The winner in Monday night’s federal election in the riding of Scarborough Centre has pledged financial support of jobs for young people as a priority.

In the Oct. 19 vote, Liberal candidate Salma Zahid defeated Conservative incumbent Roxanne James. Zahid polled 51.1 per cent of ballots cast, according to the CBC Canada Votes website. James finished in second place with just over 30 per cent of votes, while NDP Alex Wilson earned 11.8 per cent of ballots. During her victory reception, Zahid said that creating more jobs for youth is a big issue in the riding.

“We will be spending 1.3 billion over the next four years to create more youth jobs,” she said.

Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman stood on stage alongside MPP Brad Duguid in a small, but crowded banquet hall to announce the entrance of Salma Zahid. Duguid is thrilled that Salma Zahid was able to reclaim Scarborough Centre.

“Nobody worked harder. Nobody worked longer. And nobody worked better,” he said.

The Scarborough Centre riding was a Liberal stronghold for 18 years prior to 2011 when Conservative Roxanne James was elected. Liberal supporters are ecstatic about the victory, including Smitherman.

“Here at Scarborough Centre, we saw the best, we saw the hard work and now we can celebrate the election,” he said in a toast to Salma Zahid.

As an immigrant from Pakistan who came here 16 years ago Salma Zahid never thought of this day, but now it is reality and she is enjoying every minute of it with her family and friends.

She said she is ready to get to work and change Scarborough Centre for the better.

“Canadians have said loud and clear that they want a real change and I’m proud and really looking forward to start working on the new platform with Justin Trudeau,” she said.