Summary: A Liberal riding for 32 years prior to the 2011 election, Winnipeg South Centre is a riding to watch this election.
Boundaries: This urban riding is bordered by the Assiniboine River to the north and the Red River to the east, the Assiniboine Forest to the south, and Fort Garry Industrial Park to the south.
Last Election: Conservative candidate Joyce Bateman, who is seeking re-election this year, defeated longtime Liberal MP Anita Neville by 722 votes.
The riding has since added the wealthy neighbourhood of Linden Woods through redistribution. Had this riding existed with its current boundaries, Bateman would have won by over 2000 votes (based on polling results).
History: Prior to Bateman’s victory, the riding had been held by Anita Neville from 2000 to 2011, and Chretien-era cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy from 1979 to 2000.
Demographics: The average income is $48,458, the highest in Manitoba by over five thousand dollars.
Candidates
Conservative: Joyce Bateman, MP since 2011
NDP: Matt Henderson, Social Studies Teacher at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School
Liberal: Jim Carr, former MLA and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba
Green: Andrew Park, associate professor of Ecology at the University of Winnipeg