2023 Kanata—Carleton provincial by-election

A by-election for the provincial riding of Kanata—Carleton in Ontario was held on July 27, 2023, to elect a new member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario following the resignation of Progressive Conservative MPP and cabinet minister Merrilee Fullerton.^[1]

2023 Kanata—Carleton provincial by-election

← 2022 July 27, 2023 (2023-07-27) 44th →
Riding of Kanata—Carleton
Turnout	35.14%
First party Second party Third party   PC NDP Candidate Karen McCrimmon Sean Webster Melissa Coenraad Party Liberal Progressive Conservative New Democratic Last election 23.42% 43.61% 24.24% Popular vote 11,214 10,416 9,560 Percentage 34.66% 32.19% 29.54% Swing 11.24% 11.42% 5.31%
MPP before election Merrilee Fullerton Progressive Conservative Elected MPP Karen McCrimmon Liberal

The election was held on the same day as another in Scarborough—Guildwood.^[2]

Background

Kanata—Carleton is a riding on the outskirts of Ottawa containing both suburban and rural voters.^[3] It roughly contains the former city of Kanata and the former Township of West Carleton. Ridings containing Kanata and West Carleton have voted Conservative in every provincial election since 1871 except in 1919. However, the federal Liberals have represented the riding, which shares the same boundaries since its creation in 2015.

Candidates

Six candidates filed for the election.^[4]

• Jennifer Boudreau, New Blue Party of Ontario
• Melissa Coenraad, Ontario New Democratic Party. Medical lab technician, ran in this riding in 2022.
• Karen McCrimmon, Ontario Liberal Party. Former Member of Parliament for Kanata—Carleton from 2015 to 2021.
• Josh Rachlis, Independent
• Steven Warren, Green Party of Ontario. Political science and criminology student at the University of Ottawa.
• Sean Webster, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Former executive at Canopy Growth.^[5]

Campaign

An all-candidates debate was held on July 13. PC candidate Sean Webster was criticized for not participating. The Webster campaign indicated that he decided to spend the time canvassing instead. Tory candidates not showing up for all-candidate debates was a common occurrence during the 2022 Ontario general election.^[6]

Issues in the race include health care, housing and the proposed development on the site of the Kanata Golf and Country Club.^[6]

Results

Ontario provincial by-election, 27 July 2023: Kanata—Carleton
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Karen McCrimmon	11,214	34.53	+11.11
	Progressive Conservative	Sean Webster	10,416	32.07	-11.54
	New Democratic	Melissa Coenraad	9,560	29.43	+5.19
	New Blue	Jennifer Boudreau	636	1.96	-0.42
	Green	Steven Warren	442	1.36	-4.13
	Independent	Josh Rachlis	90	0.28
Total valid votes			32,358
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots				121
Turnout				35.14	-16.24
Eligible voters			91,666
	Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative		Swing		+11.10