Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) 64/338

 Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island)

Today we're in the capital of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown!

Charlottetown has existed as a riding since 2004, created from Hillsborough and a small part of Malpeque. The population of the riding was 36,094 in 2016. This riding is the only PEI riding not named for a body of water, even the previous riding name was named for Hillsborough River which runs by Charlottetown. 

Politically, this riding is pretty safe for the Liberals. It has been held by the Liberals since 1988 and has only been close once since then, 2011 when the Conservatives finished 1200 votes behind. Interestingly enough, the second place party has changed in the past three elections, Conservatives in 2011, NDP in 2015, and Greens in 2019. The riding is currently held by Liberal MP Sean Casey.

Provincially, the riding is represented by one Liberal, two Progressive Conservatives, and three Greens. This seat had one of the closest results between the Greens and the Liberals, if just 78 more people voted Liberal in Charlottetown-Brighton, there would've been a dispute between the parties on who would become the official opposition and we wouldn't have had the first Green opposition in Canada. In 2019, this seat was 4/4 in PEI and 201/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 10/10 - Perfect. 

Shape: 7.2/10 - It is okay, I don't know the city limits or what they should be, but it isn't awful.

Individuality: 6.4/10 - The Green wave coming here too is cool, not really too different otherwise.

Total: 23.6/30 (78.7%)

See you in either 4 days or 40, we'll see!

Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley (Manitoba) 63/338

 Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley (Manitoba)

Today we're in Manitoba with Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley!

Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley has existed as a riding since 1997, created from Winnipeg—St. James and Winnipeg South. The population of the riding was 82,574 in 2016, and contains the western portion of Winnipeg and the rural municipality of Headingly ( 3,579 in 2016). The riding has an older population, about 1 in 5 people (20.7%) are 65 and over, the median age was 44.3 in 2016.

Politically, this seat is naturally Conservative, but under good circumstances for the Liberals (1997, 2000, 2015), it swings to them. The area closest to the city is typically Liberal, and the Conservative support trickles in from the west, so the main goal for each party is getting the area between Winnipeg and Headingley. The riding is currently represented by Conservative MP Marty Morantz.

The Conservative from 2004-2015 was Steven Fletcher. He served in Stephen Harper's Cabinet with two different portfolios. After losing in 2015, he became a provincial MLA with the Progressive Conservatives. He was ousted from caucus and sat as an independent, until he became the leader of the Manitoba party. He ran again in 2019 under the People's Party banner, netting 4% of the vote. In 2019, this riding was 2/14 in Manitoba and 49/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 2.7/10 - I just don't see why it needs so many names! Winnipeg—Headingley! That's all you need!

Shape: 7.8/10 - On a lighter note, this is a nice shape! Not great, but passable!

Individuality: 6.8/10 - It is cool how it is safe Conservative until it's not.

Total: 17.3/30 (57.7%)

See you tomorrow in Charlottetown!

Charlesbourg—Haute—Saint Charles (Quebec) 62/338

 Charlesbourg—Haute—Saint Charles (Quebec)

Today we're back in Quebec after 23 days with Charlesbourg—Haute—Saint Charles!

Charlesbourg—Haute—Saint Charles has existed as a riding since 1979. The population of the riding was 107,254 in 2016. The riding contains the boroughs of Charlesbourg and La Haute-Saint-Charles. Charlesbourg was initially named Bourg Royal, but was renamed for Charles Borromeo, and La Haute-Saint-Charles is the amalgamation of Lac-Saint-Charles, Saint-Émile, Neufchâtel, Loretteville, and Val-Bélair.

Politically, this riding is more Conservative in the north of the city, and gets a bit more moderate with the Bloc and Liberals in the south of the riding. The riding has been held by the four modern parties that have held seats in Quebec. From 1993-2006, it was a Bloc seat, when the Conservatives held it for all but four of the past 15 years, it went NDP in 2011. The seat is currently held by Conservative MP Peter Paul-Hus.

The 1993 winner, Jean-Marc Jacob didn't get the nomination for Charlesbourg. He was somewhat a controversial figure in events surrounding the 1995 Quebec referendum. His replacement, Richard Marceau, served until 2006, when he was defeated by Daniel Petit, who currently serves on the Conservative Party legal commission. The MP that defeated him, Anne-Marie Day, was a re-run candidate from 2008 who placed fourth. In 2019, this seat was 26/78 in Quebec and 106/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 4.9/10 - Oh, Quebec, I did not miss your names. But in all fairness, they are descriptive of the region, but I think Quebec Nord would suffice.

Shape: 5.7/10 - It isn't awful, but I don't quite understand why the north part along Lac-Saint-Charles has to be there.

Individuality: 7.8/10 - I forgot how much I love the Quebec swings and all these candidates are really notable.

Total: 18.4/30 (61.3%)

See you later today with Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley!

Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola (British Columbia) 61/338

Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola 

(British Columbia)

Today we're in Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola!

Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola has existed as a riding since the 2012 redistribution. Most of the population lives along Okanagan Lake, with West Kelowna (32,665 in 2016), Summerland (8,742 in 2016), and Kelowna (151,957 in 2016, shared with Kelowna—Lake Country). While Merritt only has a population of about 5,000, the city is the convergence of four highways, 5, 5A, 8, and 97C.

Politically, the riding is not as safe as you'd think. In 2015, the Liberal candidate Karley Scott was within 1,500 votes. Whether it was the national sentiment or the fact that the candidate had lived in West Kelowna as a lawyer and federal public servant, it was a 27 point swing nonetheless. The riding is currently represented by Conservative MP Dan Albas.

One of the predecessor ridings, Okanagan—Coquihalla, was the leader of the Canadian Alliance, Stockwell Day's, riding. Day had served as an MLA in Alberta before moving to federal politics. After the reunification of the federal Conservative Parties, he served in the Harper cabinet as Minister of Public Safety and Minister of International Trade. In 2019, the riding was 34/42 in BC and 215/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 4.2/10 - I know the riding is large, but I feel West Okanagan would suffice.

Shape: 5.7/10 - I'll give the riding the benefit of the doubt, it is a mountainous area that could be necessary to draw that way.

Individuality: 7.4/10 - I like how big it swung and it's cool that a riding can be equally urban and rural and competitive.

Total:  17.3/30 (57.7%)

See you tomorrow in Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint Charles!

Central Nova (Nova Scotia) 60/338

Central Nova (Nova Scotia)

Today we're in Central Nova Scotia with, well, Central Nova!

Central Nova has existed as a riding from 1968-1997 and 2004-present. The population centers are New Glasgow (18,665 in 2016), Antigonish (5,002 in 2016), and Pictou (2,711 in 2016). The population is older on average, 23% of the riding is 65 and over, with a quarter of Antigonish being 65 and over.

Politically, the riding has only ever been held by the Liberals or the Conservatives, but the Greens and the NDP have both been close to taking the riding. In 2008, Green Party leader Elizabeth May ran here, netting 32% of the vote. Other prominent politicians who have served here are Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Conservative leadership hopeful Peter MacKay. The riding is currently held by Liberal MP Sean Fraser.

With the Nova Scotia election coming up, I'll update on the current standings and the projections for the provincial ridings within this federal one. The ridings are currently represented by three PC's and three Liberals, and is projected to be the same in this election. The PC leader, Tim Houston serves in Pictou East. In 2019, the seat was 8/11 in Nova Scotia and 158/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 8.6/10 - It's quite literal. I kind of wish it was Pictou-Eastern Shore.

Shape: 5.7/10 - I don't hate it, the borders just feel arbitrary.

Individuality: 7.7/10 - I like that so many prominent politicians have ran here and even ran against eachother.

Total: 22/30 (73.3%)

See you tomorrow in Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola!

Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek (Saskatchewan) 59/338

 Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek (Saskatchewan)

Today we're in rural Saskatchewan with Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek!

Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek has existed as a riding since the 2012 redistribution, the original name was proposed to be Humboldt—Warman—Martensville—Rosetown. The population centers are Warman (10,961 in 2016), Martensville (9,533 in 2016), and Humboldt (4,872 in 2016). The riding is named for Carlton Trail, a primary 19th century transportation route, and Eagle Creek, it seems to be a bit of a regional name, there are a few locations in the area named after it.

Politically, it has had interesting flips. Granted, the distribution from 1988 to 2015 had a rural-urban split. In less polarized times, this seat was very close, even up to 2004 when former Conservative MP Jim Pankiw ran and there was a four way race between Conservative, NDP, Liberals, and Jim Pankiw, all within 2,500 votes. The seat is currently held by Conservative MP Kelly Block.

As I mentioned earlier, the city of Humboldt is in the riding. The town is home to the Humboldt Broncos, a junior hockey team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. On April 16th, 2018, the team underwent tragedy when a truck hit their team bus during a tournament, causing 16 fatalities and serious injuries to the rest of the bus. The rest of the team has since recovered, with varying injuries and the team has returned to the ice. In 2019, the riding was 11/14 in Saskatchewan and 323/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 6.7/10 - I like regional names, but for a region so large, I don't know how to fix it.

Shape: 5.9/10 - It does the best it can, given the purpose of the riding, but it is a little too jagged for my liking.  

Individuality: 7.4/10 - I love close races, and 2004 is exactly what I want out of close races. But now it has fallen into the typical rural prairie riding.

Total: 20/30 (66.7%)

Tomorrow we're back in Nova Scotia with Central Nova!

Carleton (Ontario) 58/338

 Carleton (Ontario)

Today we're in eastern Ontario with Carleton!

Carleton has existed as a riding since Confederation until 1968 and was reintroduced in 2012. The population of the riding was 102,918 in 2016. The riding is a southern suburb of Ottawa, and as a suburb it has a younger age, 20% of the riding is under 15 and only 13% is 65 and over, the Ontario average is 16% and 17% respectively. 

Politically, it has typically been a safe Conservative, only getting close in specific circumstances. In recent history, the 2015 election was very close, less than 2,000 votes between the incumbent Conservative and the Liberal candidate, and from 1993 until 2000, it was held by a Liberal by pretty smaller and smaller margins until it flipped. The seat is currently held by Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre.

That name must sound familiar, right? Pierre Poilievre has served as an MP since 2004, unseating Defense Minister David Pratt. Pierre Poilievre served in the Harper cabinet with two different portfolios, Minister of State for Democratic Reform and the Minister of Employment and Social Development. He has served in office for 17 years, almost half his life as he is only 42 years old. The riding was 26/121 in Ontario and 79/338 in Canada by margin.

Rating:

Name: 8.1/10 - I like that it's a historical name and there is some modern precedent too, but it's a little too vague for me, Carleton-Stittsville would be nice.

Shape: 7.5/10 - It follows the historical boundaries, I'll give them that. It's the internal boundaries that bug me.

Individuality: 7.1/10 - It is interesting to see right-leaning suburbs in Ontario, and the unseating of a cabinet minister is always pretty cool, I guess not for David Pratt.

Total: 22.7/30 (75.7%)

See you tomorrow in Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek!