Ontario ridings will not be matched to follow those of new federal riding boundaries.
The federal changes were approved in 2023.
They included the loss of one riding in northern Ontario and the expansion of the Kenora riding to include many remote First Nations.
When asked if the province plans to mirror those ridings, Premier Doug Ford was firm in his answer.
“No,” says Ford.
“Why change something that works? It works. So it’s all good. Just because the feds want to do it. Jerry rig the ridings. It’s no secret people do that. Governments do that. I’m not doing it. I’m going to leave the boundaries alone.”
“Less politicians, the better it is.”
Following the federal changes would actually lead to fewer ridings.
There will be three new ridings in southern Ontario, with a net gain of one for Ontario in the House of Commons.
The riding changes take effect in the next federal election, with 122 Ontario MPs to be elected.
The Ontario Legislature has 124 seats, with the Progressive Conservatives holding down 79.
