Profile 12: Nepean—Carleton

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

Riding: Nepean—Carleton
Map: http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/maps/P35052.pdf
More info on your riding

Riding 35052, Nepean—Carleton, contains part of the new amalgamated city of Ottawa. The riding includes the former city of Nepean, former Rideau township and former Osgoode township.

Major sources of employment include the federal government, retail trade and the service sector. Average family income is $94,830 and unemployment is 4.3 per cent. More than six per cent of the population are francophone.

Population: 109,291

In 2004, Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre defeated Liberal David Pratt, who had served two terms. Paul Martin named Pratt minister of national defence in 2003.

Liberal Beryl Gaffney won in Nepean in 1988 and 1993.

The former Grenville-Carleton riding voted Tory from 1925 to 1965. Progressive Conservative Walter Baker was elected four times in Grenville-Carleton and Nepean-Carleton, serving from 1972 until his death in November 1983. He was appointed president of the Privy Council and minister of national revenue in 1979 under Joe Clark.

(writeup above primarily from cbc.ca)

2006 Candidates:
Lori Gadzala (Green Party of Canada)
Michael Gaffney (Liberal Party of Canada)
Laurel Gibbons (New Democratic Party)
Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Party of Canada) (incumbent)

Recent Election Results:

	LIB	CPC	PC	CA	REF	NDP	OTHER
2004	40.1%	45.7%				9.1%	5.2%
2000	41.2%		16.0%	37.4%		3.7%	1.7%
1997	48.8%		19.0%		26.4%	4.8%	1.0%

Prior to 1997, the area's MP was: Liberal (1988-2004), and PC (1925-1988 except for 1968-1972).

The conservative history of the area is clear. It is getting slightly more urban, which will show in the elections of 2027 or so, but for now the anger against the Liberals combined with the rural conservative sentiment pretty clearly tells us where this one is going.

www.electionprediction.org says: Conservatve, not even close.

In this riding, the NDP typically runs third, but since the Liberals have no chance, voting NDP is not taking a risk, if that's the party you prefer.

Hot Issue: Equal Marriage. The incumbent is not supportive, receiving an F from Egale Canada.


( 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.

Profile 13: Westmount—Ville-Marie

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

Riding: Westmount—Ville-Marie
Map: http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/maps/P24075.pdf
More info on your riding

Riding 24075, Westmount—Ville-Marie, is an affluent central Montreal riding. The average family income in this riding is among the highest in Canada at $110,968, and the unemployment rate is 8.9 per cent.

According to the 2001 census, 37 per cent have English as a first language, while only 29 per cent have French — the third lowest in Quebec. More than 29 per cent have a first language other than English or French and there are significant Chinese and Italian communities. The total immigrant population is more than 32 per cent. More than 40 per cent of the population have university degrees, the highest rate of any riding in Canada.

Population: 97,226

In 2004, Liberal Lucienne Robillard won a third term in Westmount-Ville Marie with 56 per cent of the vote. She was first elected in a 1995 byelection in St-Henri-Westmount. She was appointed minister of labour in 1995, and minister of citizenship and immigration in 1996. She became president of the Treasury Board and minister responsible for infrastructure in 1999, portfolios she held until 2003. In 2003, Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed her minister of industry and minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency for the regions of Quebec. He appointed her minister of intergovernmental affairs in 2004, and minister of human resources and skills development in 2005.

The former St-Henri riding was Liberal from 1925 to 1974. Westmount was Liberal from 1940 to 1974, except for a PC win in 1958. In the newly configured St-Henri-Westmount, Liberal Don Johnston, incumbent from Westmount, won in 1979, 1980 and 1984. He was appointed president of the Treasury Board in 1980, minister for economic development, minister of state for science and technology in 1983, minister of justice and attorney general in 1984. He left the Liberal caucus in 1988 to sit as an Independent. Liberal David Berger won in 1988 and 1993 but resigned in 1994 and later was appointed Canadian ambassador to Israel.

(writeup above primarily from cbc.ca)

2006 Candidates:
Sophie Fréchette (Bloc Québécois)
Serge Lachapelle (Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada)
Louise O'Sullivan (Conservative Party of Canada)
Lucienne Robillard (Liberal Party of Canada) (incumbent)
Julie Sabourin (Green Party of Canada)
Bill Sloan (Communist Party of Canada)
Eric Wilson Steedman (New Democratic Party)

Recent Election Results:

	BQ	LIB	CPC	PC	CA	REF	NDP	OTHER
2004	14.8%	55.8%	10.1%				12.0%	7.3%
2000	10.7%	60.2%		12.0%	4.4%		5.2%	7.5%
1997	11.3%	60.1%		17.4%			5.7%	5.6%

Prior to 1997, the area's MP was: Liberal since 1925. Seriously. Well, except for the 1958 election. But that's a good winning streak.

This riding has the distinction of being the last in Québec, alphabetically. I predict it will also have the distinction of being the very last seat held by the Liberals the day they lose the other 74 seats in Québec. Ridiculously safe seat. Surreal, really.

www.electionprediction.org says: Liberal, no question.

In this riding, the NDP typically is fourth. Vote for the party you want to have funding, because it ain't goin' anywhere, as they say.

Hot Issue: Equal Marriage. The incumbent is very supportive -- an A from Egale Canada.


( 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.

CAM=MIA

This is production week for the play I'm in, so I'm insanely busy, plus it's the last week of the election campaign. For those who are getting a little sick of nothing but politics: it's almost over.