Photo: Tudor Costache / TheGiantVermin at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5Each seat on Simcoe’s council stands for 8,400 residents, more than in 89% of Ontario municipalities
Simcoe sends one MP to Ottawa from Haldimand—Norfolk, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP): Leslyn Lewis (Conservative Party of Canada). Simcoe is in Haldimand—Norfolk for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, whose current MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament, at Queen’s Park in Toronto) no open source we can use records yet. Simcoe has no council of its own: it belongs to Norfolk County, a city. Norfolk County’s council of 9 was elected in October 2022, with Amy Martin as mayor. Ontario held new municipal elections on 26 October 2026; until the province publishes them, the open record stops at the council elected in 2022.
What stands out in how Simcoe is governed
Many residents per seat
Across Ontario the median is one seat per 1,540 residents, well under the ratio on Norfolk County council. Council size ↓
High federal turnout
In 2021, Haldimand—Norfolk voted in greater numbers than 79% of the ridings. The 2021 turnout ↓
Compared with the province’s municipalities of 1,000+ residents (2021 Census; MAMH, MMAH and Statistics Canada).
Three governments, and who does what
Simcoe, a city in Ontario, shares the work with the province and Ottawa.
Local services, by-laws and property tax.
Schools, health care, highways, municipal law.
ola.org ↗Passports, pensions, EI, defence, immigration.
ourcommons.ca ↗Who to ask
Green: municipal. Gold: provincial. Grey: federal.
Norfolk County runs its own county-level services as a single-tier city; Haldimand-Norfolk appears only in the census.
From the council table to Ottawa
Every elected tier that speaks for Simcoe, from the most recent elections.
- 1Norfolk County councilelected October 2022Amy Martin
- 2Legislative Assembly of OntarioHaldimand—Norfolk
- 3House of CommonsHaldimand—Norfolk
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada
Who was elected to Norfolk County council in 2022
Everyone elected in 2022, with their votes; Ontario’s file gives each seat’s votes but not the ward’s name.
- Amy Martin
- Linda Vandendriessche
- Michael J. Columbus
- Kim Huffman
- Tom Masschaele
- Chris Van Paassen
- Alan Duthie
- Doug Brunton
- Adam Veri
9 members and how they were elected
| Name | Seat | Votes | Share of the seat’s votes | On the last council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Martin | Mayor | 8,199 | 42% | Yes |
| Linda Vandendriessche | Councillor | 1,346 | 81% | Yes |
| Michael J. Columbus | Councillor | 1,616 | 82% | Yes |
| Kim Huffman | Councillor | 1,073 | 45% | Yes |
| Tom Masschaele | Councillor | 1,310 | 65% | Yes |
| Chris Van Paassen | Councillor | 1,108 | 54% | Yes |
| Alan Duthie | Councillor | 2,375 | 29% | No |
| Doug Brunton | Councillor | 1,906 | 23% | No |
| Adam Veri | Councillor | 2,654 | 64% | No |
Each ward chooses its own councillors on Norfolk County council, while the whole municipality votes for the mayor. For mayor, Amy Martin drew 42% of the votes.
Councils: Ontario 2022 Municipal Election data, MMAH (OGL-Ontario)
Simcoe voted more than most of Ontario in 2022
Turnout in the October 2022 municipal elections, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is Ontario’s median.
On 24 October 2022, 36% of electors voted for Norfolk County council, a stronger showing than most of Ontario. Simcoe has few close neighbours with figures, so the list reaches 26–39 km out.
How Simcoe voted: same source as Councillors, above.
When Simcoe votes
The last and next general elections at each level; a by-election can come in between.
| Election | Last | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk County council | 26 October 2026 | 28 October 2030 |
| Legislative Assembly of Ontario | 27 February 2025 | – |
| House of Commons | 28 April 2025 | – |
Why not 2025? Elections Canada publishes those counts under non-commercial terms, and its open data stop at the 2021 election. 28 October 2030 is the next council election in Norfolk County, fixed by the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 for the fourth Monday in October every four years. Provincially the last general election was on 27 February 2025, for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; federally, on 28 April 2025.
Election dates: the legislatures, MMAH and MAMH
Simcoe votes in Haldimand—Norfolk for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Provinces and territories run schools, health care and municipal law; each riding elects one MPP.
MPP: see the legislature’s list
ola.org ↗Haldimand—Norfolk takes in Simcoe and elects its MPP to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The riding comes from the 2013 federal map, which southern Ontario’s provincial ridings match under the Representation Act, 2015.
Southern Ontario ridings: the 2013 federal boundaries (Representation Act, 2015), Statistics Canada
Leslyn Lewis represents Haldimand—Norfolk in Ottawa
Each riding elects one MP to the House of Commons; the general election of 28 April 2025 chose the 45th Parliament.
Haldimand—Norfolk · Conservative Party of Canada · first elected 2021
en.wikipedia.org ↗- Liberal Party of Canada71
- Conservative Party of Canada50
As Wikidata records them.
Leslyn Lewis is one of 50 Conservative Party of Canada MPs from Ontario, where the Liberal Party of Canada has the most seats: 71 of 122.
The MP’s record
Had the 2021 ballots been cast in today’s Haldimand—Norfolk, the Conservative Party of Canada would have led with 47%; Leslyn Lewis held it for them in 2025. Leslyn Lewis has sat in the Commons since 2021, now for the 2nd Parliament.
MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada · MPs’ records: Wikidata (CC0), positions held and party memberships, read 8 November 2026
The Conservative Party of Canada kept Haldimand—Norfolk in 2021 with Leslyn Lewis
Results in Haldimand—Norfolk as drawn in 2013, the boundaries of the 2019 and 2021 elections; the riding was redrawn for 2025.
Leslyn Lewis (Conservative Party of Canada) took Haldimand—Norfolk in 2021 with 47% of the vote, 12,440 votes ahead of Karen Matthews (Liberal Party of Canada). 47% had won it for Diane Finley (Conservative Party of Canada) in 2019.
All 6 candidates in Haldimand—Norfolk, 2021
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslyn Lewis | Conservative Party of Canada | 29,664 | 47.4% |
| Karen Matthews | Liberal Party of Canada | 17,224 | 27.5% |
| Meghan Piironen | New Democratic Party | 8,320 | 13.3% |
| Ken Gilpin | People's Party of Canada | 6,570 | 10.5% |
| Charles Lugosi | Christian Heritage Party of Canada | 559 | 0.9% |
| George McMorrow | Veterans Coalition Party of Canada | 255 | 0.4% |
Federal results: Elections Canada, 43rd and 44th general elections and the 44th’s transposition to the 2023 ridings, via open.canada.ca. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Norfolk County council spends less per resident than most
The 2024 financial return: spending by service and revenue by source, per resident, compared only with Ontario’s single-tier municipalities.
Spending per resident by service, 2024
What pays for it
Shares of revenue, town and province.
Social services and child care takes the biggest share, 26%, or $935 per resident. In 2024 the median among Ontario’s single-tier municipalities was $3,796 a resident; Norfolk County council spent $3,591. The return counts 693 full-time positions, 10.3 for every thousand residents. Long-term debt at Norfolk County council stood at $77.6M, or $1,150 a resident, above the $971 median. Taxes on property make up 45% of what comes in, more than the province-wide 37%.
Spending per resident nearby
Every service line, 2024
| Service | 2024 | Per resident | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social services and child care | $63.1M | $935 | 26% |
| Water, sewers and waste | $41.4M | $614 | 17% |
| Roads and transit | $40.8M | $605 | 17% |
| Police, fire and protection | $28.5M | $423 | 12% |
| Public health and paramedics | $24.4M | $361 | 10% |
| Recreation and culture | $19.2M | $285 | 8% |
| Social housing | $13.8M | $205 | 6% |
| General government | $5.7M | $84 | 2% |
| Planning and development | $5.3M | $79 | 2% |
Money: Financial Information Return 2024, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
Norfolk County council beside its neighbours
Residents (2021 Census) per council seat, head of council included, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is the provincial median.
Beside its neighbours, Norfolk County council is the bar in colour; the headline above has the comparison with the province.
Residents: 2021 Census; seats: the province’s council list
Having a say in how Simcoe is run
Check or update the federal list.
elections.ca ↗Every MP lists an office.
ourcommons.ca ↗Ridings, registration and voting dates.
elections.on.ca ↗What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which riding. A place belongs to the riding where most of its 2021 Census residents live, plus any other with 5% or more.
- Election results. The 2019 and 2021 figures are Elections Canada’s official counts on the ridings drawn in 2013; the “today’s boundaries” figures are its transposition of the 2021 vote onto the 2023 ridings, an estimate built from polling divisions.
- Not on this page. Party control (most Canadian councils sit without parties, and the open lists record none) and band councils.
- Who holds each seat. Each MP’s name and party are Wikidata’s statements for the 45th Parliament, read in November 2026.
- Council money. The 2024 Financial Information Return, totals after adjustments by service, per resident with the return’s own population. A lower tier’s figures leave out its county’s or region’s spending, so lower tiers are compared only with lower tiers.
- Council size. Seats count the head of council and the councillors, and residents are the 2021 Census count; a neighbourhood shows its city’s.
Questions about how Simcoe is run
Who is the MP for Simcoe?
Simcoe is in Haldimand—Norfolk, represented by Leslyn Lewis (Conservative Party of Canada).
Which party won Simcoe in the 2021 federal election?
The Conservative Party of Canada: Leslyn Lewis won Haldimand—Norfolk in 2021 and still holds it.
Who is the MPP for Simcoe?
The riding for Simcoe is Haldimand—Norfolk, and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario lists the MPP who holds it.
Who heads the council in Simcoe?
In October 2022, Amy Martin won the post of mayor for Norfolk County council’s 2022–26 term.
How much does Norfolk County council spend?
Norfolk County council spent $242.4M in 2024 for about 67,490 residents; its largest service line was social services and child care, at $63.1M.
How is Norfolk County council elected?
Norfolk County council: the mayor is chosen by the whole municipality, the councillors ward by ward.
What was the turnout in Simcoe?
In October 2022, turnout for Norfolk County council was 35.6%, against 35.5% for the typical Ontario municipality.
Sources: MPs: Wikidata (CC0), 45th Parliament statements, read 7 November 2026; ridings: 2023 Representation Order, Statistics Canada · Southern Ontario ridings: the 2013 federal boundaries (Representation Act, 2015), Statistics Canada · Councils: Ontario 2022 Municipal Election data, MMAH (OGL-Ontario) · Money: Financial Information Return 2024, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Next municipal election: the province’s municipal election act · Municipality types: Statistics Canada census subdivisions · Federal results: Elections Canada, 43rd and 44th general elections and the 44th’s transposition to the 2023 ridings, via open.canada.ca. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · MPs’ records: Wikidata (CC0), positions held and party memberships, read 8 November 2026. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).