Calgary East

“¢ 2008 Election Results: Conservative Deepak Obhrai

“¢ Located in central Calgary with immigrants comprising more than 24% of the population, 16% German 6% Ukrainian, and slightly less than 6% Chinese

“¢ 25% spoke a language other than French or English with 4% speaking Vietnamese and 3.5% Chinese

“¢ Retail trade, construction, and manufacturing are major sources of employment

“¢ Transportation and storage industries are supported by the Trans-Canada Highway and Rail lines

“¢ Average family income: $70,783

“¢ Unemployment rate: 4.6%

“¢ Population: 110,479

“¢ Conservative Deepak Obhrai has held the riding for the past 5 consecutive terms representing the Reform in 1997, the Canadian Alliance in 2000, and the Conservatives since 2004

“¢ In 2008 Obhrai won the riding by 66% of the vote and in 2004 defeated Liberal James Maxim by 14,276 votes

Candidates:

Deepak Ohbrai – Conservative (Incumbent)

– Has been an MP since 1997

– Is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

– Former entrepreneur and public servant

– Has been an international election observer

Josipa Petrunic – Liberal

– Two-time Commonwealth Scholar in the United Kingdom

– Has a Masters degree in Political Philosophy at the London School of Economics

– Researches gender equality in the post-NATO era in Kosovo

– Also analyzes gender-disparities in Canadian government

Al Brown – NDP

– Worked for many years as a journeyman electrician

– He became an IBEW Local 424 member in 1972, and has been very active with the union ever since

– He is currently the Labour Relations Officer for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Academic Faculty Association

Scott Milton – Green Party

-Works in maintenance for the oil and gas industry

– Believes Canada must set an example in responsible development of our natural resources

– In 2010, previously undiagnosed epilepsy led to a near fatal accident

– Since then he’s contemplated what he wants to leave his legacy for his children