The byelections in Toronto Centre and York Centre were triggered by the resignations of former Finance Minister Bill Morneau in August and Michael Levitt in September.

The Liberal Party of Canada has held onto two Toronto ridings after byelections in Toronto Centre and York Centre, but candidates from opposing parties have gained ground since last year’s general election.
Yaara Saks, a small business owner, was elected as the MP for York Centre after what was, at times, an incredibly close battle. At one point, Saks was just a single vote behind business owner and Conservative Party of Canada candidate Julius Tiangson.
It took almost four hours for all votes to be counted, but Saks ended up getting 8,253 votes and Tiangson received 7,552 votes — a difference of 3.9 per cent.
The NDP‘s Andrea Vásquez Jiménez came in third and received 1,046 votes. Maxime Bernier, a former Quebec MP and leader of the People’s Party of Canada, ran in York Centre and garnered 642 votes. The Green Party of Canada‘s Sasha Zavarella received 461 votes.
Story continues below advertisement
Read more:
2 Toronto byelections test Liberal government’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic
The byelection results marked a notable drop for the Liberals, which also was the first federal electoral test since the coronavirus pandemic began. In 2019, Michael Levitt, who resigned in September to become president and CEO of Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, had a lead of 13.5 per cent against the Conservative challenger at the time.
Saks was unavailable for comment after the results were announced by Elections Canada.
In the downtown riding of Toronto Centre, veteran journalist Marci Ien, representing the Liberals, was successful in her candidacy to succeed former finance minister Bill Morneau after his high-profile resignation in August.
Ien came out on top with 10,579 votes. Annamie Paul, who was elected leader of the Green Party of Canada three-and-a-half weeks ago, got 8,250 votes. The NDP’s Brian Chang came third with 4,280 votes. Benjamin Gauri Sharma ran for the Conservatives and came a distant fourth with 1,435 votes.
Story continues below advertisement
What a night. Its a little bit surreal. I was a journalist, talk show host some five, six weeks ago and now I have the honour of representing Toronto Centre,” Ien told reporters late Monday.
Please hold me accountable. I want to have an open-door policy an office people know they can come in I want them to know that I am there for them.
Ien, who turned her attention to getting sworn-in as the MP for Toronto Centre, said her priorities involve ensuring supports are available to residents and businesses amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as well as addressing affordable housing and homelessness. She said she had a particular message for voters and for those who want to get engaged in politics.
I will not leave them behind. Youre looking at the daughter of immigrants who landed in St. James Town in the late 60s hoping to give their kids a chance and here I stand, and if I can stand here so can they,” Ien said.
Read more:
Elections Canada taking coronavirus precautions for Toronto Centre, York Centre byelections
We need more women in politics. We need more diversity at the table. And when I spoke those words, a lot of people reached out.
Blaize Exeter, Ien’s daughter, was one of a handful of people standing at her mother’s side after the results were announced and briefly spoke in support of her mother.
Story continues below advertisement
Its just amazing. These past 36 days to see my mom completely transform from her job sitting as a co-host to running in an election is completely different. Its been crazy for all of us and for her to be able to do all of that, she told reporters.
“Shes still making us dinner and shes still helping with homework, so thats incredible.
Read more:
Prime Minister Trudeau calls byelections for Toronto Centre, York Centre on Oct. 26
Like York Centre, Toronto Centre has a strong Liberal past and the byelection saw a slip in the party’s vote share. Morneau beat Chang by almost three-to-one in the 2019 election and Paul was a distant fourth when she ran.
Paul, who spoke Monday night before all of the results were announced, said the Green Party has made significant inroads in Toronto, and Toronto Centre in particular — calling it the “safest Liberal riding in the country.”
We said we were coming to offer real representation and a real choice to people in a riding who desperately need it after decades of Liberal neglect,” she told supporters during a celebration that was broadcast on Zoom, calling the Green Party of Canada the “independent and progressive option” in politics.
We showed up. We promised we were going to give people an option. Despite the timing, despite the entire Liberal machine turning out in order to make sure their candidate got elected, were still giving them a tremendous run for their money.
Story continues below advertisement
Read more:
Green Party slams opposition for refusing to show Annamie Paul ‘leader’s courtesy’
Paul noted several neighbourhoods in Toronto Centre have been affected by COVID-19, unemployment and homelessness, and called for action to address those issues.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole thanked Tiangson and Sharma for their candidacies. He said the vote totals signify slipping support for the government.
“These results in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country shows Canadians are losing faith in Justin Trudeau,” he wrote in a message on Twitter.
Meanwhile, voter turnout in Toronto Centre and York Centre was 30.96 per cent and 25.64 per cent, respectively.
© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.