Ottawa—Vanier

Ottawa—Vanier (formerly known as Ottawa East) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. Previous to that date, it was part of the Ottawa electoral district that returned two members.

It is composed of the eastern part of downtown Ottawa and the wards of Beacon Hill-Cyrville, Rideau-Rockcliffe, Rideau-Vanier.

The riding is currently represented in the House of Commons by Liberal Mauril Belanger.

The riding, with a large Franco-Ontarian population in Vanier, is one of the most solidly Liberal in the country, having elected Liberals both federally and provincially in every election since its creation. In fact, the previous electoral district which comprises most of the constituency, Russell, had been solidly Liberal since 1887. The riding is home to a large number of civil servants.

Political geography

A sizable minority of the riding is in the former city of Vanier, which was merged with Ottawa in 2000. Vanier has long been home to much of Ottawa's francophone population a group that is solidly Liberal. The riding also contains the wealthiest part of Ottawa, Rockcliffe Park, which gives some support to the Conservatives, but also to the Liberals. The anglophone middle class neighbourhoods of Sandy Hill, containing the University of Ottawa, and New Edinburgh also tend to vote Liberal, but with significant support for the New Democratic Party.

In the last federal election, the Liberals had mostly widespread support in the riding, with its best areas in Castle Heights, Cyrville, Overbrook, Forbes and parts of Vanier. The Conservatives had their support concentrated in Viscount Alexander Park, Rothwell Heights, Beacon Hill North and Rockcliffe Park. The NDP had its support concentrated in Sandy Hill, and won some polls in Lindenlea and Lower Town.

Geography

In 2003, it was redefined as the part of the City of Ottawa east and north of a line running south along the Rideau Canal from the interprovincial boundary to Mann Avenue, northeast to Nicholas Street, southeast to Highway 417, and east to the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway to the hydroelectric transmission line, north to Innes Road, northeast to Blair Road, northwest to Montreal Road, east and northeast to Regional Road 174, northeast to Green's Creek, north to the Ottawa River.

Demographics

• Average family income: $92,457^[1]
• Median household income: $45,506 ^[2]
• Unemployment: 6.8%^[2]
• Language, Mother Tongue: English 44%, French 32%, Other 24%
• Religion: Catholic 54%, Protestant 19%, Muslim 6%, Orthodox Christian 1%, Other Christian 1%, Non Religious Affiliation 14%, Other 5% ^[3]
• Visible Minority: Black 7%, Arab 3%, Chinese 2%, South Asian 2%, Latin American 1%, Others 5%^[3]

History

The federal riding was created as "Ottawa East" in 1933 from parts of Ottawa and Russell ridings.

It initially consisted of, in the city of Ottawa, Rideau, Ottawa, By, St. Georges wards and the northeast part of Riverdale Ward, the town of Eastview, and the village of Rockcliffe Park.

In 1947, it was redefined to exclude the town of Eastview. In 1952, it was redefined to consist of the village of Rockcliffe Park, and the eastern parts of the city of Ottawa. In 1966, it was redefined to include the City of Eastview and exclude the village of Rockcliffe Park.

The name of the electoral district was changed in 1973 to "Ottawa—Vanier".

In 1976, it was redefined to consist of the City of Vanier, and the eastern parts of the city of Ottawa. In 1987, it was redefined to consist of the City of Vanier, the eastern part of the city of Ottawa, part of the city of Gloucester and the Village of Rockcliffe Park. In 1996, the Ottawa and Gloucester parts of the riding were redefined.

In 2003, it was given its current boundaries that are described above.

Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following Members of Parliament:

Election results

Ottawa—Vanier

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

Ottawa East

Note: NDP vote is compared to CCF vote in 1958 election. Communist vote is compared to Labour-Progressive vote in 1958 election.

Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election.

See also

• List of Canadian federal electoral districts
• Past Canadian electoral districts

References

External links

• Riding history 1933-1973 from the Library of Parliament
• Riding history from 1973-present from the Library of Parliament
• Map of the Riding (pdf)
• Politwitter
• Project Democracy
• Pundits Guide
• StatsCan District Profile