Scarborough Southwest

This Toronto riding takes in the southeastern corner of Scarborough bordered by Lake Ontario. There is a mix of affluent homes along the lakeshore and working-class areas close to Eglinton Avenue.

It runs north to the transmission line, CN Rail line and Eglinton Avenue East, between Bellamy Road South and Bellamy Ravine Creek in the east and Victoria Park Avenue in the west.

Fifty-five per cent of residents own their homes. Manufacturing and retail trade are the largest sources of employment in the riding. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $72,081 and an unemployment rate of 8.8 per cent.

The riding has an immigrant population of 46 per cent, with large Chinese, Filipino and Indian communities. Just 40 per cent of residents list English as their mother tongue.

In 2004, a portion of Scarborough Centre was added in the northwest and the eastern boundary moved to Bellamy Road. Scarborough West riding was established in 1966. In 1996, the name changed to Scarborough Southwest and a part of Scarborough East was added.

Population: 102,196 (2006 census; a decrease of 2.9% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal Tom Wappel is serving his sixth term as MP after defeating Conservative Vincent Veerasuntharam during the 2006 election by 9,913 votes.

In 2004, Wappel beat Conservative Heather Jewell, with more than twice the votes Jewell earned.

Since 1968, Scarborough West and Scarborough Southwest have elected Liberal, Conservative and New Democrat MPs. In 1968, Liberal David Weatherhead was elected, followed by New Democrat John Harney in 1972 and another Liberal, Alan Martin, in 1974. In 1979, PC Bill Wightman was elected. In 1980, the Liberals' Weatherhead ran again and defeated the NDP's Harney. In 1984, PC Reg Stackhouse defeated Weatherhead.

Scarborough West:

• 1968 - LIB
• 1972 - NDP
• 1974 - LIB
• 1979 - PC
• 1980 - LIB
• 1984 - PC
• 1988, 1993 - LIB

Scarborough Southwest:

• 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - LIB