# Huron—Bruce (federal electoral district)

Huron—Bruce (formerly known as Huron and Huron—Middlesex) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1953.

## History

The riding was created in 1952 from parts of Huron North and Huron—Perth ridings. It consisted of the township of Hibbert in the county of Perth, and the townships of Hullett, McKillop, Stanley, Tuckersmith, Hay, Stephen, Usborne, Grey, Morris, Colborne, Goderich, Ashfield, East Wawanosh and West Wawanosh in the county of Huron.
In 1966, it was redefined to consist of the County of Huron excluding the Village of Lucknow, and the Village of Ailsa Craig and the Townships of Biddulph and McGillivray in the County of Middlesex.
It was known as "Huron" until 1974. It was known as "Huron—Middlesex" from 1974 to 1976.
In 1976, it was renamed "Huron—Bruce", and defined to consist of the County of Huron and the Townships of Carrick, Culross, Huron and Kinloss in the County of Bruce.
In 1987, the Bruce County portion was redefined as the part of the County of Bruce lying west of and excluding the townships of Carrick, Brant and Elderslie, west of and including the Village of Paisley, west of and excluding the Townships of Elderslie and Arran, and west of and including the Township of Saugeen and the Town of Southampton.
In 2003, the Bruce County portion was redefined as the part of the County of Bruce lying southwest of and excluding the Township of Arran-Elderslie, and west of and including the Town of Saugeen Shores.
This riding was left unchanged after the 2012 electoral redistribution.

## Demographics

Visible Minorities and Aboriginals :
| Group | 2016 Census | 2016 Census | 2011 Census | 2011 Census |
| Group | Population | % of total | Population | % of total |
| Aboriginal | 1,770 | 1.7 | N/A | N/A |
| Visible Minority | 2,360 | 2.3 | N/A | N/A |
| All other | 100,025 | 96.0 | N/A | N/A |
| Total | 104,155 | 100.0 | N/A | N/A |
Population by mother tongue :
| Group | 2016 Census | 2016 Census | 2011 Census | 2011 Census |
| Group | Population | % of total | Population | % of total |
| English | 95,540 | 91.0 | 94,325 | 91.1 |
| French | 855 | 0.8 | 950 | 0.9 |
| English and French | 145 | 0.1 | 120 | 0.1 |
| All other | 8,440 | 8.1 | 8,105 | 7.9 |
| Total | 104,980 | 100.0 | 103,500 | 100.0 |
Mobility over previous five years :
| Group | 2016 Census | 2016 Census | 2011 Census | 2011 Census |
| Group | Population | % of total | Population | % of total |
| At the same address | 69,020 | 70.4 | N/A | N/A |
| In the same constituency | 12,470 | 12.7 | N/A | N/A |
| In the same province | 15,110 | 15.4 | N/A | N/A |
| From another province | 750 | 0.8 | N/A | N/A |
| From another country | 680 | 0.7 | N/A | N/A |
| Total aged 5 or over | 98,030 | 100.0 | N/A | N/A |

## Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Huron Riding created from Huron North and Huron—Perth |||||
| 22nd | 1953–1957 | Elston Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 23rd | 1957–1958 | Elston Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 24th | 1958–1962 | Elston Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 25th | 1962–1963 | Elston Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 26th | 1963–1965 | Elston Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 27th | 1965–1968 | Robert McKinley | Progressive Conservative |
| 28th | 1968–1972 | Robert McKinley | Progressive Conservative |
| 29th | 1972–1974 | Robert McKinley | Progressive Conservative |
| Huron—Middlesex |||||
| 30th | 1974–1979 | Robert McKinley | Progressive Conservative |
| Huron—Bruce |||||
| 31st | 1979–1980 | Robert McKinley | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1980–1984 | Murray Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1984–1988 | Murray Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1988–1993 | Murray Cardiff | Progressive Conservative |
| 35th | 1993–1997 | Paul Steckle | Liberal |
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Paul Steckle | Liberal |
| 37th | 2000–2004 | Paul Steckle | Liberal |
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Paul Steckle | Liberal |
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Paul Steckle | Liberal |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Ben Lobb | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2015 | Ben Lobb | Conservative |
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Ben Lobb | Conservative |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Ben Lobb | Conservative |
| 44th | 2021–present | Ben Lobb | Conservative |

## Election results
### Huron—Bruce (1976–present)

vte2021 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 31,170 | 50.9 | +2.4 | $83,925.78 |
| | Liberal | James Rice | 16,015 | 26.2 | -6.9 | $96,832.95 |
| | New Democratic | Jan Johnstone | 9,056 | 14.8 | +2.6 | $23,930.53 |
| | People's | Jack Stecho | 4,437 | 7.3 | +5.5 | $509.89 |
| | Independent | Justin L. Smith | 519 | 0.8 | N/A | $2,279.23 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 61,197 | 99.4 | – | $116,852.78 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 357 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,554 | 70.0 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 87,978 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +4.7 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 29,512 | 48.5 | +3.56 | none listed |
| | Liberal | Allan Thompson | 20,167 | 33.1 | -6.61 | $82,810.20 |
| | New Democratic | Tony McQuail | 7,421 | 12.2 | -0.75 | $25,745.80 |
| | Green | Nicholas Wendler | 2,665 | 4.4 | +2.00 | $0.00 |
| | People's | Kevin M. Klerks | 1,102 | 1.8 | | $2,074.00 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 60,867 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 398 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,265 | 71.1 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 86,147 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +5.09 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 26,174 | 44.94 | -10.01 | $148,259.85 |
| | Liberal | Allan Thompson | 23,129 | 39.71 | +23.21 | $65,446.81 |
| | New Democratic | Gerard Creces | 7,544 | 12.95 | -12.39 | $53,256.52 |
| | Green | Jutta Splettstoesser | 1,398 | 2.40 | -0.33 | $3,499.97 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 58,245 | 100.00 | | $215,527.47 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 232 | 0.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,477 | 72.77 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 80,355 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -16.61 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 29,255 | 54.95 | +10.1 | – |
| | New Democratic | Grant Robertson | 13,493 | 25.34 | +10.3 | – |
| | Liberal | Charlie Bagnato | 8,784 | 16.50 | -16.5 | – |
| | Green | Eric Shelley | 1,455 | 2.73 | -2.6 | – |
| | Independent | Dennis Valenta | 254 | 0.48 | 0.0 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 53,241 | 100.0 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 247 | 0.5 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,488 | 68.8 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 77,743 | – | – |
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 22,202 | 44.8 | +6.8 | $59,966 |
| | Liberal | Greg McClinchey | 16,346 | 33.0 | -5.0 | $74,928 |
| | New Democratic | Tony McQuail | 7,426 | 15.0 | -1.3 | $37,499 |
| | Green | Glen Smith | 2,617 | 5.3 | +1.9 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Dave Joslin | 747 | 1.5 | -0.4 | $5,359 |
| | Independent | Dennis Valenta | 242 | 0.5 | 0.0 | $3,622 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 49,580 | 100.0 | $83,704 |
2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Paul Steckle | 21,260 | 39.8 | -10.0 |
| | Conservative | Ben Lobb | 20,289 | 38.0 | +6.9 |
| | New Democratic | Grant Robertson | 8,696 | 16.3 | 3.2 |
| | Green | Victoria Serda | 1,829 | 3.4 | +0.4 |
| | Christian Heritage | Dave Joslin | 1,019 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Dennis Valenta | 270 | 0.5 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 53,363 | 100.0 |
2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Paul Steckle | 25,538 | 49.8 | -0.1 |
| | Conservative | Barb Fisher | 15,930 | 31.1 | -11.7 |
| | New Democratic | Grant Robertson | 6,707 | 13.1 | +6.9 |
| | Green | Dave Vasey | 1,518 | 3.0 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Dave Joslin | 958 | 1.9 | +1.3 |
| | Marijuana | Glen Smith | 638 | 1.2 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 51,289 | 100.0 |
Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.
2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Paul Steckle | 21,547 | 49.9 | -1.4 |
| | Alliance | Mark Beaven | 10,343 | 24.0 | +2.9 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ken Kelly | 8,138 | 18.9 | -0.7 |
| | New Democratic | Christine Kemp | 2,669 | 6.2 | -0.3 |
| | Independent | Dave Joslin | 249 | 0.6 | -1.1 |
| | Canadian Action | Philip Holley | 225 | 0.5 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 43,171 | 100.0 |
Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Paul Steckle | 24,240 | 51.3 | +7.6 |
| | Reform | Doug Fines | 9,925 | 21.0 | +0.1 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Colleen Schenk | 9,223 | 19.5 | -8.2 |
| | New Democratic | Jan Johnstone | 3,037 | 6.4 | +2.2 |
| | Christian Heritage | Dave Joslin | 781 | 1.7 | -0.3 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 47,206 | 100.0 |
1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Paul Steckle | 21,629 | 43.8 | +8.4 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Murray Cardiff | 13,714 | 27.8 | -14.8 |
| | Reform | Len Lobb | 10,357 | 21.0 | |
| | New Democratic | Tony McQuail | 2,093 | 4.2 | -12.2 |
| | Christian Heritage | Henry Zekveld | 953 | 1.9 | -3.7 |
| | Libertarian | Allan Dettweiler | 404 | 0.8 | |
| | Natural Law | Rick Alexander | 242 | 0.5 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 49,392 | 100.0 |
1988 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Murray Cardiff | 20,042 | 42.6 | -22.2 |
| | Liberal | Ken Dunlop | 16,629 | 35.3 | +11.6 |
| | New Democratic | Tony McQuail | 7,746 | 16.5 | +5.5 |
| | Christian Heritage | Tom Clark | 2,633 | 5.6 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 47,050 | 100.0 |
1984 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Murray Cardiff | 23,969 | 64.8 | +17.2 |
| | Liberal | Bruce McDonald | 8,802 | 23.8 | -17.6 |
| | New Democratic | Valerie Bolton | 4,075 | 11.0 | -0.1 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Yundt | 158 | 0.4 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 37,004 | 100.0 |
1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Murray Cardiff | 16,520 | 47.5 | -11.7 |
| | Liberal | Graeme Craig | 14,364 | 41.3 | +8.2 |
| | New Democratic | Tony McQuail | 3,864 | 11.1 | +3.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,748 | 100.0 |
1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert E. McKinley | 21,122 | 59.2 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal | Graeme Craig | 11,818 | 33.1 | -1.7 |
| | New Democratic | Moira Couper | 2,729 | 7.7 | +1.7 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 35,669 | 100.0 |

### Huron—Middlesex (1974–1976)

1974 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert E. McKinley | 17,186 | 59.2 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal | John Lyndon | 10,103 | 34.8 | -6.1 |
| | New Democratic | Shirley Weary | 1,752 | 6.0 | +1.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 29,041 | 100.0 |

### Huron (1952–1974)

1972 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert E. McKinley | 18,921 | 64.3 | +9.7 |
| | Liberal | Charles H. Thomas | 8,570 | +29.1 | -16.3 |
| | New Democratic | Shirley Weary | 1,852 | +6.3 | |
| | Independent | T. Edward Bain | 85 | 0.3 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 29,428 | 100.0 |
1968 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert E. McKinley | 14,652 | 54.6 | -9.7 |
| | Liberal | Maitland E. Edgar | 10,960 | 40.9 | +11.7 |
| | New Democratic | Shirley M. Weary | 1,212 | 4.5 | -1.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 26,824 | 100.0 |
1965 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert E. McKinley | 10,670 | 49.6 | -2.1 |
| | Liberal | Mait Edgar | 9,537 | 44.3 | +3.3 |
| | New Democratic | J. Carl Hemingway | 1,311 | 6.1 | +1.0 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,518 | 100.0 |
1963 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Elston Cardiff | 12,224 | 54.6 | +5.0 |
| | Liberal | Gordon McGavin | 10,169 | 45.4 | +1.1 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,393 | 100.0 |
1962 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Elston Cardiff | 11,562 | 51.7 | -13.4 |
| | Liberal | Ernie Fisher | 9,177 | 41.1 | +6.2 |
| | New Democratic | J. Carl Hemingway | 1,148 | +5.1 | |
| | Social Credit | Earl Dougals | 466 | 2.1 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,353 | 100.0 |
1958 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Elston Cardiff | 14,108 | 65.1 | +7.0 |
| | Liberal | William G.Cochrane | 7,550 | 34.9 | -7.0 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,658 | 100.0 |
1957 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Elston Cardiff | 12,323 | 58.2 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Y. McLean | 8,860 | 41.8 | -5.9 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,183 | 100.0 |
1953 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Elston Cardiff | 11,045 | 52.3 |
| | Liberal | Andrew Y. McLean | 10,092 | 47.7 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,137 | 100.0 |