Leslieville - Political Representation

Political Representation

Leslieville is in the federal political riding of Toronto-Danforth, represented by NDP MP Craig Scott. Scott replaced former MP and NDP leader Jack Layton in a by-election following Layton's death from cancer. Municipally, Leslieville is in Toronto Ward 30, represented by Toronto city councillor Paula Fletcher, the former leader of the Communist Party of Manitoba. Parts of Leslieville are in Toronto Ward 32, represented by Toronto city Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, who replaced Sandra Bussin in 2010. The seat in the Ontario provincial parliament is currently held by New Democrat Peter Tabuns, elected in the March 30, 2006 by-election and then re-elected in the 2007 general election.

Federally, the riding was represented by New Democrats from 1965 until 1988; past MPs include Bob Rae (1978-1982), who resigned to become leader of the provincial NDP, and was later Premier of Ontario in the NDP majority government of 1990-1995. In the 1988 federal election, the seat was won by Liberal Dennis Mills. Mills held the riding until Jack Layton of the New Democratic Party regained the seat in the 2004 Canadian federal election.

The provincial seat was previously held by Marilyn Churley, then deputy leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario, until she resigned prior to an unsuccessful bid for the adjacent federal seat of Beaches-East York in the January 2006 federal election. Provincially, the riding has elected a New Democrat in every election and by-election since 1963.