Fort Garry (electoral district)

Fort Garry was a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1957, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1958. The riding is located in the south-central region of the City of Winnipeg. It was named for the historical Fort Garry which was occupied by supporters of Louis Riel during the Red River Rebellion of 1870.

Fort Garry was bordered on the east by Riel, to the south by St. Norbert, to the north by Lord Roberts, and to the west by Fort Whyte. It was a mostly middle-class residential area, with some small businesses. The University of Manitoba was located in the riding.

The riding's population in 1996 was 20,383. In 1999, the average family income was $50,720, and the unemployment rate was 6.40% (though, conversely, it may be noted that 26% of the riding's residents are listed as low-income). Over 16% of Fort Garry's residents were immigrants, with 5% listing German as their ethnic origin. Almost 23% of the riding's residents have a University degree.

The service sector accounted for 17% of Fort Garry's industry, with a further 12% in the retail trade and 12% in educational services.

Historically, Fort Garry was a safe seat for the Progressive Conservatives, who represented the riding from 1958 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 2003. In the provincial election of 1999, however, the NDP came within only 30 votes of winning the riding. They made it their primary target in the election of 2003, and won it for the first time in their history.

The last MLA was Kerri Irvin-Ross of the NDP, who was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election with 53% of the vote.

For the 2011 election Fort Garry was largely divided between the new ridings of Fort Garry-Riverview and Fort Richmond, with a portion going to St. Norbert. Fort Garry-Riverview is considered a safe seat for the NDP, while Fort Richmond and St. Norbert are considered to be more competitive.

List of provincial representatives

Name Party Took Office Left Office
Sterling Lyon PC 1958 1969
Bud Sherman PC 1969 1984
Charles Birt PC 1984 1988
Laurie Evans Lib 1988 1990
Rosemary Vodrey PC 1990 1999
Joy Smith PC 1999 2003
Kerri Irvin-Ross NDP 2003 2011

Electoral results

Manitoba general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticKerri Irvin-Ross 4,291 52.60% +5.62 $28,543.84
     Progressive Conservative Shaun McCaffrey 2,101 25.75% −20.05 $16,517.08
LiberalCraig Hildahl 1,500 18.39% +11.49 $14,094.14
GreenAlon Weinberg 266 3.26% +3.25 $55.55
Total valid votes 8,158 100.00
Rejected and declined votes 36
Turnout 8,194 66.06 +2.57
Electors on the lists 12,404

[1]

Manitoba general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticKerri Irvin-Ross 3,852 46.75 +3.29 $21,049.74
     Progressive Conservative Joy Smith 3,765 45.69 +1.93 $29,935.35
LiberalTaran Malik 562 6.82 −4.45 $13,984.00
     Independent Didz Zuzens 61 0.74 +0.74 $395.34
Total valid votes 8,240 99.34
Rejected and declined votes 55
Turnout 8,295 63.49 −11.60
Electors on the lists 13,066
Manitoba general election, 1999
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Joy Smith 4,436 43.76 $28,543.84
New DemocraticLawrie Cherniack 4,406 43.46 $29,325.00
LiberalTed Gilson 1,143 11.27 – $9,808.98
     Manitoba Party Denise Van Rooyen 116 1.14 $1,032.59
Total valid votes 10,101 99.64
Rejected and declined votes 37
Turnout 10,138 75.09
Electors on the lists 13,502

References

  1. ↑ http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_fort-garry_summary_results.html

Coordinates: 49°49′48″N 97°09′25″W / 49.830°N 97.157°W / 49.830; -97.157

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