Kootenay—Columbia (British Columbia) 145/338

 Kootenay—Columbia (British Columbia)

Today we're in southeastern BC in Kootenay—Columbia!

Kootenay—Columbia has existed as a riding since 1997, created from Kootenay East and Kootenay West—Revelstoke. The population of the riding was 112,354 in 2016. The riding contains the communities of Cranbrook (20,047 in 2016), Nelson (10,572 in 2016) and Revelstoke (7,547 in 2016). Despite the Kootenay region having many rural communities, they still account for almost 150,000 people.

Politically, this seat has taken a sharp left turn recently. The seat was a PC/NDP flipper in the 80's, ultimately going to Reform MP Jim Abbott in 1993, staying with him until 2011 when David Wilks took over. The NDP surged 10 points in 2011, which combined with a weaker Conservative Party in 2015 made for a tight pick-up and a fair losing margin in 2019. The seat is currently held by Conservative MP Rob Morrison.

The geography in this riding makes for these tight elections. The Highway 3A/31 corridor from Nelson to Kaslo, with the NDP winning ~60% of the vote in Nelson and the Greens winning second with ~20% in 2019. Further north, Revelstoke is also a bright spot for the NDP, getting ~50% of the vote there in 2019. However, the Conservatives have dominated in Cranbrook and Creston, even in 2015 when they lost the seat. In 2019, this seat was 23/42 in BC and 103/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is great, the Columbia and Kootenay rivers run through the riding (as well as the regional districts containing those names). The shape is also good, unfortunately the two Kootenay Regional Districts and Columbia-Shuswap Regional District are two large to just attach two, so they must be split. As for individuality, it is interesting how it really has surged left while it has gone a little to the right provincially.

Tomorrow we're back in Quebec with La Pointe-de-l'Île!