Kitchener Centre

This southern Ontario riding contains part of the city of Kitchener. The riding spreads east and west from the downtown core to encompass a range of older and newer subdivisions.

It extends from the Conestoga Parkway and Highway 8 in the south to the CN Rail line in the north and from Trussler Road and Highland Road in the west to the Grand River.

The area is known for the strength of its German heritage, with a 26 per cent German population. Manufacturing is the most important industry, with retail trade second. The 2006 census found an average family income of $73,336 and an unemployment rate of six per cent.

The riding of Kitchener was created in 1966 from Waterloo North and South. In 1996, the name changed to Kitchener Centre. In 2004, a portion of the Kitchener-Waterloo riding was added in the northwest.

Population: 107,540 (2006 census; a decrease of 1.2% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal Karen Redman is serving her fourth term in this riding. In the 2006 election, she beat Conservative Steven Cage by 5,583 votes.

In the previous election, Redman took on Conservative Thomas Ichim and won by 8,852 votes.

The riding has swung between the Conservatives and the Liberals. Conservative MP John Reimer won in 1979, 1984 and 1988, but was defeated by Liberal Peter Lang in 1980 and Liberal John English in 1993.

Kitchener:

• 1968, 1972, 1974 - LIB
• 1979 - PC
• 1980 - LIB
• 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993 - LIB

Kitchener Centre:

• 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - LIB