New Federal Riding Includes South Guelph as Wellington-Halton Hills North

Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 - 7:45 am
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Guelph’s status as a standalone federal riding has come to an end with the release of the final report by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission. As per the report, the southern part of Guelph, situated below Arkell Road, will now be part of a larger rural riding that encompasses Wellington County and sections of Halton. The commission formally announced this change on its website.

The redistribution proposal was initially made public in August of the previous year. A revised map was later published in February and underwent review by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, comprising various Members of Parliament.

The commission expressed its gratitude to the public for actively participating in this important aspect of Canada’s democratic process through their input and comments during hearings. Over 220 written comments were received concerning riding distribution options for Halton, Guelph, and Wellington.

The redistribution process is constitutionally mandated to occur every ten years to reflect changes in population and demographics. As Guelph’s population continues to grow, the commission hinted at the possibility of a more “natural” division of the city in the future.

The Wellington-Halton Hills North riding, which now includes south Guelph, will lose Georgetown and some land to the south, as it becomes part of a new riding called Milton East-Halton Hills South. Other than this change, the current Wellington-Halton Hills boundary remains unchanged.

The chief electoral officer must use the boundaries outlined in the report to draft a representation order, which is expected to be officially implemented in September. The revised riding boundaries will be effective for the upcoming federal election.

The commission has an interactive map on its website that provides detailed information about the current and final riding boundaries. However, the implications of these changes for provincial riding boundaries, which often mirror the federal ridings, are yet to be determined, with possible exceptions in northern Ontario.

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