# Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound (federal electoral district)

Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound (formerly known as Bruce, Bruce—Grey and Grey—Bruce—Owen Sound) is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1935.
The riding once had a reputation of being a swing riding, but it has become more conservative in the last 20 years. It produced many close results over its early years.

## History

The district was created in 1933 from Bruce North and Bruce South and was known as "Bruce" riding. Its name was changed in 1975 to "Bruce—Grey", to "Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound" in 2000, to "Grey—Bruce—Owen Sound" in 2003, and to Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound in 2004.
This riding was left unchanged after the 2012 electoral redistribution and 2022 electoral redistribution.

### Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Bruce Riding created from Bruce North and Bruce South |||||
| 18th | 1935–1940 | William Rae Tomlinson | Liberal |
| 19th | 1940–1945 | William Rae Tomlinson | Liberal |
| 20th | 1945–1949 | Andrew Ernest Robinson | Progressive Conservative |
| 21st | 1949–1953 | Donald Buchanan Blue | Liberal |
| 22nd | 1953–1957 | Andrew Ernest Robinson | Progressive Conservative |
| 23rd | 1957–1958 | Andrew Ernest Robinson | Progressive Conservative |
| 24th | 1958–1962 | Andrew Ernest Robinson | Progressive Conservative |
| 25th | 1962–1963 | Andrew Ernest Robinson | Progressive Conservative |
| 26th | 1963–1965 | John Loney | Progressive Conservative |
| 27th | 1965–1968 | John Loney | Progressive Conservative |
| 28th | 1968–1972 | Ross Whicher | Liberal |
| 29th | 1972–1974 | Ross Whicher | Liberal |
| 30th | 1974–1979 | Crawford Douglas | Liberal |
| Bruce—Grey |||||
| 31st | 1979–1980 | Gary Gurbin | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1980–1984 | Gary Gurbin | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1984–1988 | Gary Gurbin | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1988–1993 | Gus Mitges | Progressive Conservative |
| 35th | 1993–1997 | Ovid Jackson | Liberal |
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Ovid Jackson | Liberal |
| 37th | 2000–2004 | Ovid Jackson | Liberal |
| Grey—Bruce—Owen Sound |||||
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Larry Miller | Conservative |
| Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound |||||
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Larry Miller | Conservative |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Larry Miller | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2015 | Larry Miller | Conservative |
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Larry Miller | Conservative |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Alex Ruff | Conservative |
| 44th | 2021–present | Alex Ruff | Conservative |

## Demographics

According to the 2021 Canadian census
Languages: 90.7% English, 2.1% German, 1.5% Pennsylvania German
Religions: 55.9% Christian (12.7% Catholic, 11.2% United Church, 4.7% Anglican, 4.0% Presbyterian, 3.3% Lutheran, 2.9% Anabaptist, 2.3% Baptist, 1.0% Pentecostal, 13.8% Other), 41.9% None
Median income: $38,000 (2020)
Average income: $48,760 (2020)
Panethnic groups in Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound (2011−2021) :
| Panethnic group | 2021 | 2021 | 2016 | 2016 | 2011 | 2011 |
| Panethnic group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| European | 102,695 | 92.29% | 98,635 | 93.77% | 98,745 | 95.12% |
| Indigenous | 4,280 | 3.85% | 4,450 | 4.23% | 3,580 | 3.45% |
| African | 1,285 | 1.15% | 545 | 0.52% | 390 | 0.38% |
| South Asian | 995 | 0.89% | 365 | 0.35% | 435 | 0.42% |
| East Asian | 580 | 0.52% | 535 | 0.51% | 335 | 0.32% |
| Southeast Asian | 575 | 0.52% | 235 | 0.22% | 125 | 0.12% |
| Latin American | 355 | 0.32% | 70 | 0.07% | 85 | 0.08% |
| Middle Eastern | 320 | 0.29% | 200 | 0.19% | 20 | 0.02% |
| Other/multiracial | 400 | 0.36% | 170 | 0.16% | 110 | 0.11% |
| Total responses | 111,270 | 98.17% | 105,190 | 97.69% | 103,815 | 97.5% |
| Total population | 113,348 | 100% | 107,679 | 100% | 106,475 | 100% |
| Notes: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses. Demographics based on 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution riding boundaries. |||||||

## Election results
### Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound

vte2021 Canadian federal election: Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Alex Ruff | 28,727 | 49.2 | +3.1 | $73,440.24 |
| | Liberal | Anne Marie Watson | 14,738 | 25.2 | -4.9 | $50,410.51 |
| | New Democratic | Christopher Neudorf | 7,939 | 13.6 | +1.9 | $8,224.88 |
| | People's | Anna-Marie Fosbrooke | 4,697 | 8.0 | +5.2 | $7,061.94 |
| | Green | Ashley Michelle Lawrence | 1,789 | 3.1 | -5.7 | $0.00 |
| | Independent | Reima Kaikkonen | 524 | 0.9 | – | $9,850.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 58,414 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 394 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,808 | 64.29 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 91,472 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +4.0 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election: Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Alex Ruff | 26,830 | 46.1 | +7.26 | $80,258.91 |
| | Liberal | Michael Den Tandt | 17,485 | 30.1 | -8.74 | $85,055.44 |
| | New Democratic | Chris Stephen | 6,797 | 11.7 | +0.57 | $6,077.71 |
| | Green | Danielle Valiquette | 5,114 | 8.8 | +5.45 | none listed |
| | People's | Bill Townsend | 1,614 | 2.8 | – | $0.00 |
| | Libertarian | Daniel Little | 321 | 0.6 | – | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 58,161 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 303 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,464 | 65.6 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 89,114 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +8.00 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Larry Miller | 26,297 | 46.68 | -9.62 | $121,344.93 |
| | Liberal | Kimberley Love | 21,879 | 38.84 | +22.77 | $77,135.87 |
| | New Democratic | David McLaren | 6,270 | 11.13 | -6.51 | $28,809.26 |
| | Green | Chris Albinati | 1,887 | 3.35 | -6.64 | $4,346.25 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 56,333 | 100.00 | | $218,310.52 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 212 | 0.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,545 | 68.91 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 82,056 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -16.20 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Larry Miller | 28,744 | 56.30 | +8.64 | – |
| | New Democratic | Karen Gventer | 9,008 | 17.64 | +8.01 | – |
| | Liberal | Kimberley Love | 8,203 | 16.07 | +1.77 | – |
| | Green | Emma Jane Hogbin | 5,099 | 9.99 | -17.18 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 51,054 | 100.00 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 227 | 0.44 | +0.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,281 | 65.04 | +3.68 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 78,848 | – | – |
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Larry Miller | 22,975 | 47.66 | -0.52 | $83,330 |
| | Green | Dick Hibma | 13,095 | 27.17 | +14.26 | $63,875 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Noble | 6,892 | 14.30 | -13.26 | $39,399 |
| | New Democratic | Jill McIllwraith | 4,640 | 9.63 | -1.71 | $9,434 |
| | Christian Heritage | Joel Kidd | 599 | 1.24 | * | $1,377 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 48,201 | 100.00 | $84,478 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 204 | 0.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,405 | 61.36 | – |
2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Larry Miller | 25,133 | 48.18 | +3.2 | $72,117 |
| | Liberal | Verona Jackson | 14,378 | 27.56 | -8.2 | $52,377 |
| | Green | Shane Jolley | 6,735 | 12.91 | +8.7 | $17,349 |
| | New Democratic | Jill McIllwraith | 5,918 | 11.34 | -1.7 | $11,210 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 52,164 | 100.00 |

### Grey—Bruce—Owen Sound

2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Larry Miller | 22,411 | 45.0 | -6.0 |
| | Liberal | Ovid Jackson | 17,824 | 35.8 | -8.4 |
| | New Democratic | Sebastian Ostertag | 6,516 | 13.1 | +8.2 |
| | Green | Alex Drossos | 2,076 | 4.2 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Steven J. Taylor | 982 | 2.0 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 49,809 | 100.0 |
Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

### Bruce—Grey

2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ovid Jackson | 19,822 | 44.2 | +7.4 |
| | Alliance | Murray Peer | 15,960 | 35.6 | +2.4 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Allen Wilford | 6,872 | 15.3 | -7.6 |
| | New Democratic | Karen Gventer | 2,166 | 4.8 | -2.3 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 44,820 | 100.0 |
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ovid Jackson | 17,896 | 36.8 | -12.3 |
| | Reform | Murray Peer | 16,161 | 33.2 | +8.5 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Middlebro | 11,139 | 22.9 | +4.1 |
| | New Democratic | Colleen Anne Purdon | 3,446 | 7.1 | +2.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 48,642 | 100.0 |
1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ovid Jackson | 25,693 | 49.1 | +10.2 |
| | Reform | Alan Aston | 12,939 | 24.7 | |
| | Progressive Conservative | Stew O'Keefe | 9,836 | 18.8 | -22.1 |
| | New Democratic | Cathy Hird | 2,259 | 4.3 | -14.7 |
| | National | Stuart Marwick | 1,001 | 1.9 | |
| | Green | Jim Garrity | 320 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| | Natural Law | John Wolter | 158 | 0.3 | |
| | Libertarian | Ralph Hanke | 152 | 0.3 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 52,358 | 100.0 |
1988 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gus Mitges | 19,748 | 40.9 | -23.9 |
| | Liberal | Douglas M. Thompson | 18,796 | 38.9 | +15.6 |
| | New Democratic | Cathy Hird | 9,183 | 19.0 | +7.0 |
| | Green | Don Cianci | 317 | 0.7 | |
| | Commonwealth of Canada | George Bothwell | 267 | 0.6 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 48,311 | 100.0 |
1984 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gary M. Gurbin | 27,611 | 64.7 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal | Ron Oswald | 9,931 | 23.3 | -17.3 |
| | New Democratic | Norma Peterson | 5,112 | 12.0 | +0.7 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 42,654 | 100.0 |
1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gary M. Gurbin | 18,326 | 47.3 | -5.1 |
| | Liberal | Rodger D. Schwass | 15,735 | 40.6 | +5.2 |
| | New Democratic | Malcolm A. Kennett | 4,391 | 11.3 | -0.3 |
| | Libertarian | Jim Turner | 299 | 0.8 | +0.2 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 38,751 | 100.0 |
1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gary M. Gurbin | 21,219 | 52.4 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal | Crawford Douglas | 14,314 | 35.4 | -12.2 |
| | New Democratic | John Giese | 4,723 | 11.7 | +1.7 |
| | Libertarian | Norman Helen Watson | 223 | 0.6 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 40,479 | 100.0 |

### Bruce

1974 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Crawford Douglas | 17,158 | 47.5 | +2.2 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Loney | 15,346 | 42.5 | -0.7 |
| | New Democratic | Gene Kiviaho | 3,586 | 9.9 | -1.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 36,090 | 100.0 |
1972 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ross Whicher | 14,974 | 45.3 | -1.4 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Loney | 14,297 | 43.3 | +0.6 |
| | New Democratic | Thomas Thompson | 3,772 | 11.4 | +0.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 33,043 | 100.0 |
1968 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ross Whicher | 12,775 | 46.7 | +7.1 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Loney | 11,674 | 42.7 | -7.3 |
| | New Democratic | Eric Nelson | 2,911 | 10.6 | +0.1 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 27,360 | 100.0 |
1965 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Loney | 6,846 | 49.9 | -1.6 |
| | Liberal | Kent Lamont | 5,424 | 39.6 | -4.7 |
| | New Democratic | Thomas Morris | 1,443 | 10.5 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,713 | 100.0 |
1963 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Loney | 7,451 | 51.5 | -0.1 |
| | Liberal | John H. Mackenzie | 6,401 | 44.3 | +2.6 |
| | Independent | Alex Scarrow | 611 | 4.2 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,463 | 100.0 |
1962 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 7,604 | 51.6 | -10.7 |
| | Liberal | John H. Mackenzie | 6,141 | 41.7 | +4.0 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Lorne Richards | 706 | 4.8 | |
| | Social Credit | Sandy Macdonald | 279 | 1.9 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,730 | 100.0 |
1958 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 8,225 | 62.3 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal | Chester M. Merriam | 4,975 | 37.7 | -4.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,200 | 100.0 |
1957 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 8,225 | 57.5 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | Donald B. Blue | 6,089 | 42.5 | -6.3 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,314 | 100.0 |
1953 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 7,132 | 51.2 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | Donald B. Blue | 6,808 | 48.8 | +4.3 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,940 | 100.0 |
1949 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Donald B. Blue | 7,517 | 50.1 | +5.8 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 6,685 | 44.6 | -3.2 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Aubrey John Mercer | 795 | 5.3 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,997 | 100.0 |
1945 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Andrew E. Robinson | 6,933 | 47.8 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | Carl Whicher | 6,430 | 44.3 | -14.1 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Moffatt Jamieson | 1,137 | 7.8 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,500 | 100.0 |
Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election.
1940 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Rae Tomlinson | 7,420 | 58.4 | +12.8 |
| | National Government | Leigh H. Snider | 5,275 | 41.6 | +7.1 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,695 | 100.0 |
Note: "National Government" vote is compared to Conservative vote in 1935 election.
1935 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | William Rae Tomlinson | 6,831 | 45.7 |
| | Conservative | Gideon H. Ruttle | 5,149 | 34.4 |
| | Reconstruction | William Guy Nicholson | 2,973 | 19.9 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,953 | 100.0 |