91Ô­´´

Riding description

The B.C. Liberals have controlled this riding for 22 years, but it’s now very much up for grabs with the retirement of long-serving MLA Murray Coell.

Liberal candidate Stephen P. Roberts, a former bank executive, is hoping to fill Coell’s shoes but lacks his public profile.

The NDP’s Gary Holman, an economist and former Capital Regional District director for Saltspring Island, only lost by 245 votes in 2009.

Former Central Saanich councillor Adam Olsen is running for the B.C. Greens and has name recognition in the community and among First Nations groups — he was raised on the Tsartlip First Nation in Brentwood Bay.

The riding encompasses parts of the federal riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, which was won by Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May. Olsen worked on May’s campaign.

Candidates

B.C. NDP: Gary Holman




• Age: 64
• Occupation: Economist
• Previous elected experience: Two term Capital Regional District (CRD) Director for Salt Spring
• Community involvement: SSI Islands Trust Advisory Planning Commission Chair, Salt Spring Island Conservancy (SSIC) and the Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) director. Co-founder of South and West Salt Spring Conservation Partnership, Director of the Gulf Islands Alliance, President Salt Spring Abbeyfield Housing Society. Spearheaded Salt Spring’s first public transit system, established in 2007.
• Top three issues: Community economic development (BC Ferries, transit, affordable housing, tourism), Seniors' / rural health care, First Nations relationships

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

B.C. LIBERALS: Stephen Roberts




• Age: 48
• Occupation: Retired (Investment Research COO)
• Previous elected experience: None
• Community involvement: On the board and fund raising committee of 91Ô­´´ Hospice Society. Support organizations such as the Saltspring Island Agricultural Alliance and the Abattoir project, as well as the Salvation Army. Member of the Saltspring Conservancy and Saltspring Forum.
• Top three issues: Economic Delopment. Healthcare Services. The Environment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GREEN PARTY OF B.C.: Adam Olsen




• Age: 37
• Occupation: Politician, First Nations Housing Consultant, Small business owner.
• Previous elected experience: Central Saanich Councillor (November 2008 – January 2013)
• Community involvement: I’m a former Central Saanich Councillor. I chaired the Planning & Development Committee and sat on the Greater Victoria Regional Library Board, Saanich Peninsula Water & Wastewater Commission, Regional Housing Trust Fund and Peninsula Agricultural Commission. I work in First Nations housing and I ‘m a small business owner.
• Top three issues: Good governance, Sustainable local economies, BC Ferries – fares, routes and schedules

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

INDEPENDENT: Scott McEachern

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2009 election results

1. Murray Coell (Liberal) - 13,136 votes, 44.93 per cent of vote
2. Gary Holman (NDP) - 12,878 votes, 44.05 per cent of vote
3. Tom Bradfield (Green) - 3,223 votes, 11.02 per cent of vote

2005 election results

1. Murray Coell (Liberal) - 13,781 votes, 43.66 per cent of vote
2. Christine Hunt (NDP) - 11,842 votes, 37.52 per cent of vote
3. Ken Rouleau (Green) - 4,846 votes, 15.35 per cent of vote
4. Ian Bruce (independent) - 1,092 votes, 3.47 per cent of vote

2001 election results

1. Murray Coell (Liberal) - 15,406 votes, 54.29 per cent of vote
2. Paul Sam (NDP) - 5,011 votes, 17.66 per cent of vote
3. Andrew Lewis (Green) - 7,211 votes, 25.41 per cent of vote
4. Christina Racki (independent) - 491, 1.73 per cent of vote
5. Balther Jensen (independent) - 257 votes, 0.91 per cent of vote

Riding statistics

• Population (2011): 56,270
• Median age: 53.1 (B.C. average 41.9)
• Percentage of people younger than 15: 11.9% (B.C. average 14.6%)
• Seniors in private households: 14,305, or 25.4% of population (B.C. average 14.6%)
• Residents whose mother tongue is an unofficial language: 8% (B.C. average 26.2%)
• Top unofficial languages:  German (1,000), Dutch (585), Philipino/Filipino (250)
• Average household income, before tax (2006): $71,774 (B.C. average $67,675)
(Source: Statistics Canada)

If you are aware of errors or omissions in this article, please email the editor.

>> Back to