Perth—Wellington

Stretching across Perth County and into the northern reaches of Wellington County, Perth—Wellington encompasses the city of Stratford, the town of St. Marys, and a string of smaller agricultural communities including Listowel, Mitchell, and Milverton. The riding also takes in the town of Minto and the townships of Mapleton and Wellington North. It is a landscape defined by fertile farmland, quiet main streets, and a cultural anchor in the Stratford Festival, one of North America's premier repertory theatres.

Candidates

John Nater (Conservative) — Raised on a pig farm in Logan Township (now part of West Perth), Nater earned a degree in public affairs and policy management from Carleton University and a master of public administration from Queen's University. He served on West Perth municipal council from 2010 to 2014, worked as a policy analyst at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and lectured at King's University College. He entered the race after long-serving Conservative MP Gary Schellenberger announced his retirement in September 2014.

Stephen McCotter (Liberal) — A lawyer based in St. Marys, McCotter also served as a municipal councillor. He mounted a competitive campaign in a riding that had been firmly Conservative, drawing support from the towns while rural polls remained tilted toward the Tories.

Ethan Rabidoux (NDP) — Rabidoux carried the NDP banner in a riding where the party historically ran a distant third, seeking to channel national momentum into local gains.

Nicole Ramsdale (Green Party) — Ramsdale represented the Green Party, advocating for environmental stewardship in a region where agricultural runoff and water quality are persistent concerns.

About the Riding

Perth County ranks among Ontario's most productive agricultural zones, with significant farm cash receipts from dairy, hog, and mixed-crop operations. Stratford's economy rests on twin pillars: its manufacturing base, which includes auto-parts suppliers and food processors, and the Stratford Festival, which generates substantial annual economic activity and supports thousands of jobs across the region. Listowel, in the riding's north, serves as a commercial hub for surrounding townships. St. Marys, sometimes called "Stonetown" for its limestone architecture, sits at the junction of the Thames River's branches. The riding has been reliably Conservative at the federal level, but the 2015 campaign saw an unusually strong Liberal challenge in urban polls as the national mood shifted. Local concerns centred on rural broadband access, infrastructure for small municipalities, and the future of supply management in trade negotiations.