Nipissing—Timiskaming (Ontario) 204/338

 Nipissing—Timiskaming (Ontario)

Today we're in Northern Ontario with Nipissing—Timiskaming!

Nipissing—Timiskaming has existed as a riding since 2004, created from Nipissing and Timiskaming—Cochrane. The population of the riding was 89,781 in 2021. The riding contains the communities of North Bay (52,662 in 2021), Temiskaming Shores (9,634 in 2021), and East Ferris (4,946 in 2021).

Politically, this seat is usually a Liberal seat with solid Conservative support. In fact, in the past 100 years, it has only been won by Conservatives twice: in 1984 and 2011, both Conservative majorities. Otherwise, this was one of the better results for the PPC in 2019, due to North Bay city councillor Mark King running for the party, receiving almost 2,500 votes. This seat is currently held by Liberal MP and Speaker of the House Anthony Rota.

Anthony Rota has served in the House of Commons for all but four years since 2004, losing just once in 2011 by just 18 votes. In 2019, Rota was elected the 37th speaker of the House of Commons, the first from Northern Ontario since James Jerome in the 1970's. It should also be noted that Ontario Premier Mike Harris represented this seat from 1981-2002, serving as premier from 1995-2002. In 2019, this seat was 48/121 in Ontario and 123/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is good, it's almost entirely contained within the Nipissing and Timiskaming Territorial Districts. The shape is fine for the most part, I just wish the Nipissing 10 appendage in the west was a bit cleaner. As for individuality, it's surprising that the seat doesn't flip more than it does. 

Tomorrow we'll be back on the west coast with North Island—Powell River!