Nipissing—Timiskaming

Nipissing—Timiskaming covers a vast stretch of northeastern Ontario, spanning over 16,000 square kilometres from the city of North Bay westward to the town of Mattawa and northward through the Timiskaming District to communities such as Temiskaming Shores, Cobalt, Englehart, and Latchford. North Bay, with a population of approximately 54,000 in 2011, serves as the riding's urban anchor at the eastern tip of Lake Nipissing.

Candidates

Jay Aspin (Conservative) — A graduate of the University of Waterloo with degrees in mathematics and economics, Aspin had deep roots in North Bay civic life. He served six terms as a North Bay city councillor and seven terms as a school board trustee with the Near North District School Board and its predecessor, the Nipissing Board of Education. He was elected president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities and president of the Northern Ontario School Trustees. Professionally, he was president of Aspin International Development Inc., a consulting firm specializing in international trade and business growth, and had worked with the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. He was acclaimed as the Conservative candidate in January 2011.

Anthony Rota (Liberal) — Born in North Bay to a family of Italian heritage, Rota held a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Wilfrid Laurier University, a diploma in finance from Algonquin College, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa. He served on North Bay City Council from 1994 to 1997, chairing the planning and economic development committee. First elected to Parliament in 2004, he was re-elected in 2006 and 2008, serving as Liberal caucus chair and critic for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario. He entered the 2011 campaign as the three-term incumbent.

Rona Eckert (NDP) — Eckert was the NDP candidate for the riding in the 2011 election.

Scott Edward Daley (Green Party) also stood as a candidate.

About the Riding

North Bay functions as a regional service centre for northeastern Ontario, with healthcare, education, and retail trade as leading employment sectors. Canadian Forces Base North Bay (22 Wing) is a major employer, housing NORAD's Canadian operations at the underground complex within the Canadian Shield. Nipissing University and Canadore College provide post-secondary education and are significant contributors to the local economy. The Timiskaming District to the north has a resource-based economy rooted in forestry and mining, with the historic silver mining town of Cobalt recalling the early twentieth-century mining boom. Agriculture, particularly dairy and beef farming, is present in the clay belt areas around the northern communities. The Ontario Northland Railway and associated bus services provide vital transportation links for the region. Tourism, driven by the area's lakes, forests, and recreational opportunities, contributes seasonal employment. Federal issues in the riding included infrastructure funding for northern communities, support for the forestry sector during a period of mill closures, military base operations, and the long-gun registry debate.