Cumberland—Colchester (Nova Scotia) 76/338

 Cumberland—Colchester (Nova Scotia) 

Today we're in Nova Scotia with Cumberland—Colchester!

Cumberland—Colchester has existed as a riding since 2004. The population was 80,590 in 2016. The population centers are Truro (12,261 in 2016), Amherst (9,413 in 2016), and Bible Hill (8,913 in 2011). This riding has the only land border in Nova Scotia, connecting the province to New Brunswick.

Politically, this riding typically defaults to Conservatives, however it is easily swayed in wave years, going Liberal in 1993, 2015, and 2019. This was one of two flips in Nova Scotia in 2021, getting very close to flipping in 2019, just 453 votes separating the Liberals and Conservatives. The former MP Lenore Zann was an NDP MLA for Truro from 2009-2019. The riding will be represented by Conservative MP Stephen Ellis.

This riding cannot be mentioned without mentioning Bill Casey. Bill Casey represented the riding from 1988-2019 (with some gaps where he lost re-election or resigned). He was elected under four different banners: Progressive Conservative, Conservative, Independent, and Liberal. He voted against the 2007 budget while part of the governing caucus, which is virtually unheard of. In 2019, this seat was 1/11 in Nova Scotia and 8/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 9.4/10 - I like that it's named after the counties, a smidge long, but the words are there on purpose.

Shape: 8.2/10 - Again it follows the counties, but here I'll give it a bit of flack, not a huge fan of the southwest corner, not generally a fan of river borders.

Individuality: 8.6/10 - Bill Casey is a prime example of why local candidates matter. Especially in the Atlantic.

Total: 26.2/30 (87.3%)

See you tomorrow in Saskatchewan with Cypress Hills—Grasslands!