Kanata—Carleton (Ontario) 135/338

 Kanata—Carleton (Ontario)

Today we're in Kanata—Carleton!

Kanata—Carleton has existed as a riding since the 2012 redistribution, created almost entirely from Carleton—Mississippi Mills. The population of the riding was 110,960 in 2016. The riding contains the former city of Kanata (117,304 in 2016), as well as the rural communities of Constance Bay and Carp. This riding grew 10% between 2011 and 2016, second only to Carleton, which grew by 15%.

Politically, this seat has been a bit more Conservative than the rest of the Ottawa suburbs, again second only to Carleton. In 2000 it flipped by under 1,900 votes to the Canadian Alliance. Granted, the riding was much more rural. In 2015, it was picked up by the Liberals, winning the seat by over 50%. The seat is currently held by Liberal MP Jenna Sudds.

The MP before Sudds was Karen McCrimmon. Karen joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, later joining The Windsor Regiment (RCAC) as a Reservist. This training and service led her to join the Regular Force, becoming an air navigator, the first female to do so. She ran in Carleton—Mississippi Mills in 2011, marginally improving the Liberals' performance. She then went on to win the seat in 2015, retiring from politics in 2021. In 2019, this seat was 19/121 in Ontario and 62/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is good, Kanata now has more than 117,304 people, which probably nets Kanata its own riding next representation order. The shape is also okay, not a big fan of the little arm that sticks out on the eastern edge. As for individuality, not a lot of ridings can say they increased Liberal vote share in 2011.

Tomorrow we're back in BC with Kelowna—Lake Country!