Guelph (federal electoral district)

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Guelph (formerly Guelph—Wellington) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1979. This riding has had a Liberal MP since 1993.[2]

Guelph
Ontario electoral district
Guelph in relation to other Ontario electoral districts (2003 boundaries)
Federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Lloyd Longfield
Liberal
District created1976
First contested1979
Last contested2021
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2011)[1]121,688
Electors (2015)94,632
Area (km²)[1]87.15
Pop. density (per km²)1,396.3
Census division(s)Wellington
Census subdivision(s)Guelph

From 2008 until his decision not to run in 2015, the riding's parliamentary seat was held by Liberal MP Frank Valeriote. Valeriote had announced his intention to retire on November 15, 2014.[3] The Liberal candidate in the 2015 federal election in the riding was Lloyd Longfield, who previously served as president of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.[4] Longfield was first elected on October 19, 2015 and reelected on October 21, 2019.

History edit

Guelph riding was created in 1976 from parts of Halton—Wentworth, Wellington and Wellington—Grey ridings. It consisted initially of the Townships of Eramosa, Guelph, Pilkington and Puslinch and the City of Guelph in the County of Wellington.

The electoral district was abolished in 1987 when it was merged into Guelph—Wellington riding, adding Erin to the existing boundaries. In 1996, Erin and Pilkington was removed from the riding.

In 2003, a new riding of Guelph was created again, consisting solely of the City of Guelph.

This riding gained a fraction of territory from Wellington—Halton Hills during the 2012 electoral redistribution.

A so-called "robocall" or voter suppression scandal occurred in this riding during the 2011 federal election, when hundreds of Guelph voters who were opposition supporters[5] received automated calls, or 'robocalls', claiming to be from Elections Canada on election day, May 2, 2011. These calls directed them to the wrong polling stations. While reports of such calls were also alleged in five other ridings, later described as election fraud by a Federal Court judge, there was insufficient evidence to support charges in those ridings.[6][7] The "robocall" incidents were referred to as the "Pierre Poutine" scandal because a cellphone in the affair was registered to a fictitious Pierre Poutine of Separatist Street in Joliette, Quebec.[8]

On June 2, 2014,[9] Michael Sona, the former director of communications for the Conservative candidate in Guelph was charged with "wilfully preventing or endeavouring to prevent an elector from voting".[10][11][12] Sona was found guilty on November 14, 2014[13] and was sentenced to nine months in jail plus twelve months of probation.[14] During the trial, Justice Hearn agreed with the Crown prosecutor's allegation that Sona had likely not acted alone.[15][16][17] Sona was released from the Maplehurst Correctional Complex on December 1, 2014, on bail after serving twelve days, pending his appeal of the sentence. He did not appeal the conviction.[10]

Based on another incident during the 2011 federal election campaign, Liberal MP Frank Valeriote’s riding association was fined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. As reported by the National Post, this fine was based on a robocall message that anonymously attacked the Conservative opponent's position on abortion. The call failed to identify its originator and did not give a callback number. Under a settlement agreement with Valeriote, the CRTC assessed a CA$4,900 fine.[18]

Political geography edit

In 2008, the election in Guelph was a four-way one between the NDP, Greens, the Tories and the Liberals, who came out on top. The NDP only won a small handful of polls in the centre part of the city, which was also where the Greens did well. In fact, the Greens dominated the central part of the city. The Tories did well on the fringes of the city, mostly along the northern borders and in the far south of the city. The Liberals won the southern and northern and western parts of the city.[19] In 2011, despite a Conservative majority that saw the Liberals have their worst result ever, they were able to retain the seat by a larger margin as the substantial Green voteshare fell by almost 15 points. In 2015, Liberal voteshare once again rose, to almost 50%. In 2019, the Greens made a major comeback to finish in second ahead o the Conservatives with 26%. However, the Liberals retained the seat with a comfortable 15 point margin.

Demographics edit

According to the 2021 Canadian census
  • Ethnic groups: 72.4% White, 7.4% South Asian, 4.2% Black, 3.0% Chinese, 2.7% Filipino, 2.3% Indigenous, 2.2% Southeast Asian, 1.4% Latin American, 1.4% West Asian, 1.2% Arab
  • Languages: 74.5% English, 1.5% Punjabi, 1.4% Mandarin, 1.3% Italian, 1.2% Spanish, 1.2% Tagalog, 1.2% Vietnamese, 1.1% French
  • Religions: 49.7% Christian (23.9% Catholic, 4.1% United Church, 3.9% Anglican, 2.2% Presbyterian, 2.0% Christian Orthodox, 1.1% Baptist, 12.5% Other), 4.5% Muslim, 2.7% Hindu, 1.5% Buddhist, 1.5% Sikh, 38.7% None
  • Median income: $44,400 (2020)
  • Average income: $55,200 (2020)

Members of Parliament edit

This riding has elected the following members of the Canadian House of Commons:

Parliament Years Member Party
Guelph
Riding created from Halton—Wentworth, Wellington
and Wellington—Grey
31st  1979–1980     Albert Fish Progressive Conservative
32nd  1980–1984     James Schroder Liberal
33rd  1984–1988     William Winegard Progressive Conservative
Guelph—Wellington
34th  1988–1993     William Winegard Progressive Conservative
35th  1993–1997     Brenda Chamberlain Liberal
36th  1997–2000
37th  2000–2004
Guelph
38th  2004–2006     Brenda Chamberlain Liberal
39th  2006–2008
40th  2008–2011 Frank Valeriote
41st  2011–2015
42nd  2015–2019 Lloyd Longfield
43rd  2019–2021
44th  2021–present

Election results edit

Graph of election results in Guelph/Guelph—Wellington (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

2021 edit

2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Lloyd Longfield 29,382 42.10 +1.74 $69,585.36
Conservative Ashish Sachan 16,795 24.07 +4.79 $9,009.95
New Democratic Aisha Jahangir 14,713 21.09 +8.79 $37,654.74
Green Michelle Bowman 5,250 7.52 -17.94 $48,178.88
People's Joshua Leier 3,182 4.56 +3.12 $6,430.47
Animal Protection Karen Levenson 262 0.38 New $8,444.49
Communist Tristan Dineen 187 0.27 +0.05 $0.00
Total valid votes 69,771 100.00
Total rejected ballots 434 0.62
Turnout 70,205 66.38
Eligible voters 105,863
Source: Elections Canada[20]

2019 edit

2019 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Lloyd Longfield 30,497 40.36 -8.74 $108,379.67
Green Steve Dyck 19,236 25.46 +14.14 $99,922.31
Conservative Ashish Sachan 14,568 19.28 -7.07 $66,688.03
New Democratic Aisha Jahangir 9,297 12.30 +0.29 $24,447.54
People's Mark Paralovos 1,087 1.44 - $1,793.83
Christian Heritage Gordon Truscott 498 0.66 - $39,351.25
Communist Juanita Burnett 166 0.22 +0.01 none listed
Independent Michael Wassilyn 133 0.18 - none listed
Independent Kornelis Klevering 86 0.11 - none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 75,568 100.0   $127,407.04
Total rejected ballots 452
Turnout 76,020 72.33%
Eligible voters 105,106
Liberal hold Swing -11.44
Source: Elections Canada[21][22][23]

2015 edit

2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Lloyd Longfield 34,303 49.10 +5.80 $213,387.97
Conservative Gloria Kovach 18,407 26.35 -6.52 $59,899.61
New Democratic Andrew Seagram 8,392 12.01 -4.72 $42,701.14
Green Gord Miller 7,909 11.32 +5.19 $222,034.20
Libertarian Alex Fekri 520 0.74 $40.20
Marijuana Kornelis Klevering 193 0.28
Communist Tristan Dineen 144 0.21
Total valid votes/expense limit 69,868 100.00   $239,632.86
Total rejected ballots 298 0.42
Turnout 70,166 73.27
Eligible voters 95,761
Liberal hold Swing +6.16
Source: Elections Canada[24][25]
2011 federal election redistributed results[26]
Party Vote %
  Liberal 25,643 43.30
  Conservative 19,460 32.86
  New Democratic 9,906 16.73
  Green 3,628 6.13
  Others 583 0.98

2011 edit

2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Frank Valeriote 25,574 43.37 +11.15 $94,243.98
Conservative Marty Burke 19,252 32.65 +3.47 $87,361.60
New Democratic Bobbi Stewart 9,836 16.68 +0.19 $12,588.72
Green John Lawson 3,711 6.29 -14.86 $47,019.22
Libertarian Phillip Bender 192 0.32 +0.05 none listed
Marijuana Kornelis Klevering 171 0.29 +0.01 none listed
Animal Alliance Karen Levenson 123 0.20 +0.08 none listed
Communist Drew Garvie 104 0.17 +0.04
Total valid votes/expenditure limit 59,021 100.00 $95,043.06
Total rejected ballots 260 0.44 +0.12
Turnout 58,963 64.48 -0.11
Electors on the lists 91,062

2008 edit

The call for a federal election to be held on October 14, 2008 occurred when Guelph was already in the throes of a by-election scheduled for September 8, which was intended to replace retiring Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain. As a result of this, the by-election was cancelled, and the four major candidates running opted to represent their parties again in the federal election. They included: Frank Valeriote, a local lawyer with thorough community experience who had garnered the Liberal nomination in an upset over Marva Wisdom; Gloria Kovach, a popular city councillor and former President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities who was controversially handed the Conservative nomination after incumbent nominee Brent Barr was ousted; Tom King, a renowned author and Native rights activist who received several high-profile endorsements after his NDP nomination; and Mike Nagy, a long-time Green Party spokesperson.

Initially in Guelph, optimism ran high that either the NDP, Green Party, or Conservative Party could procure the seat, as many felt that the nominees might benefit from the relative unpopularity of Stéphane Dion's Liberals and the gaffes made by prior Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain, who had failed to show up to a number of Parliamentary votes and retired before the end of her term in office. Ultimately, however, Frank Valeriote was able to narrowly garner the seat over star candidate Gloria Kovach, who lost by around three percent and decreased the margin of defeat for her party. Noteworthy, too, was the increase in the electoral returns of the Green Party, who managed to fare better than the federal NDP in Guelph for the first time, finishing with twenty-one percent of the vote – almost three times what they had received in the 2006 election. In terms of distance from winning position, Guelph was the Green Party's best result in the country in 2008.

2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Frank Valeriote 18,974 32.22 −6.17 $87,844
Conservative Gloria Kovach 17,186 29.18 −0.58 $63,415
Green Mike Nagy 12,454 21.15 +12.43 $76,344
New Democratic Tom King 9,713 16.49 −5.51 $60,470
Marijuana Kornelis Klevering 166 0.28 none listed
Libertarian Philip Bender 159 0.27 $0.00
Communist Drew Garvie 77 0.13 −0.05 $374
Animal Alliance Karen Levenson 73 0.12 $5,039
Independent John Turmel 58 0.10 none listed
Marxist–Leninist Manuel Couto 29 0.05 −0.02 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 58,889 100.00
Total rejected ballots 191 0.32 −0.03
Turnout 59,080 64.59 −6.17
Electors on the lists 91,463

2006 edit

2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Brenda Chamberlain 23,662 38.39 −6.22 $56,158
Conservative Brent Barr 18,342 29.76 +3.65 $80,104
New Democratic Phil Allt 13,561 22.00 +1.97 $30,173
Green Mike Nagy 5,376 8.72 +1.37 $27,621
Christian Heritage Peter Ellis 538 0.87 −0.33 $4,880
Communist Scott Gilbert 111 0.18 $280
Marxist–Leninist Manuel Couto 45 0.07 −0.05 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 61,635 100.00
Total rejected ballots 215 0.35 −0.22
Turnout 61,850 70.76 +6.58
Electors on the lists 87,410
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

2004 edit

2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Brenda Chamberlain 23,442 44.61 −3.58 $60,734
Conservative Jon Dearden 13,721 26.11 −12.57 $61,179
New Democratic Phil Allt 10,527 20.03 +9.67 $27,613
Green Mike Nagy 3,866 7.36 +5.60 $15,304
Christian Heritage Peter Ellis 634 1.21 +0.71 $5,059
Marijuana Lyne Rivard 291 0.55 none listed
Marxist–Leninist Manuel Couto 66 0.13 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 52,547 100.00
Total rejected ballots 303 0.57 +0.24
Turnout 52,850 64.18 +3.07
Electors on the lists 82,346
Note: Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

1988–2003 edit

The riding was part of the riding known as Guelph—Wellington from 1988 to 2003. It was created in 1987 to include parts of Wellington—Dufferin—Simcoe electoral districts.

Guelph—Wellington initially consisted of the City of Guelph, the Village of Erin, and the townships of Eramosa, Erin, Guelph, Pilkington and Puslinch in the County of Wellington.

In 1996, the riding was re-defined to consist of the City of Guelph and the townships of Eramosa, Guelph and Puslinch before being abolished in 2003, and split into the current electoral district and Wellington—Halton Hills electoral district.

2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Brenda Chamberlain 26,440 48.19 +0.46 $31,978
Alliance Max Layton 11,037 20.12 +2.83 $51,423
Progressive Conservative Marie Adsett 10,188 18.57 −2.74 $19,049
New Democratic Edward Pickersgill 5,685 10.36 −0.05 $26,212
Green Bill Hulet 966 1.76 +0.64 $201
Christian Heritage Gord Truscott 275 0.50 −1.35 $3,119
Canadian Action Sharon Tanti 207 0.38 $3,244
Marxist–Leninist Manuel Couto 68 0.12 −0.15 $8
Total valid votes 54,866 100.00
Total rejected ballots 181 0.33 −0.35
Turnout 55,047 61.11 −5.53
Electors on the lists 90,076
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Brenda Chamberlain 25,004 47.73 +7.70 $37,750
Progressive Conservative Dick Stewart 11,160 21.31 +0.72 $56,755
Reform Lyle McNair 9,054 17.28 −6.39 $30,052
New Democratic Elaine Rogala 5,456 10.42 +5.53 $20,301
Christian Heritage Peter Ellis 972 1.86 $7,503
Green Frank Marchetti 589 1.12 $5
Marxist–Leninist Elaine Couto 146 0.28 $0
Total valid votes 52,381 100.00
Total rejected ballots 357 0.68 −0.25
Turnout 52,738 66.64 +0.14
Electors on the lists 79,141
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution.
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Liberal Brenda Chamberlain 24,359 39.24 $42,976
  Reform Gerry Organ 15,483 24.94 $45,760
  Progressive Conservative Bill Scott 12,825 20.66 $57,999
  Non-Affiliated Frank Maine 3,465 5.58 $29,745
  New Democratic Party Alex Michalos 2,904 4.68 $27,092
  National Maggie Laidlaw 2,018 3.25 $6,098
Green Simon C. Francis 318 0.51 $0
  Natural Law David W. Mitchell 255 0.41 $12
  Libertarian Tom Bradburn 247 0.40 $0
Canada Party John H. Long 108 0.17 $600
  N/A (Renewal) Anna Di Carlo 78 0.13 $0
  Abolitionist Andrew Tait 20 0.03 $0
Total valid votes 62,080 100.00
Total rejected ballots 583 0.93
Turnout 62,663 67.20
Electors on the lists 93,250
Source: Thirty-fifth General Election, 1993: Official Voting Results, Published by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Financial figures taken from official contributions and expenses provided by Elections Canada.
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative William Winegard 25,721 43.21 -6.70
Liberal Frank Gauthier 19,002 31.92 +2.69
New Democratic Alex Michalos 11,623 19.53 +0.07
Christian Heritage Peter Ellis 1,978 3.32
Green Bill Hulet 581 0.98
Libertarian Michael J. Orr 298 0.50 -0.17
Rhinoceros Marty Williams 240 0.40 -0.33
Independent Joanne Bruce 80 0.13
Total valid votes 59,523 100.00

1979–1984 edit

1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative William Winegard 23,484 49.91 +12.36
Liberal Jim Schroder 13,757 29.24 -9.97%
New Democratic Jim Robinson 9,153 19.45 -2.72
Rhinoceros Susie Mew Catty 343 0.73 +0.11
Libertarian Walter A. Tucker 314 0.67 +0.43
Total valid votes 47,051 100.00
1980 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Schroder 17,268 39.21 +1.74
Progressive Conservative Albert Fish 16,539 37.55 -4.41
New Democratic Jim Finamore 9,765 22.17 +2.44
Rhinoceros Steve Thorning 272 0.62
Libertarian Brian Seymour 103 0.23 0.03
Marxist–Leninist Robert A. Cruise 53 0.12 0.02
Communist Alan Pickersgill 45 0.10 0.01
Total valid votes 44,045 100.00


1979 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressive Conservative Albert Fish 18,149 41.96
Liberal Frank W. Maine 16,203 37.46
New Democratic Jim Finamore 8,535 19.73
Independent Joe Barabas 190 0.44
Libertarian Brian Seymour 90 0.21
Marxist–Leninist Robert Cruise 45 0.10
Communist Alan G. Pickersgill 39 0.09
Total valid votes 43,251 100.00

See also edit

References edit

  • "Guelph (federal electoral district) (Code 35027) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2011.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Statistics Canada: 2011
  2. ^ "In battle with no incumbent, Guelph remains Liberal red - CTV News Kitchener". kitchener.ctvnews.ca. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "Liberal MP Frank Valeriote won't run in next federal election - CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. November 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  4. ^ O'Flanagan, Rob (October 20, 2015). "Longfield touts Guelph's qualities after cruising to election win". GuelphMercury.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  5. ^ "Key facts in Canada's robocalls controversy". CBC News. The Canadian Press. August 15, 2014 [August 14, 2014]. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  6. ^ "Greasy 'robocall' scandal will haunt Conservatives at the polls: Editorial". Toronto Star. August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  7. ^ "Guelph - Canadian Federal Election 2015 Riding". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  8. ^ Payton, Laura (March 1, 2012) [February 28, 2012]. "Robocalls phone number registered to 'Pierre Poutine'". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  9. ^ Payton, Laura (June 2, 2014). "Michael Sona, charged with Guelph robocalls, starts trial today". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Maher, Stephen (April 9, 2015). "Michael Sona won't appeal robocalls conviction but will seek lighter sentence: lawyer". National Post.
  11. ^ "Trial begins Monday for Guelph PC staffer charged in robocalls scandal". CTV News Kitchener. June 2014. Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  12. ^ "Guelph robocall victims ask Elections Canada to reopen case". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Michael Sona sentenced to 9 months in robocalls scandal". CityNews Toronto. November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  14. ^ Payton, Laura (November 20, 2014) [November 19, 2014]. "Found guilty of subverting democracy, Michael Sona sentenced to 9 months". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "'Pierre Poutine' robocalls planned by 'more than one person,' but Michael Sona was 'directing mind,' Crown says". National Post. June 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "Conservative staffer Michael Sona given 9-month jail sentence in Robocalls case - CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  17. ^ "Former Conservative Party staffer guilty in robocalls trial". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  18. ^ "Frank Valeriote's riding association fined over robocall violation". National Post. August 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "Riding « Pundits' Guide to Canadian Federal Elections". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  20. ^ "Election Night Results - Guelph". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  22. ^ "Latest results for all electoral districts (tab-delimited format)". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Final Expense Limits for Candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  24. ^ Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca.
  25. ^ Canada, Elections. "Error page". www.elections.ca.
  26. ^ Funke, Alice. "Guelph, ON (2013 Rep. Order)". www.punditsguide.ca. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.

External links edit

43°33′N 80°15′W / 43.550°N 80.250°W / 43.550; -80.250