In 2009: NDP incumbent Robin Austin won this riding over Liberal Donny Van Dyk by nearly 1500 votes, 51-37%.
History & Geography: The Skeena riding has been on the hustings since the 1924 election, often changing in boundaries but generally containing the main cities between Prince Rupert and the Nechako area. The riding includes Terrace, Kitmat, and a number of smaller aboriginal communities. The NDP has won 7 of the last 10 elections here, and while the Liberals tend to do well in Terrace, there are other areas of the riding where the NDP gets over ten times the votes of other parties.
Basic Stats:
Population: 29575 (80th)
Size: 23569 km (12th)
Density: 1.3 people/km (76th)
Candidates
Liberals-Carol LeClerc: A human resources professional, LeClerc was previously a Terrace councillor for nine years, and three years as Kitmat Regional District Director. A director of the 2010 Terrace BC Winter Games, LeClerc is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Royal Roads University.
NDP-Robin Austin: The critic for Education, Austin was first elected in 2005. Prior to entering politics, he was a catering manager at UBC, a hotel manager, and a foster parent in the Terrace area. He has a degree from Strathcylde University in Scotland and a social work degree from the University of Northern British Columbia.
Conservatives-Mike Brousseau: A small business owner, Brousseau runs a roofing company. He ran in the last provincial election for the Conservatives, finishing with just under 9 per cent of the vote. He and his wife have twelve children between the ages of 10 to 29.
BC Party-Trevor Hendry: Hendry is one of three candidates running for the British Columbia Party.
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