Peterborough—Kawartha

Peterborough—Kawartha spans from the city of Peterborough northward through a chain of lakes and townships into the southern reaches of the Canadian Shield. The riding takes in the communities of Lakefield, Havelock, and Norwood, along with the Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. Its geography ranges from the urban core along the Otonabee River to the cottages and forests that fringe the Kawartha Lakes.

Candidates

Maryam Monsef (Liberal) — A graduate of Trent University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology, Monsef had deep roots in the Peterborough community through her work with the New Canadians Centre and the YWCA of Peterborough and Haliburton, where she served as vice-president of the board. She ran for mayor of Peterborough in 2014, finishing a close second, and parlayed that local profile into the Liberal nomination. She was seeking to reclaim the seat for the Liberals after it had been held by the Conservatives.

Michael Skinner (Conservative) — Skinner was a local business figure in the Peterborough area who carried the Conservative banner in a riding still reeling from the scandal surrounding former MP Dean Del Mastro, who had been convicted in October 2014 of violating the Canada Elections Act for overspending and filing a falsified campaign return.

Dave Nickle (NDP) — Nickle ran for the NDP in a riding where the party had periodically been competitive, hoping to capitalize on progressive sentiment in the university community.

Doug Mason (Green Party) — Mason stood for the Green Party, drawing attention to environmental issues affecting the Kawartha waterways.

About the Riding

Peterborough has long been considered one of Canada's most reliable bellwether ridings, with a track record of electing members from the party that forms government. The city's economy blends education, with Trent University and Fleming College as major employers, and a legacy manufacturing sector anchored by General Electric, which had operated in the city since 1892 and remained a significant employer despite ongoing restructuring. The Trent-Severn Waterway, a national historic site managed by Parks Canada, threads through the riding and underpins a tourism economy centred on boating, fishing, and cottage country. The 2015 campaign was coloured by the Del Mastro affair, which had left the Conservative brand locally damaged, and by debates over infrastructure spending, veterans' services, and economic diversification for a region that had seen factory closures over the preceding decade.