Riding Profile:

With nearly 100,000 residents, this large rural riding in southern Ontario includes the city of Owen Sound and the town of Hanover. Although there is some light industry in Owen Sound, agriculture still remains a major industry.

The predominantly English Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding stretches along the north coast of Lake Huron and the south shores of Georgian Bay. Dividing the riding is the Niagara Escarpment, and it is bordered to the north by Fathom Five National Marine Park

The 1999 redistribution formed the new riding of Bruce-Grey by combining 45 per cent of the former Bruce and 80 per cent of Grey-Owen Sound.

Political History:

The former riding of Bruce was won by Liberal Murray Elston in 1987. After serving in the cabinet of David Peterson, Elston was elected interim party leader in 1991, but lost a tight 1992 leadership race to Lyn McLeod. Elston remained as Opposition house leader until his 1994 resignation. The Conservatives took the seat in 1995.

In the former riding of Grey-Owen Sound, PC candidate Bill Murdoch broke 15 years of Liberals control with his 1990 victory, and has held the seat ever since.

The riding's name has been changed twice in recent years: to Bruce-Grey prior to the 1999 election, then to Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound in 2000.