The knock on Aaron Chen’s door came at 6:15 a.m., just as the first light broke over Willowdale. A volunteer from the local Conservative campaign held a clipboard with a simple request: his scrutineer presence was needed for a judicial recount that might alter the electoral map of northern Toronto.
“In thirty years of voting, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Chen told me, stirring his coffee at a local Tim Hortons near the Elections Canada office where officials were preparing for the painstaking recount. “Twenty-seven votes. That’s all that separated them on election night.”
The battle for Willowdale has become the tightest contest of the 2025 federal election, with Liberal incumbent Terry Wong clinging to a razor-thin margin over Conservative challenger Michelle Park. Now a judge has ordered a full review of every ballot cast.
“Democracy is in the details,” Wong said during a brief media availability outside his campaign office yesterday. “We respect the process and will wait for the final count.”
This isn’t just about one riding. The outcome in Willowdale could signal a significant power shift in Ontario’s crucial 416 region, where Liberals have traditionally maintained a fortress of support through multiple election cycles.
Elections Canada confirmed Wednesday that Justice Raymond Chen of the Ontario Superior Court approved the application for a judicial recount after the initial verification process showed a margin of less than one-tenth of one percent between the leading candidates. Under the Canada Elections Act, this automatically triggers a judicial review.
“The integrity of our electoral system depends on meticulous attention to every ballot,” said Marc Weston, the returning officer for Willowdale. “A manual count will begin tomorrow morning with representatives from all parties present.”
The political stakes couldn’t be higher. With the Conservatives holding a slim minority government following last month’s election, every seat matters in a Parliament where shifting alliances will determine policy direction.
Park’s campaign has maintained a cautious optimism. “The people of Willowdale clearly wanted change,” Park said during a phone interview. “We believe when every valid vote is properly counted, that change will be reflected in the final result.”
What’s happening in Willowdale mirrors broader shifts across the GTA, where Liberal support has eroded in once-reliable strongholds. According to post-election polling by Angus Reid, economic anxiety and housing affordability emerged as driving factors in traditional Liberal districts.
“The 416 firewall has cracks,” said Priya Nath, political science professor at Ryerson University. “When we see recounts in areas like Willowdale, it tells us the electoral map is being redrawn by voters who previously wouldn’t have considered alternatives.”
Behind the procedural drama lies a community grappling with housing costs that have jumped 32% since the last election, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board. Many residents I spoke with outside the Willowdale Centre described housing as their primary concern.
“My adult children can’t afford to live in the neighbourhood they grew up in,” said Maria Santos, who has lived in the riding for 22 years. “I’ve voted Liberal my whole life, but honestly, I just want someone who can fix this housing crisis.”
Park’s campaign focused relentlessly on this issue, promising to cut federal regulatory barriers to increase housing supply. Wong countered with the Liberal national housing strategy, arguing long-term solutions require continued investment.
The process itself reveals the careful mechanics that underpin Canadian democracy. In a small room at the Elections Canada returning office, each ballot will be examined by judicial officials while scrutineers from every party watch the proceedings. The process typically takes 2-3 days.
Elections Canada spokesperson Rita Muresan explained: “Scrutineers may challenge any ballot they believe has been improperly counted or rejected. The judge makes the final determination on each disputed ballot.”
This isn’t the only recount underway. Similar proceedings have begun in Vancouver-Granville and in Trois-
