It looks like it may be more of the same in the three ridings that converge in East York.
Early results suggest that the Liberal incumbent in Beaches-East York, Maria Minna, is holding off a challenge by New Democrat challenger Marilyn Churley, a former MPP.
Next door, in Toronto-Danforth, incumbent Jack Layton – the federal NDP leader – is well ahead of his nearest rival, Liberal Andrew Lang. And to the north, in Don Valley West, Liberal Rob Oliphant has a significant lead over Conservative challenger John Carmichael. Oliphant picked up the Liberal banner from the retiring MP, Liberal John Godfrey.
Oliphant is ahead by about 1,400 votes, with almost half of the polls reporting. That translates to almost 45 per cent of the five-candidate field.
Layton has a 2,500 vote lead and 48 per cent of the votes in a crowded eight-candidate field. Almost half of the polls have reported in there.
But only about one-sixth of the polls have reported in Beaches-East York, where Minna is ahead by 800 votes. That works out to about 42 per cent of the votes cast among five candidates.
So across the country, it looks like a continuation of minority Conservative government. And in East York, it’s shaping up like a continuation of Liberal representation in Don Valley West and Beaches-East York – and NDP representation in Toronto-Danforth.
By East York Observer staff