Ridings

206 Whitby-Oshawa

2004 Candidates

Riding Profile
This new Greater Toronto Area riding contains the town of Whitby and part of the city of Oshawa. The riding runs from the north shore of Lake Ontario to the CP tracks, between Lake Ridge Road and King Street West, Oshawa Creek, Rossland Road West, Simcoe Street North, Winchester Road East and Townline Road North.

Manufacturing, including the General Motors plant in Oshawa, is the main industry in the area. Average family income is $85,439 and unemployment is 5.4 per cent.

The riding of Whitby-Oshawa was established in the 2004 redistribution from 68 per cent of Whitby-Ajax, 20 per cent of Oshawa and three per cent of Durham. The riding of Whitby-Ajax was formed in 1996 from Ontario riding and a small part of Durham riding.

Political History
ONTARIO:
1925, 1926 - CONS
1930-1945 - LIB 1948 byelection - CCF
1949 - LIB 1952 byelection -1965 - PC
1968, 1972, 1974 - LIB 1979-1988 - PC
1993 - LIB

WHITBY-AJAX
1997, 2000 - LIB

In 2000, Liberal Judi Longfield defeated the Alliance's Shaun Gillespie to win a second term in Whitby-Ajax. The combined Conservative vote in this riding could approach Liberal support.

In a 1952 byelection, PC Mike Starr was first elected in Ontario riding, holding it until 1968 when he ran in Oshawa-Whitby. He was a Minister of Labour, House Leader and Interim Leader under John Diefenbaker's government. Liberal Norm Cafik won in 1968, 1972 and 1974. He was defeated in 1979 by Scott Fennell of the PCs who served three terms. In 1988, PC Rene Soetens was elected and in 1993, it was Liberal Dan McTeague. Soetens finished third behind a Reform candidate.

Candidate Profiles

Judi Longfield

Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birth Date: Mar. 23, 1947
Age: 57

Profession: Teacher
Career Background: Assisted members of provincial Parliament Allan Furlong and Steven Mahoney.
Involved with local government division of National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.
Co-founder: Whitby committee on Racial and Religious Equity and Diversity.
Founding member: Oshawa-Whitby French Immersion Parent's Association.
Former chair: Operations committee of council, fire department, Parks and Recreation and the finance department.
Member: Planning committee, Whitby Public Library Board. Taught at the community college and elementary school levels.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Alan
Children: Michael

Ian MacNeil

Party: Conservative Party of Canada
Birthplace: Antigonish, N.S.

University Degree: Yes
Education: Business administration, St. Francis Xavier University.
MBA, University of Bradford.
Profession: Finance
Career Background: Former assistant to the minister of International Trade.
Directorship: Member of the board of directors for the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Also chair of the Finance committee.
Ten years experience as a financial analyst.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Gisele
Children: Madeleine and Graham

Maret Sadem-Thompson

Party: The New Democratic Party of Canada

University Degree: Yes
Education: MA in educational administration.
Profession: Teacher and principal.
Career Background: Has worked with her school communities for almost 30 years.
Involved with the Federation of Women Teachers Associations of Ontario.
Volunteers her time as a member on both the board of directors of the Durham Children's Aid Society and the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies.
Recently worked with 17 local agencies to develop a plan for services for children and families in need in the Durham Region.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: David

Michael MacDonald

Party: The Green Party of Canada
Age: 28

Profession: Customer service professional

Riding Profiles

Today's Features

Cartoon Gallery more »

Changing Partners

The story of changing party affiliations. more »