Barrie

This riding contains Barrie, a resort and service-oriented city set on the western shores of Lake Simcoe in central Ontario.

The western boundary is County Road 27 and the Barrie city limits. Little Lake borders the north side of the riding, Kempenfelt Bay dips into the eastern side and Mapleview Drive East and West runs along the southern half of the riding.

Tourism and manufacturing are primary sources of employment. The average family income is $81,878 and the unemployment rate is six per cent. According to the 2006 census, 13 per cent of the population are immigrants. Almost 19 per cent of residents over age 25 have a university certificate or degree.

In 2004, the former riding of Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford was reduced in size to reflect the growing population of the city of Barrie. Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford was established in 1996 by merging parts of Simcoe Centre and York Simcoe.

Population: 128,430 (2006 census; an increase of 23.8% since 2001)

Political History

The riding bounced back to the Conservative side in 2006 when candidate Patrick Brown edged out Liberal Aileen Carroll by 1,543 votes.

In 2004, Carroll was re-elected for her third term when she defeated Brown by 1,295 votes. Paul Martin named Carroll minister for international co-operation in 2003.

Simcoe Centre was the only Ontario riding ever to elect a Reform candidate - Ed Harper in 1993. It had been a Tory stronghold until 1988.

Simcoe South:

• 1979, 1980, 1984 - PC

Simcoe Centre:

• 1988 - PC
• 1993 - REF

Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford:

• 1997, 2000 - LIB

Barrie:

• 2004 - LIB
• 2006 - CON