York-Durham: A new federal riding brings changes for local voters

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: With Canadians set to go to the polls on Monday, April 28th to elect a new Parliament, many residents should take note they are now part of a newly restructured riding.

For the past few elections, Uxbridge Township voters were part of the Pickering-Uxbridge riding, which stretched in an elongated shape from Pickering’s shoreline up to Uxbridge’s northern boundary. Meanwhile, Scugog voters belonged to the Durham riding. However, following the 2022 electoral redistribution, Durham has been divided, with Clarington and Oshawa portions forming the new Bowmanville—Oshawa North riding, while Scugog has been incorporated into York-Durham. Similarly, Brock voters, who were long part of the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock riding, are now included in York-Durham as well.

The newly created York-Durham riding is significantly larger and now includes the Town of Georgina, the Townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge, the First Nations of Chippewas of Georgina Island and Mississaugas of Scugog Island, along with a portion of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

As of press time on Tuesday evening, the confirmed candidates for York-Durham are Jacob Mantle for the Conservatives, longtime Georgina mayor Rob Grossi for the Liberals, Patricia Conlin for the People’s Party of Canada, and Matt Pearce representing the Green Party. The deadline for candidate registration was April 7th.

Voters in the York-Durham riding can cast their ballots at their assigned polling station on April 28th. The location of their polling place will be listed on the voter information card sent by mail or can be checked on elections.ca. Advance voting is scheduled from April 18th to 21st at any advance polling station.

A candidates' forum, hosted by the Uxbridge Cosmos, is scheduled to take place at the Uxbridge Arena Community Centre on Monday, April 14th, beginning at 7 p.m.