Vaughan

This Greater Toronto Area riding contains part of the city of Vaughan, including the Italian enclave of Woodbridge.

The riding is bordered by Steeles Avenue West, Highway 400 and Rutherford Road in the south, Bathurst Street in the east and Highway 50 in the west.

According to the 2006 census, more than 54 per cent of residents gave Italian as their ethnic origin, by far the highest in Canada. Manufacturing is the main employer. Average family income is $111,473 and unemployment is 4.4 per cent.

The riding of Vaughan-Aurora was created in 1996 from 44 per cent of York North. In 1997, the name changed to Vaughan-King-Aurora. In 2004, Vaughan riding was created from 68 per cent of Vaughan-King-Aurora.

Population: 154,206 (2006 census; an increase of 37.6% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal Maurizio Bevilacqua defeated Conservative Richard Majkot in the 2006 election after earning 59 per cent of the vote, double the results of his opponents. Bevilacqua is serving his sixth term as MP.

Bevilacqua won Vaughan 2004, when he easily beat Conservative Joe Spina with 63 per cent of the vote. Bevilacqua was first elected in York North in 1988, following one term by Independent Tony Roman.

Former prime minister Mackenzie King won York North in 1921 and 1922. Liberal Barney Danson, a Trudeau-era minister of urban affairs and minister of defence, was MP there 1968 to 1979.

York North:

• 1935-53 - LIB
• 1957, 1958 - PC
• 1962-74 - LIB
• 1979, 1980 - PC
• 1984 - IND
• 1988, 1990 byelection, 1993 - LIB

Vaughan-King-Aurora:

• 1997, 2000 - LIB

Vaughan:

• 2004, 2006 - LIB