Pointing to a map of hospital infrastructure spending projects in the GTA, New Democrat Carol Bakerlaments that the Scarborough Hospital appears to have been ignored.

While other hospitals are getting many millions of dollars from the province for new buildings and new wings, the Scarborough hospital is forced to make do with circa-1950 operating rooms, the NDP candidate for the riding of Scarborough Centre says.

“Scarborough is being neglected. We are being left behind and we are not getting our fair share,” she charges.

Baker, 48, a community and labour activist, is challenging Liberal incumbent Brad Duguid for the seat, which he has represented since 2003, handily winning it in the last three elections.

Duguid’s name recognition is bolstered from having served in cabinet, most recently as minister of training colleges and universities. As well, he previously represented the area as a city councillor.

Baker says income inequality is another big issue in the riding: “What I see in Scarborough are people who are just having a very difficult time making ends meet and people who are struggling.”

Statistics Canada Census data reveal some of the challenges facing Scarborough Centre:

The median household income for the riding is $49,211; across Ontario the median is $60,455.

More than half of residents in the riding are immigrants.

The percentage of residents age 65 and older is 16, compared to 13.8 for the entire province.

The unemployment rate is 8.6 per cent, compared to Ontario’s overall rate of 6.4.

The percentage of rented dwellings is 37, above the provincewide share of 29 per cent.

Duguid, 51, grew up in the area and observes that Scarborough has changed drastically over the years.

“It’s gone through a fairly significant transition,” he says, noting that three decades ago it was very much a white, suburban community.

Currently, it is home to many new Canadians with large populations of Chinese, South Asian and Filipino residents.

“It has a very poignant cultural vibe to it,” Duguid says.

Duguid says that when he knocks on doors, he hears from residents who are eager to see the subway extended out to Scarborough.

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“I have been fighting for that Scarborough subway for about 30 years . . . The Ontario Liberal party is the only party with a platform that describes how we are paying for it,” he says.

Also running is Harvard-educated financial planner Edward Yaghledjian, an activist in the Armenian community, who is championing the Green Party’s environmental agenda.

Carrying the banner for the Conservatives is David Ramalho. He did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.