Oxford

This southwestern Ontario riding contains the towns of Tillsonburg and Ingersoll, the city of Woodstock and all of rural Oxford County.

Manufacturing is the major industry, with auto parts makers centred on the CAMI auto plant in Ingersoll, and some textile making. Agriculture is also an important part of the economy, with dairy products and tobacco being the most important commodities. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $78,795 and an unemployment rate of 4.8 per cent.

Total immigrant population is 11 per cent, with 18 per cent listing German as their ethnic origin and 14 per cent listing Dutch.

The riding was established in 1933. There was little change in 1996 and no change in 2004.

Population: 102,756 (2006 census; an increase of 3.5% since 2001)

Political History

Conservative Dave Mackenzie is serving his second term as MP. Mackenzie beat Liberal Greig Mordue in 2006 by 9,179 votes.

In 2004, Mackenzie defeated Liberal Murray Coulter by 6,595 votes. Mackenzie ran in 2000, but lost to three-term Liberal MP John Findlay.

Before Findlay's 1993 election, the riding had last voted Liberal in 1949.

Oxford riding elected Conservative Wally Nesbitt from 1953 to 1972. Then another Tory, Bruce Halliday, was MP for five terms, winning his last election in 1988.

• 1935, 1940 - LIB
• 1945 - PC
• 1949 - LIB
• 1953-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993, 1997, 2000 - LIB
• 2004, 2006 - CON