Profile 5: Western Arctic

c9's Pretty Clearly Left-Leaning Riding Write-ups!

Riding: Western Arctic
Map: http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/maps/P61001.pdf
More info on your riding

Riding 61001, Western Arctic, is Canada's second-largest riding (I'm almost sure). The Western Arctic riding is formed from Canada's vast Northwest Territories, which stretch from the mountainous Yukon border to the Barrens abutting Nunavut, and from the bleak High Arctic to the forested 60th parallel.

According to the 2001 census, the population here is 37,360. At least one-third live in the capital and major service centre, Yellowknife. Other significant communities include the transport depot of Hay River, the oil-and-gas exploration hub of Inuvik and Fort Smith, where Wood Buffalo National Park is headquartered. About half of the N.W.T.'s population is aboriginal.

Economically, the N.W.T. is on fire. North of Yellowknife, two diamond mines produce more than $1 billion in precious gems annually, while to the west, communities are readying themselves to profit from the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline. Still, in isolated (and predominantly aboriginal) villages, jobs can be scarce and living conditions grim. Territory-wide, average family income is $75,102, according to the 2001 census. Unemployment was 9.5 per cent.

Since 1988, this seat has been held by Liberal Ethel Blondin-Andrew. Now the minister of state for northern development, Blondin-Andrew first attained office by unseating three-term Tory MP Dave Nickerson. Her victories were comfortable until 2004, when she defeated New Democrat Dennis Bevington by just 53 votes.

(writeup above primarily from cbc.ca)

2006 Candidates:
Alexandre Beaudin (Green Party of Canada)
Dennis Bevington (New Democratic Party)
Ethel Blondin-Andrew (Liberal Party of Canada) (incumbent)
Richard Edjericon (Conservative Party of Canada)
Jan H. van der Veen (Independent)

Recent Election Results:

	LIB	CPC	PC	CA	REF	NDP	OTHER
2004	39.4%	17.2%				39.1%	4.3%
2000	45.6%		10.0%	17.7%		26.7%
1997	41.6%		12.6%		14.7%	19.3%	11.7%

Prior to 1997, the area's MP was: Liberal (1988-present), PC (1979-1988),and NDP (1972-1979).

The NDP is running their strong candidate again, which makes sense as he lost by only 53 votes in 2004. He also ran in the 2000 election, so his experience becomes a factor in a game where the incumbent almost always has that upper hand. A sense that Blondin-Andrew has been there a long time, combined with a visit to the north by Jack Layton at Winter Solstice, tells me this riding is going to swing NDP again. The strong resource-based and rural aspect will turn this riding Tory down the road, as more money filters into the electorate, but for now it's ripe for a change. One wrinkle: the scare she got last time might make the incumbent work extra hard this time around -- might get a bounce and keep the riding. One other factor: there are two Dene (First Nation) candidates this time, for the Tories and the Liberals. The vote split on wanting a Dene MP might allow the non-Dene NDP candidate an opportunity to make up any vote loss too.

www.electionprediction.org says: Too close to call! The comments from people on the site make it clear this is an NDP-Liberal race. The Conservatives are NOT in the game at all.

In this riding, the Liberal typically wins. However, the Conservatives are very low here and are not a factor, so voting your heart in an NDP-Liberal choice is probably just fine.

Hot Issue: Equal Marriage. The incumbent is supportive, and has supported other GLBT equality legislation.


( Explanations and non-riding-specific information )

Disclaimer: Your vote is your choice. If you think I'm wrong go ahead and (a) comment about it, and (b) vote your heart. I can take it.

A political forward that was more amusing than the last one.

Dear Ann Landers,

I am a crack dealer in Toronto, Ontario who has recently been diagnosed as a carrier of the HIV virus.

My parents live in Sarnia and one of my sisters, who lives in Montreal, is married to a transvestite.

My father and mother have recently been arrested for growing and selling marijuana. They are financially dependent on my other two sisters, who are prostitutes in Windsor.

I have two brothers, one is currently serving a non-parole life sentence at Joyceville for the murder of a teenage boy in 1994. My other brother is currently in jail awaiting charges of sexual misconduct with his three children.

I have recently become engaged to marry a former prostitute who lives in Brampton. She is a part time "working girl".

All things considered, my problem is this: I love my fiancée very much and look forward to bringing her into the family. I certainly want to be totally open and honest with her.

Should I tell her about my cousin who is a Stephen Harper supporter?

Signed,
Worried About My Reputation