Thornhill (federal electoral district)

Riding profile

The riding is named after Thornhill, a suburban neighbourhood founded as a rural community that was first settled along Yonge Street in the mid-1790s, around the time of the street's opening. The district of Concord and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre occupies the northern and western parts of the riding.

According to the 2016 census, the population of the riding was 112,719, up 2.1% from 2011. In 2015, the median income in the riding was $33,474 compared to $30,798 in 2010. The average income in the riding was $54,590 compared to $47,097 in 2010. The most spoken non-official language in the riding is Russian (14.5%) and 16.4% of the population is of Russian ethnic origin. The second largest ethnic origin is Chinese with 11.2% in 2016. About 37% of the riding's population is part of a visible minority.

Demographics

:According to the 2021 Canadian census

Ethnic groups: 57% White, 11.3% Chinese, 7% West Asian, 6.3% South Asian, 5.1% Korean, 4.8% Filipino, 2.6% Black, 1.5% Latin American, 1.1% Southeast Asian

History

1996-2004: Liberal dominance

The riding was first established in the 1996 redistribution from parts of York North and Markham—Whitchurch—Stouffville, consisting of the part of Vaughan east of Highway 400 and south of Rutherford Road, and the part of Markham west of Highway 404. Both of the ridings Thornhill was originally part of elected Liberal MPs in 1993, though York North's Liberal vote share was about 17% more of the vote than that of Markham—Whitchurch—Stouffville. The riding's redistributed result had the Liberals at 60%, triple the amount of the Progressive Conservatives (PCs).

In 1999, Caplan was appointed to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's cabinet as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In the 2000 election, Caplan would win again, this time with nearly 65% of the vote and by more than four times the amount won by Canadian Alliance candidate Robert Goldin. In 2002, Chrétien moved Caplan to Minister of National Revenue.

2004-2011: Shift to the Conservatives

On February 23, 2004, Caplan announced that she would not run in the next federal election. The Liberals then chose Susan Kadis, who was then a Vaughan City Councillor, as their candidate for the next election. In the 2004 election, many ridings with large Jewish populations, Thornhill among them, started shifting toward the Conservative Party. The Liberal Party would end up losing 10% of the vote and they were now at 54.6%, about 20% more of the vote than Conservative candidate Josh Cooper.

Shortly after the 2006 election, Kadis was chosen to be the associate critic for Infrastructure and Communities. In March 2008, she was appointed National Revenue critic by Opposition Leader Stéphane Dion. In the 2008 election, the Conservative Party chose Peter Kent, an established media personality who had run in St. Paul's in 2006,

2011-present: Conservative stronghold

Kent served as the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas until a January 2011 cabinet shuffle when he was promoted to Minister of the Environment. This was met with some criticism as he was the fifth Environment Minister in five years. It also signalled Prime Minister Harper's determination to increase support in the Greater Toronto Area. In the 2011 election, the Conservative Party targeted the riding as part of their strategy to gain a majority government and both Prime Minister Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff had campaign stops in the riding. Kent ended up increasing his vote share to 61%, compared to 24% for the Liberal candidate.

During the 2012 redistribution, the area of the riding east of Bayview Avenue was divided along Highway 407, with portions being transferred to Richmond Hill and the new riding of Markham—Thornhill. Concerns were raised about dividing the Thornhill neighbourhood into two ridings, suggesting that Concord (which includes Vaughan Metropolitan Centre) be excluded from the riding instead. The name of the riding was also an issue, as the proposed name, "Vaughan—Thornhill" was thought to exclude the Markham portion. The redistributed result put the Conservatives 2% higher than the actual result. During his tenure, critics had described him as "Canada's worst environment minister."

In the 2015 election, Kent lost about 5% of the vote, now receiving 58.6% to the Liberal candidate's 33.7%. After a 2017 shadow cabinet shuffle, Kent became the Conservatives' Ethics critic. In 2019, Kent won his fourth consecutive election with 54.6% of the vote to Liberal candidate Gary Gladstone's 35.4%. In 2021, Kent announced he would not run in the next election.

Following this, Melissa Lantsman won the nomination to represent the Conservative Party in Thornhill. On September 20, 2021, Melissa Lantsman won the riding of Thornhill by a 15-point margin. In the 2025 federal election, Lantsman was re-elected with 66.4% of the vote - the highest margin and popular vote share in the riding's history.

Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of the House of Commons of Canada:

| Assembly# = 36 | RepTerms# = 2 | PartyTerms# = 4 | Assembly# = 37 | Assembly# = 38 | RepTerms# = 2 | Assembly# = 39 | Assembly# = 40 | RepTerms# = 4 | PartyTerms# = 6 | Assembly# = 41 | Assembly# = 42 | Assembly# = 43 | RepTerms# = 2 | Assembly# = 44 | Assembly# = 45

Election results

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

References

Sources

• Riding history from the Library of Parliament
• 2011 results from Elections Canada
• Campaign expense data from Elections Canada

References

1. (2016). "Census Profile, 2016 Census ''Thornhill''". Statistics Canada.
2. (2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census". Statistics Canada.
3. (2019). "Statistics Canada: Estimation of the Jewish Population". Elections Canada.
4. "The Founding of Thornhill". Society For The Preservation of Historic Thornhill.
5. (October 17, 2012). "Riding realignment raises questions in Markham". Torstar.
6. (2011). "NHS Profile, Thornhill, Ontario". Statistics Canada.
7. (February 9, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Thornhill [Federal electoral district], Ontario". Statistics Canada.
8. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (February 8, 2023). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Thornhill, Ontario Federal electoral district (2013 Representation Order)".
9. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2023-02-08). "2021 National Household Survey Profile - Federal electoral district (2013 Representation Order)".
10. "Results of the 35th Federal Election". Elections Canada.
11. "Thornhill ELECTORAL DISTRICT NO. 35085". Elections Canada.
12. (1997). "1993 Canadian Federal Election Results by electoral district". [[University of British Columbia]].
13. (1997). "1997 Canadian Federal Election Results (Detail)". University of British Columbia.
14. (February 27, 2009). "Elinor Caplan". Jewish Women's Archive.
15. "Proportional Representation for Canada?". University of British Columbia.
16. (2003). "Thornhill – Historical data". Elections Canada.
17. (February 23, 2004). "Elinor Caplan to step down". The Globe and Mail.
18. (September 7, 2004). "COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SEPTEMBER 7, 2004-COUNCIL VACANCY WARD 5".
19. (June 15, 2010). "SWITCHING SIDES: THE SHIFT IN JEWISH POLITICAL SUPPORT IN CANADA". Winnipeg Jewish Review.
20. (2006). "OFFICIAL VOTING RESULTS - 39th General Election". Elections Canada.
21. (February 22, 2006). "Team Graham". Politics Watch.
22. (January 25, 2008). "Thornhill MP named critic to national revenue portfolio". Torstar.
23. (October 23, 2008). "Kent beats Kadis in Thornhill". The Canadian Jewish News.
24. (January 4, 2011). "PM boosts Toronto MPs in cabinet: Kent, Fantino promoted". Torstar.
25. (April 18, 2011). "A 30-seat road map to a Tory majority". Torstar.
26. (May 3, 2011). "Liberal Karen Mock fails to unseat Tory star Peter Kent in Thornhill". Torstar.
27. (2012–2013). "Federal Redistribution Map - York".
28. (2013). "Part II – Amendments to the Initial Report (July 31, 2013) – Ontario – Objections".
29. (July 16, 2013). "Shuffled out of cabinet – but hopefully not forgotten". Corus Entertainment.
30. (April 28, 2011). "Don't waste NDP surge opportunity". NOW Magazine.
31. (July 11, 2013). "Is Peter Kent's trail of destruction finally coming to an end?". Torstar.
32. (January 21, 2016). "Too dangerous to reopen Canadian embassy in Iran, Conservative critic warns Liberals". Postmedia.
33. (August 30, 2017). "Scheer names Poilievre finance critic, leaves Leitch out of shadow cabinet". iPolitics.
34. (October 21, 2019). "Kent wins the battle and keeps his Thornhill riding Conservative". Torstar.
35. (November 29, 2019). "Tories release list of 'shadow cabinet' members". iPolitics.
36. (November 23, 2020}}{{dead link). "Longtime Conservative MP Peter Kent won't run again in key riding for the party". CTV News.
37. "Transposition of Votes from the 44th General Election to the 2023 Representation Orders".
38. "Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Thornhill, 30 September 2015".
39. "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates".
40. "Thornhill, ON (2013 Rep. Order)".
41. (2011). "Poll-by-poll results of the 41st General Election". Elections Canada.
42. (2008). "Poll-by-poll results of the 40th General Election". Elections Canada.
43. (2006). "Poll-by-poll results of the 39th Canadian Election". Elections Canada.
44. (2004). "Poll-by-poll results of the 38th General Election". Elections Canada.
45. "Past Results - Thornhill". Elections Canada.
46. (May 26, 1997). "Election Handbook: Combat Zones". Maclean's.