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The federal riding was created in 1903 and consisted of the Township of York and the towns of East Toronto, North Toronto and Toronto junction. As is suggested by the names of the towns in the riding, the consituency abutted on the city of Toronto's northern border. As time progressed and the population grew the riding shrank in size so that it consisted of what was later called the borough of York in the midlle western part of Metropolitan Toronto and some surrounding areas. While it was originally a largely rural riding it was an urban, working class riding by the end of World War II. The riding is notable for the 1942 federal by-election in which newly elected Conservative leader Arthur Meighen was defeated in his attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons by the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation's candidate (assisted by the Liberals). The election was a major breakthrough for the CCF and ended Meighen's attempt to return to politics. It later became the home riding of New Democratic Party leader David LewisThe name David Lewis may refer to several people: David Lewis (philosopher) (1941-2001), an American-born philosopher famous for his theory of modal realism and his love for Australia. David Lewis (politician) (1901-1980), a Russian-born Canadian lawyer a.
The provincial riding of York South first came into existence for the 1926 Ontario election . It was slightly smaller than the federal riding but covered much of the same area. For most of the period after World War II, it was a bastion of the CCF and its successor the NDP being the riding of three CCF/NDP leaders in the Ontario legislature; Ted JolliffeEdward (Ted) Bigelow Jolliffe (1909-1998) was a Canadian politician and lawyer and was the first leader of the Ontario Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Born in China to missionary parents Jolliffe attended university in Ontario and, as a Rhodes Schol, Donald C. MacDonaldQueen's Park. Donald Cameron MacDonald (born 1913) is a long time Canadian politician. MacDonald was a Conservative in his youth but became a democratic socialist after witnessing the social problems of the Great Depression. He worked for several years as and Bob RaeRobert Keith Rae (born August 2, 1948) was the 21st premier of Ontario, and the first to represent the NDP in that role. He served as premier from October 1, 1990, to June 28, 1995. The Hon. Bob Rae Rank 21st Term of office October 1, 1990 June 28, 1995 P.
For the 1979 Canadian election the riding was redistributed and became York South-Weston .