Ontario federal electoral redistribution proposal

Summary#

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Ontario has published a proposed redraw of Ontario’s federal riding map. The plan responds to population changes after the 2021 Census, adds one seat (bringing Ontario to 122 seats) and shifts many riding boundaries — it is a proposal, not law, and was published September 3, 2022.

What it does#

• Uses the rules in the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and 2021 Census counts to redraw federal electoral districts in Ontario.
• Increases Ontario’s total to 122 seats and sets the provincial electoral quota at 116,590 people per district.
• Makes several specific regional changes:
  • Reduces Northern Ontario ridings from 10 to 9, including creating one very large “extraordinary circumstances” riding called Kiiwetinoong—Mushkegowuk (much smaller population than the quota).
  • Reduces City of Toronto ridings from 25 to 24 and shifts many neighbourhood boundaries.
  • Adds one riding each in parts of Halton/Guelph/Wellington and Brampton/Caledon/Dufferin, and creates a new Lake Simcoe—Uxbridge riding affecting areas north of the GTA.
  • Renames and reshapes many other ridings across the province to even out populations (tables and maps with exact boundaries are on the Commission website).
• Provides maps and legal descriptions online and invites public comment and hearings before finalizing the plan.

Who's affected#

• Voters across Ontario will be affected, but the biggest changes are likely to be noticed by people living in:
  • Northern Ontario (fewer ridings and one very large, low-population riding),
  • Toronto (one fewer riding and many boundary shifts),
  • the fast-growing suburbs and towns around the GTA: Brampton, Halton, Guelph, Wellington, and areas toward Lake Simcoe and Uxbridge.
• First Nations and other Indigenous communities in the far north are specifically considered in the plan and in at least one case form part of the rationale for an “extraordinary circumstances” riding.
• Candidates, political parties, local organizations, and anyone interested in which riding they live in should check the proposed maps.

Why it matters#

• The redraw aims to make representation fairer by bringing riding populations closer to the new quota (116,590). That affects who represents a neighbourhood in Parliament and can change the mix of voters in a riding.
• For residents, the changes can mean a different Member of Parliament in future elections, different constituency offices, and changes in local political priorities.
• For Indigenous and remote communities, the map’s treatment of sparsely populated northern areas affects how those communities are grouped for federal representation.
• This is a consultation-stage proposal. The Commission set a deadline for participation and held hearings in late September–October 2022 (the Public Hearing Participation Form deadline was September 25, 2022). The final map will only take effect after the Commission reviews input, issues a final report, and the federal processes that follow are completed. Check redistribution2022.ca for the detailed maps and up-to-date hearing or submission information.