Toronto Councillor Jennifer McKelvie To Run For Liberals In Federal Election

Toronto city councillor Jennifer McKelvie plans to run for the Liberals in the federal election.

McKelvie, who represents the riding of Scarborough—Rouge Park, will run in Ajax.

“As our country faces unprecedented threats, it is time for me to stand up and serve Canada,” McKelvie’s statement read. “Mark Carney is the leader Canada needs right now. He will strengthen our relationships with reliable trading partners and grow our economy to be more independent, resilient, and sustainable.”

Canadians will head to the polls on April 28 after Prime Minister Carney officially triggered a snap election on Sunday. The April 28 date is the earliest possible day to send Canadians to the polls under the Elections Act, one day longer than the minimum 36 days required by law.

McKelvie was first elected as a city councillor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. McKelvie was appointed Deputy Mayor, a role in which she assumed certain mayoral responsibilities during John Tory’s vacancy from February to July 2023.

Presently, the federal riding of Ajax is held by Liberal Mark Holland, who served as health minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Holland, who endorsed former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, was not retained by Carney in his cabinet shuffle and opted not to seek re-election.

McKelvie says she has deep personal ties to Ajax and Durham Region, as many of her family and friends call Ajax home.

“From building our infrastructure and protecting our environment to my experience with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Ontario’s Big City Mayors and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities – I have the skills and experience to meet the challenges of this moment and deliver for Ajax.”

The city councillor said her salary will be donated to the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation while she’s on her leave of absence, adding that her constituency staff will remain available to support Scarborough-Rouge Park.

“I look forward to rolling up my sleeves, knocking on doors and hearing the concerns of residents across Ajax in the coming weeks.”