As Canadians prepare to head to the polls in a few weeks, voters across Ottawa may notice changes to their ridings, including shifts in boundaries and new names.
For some Ontarians, this means voting in a different district compared to February’s provincial election.
This election marks the first since an independent review redrew the map, shifting boundaries and renaming ridings in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
“Every 10 years after the census, there is a reapportionment of seats in Canada and so to keep the same population levels in each sort of riding around Canada, what they do is they’ll reapportionment them,” said associate professor of political science at Queen’s University, Holly-Ann Garnett.
Some residents are now part of new ridings, while others have seen their existing ridings expand.
But that doesn’t seem to matter to voters.
“I’m still voting conservatives no matter what,” said Ottawa-South resident, Robert Vander Haegh.
“It will not change how I vote at all,” said Ottawa-South resident, Cathy Hooke.
Amelia Ursaki, a voter in Ottawa South, is no stranger to change, as we caught up with her as she was shopping Canadian at the Produce Depot.
Her riding has expanded south into Findlay Creek and west into Ottawa Centre. Despite these changes, Ursaki says it won’t impact how she votes.
“I already know who I’m voting for,” she said. “Liberals.”
Other significant changes include the riding of Carleton, which now stretches into part of the former Kanata-Carleton riding—now renamed Kanata.
The new map shifts Carleton’s boundary to the Ottawa River, while Kanata picks up part of the old Ottawa West–Nepean and loses its northwestern edge to Carleton.
Additionally, names of several ridings have been updated. Ottawa-Vanier is now Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester, and Glengarry-Prescott-Russell is now Prescott-Russell-Cumberland.
As election day approaches, it’s clear that while boundaries may change some issues remain front and center.
“I think the economy is important and should be properly managed, “said Vander Haegh.
Another voter mentioned tariffs, while Ursaki said “we’re Canadian and want to stay Canadian.”
More information about the federal election in Ottawa and eastern Ontario is available in this article.
