Federal Election 2015: St. Catharines riding results

Summary: This has been a bellwether riding since 1984, with voters electing an MP for the governing party in nine straight elections. The incumbent here is Rick Dykstra, who is seeking a fourth term.

Boundaries: A fully urban riding after redistribution, St. Catharines includes virtually all of its namesake city, with the exception of the neighbourhood of Western Hill and tracts of farmland in the southwest of the city.

Last Election: Dykstra was re-elected for a third term, defeating NDP candidate Mike Williams by 27.1 per cent.

History: Federally, the area has alternated between the Liberals and PC/Conservative Party over the years. It was held by Liberal MP Walt Lastewka from 1993 to 2006, and two PC MPs for 14 years prior that. Provincially, Liberal MPP Jim Bradley has held St. Catharines since 1977.

Demographics: 20.2 per cent of residents were seniors in the 2011 census, the ninth highest number in Ontario.

Candidates

Conservative: Rick Dykstra, MP since 2006

NDP: Susan Erskine-Fournier, labour advocate and retired General Motors employee

Liberal: Chris Bittle, civil litigator and Chair of the Quest Community Health Centre Board of Directors

Green: Jim Fannon

Communist: Saleh Waziruddin