Gatineau (Quebec) 114/338

 Gatineau (Quebec)

Today we're in the National Capital Region with Gatineau!

Gatineau has existed as a riding since 1945, created from Hull and Wright. The population of the riding was 107,464 in 2016. The riding contains the city of Gatineau (276,245 in 2016, shared with three other ridings). While the riding is on the Quebec/Ontario border, there is no land connection, the riding is on the shore of the Ottawa River.

Politically, this seat was solidly Liberal since the beginning, only going Progressive Conservative in 1984. However, in 2006, the Bloc were able to sneak ahead and win the seat due to the Liberals slipping. It went NDP in 2011 after being close in 2008. The seat has been reliably Liberal since 2015. The seat is currently represented by Liberal MP Steve MacKinnon.

While most of Ottawa-Gatineau is solid Liberal nowadays, in the 2006 and 2008, you could drive from Ottawa West—Nepean to Gatineau and go through a Conservative riding, NDP riding, Liberal riding, and end in a Bloc seat. If you make that same drive today, you won't leave a Liberal riding. In 2019, this seat was 60/78 in Quebec and 259/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 9.0/10 - Very good name, concise and to the point. Gatineau is in three other ridings, so it isn't higher up.

Shape: 6.7/10 - I don't mind the shape, just not a huge fan of the municipal boundaries.

Individuality: 5.7/10 - For an Ottawa-Gatineau seat, it's pretty individual, surprising Bloc win in 2006.

Total:  21.4/30 (71.3%)

Tomorrow we're not too far with Glengarry—Prescott—Russell!