Parry Sound--Muskoka

Parry Sound--Muskoka is the southernmost riding in northern Ontario, stretching from the shores of Georgian Bay through Ontario's iconic cottage country to the edge of Algonquin Park. The riding's major communities include Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Parry Sound, and the Township of Muskoka Lakes, along with smaller centres such as Sundridge, Burk's Falls, and Seguin. It is a Conservative stronghold that has been held by the party for two decades and for much of the past century, defined by its tourism economy, seasonal population, and vast natural landscape of lakes, forests, and Canadian Shield rock.

Candidates

Scott Aitchison (Conservative)* was first elected in 2019 and won his third consecutive term in 2025. Born and raised in Huntsville, he was elected to Huntsville Town Council at age 21--the youngest councillor in the town's history--and later served as Mayor of Huntsville from 2014 to 2019. Before entering municipal politics, he worked in real estate sales and construction. Aitchison ran for the Conservative Party leadership in 2022, campaigning on a platform of civility and respect in political discourse.

Geordie Sabbagh (Liberal) is a Huntsville-based filmmaker and father who moved to Muskoka in late 2022. He built a career in film, television, and media production, writing, directing, and producing award-winning projects. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter in Huntsville and is active on his children's school parent council and in local arts initiatives.

Heather Hay (NDP) is a Gravenhurst resident and experienced educator who has worked in human rights advocacy for over 30 years, beginning with Out North in Yellowknife, a support group for LGBTQ individuals in remote and northern communities. She serves as the Coordinator for Elder Abuse Prevention Muskoka and has focused her advocacy on creating a poverty-free and age-friendly Muskoka.

Isabel Pereira (People's Party) is a longtime riding resident and healthcare worker who has lived and worked in several Parry Sound and Muskoka communities for over 30 years. She resides in Armour Township with her husband of more than four decades.

About the Riding

Parry Sound--Muskoka's economy is driven by tourism and seasonal recreation. The Muskoka region, often called Ontario's cottage country, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer to its lakes, resorts, and small-town main streets. Parry Sound, on Georgian Bay, offers a more rugged landscape and serves as a gateway to the 30,000 Islands. The riding's population swells dramatically during summer months as cottagers and tourists arrive, sustaining a hospitality and service industry that provides much of the local employment.

Beyond tourism, forestry, small-scale manufacturing, and public-sector employment in healthcare and education round out the economic base. The riding's permanent population skews older than the provincial average, as retirees are drawn to the natural beauty while younger workers often leave for employment opportunities in larger centres.

In 2025, healthcare access was the dominant local issue. The riding lacks the hospital capacity to serve its aging year-round population and its seasonal influx, with residents often facing long drives to Barrie or Orillia for specialized care. Housing affordability has intensified as pandemic-era demand for rural and recreational properties pushed prices beyond the reach of many local workers. Broadband connectivity in rural corners of the riding, the viability of small-town services, and climate-related concerns including wildfire risk and shoreline erosion were also part of the 2025 campaign conversation.