Carleton

Carleton is a large riding in the western and southwestern portions of the City of Ottawa, covering approximately 1,187 square kilometres of suburban, exurban, and rural territory. The riding takes in the communities of Stittsville, Richmond, Manotick, Metcalfe, Osgoode, and Carp, as well as the rural expanses of West Carleton along the Ottawa River. It lies south and west of the more urban Ottawa ridings, curving in a broad arc from Renfrew County in the west to Prescott-Russell in the east. The landscape ranges from the newer suburban subdivisions of Stittsville to the agricultural fields and hamlets of the Ottawa Valley.

The 2021 census recorded a population of approximately 124,400—an increase of roughly 28 percent from 2016, driven by rapid residential development in the suburban communities. Visible minorities account for approximately 25 percent of the population, with South Asian and Arab Canadians among the largest groups. The riding is well-educated and has a significant proportion of residents employed in the federal public service and the technology sector.

Candidates

Pierre Poilievre (Conservative) — Born in Calgary, Alberta, in 1979, Poilievre was adopted by schoolteachers Marlene and Don Poilievre. He attended the University of Calgary, where he was president of the campus Conservative club and won a $10,000 essay prize on leadership. He moved to Ottawa in 2000 to work for Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day and co-founded a communications company, 3D Contact Inc. First elected in 2004 at the age of 25 in the former riding of Nepean—Carleton, he served as Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister of Democratic Reform. He was seeking his sixth consecutive term.

Gustave Roy (Liberal) — Born in London, Ontario, and raised in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Roy earned a certificate in French Translation and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. He worked in securities trading at the Royal Bank of Canada, in risk management at the Montreal Exchange, and as a sales consultant for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. In 2015 he launched Easyplow, an on-demand snow removal application. The 2021 campaign was his first run for elected office.

Kevin Hua (NDP) — Raised in Stittsville, Hua is a second-generation Chinese-Canadian and student at Carleton University. He first ran as the NDP candidate in the riding in 2019 at the age of 18, making him one of the youngest candidates in that election. He ran again in 2021.

Peter Crawley (PPC) — Crawley was the People's Party of Canada candidate in Carleton for the 2021 federal election.

About the Riding

Carleton's rapid population growth reflects the broader pattern of suburban expansion across Ottawa's western and southern fringes. Stittsville, once a small village, has experienced intensive residential development and now functions as a major suburban community with new schools, commercial plazas, and recreation facilities. Manotick, situated along the Rideau River, retains a village character with heritage architecture and a weekly farmers' market, though new subdivisions are encroaching on surrounding farmland. Carp, in West Carleton, is known for its agricultural fair—one of the oldest in Ontario—and the Diefenbunker, a Cold War–era underground shelter now operated as a museum.

The riding's economy is shaped by its proximity to downtown Ottawa. A substantial share of residents commute to federal government offices and the technology sector in Kanata and central Ottawa. Transit connectivity—particularly the question of extending Ottawa's Confederation Line light rail through the riding's suburban communities—is a significant local issue. The rural portions of the riding rely on agriculture, small business, and seasonal tourism along the Ottawa River.

Carleton has been a Conservative stronghold through Poilievre's tenure, and the riding's political profile blends suburban fiscal conservatism with rural independence. Housing affordability, property tax pressures on growing suburban municipalities, rural broadband access, and the management of spring flooding along the Ottawa River and its tributaries are recurring concerns. The riding's mix of new suburban families, established rural communities, and federal public servants creates a diverse electorate with competing priorities around development, infrastructure, and fiscal policy.