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Ottawa Centre (provincial electoral district)

Coordinates: 45°25′N 75°42′W / 45.417°N 75.700°W / 45.417; -75.700
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

45°25′N 75°42′W / 45.417°N 75.700°W / 45.417; -75.700

Ottawa Centre
Ontario electoral district
Ottawa Centre in relation to other Ottawa electoral districts
Provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Ontario
MPP
 
 
 
Joel Harden
New Democratic
District created1966
First contested1968
Last contested2022
Demographics
Population (2016)118,040
Electors (2018)106,208
Area (km²)37
Pop. density (per km²)3,190.3
Census division(s)Ottawa
Census subdivision(s)Ottawa

Ottawa Centre is an urban provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1968. While the riding's boundaries (mainly to the south and west as the north and east borders have remained the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, respectively) have changed over the years to account for population changes, the riding has always comprised the central areas of Ottawa, the nation's capital.

History

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The district was created before the 1967 election. Since the 1999 election, the provincial district has had the same borders as the federal riding of Ottawa Centre.

It is represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Joel Harden of the Ontario NDP. The provincial riding has been won by the NDP nine times (1971, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1984 by-election, 1985, 1990, 2018 and 2022) and by the Liberals eight times (1967, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2014) and never by the Conservatives or any other party.

Geography

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The riding covers most of downtown Ottawa, including the Parliament Buildings. From the historic Rideau Canal, the riding stretches west encompassing the neighbourhoods of Downtown, Centretown (Centretown West which includes Little Italy is usually considered a distinct neighbourhood), Lebreton Flats, Mechanicsville, Hintonburg and Westboro. The riding encompasses additional neighbourhoods south of downtown, including The Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Lees Avenue, Old Ottawa East and others.

Party support varies between different parts of the riding. The consistently best areas for the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) are Old Ottawa South, the Glebe, and Centretown. Old Ottawa South and the Glebe are also the main Green party areas. The suburban far south and west of the riding around Hog's Back and Carlingwood Park, the large homes near the Civic Hospital, the expensive homes and apartments by the Rideau Canal, and the more expensive downtown condos are the most strongly Liberal and Conservative areas. The major swing areas are the western portions of the riding such as Hintonburg and Westboro: while traditionally Liberal, these neighbourhoods have recently become stronger for the NDP.

Many public sector workers live in the riding. The northern part of the riding contains many government office buildings, including Parliament Hill. The riding also includes Carleton University and Saint Paul University's campuses and residences.

Members of Provincial Parliament

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Ottawa Centre
Assembly Years Member Party
Riding created
28th  1967–1971     Harold MacKenzie Liberal
29th  1971–1975     Michael Cassidy New Democratic
30th  1975–1977
31st  1977–1981
32nd  1981–1984
 1984–1985 Evelyn Gigantes
33rd  1985–1987
34th  1987–1990     Richard Patten Liberal
35th  1990–1995     Evelyn Gigantes New Democratic
36th  1995–1999     Richard Patten Liberal
37th  1999–2003
38th  2003–2007
39th  2007–2011 Yasir Naqvi
40th  2011–2014
41st  2014–2018
42nd  2018–2022     Joel Harden New Democratic
43rd  2022–present

Election results

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Election signs on Lees Avenue during the 2018 election campaign
2022 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Joel Harden 30,311 54.34 +8.26 $134,177
Liberal Katie Gibbs 12,596 22.58 −10.20 $103,394
Progressive Conservative Scott Healey 8,773 15.73 −0.31 $45,558
Green Shelby Bertrand 2,718 4.87 +1.35 $11,136
New Blue Glen Armstrong 798 1.43   $1,325
None of the Above Marc Adornato 233 0.42 −0.26 $0
Communist Stuart Ryan 153 0.27 +0.10 $0
Independent Thomas Borcsok 82 0.15   $378
People's Front Raymond Samuels 59 0.11   $285
Independent Josh Rachlis 58 0.10   $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,781 99.52 +0.44 $154,648
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 266 0.48 -0.44
Turnout 56,047 50.74 -10.46
Eligible voters 109,977
New Democratic hold Swing +9.23
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.
2018 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Joel Harden 29,675 46.08 +25.69
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 21,111 32.78 -18.89
Progressive Conservative Colleen McCleery 10,327 16.03 -2.08
Green Cherie Wong 2,266 3.52 -4.22
None of the Above Marc Adornato 437 0.68
Libertarian Bruce A. Faulkner 385 0.60 -0.96
Communist Stuart Ryan 110 0.17 -0.35
Canadians' Choice James Sears 92 0.14
Total valid votes 64,403 100.0  
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +22.29
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 27,689 52.02 +4.86
New Democratic Jennifer McKenzie 10,894 20.47 −8.74
Progressive Conservative Rob Dekker 9,678 18.18 −0.21
Green Kevin O'Donnell 4,163 7.82 +3.42
Libertarian Bruce A. Faulkner 525 0.99 +1.08
Communist Larry L. Wasslen 283 0.53 +0.21
Total valid votes 53,232 100.0   +5.74
Liberal hold Swing +6.80
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 23,646 46.81 +11.90 $ 102,168.00
New Democratic Anil Naidoo 14,715 29.13 −1.77 83,779.02
Progressive Conservative Rob Dekker 9,257 18.33 −1.59 27,933.58
Green Kevin O'Donnell 2,184 4.32 −8.03 5,902.64
Independent Kristina Chapman 309 0.61   3,418.00
Libertarian Michal Zeithammel 240 0.48   0.00
Communist Stuart Ryan 160 0.32 −0.07 394.11
Total valid votes / expense limit 50,511 100.00 −3.41 $ 112,575.19
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 290 0.57 −0.13
Turnout 50,801 53.74 −4.51
Eligible voters 94,533   +4.57
Liberal hold Swing +6.34
Election signs for the major party Ottawa Centre candidates during the 2007 election
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 18,255 34.91 −10.19 $ 74,103.43
New Democratic Will Murray 16,161 30.90 +7.92 76,746.81
Progressive Conservative Trina Morissette 10,416 19.92 −2.77 41,039.06
Green Greg Laxton 6,458 12.35 +4.62 9,967.33
Family Coalition Danny Moran 516 0.99   627.00
Independent Richard Eveleigh 283 0.54   70.00
Communist Stuart Ryan 204 0.39 −0.23 928.61
Total valid votes/expense limit 52,293 100.0   +5.79 $ 97,635.24
Total rejected ballots 366 0.70 −0.02
Turnout 52,659 58.25 +2.62
Eligible voters 90,403   +1.00
2003 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Richard Patten 22,295 45.10 +6.93 $ 72,458.74
New Democratic Jeff Atkinson 11,362 22.98 −2.48 49,598.63
Progressive Conservative Joe Varner 11,217 22.69 −10.05 17,112.70
Green Chris Bradshaw 3,821 7.73 +5.11 9,283.05
Communist Stuart Ryan 306 0.62 +0.25 878.30
Freedom Matt Szymanowicz 218 0.44   0.00
Independent Fakhry Guirguis 214 0.43   1,094.74
Total valid votes/expense limit 49,433 100.0   +5.08 $ 85,928.64
Total rejected ballots 360 0.72 −0.11
Turnout 49,793 55.63 +2.67
Eligible voters 89,509   −0.07
1999 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Richard Patten 17,956 38.17 −1.09 $ 48,983.01
Progressive Conservative Ray Kostuch 15,403 32.74 +9.10 54,104.81
New Democratic Elisabeth Arnold 11,977 25.46 −7.77 58,863.46
Green Chris Bradshaw 1,231 2.62 +1.39 4,119.65
Communist Marvin Glass 174 0.37 −0.37 1,384.26
Natural Law Wayne Foster 170 0.36 −0.93 0.00
Independent Mistahi Corkill 132 0.28   0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,043 100.0   +65.64 $ 85,987.20
Total rejected ballots 395 0.83 −0.27
Turnout 47,438 52.96 −10.92
Eligible voters 89,570   +99.23
1995 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Richard Patten 11,150 39.26 +0.98 $ 44,245.00
New Democratic Evelyn Gigantes 9,438 33.23 −14.47 39,455.24
Progressive Conservative Chris Thompson 6,715 23.64 +14.70 31,048.00
Natural Law Ron Parker 365 1.29   0.00
Green Andrew Van Iterson 349 1.23 −0.66 200.00
Communist Malek Khouri 210 0.74   1,086.25
Independent John C. Turmel 173 0.61 +0.08 0.00
Total valid votes 28,400 100.0   −6.72  
Total rejected ballots 317 1.10
Turnout 28,717 63.88
Eligible voters 44,958
1990 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Evelyn Gigantes 14,522 47.70 +7.64
Liberal Richard Patten 11,656 38.28 −8.88
Progressive Conservative Alex Burney 2,723 8.94 −1.8
Family Coalition John Gray 809 2.66  
Green Bill Hipwell 576 1.89  
Independent John Turmel 160 0.53 −1.50
Total valid votes 30,446 100.0   +3.54
1987 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Patten 13,867 47.16 +21.20
New Democratic Evelyn Gigantes 11,780 40.06 −3.39
Progressive Conservative Greg Vezina 3,159 10.74 −18.51
Independent John Turmel 598 2.03 +0.70
Total valid votes 29,404 100.0   +7.46
1985 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Evelyn Gigantes 11,890 43.45 +1.69
Progressive Conservative Graham Bird 8,005 29.26 −0.77
Liberal Pat Legris 7,103 25.96 −0.65
Independent John Turmel 364 1.33 +0.87
Total valid votes 27,362 100.0   +39.95
Ontario provincial by-election, December 13, 1984
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Evelyn Gigantes 8,165 41.76 +4.99
Progressive Conservative Graham Bird 5,870 30.02 −4.38
Liberal Lowell Green 5,202 26.61 −0.73
Green Greg Vezina 130 0.66  
Independent Ray Joseph Cormier 94 0.48  
Independent John Turmel 90 0.46 −1.02
Total valid votes 19,551 100.0   −22.83
By-election called following Michael Cassidy's resignation to run federally.
1981 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Michael Cassidy 9,316 36.77 −4.79
Progressive Conservative David Small 8,717 34.41 +2.25
Liberal Karl Feige 6,926 27.34 +2.47
Independent John Turmel 376 1.48  
Total valid votes 25,335 100.0   −0.91
1977 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Michael Cassidy 10,626 41.56 +2.64
Progressive Conservative Brian Cameron 8,223 32.16 −0.62
Liberal Ian Kimmerly 6,358 24.87 −2.52
Communist Marvin Glass 360 1.41 +0.5
Total valid votes 25,567 100.0   −6.64
1975 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Michael Cassidy 10,658 38.92 +3.46
Progressive Conservative Gale Kerwin 8,978 32.78 −1.88
Liberal Gerald Kirby 7,500 27.39 −2.49
Communist Marvin Glass 250 0.91  
Total valid votes 27,386 100.0   +20.26
1971 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Michael Cassidy 8,075 35.46 +17.59
Progressive Conservative Garry Guzzo 7,893 34.66 −4.4
Liberal Rudy Capogreco 6,804 29.88 −13.19
Total valid votes 22,772 100.0   +27.57
1967 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Harold MacKenzie 7,688 43.07
Progressive Conservative Ivan Sparks 6,973 39.06
New Democratic Ivan Greenberg 3,190 17.87
Total valid votes 17,851 100.0  

2007 electoral reform referendum

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2007 Ontario electoral reform referendum
Side Votes %
First Past the Post 26,586 52.1
Mixed Member Proportional 24,443 47.9
Total valid votes 51,029 100.0

See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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Constituency associations

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