London - Fanshawe

This southwestern Ontario riding is made up of portions of the city of London. It stretches from the London city limits in the north to Exeter Road, Ernest Avenue and Bradley Avenue in the south between Highbury Avenue, the Thames River, CN Rail line, Wharncliffe Road and White Oak Road in the west and the London city limits in the east.

The riding takes in a broad mix of housing, workplaces and neighbourhoods. London Airport is in the riding. The major source of employment is manufacturing, followed by retail trade and the service sector. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $72,264 and an unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent.

London-Fanshawe was created in 1996 from 71 per cent of London-Middlesex and 17 per cent of London East. The riding of London-Middlesex was created in 1976.

Population: 107,218 (2006 census; a decrease of 0.1% since 2001)

Political History

New Democrat Irene Mathyssen took the riding in the 2006 election, beating Liberal candidate Glen Douglas Pearson by 868 votes.

In 2004, Liberal Pat O'Brien defeated Mathyssen by 3,153 votes. O'Brien was first elected in London-Middlesex in 1993 and served four terms. Terry Clifford was elected twice as a Conservative MP, serving from 1984 to 1993. The riding voted Conservative in 1979 and Liberal in 1980.

London-Middlesex:

• 1979 - PC
• 1980 - LIB
• 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993 - LIB

London-Fanshawe:

• 1997, 2000, 2004 - LIB
• 2006 - NDP