A third Jewish MPP was added to the majority government at Queen’s Park after a snap Ontario election that saw Doug Ford’s Tories return for a historic third term on Feb. 27.
Michael Kerzner, who served as the solicitor general was re-elected in the riding of York Centre, while Andrea Khanjin held the riding of Barrie-Innisfil for the Conservatives for the third time. Michelle Cooper was newly elected in Eglinton-Lawrence.
Team Kerzner is an incredibly inclusive and talented group of people who came together believing in me, our province and in our future standing alongside Doug Ford @fordnation and the @OntarioPCParty.
— Michael Kerzner (@TeamKerzner) February 28, 2025
This is an honour of a lifetime to serve my community and I will work hard… pic.twitter.com/bZUQQPDpov
Some grassroots Jewish groups which had campaigned to keep “Bathurst Street blue,” referring to the street that bisects a number of Jewish neighbourhoods, saw their wish fulfilled. In addition to Kerzner’s win, Laura Smith was re-elected by a wide margin in Thornhill.
In the Eglinton-Lawrence riding—where Ontario PC MPP Robin Martin recently stepped down—the riding also remained Tory, but only barely.
Cooper, executive director of the PC Ontario Fund, was elected by a thin margin of 167 voters over Liberal Vince Gasparro. NDP candidate Natasha Doyle-Merrick dropped out of the race mid-election to avoid a vote-split on the left, and help Gasparro’s chances.
Congratulations to the next MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence @MichelleC_PC!!
— Palmer Lockridge (@palmerlockridge) February 28, 2025
This race showed that every vote makes a difference!
Congrats to the whole campaign team, can’t wait to see Michelle join @fordnation as we #ProtectOntario! pic.twitter.com/VPi4N8qit4
Gasparro was quoted in news stories saying the party was considering a recount. Elections Ontario did not respond by The CJN’s deadline about whether a recount would occur.
Strategic voting was also at play in Toronto-St. Paul’s, where the NDP’s Jill Andrew was defeated by Liberal Stephanie Smyth, a former broadcast journalist. A number of Jewish groups had called for voters to avoid splitting the vote between candidates and to unite in voting out the New Democrats.
Thank you #tostpauls !
— Stephanie Smyth (@stephaniesmyth) February 28, 2025
The work starts now.#onpoli #topoli pic.twitter.com/skHBPmYPRJ
Andrew, who represented the midtown riding since 2018, faced criticism for not adequately conveying Jewish concerns about security and safety. In May, she was evicted from the floor of the Ontario Legislature when she wore both a keffiyeh and a tallit to protest the Speaker’s ban on keffiyehs as political symbols.
Andrew thanked her supporters after the election, in a post on social media. “While the results yesterday are not what we wanted, we ran a campaign that had the support of many—near and far and I am deeply grateful. As your St. Paul’s ONDP candidate, I never shifted my values or ignored humanity for votes and I am proud of that.
“Stephanie, congrats! You are now responsible for our unique riding deserving of real affordable housing, better access to public health care, edu(cation), transit and more. We also need someone who will stand with compassion for all our groups-not just the loudest. I wish you good luck,” Andrew posted.
In an email to The CJN, Smyth responded to a question about whether strategic voting played a role in her victory.
“Again and again, I heard from the Jewish community that they didn’t feel represented by my predecessor—that their concerns were being ignored. They expressed fear and frustration over the rise in antisemitism and hate, and the lack of action being taken.
“I made it a priority to engage with Jewish leaders and members of the community through grassroots meetings, where I had the chance to listen, learn, and show that I understand their pain and concerns. I’m so grateful to those who placed their trust in me—many of whom aren’t traditional Liberal voters,” Smyth said.
Jewish voters were also watching the riding of Hamilton Centre, where MPP Sarah Jama who had been ousted from the NDP caucus, ran as an independent after she failed to secure the party’s nomination. Jama finished fourth, with NDP candidate Robin Lennox, a family physician, winning the seat.
Jama, who had been elected in a 2023 byelection, was kicked out of the caucus in October 2023, after she posted a call for an end of “all occupation of Palestinian land.” The post did not recognize the Hamas terrorist attacks which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 kidnapped.
“Rabbi” @Mivasair does both Kiddush & Kaddish simultaneously for Sarah Jama as her political career comes to an end for this cycle. pic.twitter.com/TZL70bQ1Rb
— Leviathan (@l3v1at4an) February 28, 2025
Ford called the snap election a month ago, arguing he needed a strong mandate to confront U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs. Campaign issues included discussions about housing, affordability and the health care system.
Jewish voters, however, also focused on concerns about security and safety. Since Oct. 7, 2023, synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish-owned businesses have been shot at and vandalized numerous times.
Anti-Israel protests have become an ongoing feature of city life, blocking streets and targeting predominantly Jewish neighbourhoods. Large and noisy protests have also been held outside synagogues.
Several universities across the province became the site of anti-Israel encampments last summer, and in some instances, protesters barred Israel supporters from entering campus property. At the University of Toronto, the encampment was dismantled last summer after a judicial ruling.
Security issues were the primary topics on questionnaires issued by B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Representatives from the Liberals and Conservatives responded, while the NDP and Green parties did not, both organizations reported.
Bubble-zone legislation, which would establish a protest-free buffer zone for religious institutions became a hot-button topic on the campaign trail. While several municipalities have passed bubble-zone legislation, which has been implemented with varying degrees of success, the province has not.
During an online candidate debate, Kerzner said the legislation was possibly unconstitutional and would be unlikely to be upheld by the courts. His Liberal opponent, Sam Nestico a retired Justice of the Peace, responded by saying that introducing bubble legislation was at the top of the Liberals’ nine-point safety plan to combat antisemitism.
Jason Cherniak, the Liberal candidate in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill also pushed back against the argument that bubble zone legislation was ineffective or unconstitutional, issuing a press release that pointed out that the province already has bubble laws on the books for health care facilities, and abortion providers.
Cherniak was defeated in the riding by Ontario PC incumbent Michael Parsa.
Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Liberal @Cherniak sees @MichaelParsa pulling ahead. Doug Ford, he says, might be happy with success tonight but should not be proud of winning in this way.’ #YorkRegionVotes2025 #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/WotH5UrVwu
— that_mikeadler (@TMikeadler) February 28, 2025
