Photo: Eric Marshall · CC BY 3.0Niagara West turned out at 72% in 2021, higher than 97% of Canada’s ridings
For local government, Smithville falls under West Lincoln, a township. Cheryl Ganann was elected mayor of West Lincoln in October 2022, on a council of 7 seats. Ontario’s councils were renewed on 26 October 2026, but the only open list so far is 2022’s, so that is the term shown. The riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP) covering Smithville is Niagara West, and Dean Allison (Conservative Party of Canada) represents it in the House of Commons. Provincially, Smithville votes in Niagara West; the open record doesn’t name its MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament, at Queen’s Park in Toronto) in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, so the legislature’s own list is linked below.
What stands out in how Smithville is governed
Many residents per seat
West Lincoln council spreads its seats over a big population; the typical municipality in Ontario has one seat per 1,540 residents. Council size ↓
Turnout above the norm
In Ontario’s 2022 municipal elections, the middle municipality saw 35% of electors vote; West Lincoln council did better. How Smithville voted ↓
Low spending per resident
Most of Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities spent more per resident in 2024 than West Lincoln council: 85% of them. Council money ↓
High federal turnout
In 2021, Niagara West voted in greater numbers than 97% 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
Smithville, a township in Ontario, shares the work with the province and Ottawa.
Local services, by-laws and property tax.
Spends most on social services and child care, then police, fire and protection (2024 return).
Schools, health care, highways, municipal law.
ola.org ↗Passports, pensions, EI, defence, immigration.
ourcommons.ca ↗Who to ask
Green: municipal. Gold: provincial. Grey: federal.
Niagara Region is the upper tier over West Lincoln, a lower-tier municipality.
From the council table to Ottawa
Every elected tier that speaks for Smithville, from the most recent elections.
- 1West Lincoln councilelected October 2022Cheryl Ganann
- 2Legislative Assembly of OntarioNiagara West
- 3House of CommonsNiagara West
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 West Lincoln council in 2022
Everyone elected in 2022, with their votes; Ontario’s file gives each seat’s votes but not the ward’s name.
- Cheryl Ganann
- Shelley Ann Bradaric
- Mike Rehner
- William Reilly
- Jason Trombetta
- Joann Chechalk
- Terry Bell
7 members and how they were elected
| Name | Seat | Votes | Share of the seat’s votes | On the last council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheryl Ganann | Mayor | 3,768 | 68% | Yes |
| Shelley Ann Bradaric | Councillor | 576 | 44% | Yes |
| Mike Rehner | Councillor | 680 | 47% | Yes |
| William Reilly | Councillor | 1,938 | 72% | Yes |
| Jason Trombetta | Councillor | 1,023 | 71% | Yes |
| Joann Chechalk | Councillor | 709 | 54% | No |
| Terry Bell | Councillor | 1,671 | 62% | No |
Cheryl Ganann won 68% of the votes cast for mayor. Councillors on West Lincoln council are elected by ward, the mayor by the whole municipality.
Councils: Ontario 2022 Municipal Election data, MMAH (OGL-Ontario)
Smithville voted more than most of Ontario in 2022
Turnout in the October 2022 municipal elections, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is Ontario’s median.
West Lincoln council was elected on 24 October 2022 with 44% of electors voting, above the provincial middle.
How Smithville voted: same source as Councillors, above.
When Smithville votes
The last and next general elections at each level; a by-election can come in between.
| Election | Last | Next |
|---|---|---|
| West Lincoln council | 26 October 2026 | 28 October 2030 |
| Legislative Assembly of Ontario | 27 February 2025 | – |
| House of Commons | 28 April 2025 | – |
Voters last chose the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on 27 February 2025 and the House of Commons on 28 April 2025. The next council election in West Lincoln falls on 28 October 2030, the fourth Monday in October every four years under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The latest vote shown is 2021: the 2025 counts carry Elections Canada’s non-commercial terms.
Election dates: the legislatures, MMAH and MAMH
Smithville votes in Niagara West 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 ↗The riding comes from the 2013 federal map, which southern Ontario’s provincial ridings match under the Representation Act, 2015. Niagara West takes in Smithville and elects its MPP to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Southern Ontario ridings: the 2013 federal boundaries (Representation Act, 2015), Statistics Canada
Dean Allison represents Niagara West in Ottawa
Each riding elects one MP to the House of Commons; the general election of 28 April 2025 chose the 45th Parliament.
Niagara West · Conservative Party of Canada · first elected 2004
en.wikipedia.org ↗- Liberal Party of Canada71
- Conservative Party of Canada50
As Wikidata records them.
The Liberal Party of Canada leads Ontario with 71 of 122 seats; Dean Allison is among the 50 from the Conservative Party of Canada.
The MP’s record
Had the 2021 ballots been cast in today’s Niagara West, the Conservative Party of Canada would have led with 44%; Dean Allison held it for them in 2025. The current Parliament is Dean Allison’s 8th, counting from a first win in 2004. In Ottawa, Dean Allison has been Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (2006–2010).
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
Dean Allison kept Niagara West for the Conservative Party of Canada in 2021
Results in Niagara West as drawn in 2013, the boundaries of the 2019 and 2021 elections; the riding was redrawn for 2025.
Niagara West elected Dean Allison (Conservative Party of Canada) in 2021: 46% of the vote, a lead of 8,391 over Ian Bingham (Liberal Party of Canada). Back in 2019, Dean Allison took the riding on 45%.
All 6 candidates in Niagara West, 2021
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Allison | Conservative Party of Canada | 25,206 | 45.6% |
| Ian Bingham | Liberal Party of Canada | 16,815 | 30.4% |
| Nameer Rahman | New Democratic Party | 7,064 | 12.8% |
| Shaunalee Derkson | People's Party of Canada | 3,933 | 7.1% |
| Joanna Kocsis | Green Party of Canada | 1,602 | 2.9% |
| Harold Jonker | Christian Heritage Party of Canada | 657 | 1.2% |
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
West Lincoln 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 lower-tier municipalities.
Spending per resident by service, 2024
What pays for it
Shares of revenue, town and province.
The return counts 67 full-time positions, 4.3 for every thousand residents. No service costs more than roads and transit, at $335 per resident and 25% of the total. Each resident’s share of West Lincoln council’s 2024 spending came to $1,347, where the middle of Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities sat at $1,901. The upper tier, Niagara Region, adds $2,474 per resident of its own, mostly for social services and child care. West Lincoln council’s borrowing is on the heavy side: $21.1M long term, $1,366 a resident where the median is $440. Local taxpayers carry a bigger share than elsewhere: 50% of revenue, where the province’s returns show 42%.
Spending per resident nearby
Every service line, 2024
| Service | 2024 | Per resident | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roads and transit | $5.2M | $335 | 25% |
| Water, sewers and waste | $4.9M | $319 | 24% |
| Recreation and culture | $4.1M | $268 | 20% |
| General government | $3.2M | $207 | 15% |
| Police, fire and protection | $2.2M | $144 | 11% |
| Planning and development | $1M | $65 | 5% |
| Public health and paramedics | $130K | $8 | 1% |
Money: Financial Information Return 2024, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
One seat for every 2,370 residents
Residents (2021 Census) per council seat, head of council included, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is the provincial median.
West Lincoln council has one seat for every 2,370 residents, more than in 68% of Ontario municipalities.
Residents: 2021 Census; seats: the province’s council list
Having a say in how Smithville 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
- Council money. Per resident means the 2024 Financial Information Return’s totals over the population it reports. Since a county or region spends in its lower tiers too, those are compared only with each other.
- Council size. The council size includes the head of council; the population is the 2021 Census, the whole city’s for a neighbourhood.
- Which riding. Ridings are assigned from the 2021 Census: the one with most residents first, then any holding 5% or more.
- Election results. Official counts for 2019 and 2021 are by the 2013 ridings; Elections Canada also re-counted the 2021 ballots onto the 2023 ridings by polling division, and that estimate is what “today’s boundaries” means here.
- 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. The members named here are Wikidata’s, kept up by volunteers; a by-election or a floor crossing may take a few days to show.
Questions about how Smithville is run
Who is the MP for Smithville?
Dean Allison of the Conservative Party of Canada is the MP for Niagara West, which includes Smithville.
Which party won Smithville in the 2021 federal election?
The Conservative Party of Canada: Dean Allison won Niagara West in 2021 and still holds it.
Who is the MPP for Smithville?
Smithville votes in Niagara West; the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s members page gives its current MPP.
Who heads the council in Smithville?
For the 2022–26 term, West Lincoln council was led by Cheryl Ganann, elected mayor in October 2022.
How much does West Lincoln council spend?
West Lincoln council spent $20.8M in 2024 for about 15,454 residents; its largest service line was roads and transit, at $5.2M.
Which regional body is West Lincoln part of?
West Lincoln is part of Niagara Region, the upper tier, whose regional council runs services such as water and policing.
How is West Lincoln council elected?
By ward for councillors and at large for the mayor, on West Lincoln council.
What was the turnout in Smithville?
In October 2022, turnout for West Lincoln council was 44.1%, 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).