Riding Profile:

This highly affluent riding is located in downtown Toronto and is bordered by Highway 401 to the north and the Don River to the south. Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue comprise its western boundary, and it is bounded on the east by Don Mills Road, the CN Rail line and the east branch of the Don River.

According to 1996 census, the average family income in this riding is the third highest in the province. More than 28 per cent of its population have university degrees and close to half of the workforce hold professional/managerial positions.

The immigrant population is greater than 41 per cent, with significant Chinese and East Indian communities.

During the redistribution in 1999, this new riding was created from 47 per cent of York Mills, 40 per cent of York East, 36 per cent of Don Mills and 22 per cent of Eglinton.

Political History:

From 1963 to 1987, the old riding of York Mills was firmly under PC rule. Liberal Brad Nixon ended the Tory streak in 1987, but was defeated by PC candidate David Turnbull in 1990.

The PCs served six consecutive terms in the former riding of York East between 1967 and 1985. Liberal Christine Hart won in 1985, marking the first time a Liberal had been elected in the riding since 1902. She was re-elected in 1987, but defeated in 1990 by the NDP's Gary Malkowski. The Tories retook the seat in 1995.