Oakville

Oakville is an affluent suburban riding in Halton Region, situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario between Burlington to the west and Mississauga to the east. The riding encompasses the southeastern portion of the town of Oakville, including established lakefront neighbourhoods such as Old Oakville, Bronte, and Glen Abbey, as well as newer residential developments further north. The town of Oakville had a population of approximately 182,500 in the 2011 census.

Candidates

Terence Young (Conservative) — Young had a long career in public life and drug safety advocacy. He previously served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature from 1995 to 1999. A prescription drug safety advocate, he founded Drug Safety Canada and became a prominent voice for stronger pharmaceutical regulation following the loss of his daughter Vanessa, who died at age 15 after taking the drug cisapride. He was first elected to Parliament in the 2008 federal election, defeating the Liberal incumbent, and entered the 2011 campaign as the one-term incumbent.

Max Khan (Liberal) — Khan was a trial lawyer and mediator at a Bay Street law firm who grew up in the Greater Toronto Area and had been an Oakville resident since his teens. He was elected to Oakville Town Council in 2006, representing Ward 6, and had been involved with the Oakville Liberal riding association for over a decade. He also did pro bono legal work for humanitarian organizations and served as legal advisor for the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton.

James Ede (NDP) — Ede was the NDP candidate for the riding in the 2011 election.

Andrew Chlobowski (Green Party) also stood as a candidate.

About the Riding

Oakville's economy is anchored by the Ford Motor Company of Canada assembly plant, one of the largest automotive manufacturing facilities in the country, which employed thousands of workers and was central to the community's industrial base. The town also hosts the Canadian headquarters of several major corporations, including Siemens Canada, and has a significant concentration of professional and financial services employment. The lakefront core of the riding, including the heritage neighbourhood of Old Oakville and the Bronte Harbour area, reflects the town's history as a prosperous Lake Ontario port community. Glen Abbey Golf Club, home of the Canadian Open for many years, is a landmark within the riding. Oakville's population was well-educated and relatively affluent, with household incomes well above the provincial average. The riding's proximity to Toronto via the Queen Elizabeth Way and GO Transit commuter rail makes it a significant bedroom community, and transit and transportation infrastructure were ongoing concerns. The Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital provides regional healthcare services. Federal issues of local concern included automotive industry policy amid the aftermath of the 2008-2009 recession, infrastructure investment, and environmental stewardship of Lake Ontario shoreline areas.