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Seats obtained by party

Liberal   Conservative   New Democratic   Progressive Conservative (defunct)   Independents

Canadian federal elections have provided the following results in the suburban sections of Durham and York Regions.

Regional profile

The region is within the 905 Area Code (often referred to as the "905 belt"), and is populated predominantly by middle class, suburban voters. After leaning Liberal from 1968 to 1974, the area tilted conservative in the late 1970s and 1980s, when it only had three seats, helping the PCs win two majority governments in the 1980s. Support for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party, however, was heavy in the unionist city of Oshawa, especially when popular NDP leader Ed Broadbent held that seat from the late 1960s to late 1980s.

However, rapid growth of the Greater Toronto Area accompanied with an influx of immigrants and urban professionals turned the region into a Liberal stronghold, similar to the outer areas of the City of Toronto and the Mississauga-Brampton-Oakville area to the west of Toronto. The only standout being the election of a PC MP in Markham in 1997. By 2000, the Liberals swept all seven of its seats and its provincial rejection of the Tories in 2003 helped to secure Dalton McGuinty's provincial liberal landslide majority.

In 2006, the Liberals easily held onto most of the seats, with the exception of Oshawa and Whitby—Oshawa, which were taken by the Conservatives. In 2008, the Conservatives gained another two seats, Thornhill and Oak Ridges—Markham, and in a 2010 by-election the riding of Vaughan. In 2011, the Conservatives took another 3 seats (Ajax—Pickering, Pickering—Scarborough East and Richmond Hill); leaving the Liberals with one seat of nine in the area - Markham—Unionville. In 2015, however, the meltdown of Tory support in southern Ontario saw the Liberals seize all but three of the region's 12 seats, those being Oshawa, Thornhill, and - surprisingly - Markham—Unionville, a riding with historically low Conservative support.

The region saw very little change in votes shares the 2019 and 2021 elections. The Conservatives flipped Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill in a 2018 by-election, retained it in 2019 but lost it to the Liberals in 2021 along with Markham—Unionville whereby King—Vaughan went in the other direction.

Votes by party throughout time

Detailed results

2015

2011

2008

2006

Ajax-Pickering Markham-Unionville Oak Ridges-Markham Oshawa Pickering-Scarborough East Richmond Hill Thornhill Vaughan Whitby-Oshawa

2004

Party rankings

For the first time since 1988 the Liberals ranked third in a riding of the region (in Oshawa) whereas the NDP achieved its first second position since that date.

Maps

2000

Party rankings

The Liberal easily won in all 7 ridings with significant margins. The Canadian Alliance was able to significantly distance the Progressive Conservatives (who had arrived first or second in most ridings in 1997) ranking second in all 7 ridings.

1997

Party rankings

1993

Party rankings

1988

Party rankings

Notes and References

Notes

1. Elected as a Liberal in 1993, left the caucus to sit as an independent MP in 1994.
2. Elected in a 1990 by-election following the resignation of former NDP leader Ed Broadbent.
3. Re-elected in a 1990 by-election after the 1988 election in York North was declared void and invalid.

References

• Politics of the Regional Municipality of Durham
• Politics of the Regional Municipality of York
• Canadian federal election results in Ontario