The NDP’s Taylor Bachrach has recaptured the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, finishing with 40.9 per cent of the vote.
The Conservatives’ Claire Rattée came in second with 33.4 per cent, followed by Liberal Dave Birdi and Green Mike Sawyer.
The riding was created in 2004, and has been held by New Democrat Nathan Cullen every election since then.
But change came after the longtime NDP stalwart announced he wasn’t seeking re-election.
Considering the NDP has won the seat all five times it has been contested, you wouldn’t be questioned if you called the riding an NDP stronghold. But a closer look at the numbers shows that Cullen’s personal touch had a lot to do with his success. Over a little more than a decade, Cullen went from winning 37 per cent of the vote in 2004 to 51 per cent of the vote in 2015.
Four years ago, Cullen received 22,531 votes, beating out Conservative Tyler Nesbitt, who had 10,936 votes (24.8 per cent). Liberal Brad Layton finished third with 8,257 votes (18.7 per cent).
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Candidates
NDP: Taylor Bachrach
Liberal: Dave Birdi
Conservative: Claire Rattée
Green: Micheal Sawyer
People’s Party of Canada: Jody Craven
Christian Heritage: Rod Taylor
Geography
The massive coastal riding goes from Bella Bella in the south all the way to the Yukon border. The riding covers Prince Rupert, Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat, Fort St. James and the communities on Haida Gwaii.
Demographics
European: 55,595, 63.2 per cent
Aboriginal: 29,115, 33.1 per cent
South Asian: 1,175, 1.3 per cent
Filipino: 760, 0.9 per cent
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