What Is a Riding?
A riding is the geographic area you live in that elects one Member of Parliament to represent it in the House of Commons. Every Canadian belongs to exactly one of 343 ridings — here is how they are defined, drawn, and what they actually decide.
343 Ridings, Up From 338
Canada currently has 343 federal ridings. That number grew from 338 after the 2022–23 electoral boundary redistribution, which added seats to reflect population growth and shifts recorded in the census. The new 343-riding map was first used in the 2025 general election. The number of ridings per province is set roughly in proportion to population, with constitutional minimums that guarantee smaller provinces a baseline number of seats regardless of population share.
Browse all 343 ridings
Every federal riding in Canada, grouped by province
See the interactive MP map
Every riding on a map, coloured by the party currently holding it
How Boundaries Are Drawn
Riding boundaries are not drawn by Parliament or by any political party. Every province has an independent boundary commission — typically chaired by a judge, with academic and public members — that redraws riding boundaries after each decennial census, roughly every ten years. Commissions hold public hearings where residents can weigh in on proposed boundaries before a final map is set in law.
This independence is deliberate: it keeps the people who benefit from riding boundaries — sitting MPs and parties — from being the ones who draw them.
Why Population Varies Between Ridings
Ridings are not perfectly equal in population. Commissions aim for rough parity within a province, but allow variance to account for geography — a vast, sparsely populated northern riding may have far fewer residents than a dense urban one, because representing a huge geographic area also takes real time and resources. This is a deliberate trade-off between representation by population and representation by community, not an oversight.
Riding, Constituency, Electoral District: Same Thing
You will see all three terms used interchangeably in Canadian politics and media. “Electoral district” is the formal legal term used in legislation. “Riding” is the everyday term most Canadians use. “Constituency” is common in more formal or historical contexts, and refers to the same geographic area and the same relationship between an MP and the people they represent.
What Your Riding Actually Determines
Your riding determines exactly one thing on your ballot: which single local candidate you can vote for. It does not appear anywhere on the ballot as a party leader or a national race — you are voting for a person to represent your specific riding. Whoever wins becomes your MP, the person responsible for casework on federal services in your area (passports, immigration, EI, veterans' benefits) and for representing your riding's interests in Ottawa.
Find your riding and your MP
Enter your postal code to see both instantly
How your vote actually works
You vote for one name in one riding. Everything else follows from that.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ridings are in Canada?
There are 343 federal ridings, up from 338 after the 2022–23 electoral boundary redistribution. The new 343-riding map was first used in the 2025 general election. Each riding elects exactly one Member of Parliament.
Who draws riding boundaries?
Independent, non-partisan boundary commissions — one per province — redraw riding boundaries after each decennial census, roughly every ten years. Commissions hold public hearings before finalizing new maps, and the process is designed to be separate from Parliament and party politics.
How do I find my riding?
Enter your postal code on MyMP.ca to see your riding and your MP instantly. You can also use the Elections Canada Voter Information Service at elections.ca, or browse all 343 ridings by province on MyMP.ca.