Turtle Mountain (electoral district)

The 1998-2011 boundaries for Turtle Mountain highlighted in red

Turtle Mountain was a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's boundaries in 1881, eliminated by redistribution in 1968, and re-established in 1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the provincial election of 1981. It was dissolved for the 2011 election.

Turtle Mountain was located in the southwestern region of the province. It was bounded to the north by Ste. Rose, to the west by Minnedosa and Arthur-Virden, to the east by Pembina, Carman and Portage La Prairie, and south to the American state of North Dakota.

The riding was primarily rural. Communities in the riding included Killarney, Carberry, Glenboro, Pilot Mound and MacGregor.

The riding's population in 1996 was 18,569. In 1999, the average family income was $43,265, and the unemployment rate was 3.50%. Agriculture accounted for 37% of all industry in the riding, followed by health and social service work at 9%. Thirteen per cent of the riding's residents werre German.

Turtle Mountain has been represented by the Progressive Conservative Party for most of its history, and was considered safe for that party. The last MLA was Cliff Cullen, who was elected in a 2004 by-election.

Following the 2008 electoral redistribution, the riding was dissolved into the new ridings of Agassiz, Midland, and Spruce Woods. This change took effect for the 2011 election.

List of provincial representatives

Name Party Took Office Left Office
J.P. Alexander Cons 1881 1883
Finlay Young Lib 1883 1888
John Hettle Lib 1888 1897
James Johnson Independent Conservative 1897 1903
Cons 1903 1915
George William McDonald Lib 1915 1922
Richard Willis Cons 1922 1929
Alexander Welch Cons/PC 1929 1945
Errick Willis PC 1945 1959
Edward Dow Lib-Prog 1959 1961
Lib 1961 1962
Peter J. McDonald PC 1962 1966
Edward Dow Lib 1966 1969
Brian Ransom PC 1981 1986
Denis Rocan PC 1986 1990
Bob Rose PC 1990 1995
Merv Tweed PC 1995 2004
Cliff Cullen PC 2004 present

Electoral results

Manitoba general election, 2007: Turtle Mountain
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Cliff Cullen 4,318 65.67 +2.66 $15,425.52
     New Democrats Faron Douglas 1,476 22.45 +3.65 $3,785.64
LiberalAllen Hunter 739 11.24 -7.56 $3,458.77
Total valid votes 6,533 99.36
Rejected ballots 42
Turnout 6,575 54.39 +7.29
Registered voters 12,089

[1]

Manitoba provincial by-election, July 2, 2004: Turtle Mountain
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Cliff Cullen 3,632 63.01 $11,273.31
LiberalBev Leadbeter 1,084 18.81 $2,256.63
     New Democrats Betty Storie 1,048 18.18 $12,037.72
Total valid votes 5,764 100.00
Rejected ballots 12
Turnout 5,778 47.10
Registered voters 12,267

June, 2003:[2]

Manitoba general election, 1999: Turtle Mountain
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Mervin Tweed 4,037 55.79 $22,666.64
     New Democrats Janet Brady 1,902 26.29 $3,995.00
LiberalLorne Hanks 1,247 17.23 $3,988.93
Total valid votes 7,186 100.00
Rejected ballots 50
Turnout 7,236 58.81
Registered voters 12,305

[3]

References

Coordinates: 49°26′20″N 99°21′36″W / 49.439°N 99.360°W