Photo: Rub-a-dub Hedgehog · CC0Fewer of West Lorne voted in 2022 than in most of Ontario: 12%, behind 96% of municipalities
West Lorne has no council of its own: it belongs to West Elgin, a municipality. Voters in West Elgin chose Duncan McPhail as mayor in October 2022, for a 5-seat council. Ontario held new municipal elections on 26 October 2026; until the province publishes them, the open record stops at the council elected in 2022. For federal votes, West Lorne belongs to Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP); Andrew Lawton (Conservative Party of Canada) holds it. West Lorne is in Elgin—Middlesex—London 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.
What stands out in how West Lorne is governed
Turnout below the norm
The 2022 vote for West Elgin council drew fewer electors than Ontario’s median of 35%. How West Lorne voted ↓
High spending per resident
Per resident, West Elgin council’s 2024 spending tops 72% of Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities. Council money ↓
Compared with the province’s municipalities of 1,000+ residents (2021 Census; MAMH, MMAH and Statistics Canada).
Three governments, and who does what
West Lorne, a municipality 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 public health and paramedics (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.
Elgin County is the upper tier over West Elgin, a lower-tier municipality.
From the council table to Ottawa
Every elected tier that speaks for West Lorne, from the most recent elections.
- 1West Elgin councilelected October 2022Duncan McPhail
- 2Legislative Assembly of OntarioElgin—Middlesex—London
- 3House of CommonsElgin—St. Thomas—London South
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 Elgin council in 2022
Everyone elected in 2022, with their votes; Ontario’s file gives each seat’s votes but not the ward’s name.
- Duncan McPhail
- Richard Leatham
- Taraesa Tellier
- William Denning
- Michelle Navakas
5 members and how they were elected
| Name | Seat | Votes | Share of the seat’s votes | On the last council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan McPhail | Mayor | – | acclaimed | Yes |
| Richard Leatham | Deputy Mayor | – | acclaimed | Yes |
| Taraesa Tellier | Councillor | 238 | 69% | Yes |
| William Denning | Councillor | – | acclaimed | No |
| Michelle Navakas | Councillor | – | acclaimed | No |
Each ward chooses its own councillors on West Elgin council, while the whole municipality votes for the mayor. With no rival, Duncan McPhail took the mayor’s chair by acclamation.
Councils: Ontario 2022 Municipal Election data, MMAH (OGL-Ontario)
West Lorne voted less than most of Ontario in 2022
Turnout in the October 2022 municipal elections, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is Ontario’s median.
Turnout for West Elgin council on 24 October 2022 was 12% of electors, lower than the Ontario norm. West Lorne has few close neighbours with figures, so the list reaches 14–37 km out.
How West Lorne voted: same source as Councillors, above.
When West Lorne votes
The last and next general elections at each level; a by-election can come in between.
| Election | Last | Next |
|---|---|---|
| West Elgin council | 26 October 2026 | 28 October 2030 |
| Legislative Assembly of Ontario | 27 February 2025 | – |
| House of Commons | 28 April 2025 | – |
Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, West Elgin’s next municipal vote is on 28 October 2030, the fourth Monday in October every four years. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario was last elected on 27 February 2025, and the House of Commons on 28 April 2025. There are no 2025 counts here: Elections Canada’s terms bar their commercial reuse, so 2021 is the latest open result.
Election dates: the legislatures, MMAH and MAMH
West Lorne votes in Elgin—Middlesex—London 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 ↗West Lorne is in Elgin—Middlesex—London, one of the ridings that each elect a MPP to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. By law (the Representation Act, 2015), southern Ontario’s provincial ridings follow the 2013 federal boundaries, so each place is located from those.
Southern Ontario ridings: the 2013 federal boundaries (Representation Act, 2015), Statistics Canada
Andrew Lawton represents Elgin—St. Thomas—London South in Ottawa
Each riding elects one MP to the House of Commons; the general election of 28 April 2025 chose the 45th Parliament.
Elgin—St. Thomas—London South · Conservative Party of Canada
en.wikipedia.org ↗- Liberal Party of Canada71
- Conservative Party of Canada50
As Wikidata records them.
The Conservative Party of Canada, Andrew Lawton’s party, takes 50 of the 122 seats from Ontario; the Liberal Party of Canada takes 71.
The MP’s record
The 2025 general election sent Andrew Lawton to the Commons for the first time. Elections Canada’s transposition of the 2021 vote onto today’s Elgin—St. Thomas—London South puts the Conservative Party of Canada first at 49%; Andrew Lawton held it for the party in 2025.
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
In 2021, Elgin—Middlesex—London re-elected Karen Vecchio of the Conservative Party of Canada
Under the 2013 boundaries of the 2019 and 2021 elections, West Lorne sat in Elgin—Middlesex—London; the 2025 election put it in Elgin—St. Thomas—London South.
The 2021 count in Elgin—Middlesex—London put Karen Vecchio (Conservative Party of Canada) first at 50%, with Afeez Ajibowu (Liberal Party of Canada) 19,146 votes back. The 2019 result had favoured Karen Vecchio as well, at 50%. Turnout in Elgin—Middlesex—London reached 65% in 2021, against 63% nationally.
All 6 candidates in Elgin—Middlesex—London, 2021
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Vecchio | Conservative Party of Canada | 31,472 | 49.9% |
| Afeez Ajibowu | Liberal Party of Canada | 12,326 | 19.6% |
| Katelyn Cody | New Democratic Party | 10,086 | 16.0% |
| Chelsea Hillier | People's Party of Canada | 7,429 | 11.8% |
| Amanda Stark | Green Party of Canada | 1,417 | 2.3% |
| Michael Hopkins | Christian Heritage Party of Canada | 328 | 0.5% |
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 Elgin council spends more 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.
Water, sewers and waste takes the biggest share, 32%, or $764 per resident. It employs the equivalent of 18 full-time positions, or 3.6 for each thousand people. Elgin County, the upper tier, spent another $1,748 per resident of its whole area, most of it on social services and child care. In 2024 the median among Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities was $1,901 a resident; West Elgin council spent $2,355. Long-term debt at West Elgin council stood at $234K, or $46 a resident, below the $440 median. At 32%, property taxes count for less of the revenue than the 42% seen across the province.
Spending per resident nearby
Every service line, 2024
| Service | 2024 | Per resident | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water, sewers and waste | $3.9M | $764 | 32% |
| Roads and transit | $2.8M | $557 | 24% |
| Police, fire and protection | $1.9M | $370 | 16% |
| General government | $1.5M | $296 | 13% |
| Recreation and culture | $1.5M | $293 | 12% |
| Planning and development | $382K | $76 | 3% |
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 1,110 residents
Residents (2021 Census) per council seat, head of council included, beside nearby municipalities; the tick is the provincial median.
West Elgin council has one seat for every 1,110 residents, fewer than in 60% of Ontario municipalities.
Residents: 2021 Census; seats: the province’s council list
Having a say in how West Lorne 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. 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. The 2021 Census population is shared over all council seats, including the head of council’s, for this ratio.
- 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.
- Which riding. Ridings are assigned from the 2021 Census: the one with most residents first, then any holding 5% or more.
- Who holds each seat. Who holds each seat is read from Wikidata, so a very recent change in the Commons may not appear yet.
- Not on this page. No party tally for the council, which the open lists don’t record, and no band councils.
Questions about how West Lorne is run
Who is the MP for West Lorne?
West Lorne is in Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, represented by Andrew Lawton (Conservative Party of Canada).
Which party won West Lorne in the 2021 federal election?
In 2021 it was Karen Vecchio (Conservative Party of Canada), in Elgin—Middlesex—London; Elgin—St. Thomas—London South has elected Andrew Lawton since.
Who is the MPP for West Lorne?
The riding for West Lorne is Elgin—Middlesex—London, and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario lists the MPP who holds it.
Who heads the council in West Lorne?
For the 2022–26 term, West Elgin council was led by Duncan McPhail, elected mayor in October 2022.
How much does West Elgin council spend?
In 2024, West Elgin council spent $11.9M in all, for some 5,060 residents, of which $3.9M went on water, sewers and waste, the biggest line.
Which regional body is West Elgin part of?
West Elgin is part of Elgin County, whose council, drawn from its municipalities’ councils, runs county-wide services.
How is West Elgin council elected?
West Elgin council: the mayor is chosen by the whole municipality, the councillors ward by ward.
What was the turnout in West Lorne?
Turnout for West Elgin council reached 11.8% in October 2022 (Ontario median: 35.5%).
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).