# Kitchener Centre (federal electoral district)

Kitchener Centre (French: Kitchener-Centre) is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1997.

## Geography

The district includes the north-central and north-eastern parts of the city of Kitchener, Ontario, including the downtown core.

## Political geography

In 2008, the race in Kitchener was razor thin between the Conservatives and Liberals. Politically, the riding is split by the Conestoga Parkway—the area to the west of the Parkway tends to support the Liberals while the area to the east of it tends to vote for the Conservatives. The New Democrats also won a small handful of polls, scattered around the riding. In 2019, The Greens saw one of their largest increases as their share of the vote jumped up 23 points, from 3% to 26%, and took second place from the Conservatives. In terms of vote share and margin of loss, this was the Greens' most successful result in Ontario (even better than neighbouring Guelph, which has a Green MPP) and part of their surge in the south west of the province. In 2021, despite a nationwide vote collapse for the Greens, returning candidate Mike Morrice was able to pull off an upset win, largely helped by the collapse in support for the incumbent Liberal MP, Raj Saini, being involved in sexual assault allgations. This makes Morrice the first ever Green MP from Ontario on the federal level.

## Demographics

    According to the 2021 Canadian census
Ethnic groups: 71.5% White, 7.9% Black, 5.8% South Asian, 3.3% Indigenous, 2.5% Latin American, 2.1% Southeast Asian, 1.9% Arab, 1.3% Chinese, 1.0% West Asian Languages: 70.1% English, 2.6% German, 2.0% Spanish, 1.9% Arabic, 1.7% German, 1.6% Tigrigna, 1.5% Serbian, 1.2% Portuguese, 1.1% Romanian, 1.0% French Religions: 53.4% Christian (22.2% Catholic, 4.3% Christian Orthodox, 3.6% Lutheran, 2.8% United Church, 2.5% Anglican, 1.4% Presbyterian, 1.4% Pentecostal, 1.4% Anabaptist, 1.2% Baptist, 12.6% other), 5.9% Muslim, 2.6% Hindu, 1.0% Sikh, 35.0% none Median income: $40,800 (2020)
Average income: $50,440 (2020)

## History

The electoral district was created in 1996 from parts of Kitchener and Kitchener—Waterloo ridings.
It initially consisted of the part of the City of Kitchener bounded on the west by the western limit of the city, on the south by a line drawn from west to east along the Conestoga Parkway, Strasburg Road, Block Line Road, the Canadian Pacific Railway line, and Highway No. 8, on the east by the Grand River, and on the north by a line drawn from east to west along Victoria Street, Lawrence Avenue and Highland Road West.
In 2003, it was redefined to consist of the part of the City of Kitchener bounded on the west by the western limit of the city, on the north by a line drawn from west to east along Highland Road West, Fischer Hallman Road and the Canadian National Railway situated northerly of Shadeland Crescent, on the east by the Grand River, and on the south by a line drawn from east to west along the King Street Bypass (Highway No. 8), King Street East and the Conestoga Parkway.
This riding lost territory to Kitchener—Conestoga and Kitchener South—Hespeler, and gained territory from Kitchener—Waterloo during the 2012 electoral redistribution.

### Member of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Kitchener Centre Riding created from Kitchener and Kitchener—Waterloo |||||
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Karen Redman | Liberal |
| 37th | 2000–2004 | Karen Redman | Liberal |
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Karen Redman | Liberal |
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Karen Redman | Liberal |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Stephen Woodworth | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2015 | Stephen Woodworth | Conservative |
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Raj Saini | Liberal |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Raj Saini | Liberal |
| 44th | 2021–present | Mike Morrice | Green |

## Election results

vte2021 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Green | Mike Morrice | 17,872 | 34.9 | +8.9 | $110,414.01 |
| | Conservative | Mary Henein Thorn | 12,537 | 24.5 | +0.5 | $71,022.32 |
| | New Democratic | Beisan Zubi | 8,938 | 17.5 | +6.2 | $43,723.62 |
| | Liberal | Raj Saini | 8,297 | 16.2 | -20.5 | $70,160.14 |
| | People's | Diane Boskovic | 3,381 | 6.6 | +4.7 | $2,346.29 |
| | Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 154 | 0.3 | +0 | $8,074.38 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 51,179 | 98.81 | -0.36 | $112,017.63 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 525 | 1.02 | +0.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,275 | 62.41 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 82,159 | – | – |
| | Green gain from Liberal | Green gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +9.28 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
* ↑ Saini withdrew his candidacy, but after closure of nominations, so remained listed as the Liberal candidate on the ballot.
2021 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Green | 17,190 | 33.37 |
| Conservative | 12,798 | 24.84 |
| New Democratic | 9,015 | 17.50 |
| Liberal | 8,943 | 17.36 |
| PPC | 3,425 | 6.65 |
| Others | 146 | 0.28 |
vte2019 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Raj Saini | 20,316 | 36.69 | -12.09 | $71,251.01 |
| | Green | Mike Morrice | 14,394 | 25.99 | +22.94 | $72,289.70 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 13,191 | 23.82 | -6.54 | $86,969.26 |
| | New Democratic | Andrew Moraga | 6,238 | 11.27 | -5.34 | $15,354.69 |
| | People's | Patrick Bernier | 1,033 | 1.87 | – | none listed |
| | Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 202 | 0.36 | – | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 55,374 | 99.17 | -0.28 | |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 465 | 0.83 | +0.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,839 | 66.57 | -0.93 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 83,884 | – | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -17.52 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Raj Saini | 25,504 | 48.78 | +16.49 | $101,034.78 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 15,872 | 30.36 | -10.00 | $127,440.14 |
| | New Democratic | Susan Cadell | 8,680 | 16.60 | -5.32 | $56,988.49 |
| | Green | Nicholas Wendler | 1,597 | 3.05 | -1.52 | $1,292.98 |
| | Libertarian | Slavko Miladinovic | 515 | 0.99 | – | $9.05 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Julian Ichim | 112 | 0.21 | – | – |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 52,280 | 99.44 | | $209,737.44 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 292 | 0.56 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,572 | 67.50 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 77,887 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | Swing | +13.25 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 federal election redistributed results :
| Party | Vote | % |
| Conservative | 18,967 | 40.36 |
| Liberal | 15,175 | 32.29 |
| New Democratic | 10,305 | 21.93 |
| Green | 2,152 | 4.58 |
| Others | 396 | 0.84 |
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 21,119 | 42.40 | +5.70 | $84,217.49 |
| | Liberal | Karen Redman | 15,592 | 31.30 | -4.64 | $79,800.33 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Thurley | 10,742 | 21.57 | +3.48 | $38,822.94 |
| | Green | Byron Williston | 1,972 | 3.96 | -4.55 | $4,298.33 |
| | Independent | Alan Rimmer | 199 | 0.40 | | $1,916.45 |
| | Communist | Martin Suter | 93 | 0.19 | -0.10 | $502.09 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Mark Corbiere | 92 | 0.18 | – | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 49,809 | 99.58 | $87,274.51 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 209 | 0.42 | +0.01 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,018 | 63.15 | +5.12 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 80,480 | – | – |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +5.17 |
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 16,480 | 36.69 | +4.56 | $75,291 |
| | Liberal | Karen Redman | 16,141 | 35.94 | -7.32 | $74,745 |
| | New Democratic | Oz Cole-Arnal | 8,152 | 18.08 | -0.35 | $26,622 |
| | Green | John Bithell | 3,818 | 8.51 | +2.89 | $2,612 |
| | Independent | Amanda Lamka | 215 | 0.47 | – | |
| | Communist | Martin Suter | 127 | 0.28 | -0.26 | $373 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 44,933 | 100.00 | $84,756 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 183 | 0.41 | -0.05 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,091 | 57.03 | -7.67 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +5.94 |
2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Karen Redman | 21,715 | 43.26 | -3.8 |
| | Conservative | Steven Cage | 16,131 | 32.13 | +4.6 |
| | New Democratic | Richard Walsh-Bowers | 9,250 | 18.43 | -0.9 |
| | Green | Tony Maas | 2,822 | 5.62 | +0.2 |
| | Communist | Martin Suter | 274 | 0.54 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 50,192 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 232 | 0.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,426 | 64.70 |
2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Karen Redman | 21,264 | 47.1 | -5.7 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Ichim | 12,412 | 27.5 | -12.4 |
| | New Democratic | Richard Walsh-Bowers | 8,717 | 19.3 | +12.4 |
| | Green | Karol Vesely | 2,450 | 5.4 | |
| | Independent | Mark Corbiere | 277 | 0.6 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 45,120 | 100.0 |
* ↑ 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 | Karen Redman | 23,511 | 52.8 | +4.8 |
| | Alliance | Eloise Jantzi | 11,603 | 26.1 | +6.2 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Steven Daniel Gadbois | 6,162 | 13.8 | -8.9 |
| | New Democratic | Paul Royston | 3,058 | 6.9 | -2.5 |
| | Communist | Martin Suter | 167 | 0.4 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 44,501 | 100.0 |
* ↑ Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Karen Redman | 23,089 | 48.0 |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Reimer | 10,960 | 22.8 |
| | Reform | Ronald Albert Wilson | 9,550 | 19.9 |
| | New Democratic | Lucy Harrison | 4,503 | 9.4 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 48,102 | 100.0 |