Decision BC: Cariboo-Chilcotin

In 2009: It originally appeared as though Charlie Wyse had won re-election for the NDP – but in the recount, Liberal Donna 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 less than 350 votes. Williams Lake and first nation reserves generally support the NDP, while rural, lesser-populated areas generally support the Liberals.

Basic Stats:

• Population: 29415 (81st)

• Size: 43295 km (5th)

• Density: 0.7 people/km (81st)

Odds and Ends: Spanish is the mother tongue of only 40 people—lowest in the province.

Candidates

Liberals-Donna Barnett: The Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Communities and 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-Charlie Wyse: Before becoming MLA for Cariboo South in 2005, Wyse was a long-time high school science teacher and councillor in Williams Lake. He was an active member of the local and provincial teachers’ union, serving in several roles including Local President, Local Representative to the BCTF, and Chair of the North Central District Council. Ironically, after winning his seat by just 114 votes in 2005, he then lost by 88 to Barnett in 2009.

Greens-Dustin Price: An employee with BCTS Timber Sales, Price lives in the 100 Mile House area. He is a minor league hockey coach, and has a diploma in Natural Resource Management from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

Independent-Gary Young: A former warehouse worker, Young lives north of Lac La Hache and is semi-retired.