Peter Tabuns returned again as NDP MPP for Toronto-Danforth in provincial election
By JOSH McGINNIS
Peter Tabuns has been elected as the NDP MPP in the Toronto- Danforth provincial riding for the seventh consecutive time.
“I feel great, it is great to work in this community. It is a great community to work with. It is wonderful to have their support and confidence once. I am very thankful for them,” said Tabuns in his victory speech to supporters at The Duke Live in Leslieville on the night of Thursday, Feb. 27, as provincial election results came in.
He praised the work of his volunteers during his speech.
Tabuns finished first in the riding in Thursday’s provincial election with 25,627 votes, accounting for 60 per cent of the Toronto Danforth electorate.
Tabuns has represented the riding since first being elected as Toronto-Danforth’s MPP in a 2006 by-election.
Connor Taras of the Liberals came in second place in Toronto-Danforth on Thursday night with 8,994 votes. Adam Ratkowski of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario was in third place with 6,172 votes. Fourth place went to Orlando Wright of the Green Party with 1,196 votes, followed by Stephen Graham on the New Blue Party with 424 votes.
While it was another victory for Tabuns locally, the Progressive Conservatives and Premier Doug Ford won a third majority government in a row in Thursday’s provincial election. That’s the first time since 1959 in Ontario that a provincial government has won three straight majorities.
A total of 42.97 per cent of voters across the province supported the Progressive Conservative government, and Ontarians elected the NDP as the Official Opposition.
Tabuns discussed the NDP’s future and the province’s current issues in an interview with Beach Metro Community News on election night.
“For us, it is going to be a process of resisting the damage that Doug Ford wants to do and tries to do. The Greenbelt shows that he can be beaten back, that he can be stopped. We have to focus on the fights that allow us to do that,” said Tabuns.
“What we need to do in Toronto-Danforth affects the province as a whole. People living in Toronto-Danforth are affected by the cost of living, we need rent control that applies across the province. We need Metrolinx to treat this community with respect and minimize the damage, instead of making life harder. Our healthcare needs to be taken care of, and wait times need to be reduced.”
Tabuns also mentioned American President Donald Trump, and his tariff threats toward Canada, and spoke about his lack of confidence in Ford dealing with Trump.
”People in Ontario have been scared of what is happening in the States with Trump, which benefited the Tories. Still, I don’t have confidence that Ford can do what needs to be done. We need to take leadership positions to push an approach to Trump and the States that will benefit the people of this province,” said Tabuns.
Here are the unofficial results in Toronto-Danforth from Elections Ontario:
Peter Tabuns (NDP) – 25,627 (60.42 per cent).
Connor Taras (Liberal) – 8,994 (21.21 per cent).
Adam Ratkowski (Progressive Conservative) – 6,172 (14.55 per cent).
Orlando Wright (Green Party) – 1,196 (2.82 per cent).
Stephen Graham (New Blue Party) – 424 (1 per cent).
Elections Ontario said voter turnout in Toronto-Danforth in this election was 49.74 per cent. In the 2022 provincial election, turnout in Toronto-Danforth was 49.44 per cent.
Across the province, the Progressive Conservatives won 80 seats, the NDP 27, the Liberals 14, the Green Party two, and one independent was elected.
