Niagara Falls

This mixed urban-rural riding in southern Ontario takes in the towns of Fort Erie, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the city of Niagara Falls.

The long, narrow riding runs along the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.

Parts of the riding are home to the grape-growing and wine-making industry, which is a large part of the riding's manufacturing sector. Tourism is a significant industry because of Niagara Falls, the casino and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In the 2006 census, 16.2 per cent of residents listed Italian as their ethnic origin, followed by German at 15.7 per cent. Average family income is $74,507 and unemployment is six per cent.

Niagara Falls riding was created in 1952 from Welland riding. In 1996, a piece of Welland-St. Catharines-Thorold riding was added. In 2004, the western boundary moved from the Welland Canal to the Thorold town line and the southern boundary extended to Lake Erie.

Population: 126,696 (2006 census; an increase of 4.9% since 2001)

Political History

The riding has alternated between Liberal and Conservative MPs.

The 2006 election left the riding in the hands of the Conservatives. Tory incumbent Rob Nicholson beat Liberal Gary Burroughs by 3,393 votes. Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Nicholson minister of justice and attorney general in January 2007.

In 2004, Nicholson defeated Liberal Victor Pietrangelo by 1,137 votes. Nicholson had served two terms from 1984 to 1993.

Liberal Gary Pillitteri served three terms from 1993 to 2004.

Judy LaMarsh was elected in a 1960 byelection and served until 1968. She was minister of national health and welfare in 1963 under then prime minister Lester Pearson.

• 1953-1968 - LIB
• 1972 - PC
• 1974 - LIB
• 1979 - PC
• 1980 - LIB
• 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993, 1997, 2000 - LIB
• 2004, 2006 - CON