Saanich—Gulf Islands

Saanich—Gulf Islands
British Columbia electoral district
Saanich—Gulf Islands based on other Vancouver Island federal electoral districts.
Federal electoral district
Legislature House of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Elizabeth May
Green
District created 1987
First contested 1988
Last contested 2011
District webpage profile, map
Demographics
Population (2006) 115,724
Electors (2011) 91,822
Area (km²) 504
Pop. density (per km²) 229.6
Census divisions Capital
Census subdivisions Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, North Saanich, Capital F, Capital G

Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. It is named for its geographical location across the Gulf Islands and Saanich Peninsula in the Vancouver Island region.

Contents

Demographics

More than 21 per cent of the residents are immigrants, and more than 19 per cent are older than 65, making this the riding with the third largest senior population in Canada. The riding has a median age of 48.3, making it the riding with the highest median age in Canada. [1] The average family income is $70,814; unemployment is 5.9 per cent.

Geography

The riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands consists of the north part of the Municipality of Saanich, as well as the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney on Vancouver Island. The district also includes a number of the southern Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring Island, the Pender Islands, Galiano Island, Mayne Island and Saturna Island. The district's southeastern border runs along the University of Victoria.

History

The electoral district was created in 1987 from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands ridings.

In the 2008 election, there were allegations of electoral fraud around Gary Lunn's campaign.[2]

Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following Members of Parliament:

Parliament Years Member Party
Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands prior to 1987
34th 1988–1993     Lynn Hunter New Democratic
35th 1993–1997     Jack Frazer Reform
36th 1997–2000     Gary Lunn Reform
2000     Canadian Alliance
37th 2000–2003
2003–2004     Conservative
38th 2004–2006
39th 2006–2008
40th 2008–2011
41st 2011–present     Elizabeth May Green

Political geography

Despite the usually close vote between the various parties, the Canadian Alliance, Reform and Conservative parties have consistently won here for the past decade. Since 1953, the riding and its predecessor, Esquimalt-Saanich, have only gone to a non-conservative candidate three times: 1968 to Liberal David Anderson, in 1988 to New Democrat Lynn Hunter, and in 2011 to Green party leader Elizabeth May. The 1988 Conservative loss is attributed to vote splitting between the Progressive Conservatives and the new Reform party.

Current Member of Parliament

Its Member of Parliament is Green Party leader Elizabeth May. She was elected in 2011 and is the first Green MP to be elected to the House of Commons. She defeated Conservative Incumbent and cabinet minister Gary Lunn.

Election results

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Green Elizabeth May 31,890 46.33 +35.88 $87,738
     Conservative Gary Lunn 24,544 35.66 -7.77 $89,604
     New Democrat Edith Loring-Kuhanga 8,185 11.89 +6.20 $66,273
     Liberal Renée Hetherington 4,208 6.11 -33.25 $50,002
Total valid votes/Expense limit 68,827 100.00 $293,617
Total rejected ballots 160
Turnout 68,987 75.25
Eligible voters 91,673
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Conservative Gary Lunn 27,988 43.43 +6.28 $89,575
     Liberal Briony Penn 25,367 39.36 +13.28 $82,692
     Green Andrew Lewis 6,742 10.45 +0.51 $31,223
     New Democrat Julian West 3,667 5.69 -20.85 $17,814
     Libertarian Dale P. Leier 246 0.38
     Western Block Party Patricia O'Brien 195 0.30 +0.03
     Canadian Action Jeremy Arney 139 0.18 $1,911
     Christian Heritage Dan Moreau 114 0.2 $19
Total valid votes/Expense limit 64,448 100.00 $91,825
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
     Conservative hold Swing -3.5

Julian West was selected as the New Democratic Party candidate for the 2008 election, but withdrew after the filing deadline following a scandal.[3] Because of the late withdrawal his name did appear on the ballot.

Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Conservative Gary Lunn 24,416 37.15 +2.58 $80,272
     New Democrat Jennifer Burgis 17,455 26.54 +4.96 $50,412
     Liberal Sheila Orr 17,144 26.08 -0.70 $79,489
     Green Andrew Lewis 6,533 9.94 -6.77 $19,061
     Western Block Party Patricia O'Brien 183 0.27 - $0
Total valid votes 65,721 100.00
Total rejected ballots 134 0.20
Turnout 65,855 73.2
     Conservative hold Swing -1.19
Canadian federal election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Conservative Gary Lunn 22,050 34.57 -18.86 $81,613
     Liberal David Mulroney 17,082 26.78 -5.51 $61,819
     New Democrat Jennifer Burgis 13,763 21.58 +13.56 $40,318
     Green Andrew Lewis 10,662 16.71 +11.20 $79,731
     Independent Mary Moreau 214 0.33 - $12
Total valid votes 63,771 100.00
Total rejected ballots 159 0.25
Turnout 63,930 73.97
     Conservative notional hold Swing -6.7

Conservative change is from a combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative votes.

Canadian federal election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Canadian Alliance Gary Lunn 25,392 43.15 +0.09 $61,497
     Liberal Karen Knott 19,002 32.29 +0.82 $63,669
     Progressive Conservative Don Page 6,049 10.28 +2.76 $10,385
     New Democrat Pat O'Neill 4,721 8.02 -6.31 $9,666
     Green Wally Du Temple 3,243 5.51 +2.77 $7,217
     Natural Law Kathleen Lapeyrouse 217 0.36 -0.07 $100
     Independent Dan Moreau 123 0.20 - -
     Communist Charley Stimac 88 0.14 - $189
Total valid votes 58,835 100.00
Total rejected ballots 165 0.28
Turnout 59,000 70.60
     Canadian Alliance hold Swing -0.4
Canadian federal election, 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Reform Gary Lunn 24,275 43.06 +5.91 $61,075
     Liberal Clark Roberts 17,742 31.47 +5.45 $59,743
     New Democrat Chuck Beyer 8,080 14.33 -4.53 $29,672
     Progressive Conservative Marilyn Loveless 4,243 7.52 -4.00 $23,349
     Green Julia Lerner 1,546 2.74 - $745
     Natural Law Andy Guest 248 0.43 -0.31 $321
     Canadian Action Valerie Rampone 234 0.41 - $4,335
Total valid votes 56,368 100.00
Total rejected ballots 181 0.32
Turnout 56,549 74.26
Canadian federal election, 1993
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Reform Jack Frazer 26,016 37.15 +24.67
     Liberal Alex Phillips 18,226 26.02 +8.40
     New Democrat Lynn Hunter 13,207 18.86 -16.54
     Progressive Conservative Marilyn Loveless 8,070 11.52 -21.94
     National Judith Rayburn 3,730 5.33
     Natural Law Andy Guest 521 0.74
     Independent C.R. Bob Ward 215 0.31
     Canada Party Arleigh Rolind 52 0.07
Total valid votes 70,037 100.00
Canadian federal election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
     New Democrat Lynn Hunter 23,168 35.40
     Progressive Conservative Patrick D. Crofton 21,900 33.46
     Liberal Kathryn Clout 11,534 17.62
     Reform Bob Slavick 8,165 12.48
     Not affiliated Patrick Kelly 216 0.33
     Libertarian William St. John Buckler 214 0.33
     Not affiliated Doug Christie 172 0.26
     Communist Ernie Knott 78 0.12
Total valid votes 65,447 100.00

See also

References

Sources

External links