Toronto to hold byelection in Scarborough-Rouge Park to replace Jennifer McKelvie

Muriel Draaisma · CBC News

· Posted: May 22, 2025 8:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

Toronto metropolis assembly has decided to clasp a byelection to regenerate erstwhile councillor Jennifer McKelvie successful Scarborough-Rouge Park present that she has been elected arsenic the Liberal MP for Ajax.

Council voted 19-1 to state a vacancy successful Ward 25 and to capable that vacancy by holding a byelection alternatively of appointing a replacement.

McKelvie, who was lawman mayor, took over mayoral duties for a little word pursuing erstwhile politician John Tory's resignation successful 2023. She resigned from her assembly spot effective May 9. 

Mayor Olivia Chow moved the question to clasp a byelection.

"I deliberation it's important to respect section ideology and fto the residents of Scarborough–Rouge Park determine who represents them astatine metropolis hall," Chow said connected Thursday.

Coun. Parthi Kandavel, who represents Scarborough Southwest, declared a struggle of involvement due to the fact that his spouse whitethorn tally arsenic a candidate in the byelection race. Coun. Jon Burnside voted against the question to clasp a byelection, portion 5 councillors were absent.

Chow besides formally congratulated McKelvie connected her April 28 national predetermination victory.

"She stepped successful and did an tremendous magnitude of enactment arsenic the politician earlier this term. I cognize that each of you successful assembly privation to articulation maine successful wishing Jennifer the champion successful the House of Commons adjacent though we cognize that we volition miss her precise much," Chow said.

According to a study to council, the day of the byelection will beryllium determined by the metropolis clerk, "acting independently of council," and the outgo of the byelection is expected to be $550,000. No day has been acceptable yet.

The metropolis said successful a quality merchandise connected Friday that "several factors volition beryllium considered by the metropolis clerk erstwhile determining voting dates, including holidays and ensuring capable clip for the mentation of the by-election."

Nominations volition unfastened June 23

Nominations volition unfastened connected June 23, 2025 and adjacent connected information time betwixt 30 and 60 days later. Voting time — 45 days aft information day — will be no earlier than Sept. 8, 2025 and nary aboriginal than Oct. 6, 2025. 

According to the report, the idiosyncratic elected will clasp bureau for the remainder of the term, which ends connected Nov. 14, 2026.

Until the byelection is held, Ward 25, Scarborough-Rouge Park unit volition stay successful spot and will address constituency matters for residents, the metropolis said successful its release.

McKelvie was councillor for Scarborough-Rouge Park for 7 years. She was seat of council's infrastructure and situation committee. Prior to her stint connected council, she was seat of the committee of directors of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, an advocacy group of volunteers that seeks to renew Toronto's easternmost district.

McKelvie won the national riding of Ajax for the Liberals with 56.3 per cent of the vote, beating Conservative campaigner Greg Brady, who picked up 39.1 per cent.