Summary: A sprawling riding containing many different parts of southern Vancouver Island, Cowichan-Malahat-Langford is one of many Island ridings that will elect a new MP in 2015.
The Liberal Party’s original candidate in this riding, Maria Manna, resigned over a Facebook post questioning the origins of the 9-11 attacks.
Boundaries: This riding includes all the communities in southern Vancouver Island along Highway 1 between Chemainus and Langford. It also includes Lake Cowichan and Colwood.
Last Election: This is a new seat created from Nanaimo-Cowichan (which elected NDP MP Jean Crowder by 10.6 per cent over the Conservatives in 2011) and Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca (which elected NDP MP Randall Garrison by 0.6 per cent in 2011). Neither of them is running here.
Had this riding existed in the last election, the NDP would have taken it by just 0.5 per cent more votes than the Conservatives (based on polling results), mainly due to the large number of Conservative voters in Langford.
History: With the exception of the 1993, 1997 and 2000 elections, any riding centred around the Cowichan Valley has generally voted for the NDP. Provincially, the region has generally elected NDP MLAs, but has elected right-wing candidates during strong election cycles.
Demographics: English was reported as the mother tongue for 90.1 per cent of residents here in 2011, the highest number in the province.
Candidates
Conservative: Martin Barker, chiropractor, former Duncan city councillor
NDP: Alistair MacGregor, constituency assistant for retiring MP Crowder
Liberal: Luke Krayenhoff, Associate at Quartech Systems Ltd.
Green: Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, former Chief of the Quatsino First Nation
Marxist-Leninist: Alastair Haythornthwaite