Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes (Ontario) 159/338

 Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes (Ontario)

Today we're in Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes!

Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes has existed as a riding since 1976. The population of the riding was 104,070 in 2021. The riding contains the communities of Brockville (22,116 in 2021), Gananoque (5,383 in 2021) and Prescott (4,078 in 2021). Up until the 2012 redistribution, the riding was named Leeds-Grenville.

Politically, this seat has been ahead of the Ontario trends. The seat was won by the Liberals over the PC's in 1988. The seat was lost to the Conservatives in 2004 when there were still a few Liberals holding on in rural ridings. Side note, PEI Green leader and leader of the official opposition Peter Bevan-Baker ran for the Greens here in 1993 and 1997. This seat is currently held by Conservative MP Michael Barrett.

This seat has had a couple of MP's dying in office, at least more than the average riding. The seat was held by Tom Cossitt for almost ten years until he passed away in 1982, his wife Jennifer Cossitt winning the subsequent by-election. In 2018, five-term MP Gord Brown passed away at the age of 57 of a heart attack, Brown almost won the seat in 2000, finishing just 55 votes behind Joe Jordan. In 2019, this seat was 87/121 in Ontario and 212/338 in Canada by margin.

The name. I cannot stand the name. I get it. Geography makes sense. But I cannot in good conscience endorse this name. The shape, on the other hand, is simple and clean. As for individuality, there is an interesting succession between each MP.

We'll be in Lethbridge soon!