Toronto riding contains part of the former city of Scarborough.

The riding runs from the hydro transmission line, the CN Rail line and Eglinton Avenue East in the south to Highway 401 in the north. It falls between Toyota Place and Bellamy Road North in the east and Victoria Park Avenue in the west.

Manufacturing, retail trade and service sectors are major employers in this densely populated area. There are many small businesses. Average family income is $65,981 and unemployment is 8.6 per cent.

According to the 2006 census, the immigrant population is 55 per cent. Almost 49 per listed a mother tongue other than English or French. The largest ethnic communities are Chinese and Indian.

The riding was created in 1976 out of portions of York-Scarborough, Scarborough East and Scarborough West. New areas were added in 1996. In 2004, the eastern boundary moved west to Bellamy Road and the northern boundary extended north to Highway 401.

Population: 108,010 (2006 census; an increase of 4.9% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal John Cannis took the 2006 election to win his fifth consecutive term. Cannis received 55 per cent of the vote and beat Conservative Roxanne James by 11,810 votes.

In 2004, Cannis defeated Conservative John Mihtis with 57 per cent of the vote.

In 1984 and 1988, Scarborough Centre elected PC Pauline Browes, who was minister of state for the environment, minister for employment and immigration and minister of Indian affairs and northern development in Brian Mulroney's government.

In 1979, PC Diane Stratas was elected in Joe Clark's government. In 1980, she was defeated by Liberal Norm Kelly, who went on to become a city councillor.

• 1979 - PC
• 1980 - LIB
• 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - LIB