Northumberland—Quinte West (federal electoral district)

Coordinates: 44°04′N 77°47′W / 44.07°N 77.79°W / 44.07; -77.79
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Northumberland—Quinte West
Ontario electoral district
Northumberland—Quinte West in relation to southern Ontario ridings
Defunct federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
District created2003
District abolished2013
First contested2004
Last contested2011
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2011)[1]125,261
Electors (2011)93,620
Area (km²)[2]2,404.45
Census division(s)Hastings County, Northumberland County
Census subdivision(s)Alnwick/Haldimand, Brighton Cobourg, Cramahe, Hamilton (township), Port Hope, Quinte West, Trent Hills

Northumberland—Quinte West was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 to 2013. Its population in 2001 was 118,906. Following the Canadian federal electoral redistribution, 2012, the electoral district was dissolved into the ridings of Northumberland—Peterborough South and Bay of Quinte.

Geography[edit]

The district included the County of Northumberland and the City of Quinte West.

History[edit]

The electoral district was created in 2003: 86.1% of the riding came from Northumberland riding and 13.9% from Prince Edward—Hastings riding.

Federal electoral redistribution[edit]

Following the passage of the Fair Representation Act on December 16, 2011, an additional 30 seats were added to the Canadian House of Commons.

The boundary changes first proposed for Northumberland—Quinte West would have seen significant changes to the riding. The County of Northumberland, while still composing a majority of the riding, was to not be reflected in the new name. Instead, the new electoral district was to be called Prince Edward-Quinte West. Furthermore, the town of Cobourg, township of Hamilton, and municipality of Port Hope was to be transferred to the new riding of Kawartha Lakes-Port Hope-Cobourg. Under the proposed riding changes, Northumberland County would have been split into two separate ridings. The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario defined the proposed boundaries of Prince Edward-Quinte West as consisting of:[3]

  • the City of Prince Edward;
  • the City of Quinte West; and
  • the County of Northumberland, excepting: the Township of Hamilton; the Town of Cobourg; the Municipality of Port Hope.

The proposed boundary changes would also have reduced the overall population of the riding. The current electoral district of Northumberland—Quinte West had a population of 125,261 people whereas the proposed riding of Prince Edward-Quinte West would have had a population of 105,035.[4]

The elimination of the word "Northumberland" in the proposed riding was the source of heavy criticism. Critics argue that the division of Northumberland County into two distinct political districts as well as the loss of the county's name in the riding title would have had significant negative impacts on the community. "The proposed changes will have significant negative impacts on the future prosperity of Northumberland County by eliminating the name Northumberland completely from the electoral map," Trent Hills Mayor Hector Macmillan said in an interview with Northumberland Today.[5] Furthermore, Bill Pyatt, CAO of Northumberland County Council, said the proposed boundary changes to area electoral districts "will have significant negative impacts on the future prosperity of Northumberland County."[6]

Widespread dissatisfaction with the proposed boundaries caused the online petition 1NORTHUMBERLAND to circulate in an attempt to keep Northumberland in the name and united under one electoral district. As The petition had the support of at least 800 households in the riding, representing about 2,000 people.[7] The petition was submitted to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario held a public hearing on November 12, 2012 to receive input on the proposed boundary changes. Member of Parliament for Northumberland—Quinte West, Rick Norlock, Cramahae Township Mayor Marc Coombs, former MPP Lou Rinaldi, and past president of the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture, Paul Burnham all spoke against the commission's proposed boundary changes.[8]

Northumberland County Council CAO, Bill Pyatt, presented two alternatives to the commission's boundary proposal. The first alternative would see Northumberland County join the Township of Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan and Clarington's Ward 4 to create the riding of "Northumberland-Pine Ridge" with an approximate population of 107,000. The second alternative would see Northumberland and the Townships of Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan and Cavan-Millbrook-North Monaghan become the riding of "Northumberland-South Peterborough", with an approximate population 106,000. It was believed that the population figures would be in line with Commission's goal to reduce riding populations.[9]

The Commission accepted these criticisms and restored Northumberland County's riding as Northumberland—Pine Ridge, which was later renamed Northumberland—Peterborough South.

Members of Parliament[edit]

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:

Parliament Years Member Party
Northumberland—Quinte West
Riding created from Northumberland and Prince Edward—Hastings
38th  2004–2006     Paul Macklin Liberal
39th  2006–2008     Rick Norlock Conservative
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–2015
Riding dissolved into Northumberland—Peterborough South
and Bay of Quinte

Election results[edit]

2004 Canadian federal election: Northumberland—Quinte West
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Paul Macklin 22,989 39.85
Conservative Doug Galt 22,676 39.31
New Democratic Russ Christianson 9,007 15.61
Green Steven Haylestrom 3,016 5.23
Total valid votes 57,688 100.00
2006 Canadian federal election: Northumberland—Quinte West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rick Norlock 25,833 41.21 +1.91
Liberal Paul Macklin 22,566 36.00 -3.85
New Democratic Russ Christianson 11,334 18.08 +2.47
Green Pat Lawson 2,946 4.70 -0.53
Total valid votes 62,679 100.00
2008 Canadian federal election: Northumberland—Quinte West
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rick Norlock 27,615 48.71 +7.50 $84,880
Liberal Paul Macklin 16,209 28.59 -7.41 $83,766
New Democratic Russ Christianson 8,230 14.52 -3.56 $20,947
Green Ralph Torrie 4,633 8.17 +3.47 $34,300
Total valid votes/expense limit 56,687 100.00 $93,766
Total rejected ballots 186 0.33
Turnout 56,873
2011 Canadian federal election: Northumberland—Quinte West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rick Norlock 32,853 53.83 +5.11
Liberal Kim Rudd 12,822 21.01 -7.59
New Democratic Russ Christianson 12,626 20.69 +6.17
Green Ralph Torrie 2,733 4.48 -3.70
Total valid votes/expense limit 61,034
Total rejected ballots 184 0.30 -0.03
Turnout 61,218 64.64
Eligible voters 96,154
Source: Elections Canada[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • "Northumberland—Quinte West (federal electoral district) (Code 35058) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  • Riding history from the Library of Parliament
  • 2011 results from Elections Canada
  • Campaign expense data from Elections Canada

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Statistics Canada: 2012
  2. ^ Statistics Canada: 2012
  3. ^ "Prince Edward—Quinte West – Proposed Boundaries". Redistribution Federal Electoral Districts. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Prince Edward—Quinte West – Proposed Boundaries". Redistribution Federal Electoral Districts. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Online vote supports 1Northumberland". Northumberland Today. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Northumberland proposes two options for riding changes". Northumberland News. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Commission hears arguments to save Northumberland boundaries". Northumberland News. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Commission hears arguments to save Northumberland boundaries". Northumberland News. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Northumberland proposes two options for riding changes". Northumberland News. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  10. ^ "FORTY-FIRST GENERAL ELECTION 2011 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

44°04′N 77°47′W / 44.07°N 77.79°W / 44.07; -77.79