To those Hamiltonians wondering why they all of a sudden live in a different federal riding than in the 2021 election and even than in the provincial election in February, the answer is that the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission adjusted the electoral map in a process that takes place every 10 years.
The boundaries across all Canadian ridings are re-evaluated every 10 years in response to population changes.
The latest changes were made as part of the 2022 Canadian federal election redistribution process which came into effect in 2023, but there has not been an election until now.
Through that process, the number of ridings in Canada was expanded from 338 to 343.
Additionally, ridings across the country had their boundaries changed, including all five of Hamilton’s ridings.
Further confusing matters, at the provincial level elections are still held with the old riding boundaries since the Government of Ontario decided to keep all electoral districts the same.
Here’s a breakdown of the changes to each Hamilton riding (from most changed to least changed) and what impact redistribution is expected to have on each area’s results.
FLAMBOROUGH – GLANBROOK – BRANT NORTH
The former riding of Flamborough – Glanbrook is the Hamilton electoral district that has changed the most geographically and even has a new name to account for the fact that it now includes the northern parts of the County of Brant.
The incumbent Member of Parliament is Dan Muys of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The riding has gained the communities of Paris, St. George, and Harrisburg which were previously part of the former riding of Brantford – Brant.
It has also gained the communities of Glen Morris and Pinehurst Park which are in the County of Brant but previously belonged to the riding of Cambridge.
Meanwhile, parts of Hamilton Mountain that were previously in the riding are now in different ridings.
The Carpenter Neighbourhood just south of Rymal Road is now part of Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas.
Meanwhile, other neighbourhoods south of Rymal Road that are east of Carpenter Neighbourhood are now part of Hamilton Mountain.
Additionally, a large part of Upper Stoney Creek east-west between Upper Centennial Parkway and Glover Road and north-south from the Escarpment to the hydro corridor just south of Rymal Road used to be part of the Flamborough – Glanbrook riding but is now part of Hamilton East – Stoney Creek.
Muys won Flamborough – Glanbrook in the 2021 election with 40.57 per cent of the vote, Vito Sgro and the Liberals came second with 35.54 per cent, and Lorne Newick and the NDP came third with 15.66 per cent.
If the election had taken place using the new 2025 boundaries, then Muys and the Conservatives would have received 43.78 per cent of the vote compared to 32.54 per cent for the Liberals and 14.62 per cent for the NDP.
HAMILTON EAST – STONEY CREEK
The riding of Hamilton East – Stoney Creek has also changed rather significantly, picking up a large area of Upper Stoney Creek.
In addition, the riding’s western boundary used to be Kenilworth Street but is now the Red Hill Valley Parkway from the Escarpment to King Street before switching to Parkdale Avenue.
That means that communities like Rosedale and Normanhurst, which are west of Parkdale Avenue, are now part of Hamilton Centre.
The incumbent Member of Parliament is Chad Collins of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Collins won the 2021 election with 36.9 per cent of the vote, Ned Kuruc and the Conservatives came second with 28.0 per cent, and Nick Milanovic and the NDP came third with 25.6 per cent.
If the election had taken place using the new 2025 boundaries, then the Liberals would have received 39.07 per cent, the Conservatives 30.12 per cent, and the NDP 21.68 per cent.
HAMILTON CENTRE
Hamilton Centre’s western boundary has not changed very much, still running along the Highway 403 from the Escarpment until reaching Burlington.
However, as mentioned, its eastern boundary was extended past Kenilworth Avenue to Parkdale Avenue.
The incumbent Member of Parliament is Matthew Green of the NDP.
Green won the 2021 election with 48.70 per cent of the vote, Margaret Bennett and the Liberals received 26.50 per cent, and Fabian Grenning and the Conservatives came third with 15.04 per cent.
If the election had taken place using the new 2025 boundaries, then the NDP would have received 46.96 per cent, the Liberals 26.73 per cent, and the Conservatives 16.52 per cent.
HAMILTON MOUNTAIN
The riding of Hamilton Mountain is one of the least changed ridings in the city, simply picking up additional neighbourhoods just south of Rymal Road.
The incumbent Member of Parliament is Lisa Hepfner of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Hepfner won the 2021 election with 34.1 per cent of the vote, Malcolm Allen and the NDP received 32.4 per cent, and Al Miles and the Conservatives came in third with 24.4 per cent.
If the election had taken place using the new 2025 boundaries, then the Liberals would have received 34.5 per cent, the NDP 31.56 per cent, and the Conservatives 25.05 per cent.
HAMILTON WEST – ANCASTER – DUNDAS
The riding of Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas has changed the least, picking up a small portion of land that includes the Royal Botanical Gardens and Woodland Cemetery in addition to the Carpenter neighbourhood.
The incumbent Member of Parliament is Filomena Tassi of the Liberal Party of Canada but City Councillor John-Paul Danko is the new Liberal candidate after Tassi stepped aside.
The Liberals won the 2021 election with 44.3 per cent of the vote, Bert Laranjo and the Conservatives were second with 28.9 per cent, and Roberto Henriquez and the NDP were third with 19.8 per cent.
If the election had taken place using the new 2025 boundaries, then the Liberals would have received 44.3 per cent, the Conservatives 29.07 per cent, and the NDP 19.71 per cent.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
