Decision BC: Delta North

In 2009: NDP incumbent Guy Gentner successfully held this riding, defeating Liberal Jeannie Kanakos by nearly 2000 votes, 50-41%.

History & Geography: Delta North has had the same boundaries since being created in 1991 — all of the municipality east of Highway 91. It also includes Annacis Island. The riding went to the NDP in 1991, 2005 and 2009, and went to the Liberals in 1996 and 2001. The southern suburbs around Briarwood Crescent and Sunshine Hills lean towards the Liberals, while the northern part of the riding often supports the NDP.

Basic Stats:

• Population: 53945 (45th)

• Size: 20.4 km (68th)

• Density: 2644.4 people/km (18th)

Odds and Ends: In the 2006 census, only 4.5% people lived alone, the smallest number in the province.

Candidates

Liberals-Scott Hamilton: A four-term Delta councillor, Hamilton says he never had a provincial political affiliation until the Liberals approached him to run for their party last year. He argues his NDP opponent – and fellow council member – Sylvia Bishop does not have enough elected service to springboard into provincial politics. He’s worked in the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services for the last decade.

NDP-Sylvia Bishop: Elected to Delta council for the first time in 2011, Bishop first ran for NDP federally in 1988, finishing in second place in Delta. She is a former elementary school teacher and councillor. Bishop received more votes than Hamilton in the municipal election, 12229 to 11770.

Conservatives-Tinku Parmar: A small business owner, Parmar is a volunteer with the North Delta Rotary Club, the North Delta Minor Hockey Association, and the Canadian Cancer Society. She has a master’s degree in English from a university in India.

Greens-Bill Marshall: A social worker and foster parent, Marshall studied anthropology and social welfare at the University of Calgary.

Communist Party-George Gidora: Gidora is one of four candidates running for the Community Party of BC this election.