North Okanagan–Shuswap (British Columbia) 206/338

 North Okanagan–Shuswap (British Columbia)

Today we're back in the BC Interior with North Okanagan–Shuswap!

North Okanagan–Shuswap has existed as a riding since 1988, created from Kamloops—Shuswap and Okanagan North. The population of the riding was 136,520 in 2021. The population centers are Vernon (44,519 in 2021), Salmon Arm (19,432 in 2021), and Coldstream (11,171 in 2021).

Politically, this seat is politically pretty similar to Parry Sound—Muskoka: a solid Conservative riding with a split opposition that has solid Green support. The Greens typically do well in the eastern rural portions, as well as doing well in Vernon in 2019. In 2020, the NDP's 2019 candidate ran for the BC NDP and won Vernon-Monashee by just over 400 votes. This seat is currently represented by Conservative MP Mel Arnold.

In 2022, the BC Federal Electoral Boundaries commission proposed that the new riding that BC will receive will be placed in the BC interior. The new riding stretches from Vernon down to the downtown core of Kelowna. As such, North Okanagan–Shuswap has expanded to include Revelstoke and the eastern suburbs of Kamloops. In 2019, this seat was 36/42 in BC and 235/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is great, I like that there are three ridings named after the Okanagan, a fast growing region in BC. The shape is okay, I wish it didn't attach Central Kootenay like that. As for individuality, it's cool seeing the different bases of support for all four parties in the riding.

Tomorrow we'll be back in Metro Vancouver with North Vancouver!