Summary: A riding that has seen extensive boundary changes, South Okanagan-West Kootenay will elect a rookie MP in 2015.
Boundaries: A sprawling seat in southern B.C., the riding includes all areas from Osoyoos to Castlegar along the Crowsnest Highway. It also includes Oliver and Penticton to the north along Highway 97, and the Kootenay towns of Nakusp, Slocan and New Denver. Most of this riding was previously a part of British Columbia Southern Interior, while the Penticton area was formerly represented by Okanagan-Coquihalla.
Last Election: In British Columbia Southern Interior, NDP MP Alex Atamanenko won this riding for a third-term, defeating Conservative candidate Stephen Hill by 12 per cent.
However, had this riding had these new boundaries in the last election, the Conservatives would have taken it by 5.4 per cent more votes than the NDP (based on polling results), owing mostly to their strong results in Penticton.
History: South Okanagan has reliably elected right-wing candidates, while West Kootenay has tended to be a swing area.
Demographics: The median age is 50.2, third highest in the province.
Candidates
Conservative: Marshall Neufeld, former assistant to former MP Stockwell Day
NDP: Richard Cannings, biologist and provincial candidate in Penticton in the 2011 election
Liberal: Connie Denesiuk, businesswoman and past president of the BC School Trustees Association
Green: Samantha Troy, shop steward at Red Mountain Ski Resort
Independent: Brian Gray
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