Provincial Election 2025: Need for election questioned by Liberal and NDP incumbent MPPs in East Toronto
By ALAN SHACKLETON
A provincial election for Ontario was officially called this week, and candidates in East Toronto are weighing in on what voters can expect leading up to election day on Thursday, Feb. 27.
The biggest question being asked by incumbent Beaches-East York Liberal MP Mary-Margaret McMahon is why the election was even called. Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford already has a large majority government in Queen’s Park as a result of the 2022 election and voters were not scheduled to go to the polls again until June of 2026.
“This unnecessary, expensive election proves that (Premier) Doug Ford is only out for his own interests, and those of his rich friends and close insiders,” said McMahon in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News after the election writ was issued on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Scarborough Southwest NDP MPP Doly Begum also questioned the need for the election to be called at this time.
“Doug Ford is spending millions of people’s hard earned tax dollars as a distraction from his failures. He handed billions of dollars to developers and an Austrian spa company, curved up the Greenbelt, while people are struggling to afford a home, waiting for months for a doctor’s appointment,” said Begum in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News.
Ford has said he called the election so that he can get a renewed and even bigger mandate from Ontarians as he deals with threats to the province’s economy from possible tariffs and other measures mentioned by American President Donald Trump.
So far, the Scarborough Southwest race has Mark Bekkering for the Green Party, Addie Daramola for the Progressive Conservatives, and Qadira Jackson for the Liberals seeking to take the seat away from incumbent Begum who has been the riding’s MPP since she was first elected in the 2018 provincial election.
In her statement, Begum was critical of Ford’s past seven years in power as Premier of Ontario, and of the Liberals who were the province’s government from 2003 to 2018.
“After 15 years of Liberal neglect, people gave Ford two chances. But after seven years of Conservatives, life’s only gotten harder for people,” said Begum. “I and the Ontario NDP have a better plan for healthcare, housing, transit, and public safety. We are on the side of hardworking people.”
BEACHES-EAST YORK
Challenging incumbent McMahon for the Beaches-East York seat are NDP candidate Kate Dupuis, Progressive Conservative candidate Anna Michaelidis, Green Party candidate Jack Pennings, and Canadians’ Choice Party candidate Bahman Yazdanfar.
McMahon was first elected as the riding’s MPP in the 2022 provincial election. Dupuis also ran for the NDP in the riding in the 2022 provincial election, finishing second to McMahon.
Prior to McMahon’s election, the riding was held by NDP MPP Rima Berns-McGown from 2018 to 2022. Berns-McGown did not run for re-election in 2022. Before her, Liberal Arthur Potts was the Beaches-East York MPP from 2014 to 2018. Prior to that, the riding was held by NDP MP Michael Prue from 2001 to 2014.
Prior to being elected MPP in 2022, McMahon served as the City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 32 Beaches-East York from 2010 to 2018. She did not run for re-election as councillor in the 2018 municipal election as she had said in 2010 that she would only serve in the position for two terms.
“Since 1991, I have been active in our community, collaborating with our neighbours to make it the best place in the world to live (in my humble opinion!). From 2010-2018, I served as your City Councillor, working tirelessly to improve your home, street, and neighbourhood, while spearheading city wide projects such as TransformTO, Vision Zero, and Laneway Suites,” said McMahon her statement this week to Beach Metro Community News.
“As your MPP, since 2022, I have been an equally strong champion for Beaches-East York, advocating at Queen’s Park for bold climate policy, improved healthcare, better housing solutions, safer schools, and reliable transportation for our community and all Ontarians. I am a true collaborator who is willing to work across party lines to get things done – in fact I was one of the only Opposition Members to successfully pass a Private Members’ Bill in 2024 – Bill 211: Person’s Day Act, 2024. I have hosted rallies in our Riding to save the Greenbelt and keep the Ontario Science Centre open, and my office has been instrumental in thousands of cases to help local constituents get the care and attention they need. I am truly here to serve.”
She said the run of two successive majority governments by Ford’s Progressive Conservatives, who were first elected in 2018, has taken toll on Ontario’s residents.
“After seven years of his Conservative cuts, 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor, children are learning in crumbling, overcrowded classrooms, and we are woefully behind in the fight against climate change. In Beaches-East York, we’re waiting longer for the TTC, rents and housing prices are ballooning, and life has become unaffordable for many people. And don’t even get me started on the bike lanes,” said McMahon.
She said that under leader Bonnie Crombie, the Ontario Liberals “have a plan to deliver more for you and your family, and are quickly gaining momentum to take down Doug Ford.”
Beaches-East York NDP candidate Dupuis said in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News that it’s time for Ontario voters to turn the page on Ford’s government.
“Wherever I am connecting with community members, be it at the doorstep, at rallies I have organized, along parade routes, when out gathering signatures on petitions I have written, or at local events, one thing is clear. Life in Ontario has become increasingly difficult over the last seven years since Doug Ford was elected Premier. Our community wants to see an end to the Ford government,” she said.
“People in Beaches-East York have been sharing their concerns with me- be it difficulty finding a home they can afford, struggles to find a family doctor and access health care quickly, or dirty schools that are lacking the most basic supplies like toilet paper, it is clear that our taxpayer dollars are being squandered by Doug Ford. Instead of investing in housing, in our hospitals, in our schools, he is wasting our money tunneling under the 401, ripping up bike lanes, and selling off our Greenbelt,” said Dupuis.
“In Beaches-East York alone, taxpayers will be forced to waste over 16 million dollars to build Doug Ford’s vanity MegaSpa at Ontario Place. Sadly, his plan will also destroy our beloved Ontario Science Centre, a plan I have tirelessly opposed since it was first announced in April 2023. The destruction of the Ontario Science Centre is a huge issue for so many in our riding. Not only do they recall visiting this beloved community gem with their own kids/grandkids, they understand that the destruction of the Ontario Science Centre is closely tied to the lousy deal Doug Ford has made for the Ontario Place lands, and will cost Ontarians hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Dupuis.
“In calling an early election, Doug Ford has given us an opportunity to get rid of him 16 months early. It’s time for change. It’s time to elect a truly progressive government, a caring, compassionate government. A government that spends your money wisely on what matters most to you.”
Beaches-East York Progressive Conservative candidate Michaelidis is a local realtor who has served as a Director with the Toronto Real Estate Board and as Chair of its Government Relations Committee that has advocated for making the building of affordable housing easier.
She said her priorities in this provincial election are housing affordability, infrastructure investment, healthcare, education, jobs and supporting small businesses.
Michaelidis said she is “deeply committed to her community, working to ensure local families in need have access to essential resources.”
TORONTO-DANFORTH
The Toronto-Danforth riding has been held by NDP MPP Peter Tabuns since 2006.
The Progressive Conservative candidate in Toronto-Danforth is Adam Ratkowski.
The Liberal candidate in Toronto-Danforth is Connor Taras.
The Green Party candidate for Toronto-Danforth is Orlando Wright.
Candidate nominations for all ridings will be closed by Elections Ontario at 2 p.m. on Feb. 13.
For more information on the Feb. 27 provincial election, including how to vote, please go to the Elections Ontario website at https://www.elections.on.ca/en.html
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to add the names of candidates as they become known to Beach Metro Community News.
