Ridings

171 Ottawa South

Riding Profile

	AUDIO Louise Elliott reports on Ottawa South. (Runs 3:32) Download Player

This Ottawa riding contains the Macdonald-Cartier Airport and is a mix of wealthy and low-income families.

It runs from Highway 417 in the north between the Rideau River and Limebank Road in the west and Leitrim Road, the abandoned CP Rail line, Lester Road, Davidson Road, Conroy Road and Hunt Club Road in the southeast.

Major employment sectors are government and retail industry. Average family income is $76,013 and unemployment is seven per cent. About 45 per cent of residents rent their home.

According to the 2001 census, 29 per cent of the population are immigrants. The Arabic speaking population is 6.4 per cent, the highest in the province. About 13 per cent of residents are francophone.

In 2004, small areas from Ottawa-Vanier and Ottawa-Orléans were added to Ottawa South. The riding was created in the 1986 redistribution from portions of Ottawa-Carleton, Ottawa Centre and Ottawa-Vanier. In 1994 a small part of Carleton-Gloucester was added.

Population: 118,808

Political History

1988, 1993, 1997, 2000 - LIB
In 2000, Liberal John Manley defeated the Alliance's Brad Darbyson to win Ottawa South. A Chrétien Loyalist, Manley held numerous portfolios since he was first elected in 1988. He was named Minister of Industry in 1993, became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2002 and later Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The former riding of Russell and later Ottawa-Carleton elected only Liberals from 1887 to 1974. Former Prime Minister John Turner was MP there from 1968 until he resigned in 1976. Conservative Jean Pigott won in a 1976 by election, but was defeated in the 1979 election by Liberal Jean-Luc Pepin. Pepin was Minister of Transport and Minister of External Relations. In 1984, PC Barry Turner defeated Liberal Albert Roy, marking only the second time in 100 years the riding had elected a Tory.

David McGuinty

Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Age: 44
Birthplace: Ottawa, Ont.

University Degree: Yes
Education: BA in English, LL.B. and LL.M., University of Ottawa.
Career Background: Immigration Officer Ottawa, International Airport. Associate lawyer with McGuinty and McGuinty law offices. President of the Regional Office Staff Association Abidjan, C�te d Ivoire. External relations officer, United Nations Children's Fund, Abidjan, Côte d Ivoire. Environmental lawyer and vice-chair, International Marketing committee, Gouldens Solicitors, London, U.K. Program training manager and resident environmental law and policy specialist, International Development Law Institute, Rome, Italy. National program director, Leadership for Environment and Development, Rockefeller Foundation, Ottawa. President and CEO of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, Ottawa.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Brigitte Bélanger
Children: four

Alan Riddell

Party: Conservative Party of Canada

University Degree: Yes
Education: LL.B., University of Toronto. International relations, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris.
Profession: Successfully argued a number of constitutional law cases in the Supreme Court of Canada, including Canada's first case interpreting the rights of Federal government employees under the Access to Information and Privacy Acts. Teaches employment law at Algonquin College.
Political: Currently head of labour and employment of Soloway Wright, specializing in employment law, commercial litigation and appellate advocacy.

Political History
Party: Worked for Ottawa area conservative candidates (both PC and CA) as a youth organizer, fundraiser, canvass chairman, campaign manager and riding president.
Co-founder and first co-chair of National Debater's Forum.

Has campaigned in every federal and provincial election since 1984.

Monia Mazigh

Party: The New Democratic Party of Canada

University Degree: Yes
Education: PhD in finance, McGill University.
Career Background: Became an advocate for human rights in 2002 when her husband, Maher Arar, was deported to Syria by U.S. authorities. She mounted an extensive campaign to bring her husband home and then successfully pressured the government to call a public inquiry into his deportation. Has worked as a research assistant at the University of Ottawa, a finance manager in a small business and a French language instructor.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Maher Arar
Children: Bara and Houd

John Ford

Party: The Green Party of Canada
Birthplace: Toronto, Ont.

University Degree: Yes
Education: Electrical engineering.
Profession: Businessman and consultant.
Career Background: Currently running an energy audit business to promote household electrical efficiency. Served on the board of directors for the Ottawa Bicycle Club.

John Akpata

Party: Marijuana Party

Raymond Aubin

Party: Independent

Saroj Bains

Party: The Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada

Political History
Provincial: Defeated in Windsor-St Clair in 2003.
Federal: Defeated in Westmount-Ville-Marie in 2000.

Brad Thomson

Party: Progressive Canadian Party
Birth Date: Mar. 25, 1957
Age: 47
Birthplace: Toronto, Ont.

University Degree: Yes
Education: Holds an honours BA in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario.
Profession:
Career Background: He is a professional musician, editor-in-chief of Canada's national chess magazine, En Passant, and is a greenskeeper.
Marital Status: Single

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