Summary: If you believe in bellwether ridings, you might look to Simcoe North. Voters here have elected a member for the winning party in every election since 1984. Conservative MP Bruce Stanton was first elected in 2006, and is seeking re-election. He faces some high-profile competition, from Liberal Liz Riley, the former CEO of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and the NDP’s Richard Banigan, who runs a publishing business and is running for election here for the third time.
Boundaries: This riding is geographically smaller for 2015, with part of the township of Oro-Medonte moving into the new riding of Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte.
Last Election: Conservative Stanton won with 54.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the NDP’s Banigan, with 19.9 per cent. Liberal Steve Clarke was a close third, with 19.1 per cent. If these boundaries were in effect in 2011, the Conservative share would have been 53.9 per cent, followed by the NDP with 20.4 per cent.
History: While there have been boundary changes over the years, the riding of Simcoe North has been represented in Parliament since 1867. In modern times, the riding belonged to the PC party from 1945 until 1993. Liberal Paul DeVillers took the seat that year, and hung on to it until he retired in 2006. Conservative Bruce Stanton has held it ever since.
Demographics: The median age in the last census was 46.9, making Simcoe North the sixth oldest riding in Ontario.
Candidates
Conservative: Bruce Stanton, MP
NDP: Richard Banigan, publisher
Liberal: Liz Riley, former CEO, Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
Green: Peter Stubbins, physiotherapist
Christian Heritage: Scott Whittaker
No affiliation: Jacob Kearey-Moreland
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