In 2009: It originally appeared as though Charlie Wyse had won re-election for the NDP, but in the recount, Barnett emerged victorious by 88 votes.
History & Geography: A large riding in the southern Cariboo, it spans from Tweedsmuir Park in the west to Bridge Lake in the east. Williams Lake and 100 Mile House are the two largest cities in the riding. With the exception of the 2001 Liberal blowout, every election since 1996 has been decided by fewer than 350 votes. Williams Lake and First Nation reserves generally support the NDP, while rural, lesser-populated areas generally support the Liberals.
Candidates
BC Liberals – Donna Barnett: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for Rural Development, Barnett was Mayor of 100 Mile House from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1996 to 2008. She has served on a wide variety of task forces and community groups in the Cariboo over the past three decades.
NDP – Sally Watson: A Canada Post mail carrier in 70 Mile House who also serves as a Director of Northern Development, Watson also sits on the board of the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition and is a member of several committees for the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
Greens – Rita Giesbrecht: An environmentalist, writer and social activists, Giesbrecht is a former hairdresser and serves on the central interior and 100 Mile district arts councils.
2017 Stats: Cariboo-Chilcotin
Population (2014): 33,520 (80th)
Population Deviation from Average: -36.9 per cent
Area: 44,512 sq km (6th)
Pop Density: 0.8 (83rd)
Average Age: 45.7 years (19th)
English as Second Language: 11.54 per cent (63rd)
Top 3 Second Languages:
German – 3.04 per cent
Panjabi (Punjabi) – 1.17 per cent
Dutch – 0.48 per cent
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