Niagara Centre (federal electoral district)

Niagara Centre (Niagara-Centre; formerly Welland) is a federal electoral district in the Niagara Region of Ontario that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1988 and since 1997.

Under the 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution the riding will be renamed Niagara South.

Demographics

 * According to the 2021 Canadian census

Ethnic groups: 83.0% White, 5.1% Indigenous, 3.1% Black, 2.5% South Asian, 1.3% Chinese, 1.2% Latin American, 1.0% Filipino

Languages: 81.0% English, 4.5% French, 2.2% Italian, 1.1% Spanish

Religions: 60.5% Christian (32.7% Catholic, 5.3% Anglican, 3.5% United Church, 1.8% Presbyterian, 1.3% Baptist, 1.2% Lutheran, 1.1% Pentecostal, 13.6% Other), 2.1% Muslim, 35.2% None

Median income: $37,600 (2020)

Average income: $46,040 (2020)

Geography
Niagara Centre consists of the cities of Welland, Thorold, and Port Colborne, and the part of the City of St. Catharines lying south of a line drawn from the southern city limit north along First Louth St, east along St. Paul Street West, northeast along St. Paul Crescent, east and south along Twelve Mile Creek, and east along Glendale Avenue to the eastern city limit.

History
Welland was originally created in 1867 by the British North America Act. It consisted initially of the Townships of Bertie, Crowland, Humberstone, Stamford, Thorold, and Willoughby, and the Villages of Chippawa, Clifton, Fort Erie, Thorold and Welland.

In 1892, the riding was redefined to exclude reference to the Village of Clifton, and include the villages of Niagara Falls and Port Colborne, and the town of Niagara Falls. In 1903, it was redefined to consist of the county of Welland.

In 1952, it was redefined to consist of the townships of Pelham, Thorold, Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet, including the city of Welland and the towns of Port Colborne, Thorold, Fonthill and Humberstone.

In 1966, it was redefined to consist of:
 * in Welland County, the City of Welland and the Townships of Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet; and
 * in Haldimand County, the Townships of Canborough, Dunn, Moulton and Sherbrooke.

In 1976, it was redefined to consist of the City of Welland, the Town of Thorold, and the part of the City of St. Catharines lying south of the Canadian National Railway.

The electoral district was abolished in 1987 when it was redistributed between Welland—St. Catharines—Thorold, St. Catharines and Erie ridings.

A new riding, named Niagara Centre was created in 1996 from parts of Erie and Welland—St. Catharines—Thorold ridings. It existed only for the 1997 and 2000 elections.

It consisted of the Town of Pelham, the City of Welland, the southern part of the City of St. Catharines, and the part of the City of Thorold lying west of the Welland Canal.

The electoral district was abolished in 2003 when it was redistributed between Niagara West—Glanbrook, St. Catharines and Welland ridings.

In 2003, a new Welland riding was created from parts of Erie—Lincoln, Niagara Centre, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines ridings.

Welland was abolished in 2013, and was largely replaced by a new riding named Niagara Centre. The riding lost Wainfleet and the rural southwestern corner of St. Catharines.

Members of Parliament
This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:

Niagara Centre, 1996–2003
Note:The 2000 Alliance vote is compared to the 1997 Reform vote
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