Ontarians head to the polls to elect the next provincial government on Feb. 27 — less than a week from today.
Toronto Centre is a provincial riding in downtown Toronto that encompasses Old Town, Cabbagetown, Moss Park, Regent Park, Distillery District, Church-Wellsey Village, St. James Town and Toronto Metropolitan University.
Provincially, it has been represented by NDP incumbent Kristyn Wong-Tam since 2022, but prior to 2018 it was a Liberal stronghold. Federally, it has been dominated by the Liberal Party of Canada and is represented by MP Marci Ien.
Here’s who voters in Toronto Centre can choose from on their ballot this election.
NDP candidate Kristyn Wong-Tam
Kristyn Wong-Tam has been the NDP MPP for Toronto Centre since 2022. Prior to that Wong-Tam was a Toronto city councillor elected for three consecutive terms in the ward of Toronto Centre-Rosedale (which was redrawn as Toronto Centre in 2018).
As MPP, Wong-Tam has been the Official Opposition critic for the Attorney General and 2SLGBTQ+ Issues, and the critic for small business. Wong-Tam is a proponent of rent control and improving the Landlord Tenant Board.
A former small business owner, Wong-Tam co-founded the Church-Wellesley Village BIA. They grew up in Regent Park.
The NDP’s Toronto-specific campaign platform pledges to provide more funding for the TTC, build provincially funded affordable housing projects and upload homeless shelter costs to Queen’s Park.
Stiles has said an NDP government, if elected, would reverse the closure of the Ontario Science Centre and cancel the plan to let Austrian firm Therme build a spa at Ontario Place.
Liberal candidate Holly Rasky
Holly Rasky is the founder and chief strategist of 6ix Degrees Public Affairs, a lobbying and communications firm, and has a background as a trained lawyer.
Rasky helped create Telehealth Ontario (now Health811) and was the founding executive director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, a national platform advancing women entrepreneurs, according to the Ontario Liberal Party.
Rasky has been a Cabbagetown resident for over 20 years.
The Liberals’ campaign is focussed on improving Ontario's health-care system. Leader Bonnie Crombie has also pledged to install safety doors on TTC subway platforms.
PC candidate Ruth Farkas
The PC Party is running candidate Ruth Farkas, who earned a Master of International Public Policy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs in 2022.
Farkas has worked as a political staffer for PC Party cabinet ministers at Queen's Park. The party called her a "passionate advocate with extensive experience in public policy, communications and community engagemen."
The PC Party is pledging to build a tunnel under Highway 401 to reduce traffic congestion, remove bike lanes on Toronto streets, and secure the economy and Ontario jobs in the face of tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Green candidate Andrew Massey
Andrew Massey is running for the Green Party of Ontario in Toronto Centre. Massey is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and he worked in Japan as a teacher before settling in Toronto, according to the Green Party.
Massey now works in transportation on the GO Expansion project, and also has experience as a writer and editor.
The Green Party is campaigning on building affordable rental housing, increasing housing density, improving transit and starting a universal basic income program.
The Liberals, NDP and Greens have all pledged to double ODSP rates for disabled Ontarians, many of whom live in poverty.
Visit Elections Ontario’s website to find out where to vote in Toronto Centre on Thursday, Feb. 27.
