Northern Ontario's provincial electoral ridings won't change

Northern Ontario’s provincial electoral boundaries are staying the same.

The announcement came in the wake of news emerging out of Queen’s Park that the 2015 Electoral Boundaries Act will provide an increase to the number of southern Ontario ridings to match changes in the federal riding numbers.

“There is no question that economically and socially, the North is a unique and vital part of Ontario,” said Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle in a release issued on Wednesday.

“This bill reaffirms our government’s commitment to protect representation for Northern Ontario and provides a strong voice for the North, now and in the future.”

Ten years ago the province took steps to preserve the region’s electoral boundaries, ignoring a recommendation to reduce the number of seats from 11 to 10 in Northern Ontario to match federal riding changes.

The new act will also see the province engage more 16- and 17-year-olds and encourage them to pre-register to vote, although the voting age would not drop from the current 18. It would also strengthen rules on election-related third-party advertising.

Southern Ontario ridings will increase from 96 to 111 and most are centred in Toronto, Peel, York, Durham and Ottawa, areas which has seen substantial population growth.