Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1988. It is named for its geographical location across the Gulf Islands and Saanich Peninsula in the Vancouver Island region.
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![]() Saanich—Gulf Islands in relation to other electoral districts in the Vancouver Island area | |||
Federal electoral district | |||
Legislature | House of Commons | ||
MP |
Green | ||
District created | 1987 | ||
First contested | 1988 | ||
Last contested | 2021 | ||
District webpage | profile, map | ||
Demographics | |||
Population (2011)[1] | 104,285 | ||
Electors (2021) | 93,538 | ||
Area (km²)[1] | 518 | ||
Pop. density (per km²) | 201.3 | ||
Census division(s) | Capital | ||
Census subdivision(s) | Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, North Saanich, Capital F, Capital G, Capital H, Cole Bay 3, Union Bay 4, East Saanich 2, South Saanich 1 |
More than 21 percent of Saanich—Gulf Islands' residents are immigrants, and more than 19 percent are older than 65, making this the riding with the third largest senior population in Canada. The riding has a median age of 48.3, making it the riding with the highest median age in Canada.[2] The average family income is $70,814; unemployment is 5.9 percent.
Languages: 83.8% English, 2.3% Mandarin, 2.1% Cantonese, 1.5% German, 1.5% French, 1.2% Punjabi
Religions (2011): 46.9% Christian (12.2% Catholic, 10.6% Anglican, 7.8% United Church, 2.2% Baptist, 1.7% Lutheran, 1.5% Presbyterian, 1.1%% Pentecostal, 10.0% Other), 1.3% Buddhist, 1.2% Sikh, 47.3% No religion[3]
Median income (2015): $37,376
Average income (2015): $49,898
The riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands consists of the north part of the Municipality of Saanich, as well as the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney on Vancouver Island. The district also includes a number of the southern Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring Island, the Pender Islands, Galiano Island, Mayne Island and Saturna Island. The district's southeastern border runs along the University of Victoria.
The electoral district was created in 1987 from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands ridings.
The 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution concluded that the electoral boundaries of Saanich—Gulf Islands should be adjusted, and a modified electoral district of the same name will be contested in future elections.[4] The redefined Saanich—Gulf Islands loses a small portion of its current territory in the urbanized portion of Saanich to the new district of Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. These new boundaries were legally defined in the 2013 representation order, which came into effect upon the call of the 42nd Canadian federal election, which was held 19 October 2015.[5]
Despite the usually close vote between the various right-leaning parties, the Canadian Alliance, Reform and Conservative parties have consistently won here from 1993 to 2011. Since 1953, the riding and its predecessor, Esquimalt—Saanich, have only gone to a non-conservative candidate five times: 1968 to Liberal David Anderson, in 1988 to New Democrat Lynn Hunter, and in 2011, 2015 and 2019 to Green party leader Elizabeth May, who in 2015 won every poll-district within the constituency. The 1988 Conservative loss is attributed to vote splitting between the Progressive Conservatives and the new Reform party. Despite a Conservative majority in 2011, the Greens won their very first elected seat here, and has since become their only stronghold in the country. The peninsular portion of the riding is more competitive, with significant support for all parties except the Liberals. However, the Gulf Isalnds have probably the strongest Green support in the country, with many voters being environmentally conscious, moderate retirees, as well as a notable artist population. This, combined with a very popular MP in Former leader Elizabeth May, Saanich Gulf Islands becoming the safest Green riding. Even with the Green collapse nationally in 2021, May held on with 37%, although it was her lowest voteshare in the riding.
Riding associations are the local branches of political parties:
Party | Association name | President | HQ address | HQ city | |
Conservative | Saanich—Gulf Islands Conservative Association | Ryan T. Trelford | Post Office Box 606 | Sidney | |
Green | Saanich—Gulf Islands Green Party EDA | Dan Kells | Post Office Box 20076 | Sidney | |
Liberal | Saanich—Gulf Islands Federal Liberal Association | Paul H. McKivett | 460-580 Hornby Street | Vancouver | |
New Democratic | Saanich—Gulf Islands Federal NDP Riding Association | Teale Phelps-Bondaroff | Saanich |
This riding has elected the following Members of Parliament:
Parliament | Years | Member | Party | |
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Saanich—Gulf Islands Riding created from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands |
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34th | 1988–1993 | Lynn Hunter | New Democratic | |
35th | 1993–1997 | Jack Frazer | Reform | |
36th | 1997–2000 | Gary Lunn | ||
2000–2000 | Alliance | |||
37th | 2000–2003 | |||
2003–2004 | Conservative | |||
38th | 2004–2006 | |||
39th | 2006–2008 | |||
40th | 2008–2011 | |||
41st | 2011–2015 | Elizabeth May | Green | |
42nd | 2015–2019 | |||
43rd | 2019–2021 | |||
44th | 2021–present |
Its Member of Parliament is former Green Party leader Elizabeth May. She was first elected in 2011 and is the first Green MP to be elected to the House of Commons. She defeated Conservative Incumbent and cabinet minister Gary Lunn.
2021 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Green | Elizabeth May | 24,648 | 37.62 | -11.47 | ||||
Conservative | David Busch | 14,775 | 22.55 | +2.32 | ||||
Liberal | Sherri Moore-Arbour | 12,056 | 18.40 | +1.78 | ||||
New Democratic | Sabina Singh | 11,959 | 18.25 | +5.55 | ||||
People's | David Hilderman | 1,943 | 2.97 | +1.61 | ||||
Communist | Dock Currie | 141 | 0.22 | - | ||||
Total valid votes | 65,522 | |||||||
Total rejected ballots | 374 | 0.57 | ||||||
Turnout | 65,896 | 70.45 | -4.18 | |||||
Eligible voters | 93,538 | |||||||
Green hold | Swing | |||||||
Source: Elections Canada[6] |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Green | Elizabeth May | 33,454 | 49.09 | -5.31 | $87,482.73 | |||
Conservative | David Busch | 13,784 | 20.23 | +0.77 | none listed | |||
Liberal | Ryan Windsor | 11,326 | 16.62 | -0.08 | none listed | |||
New Democratic | Sabina Singh | 8,657 | 12.70 | +3.63 | none listed | |||
People's | Ron Broda | 929 | 1.36 | – | none listed | |||
Total valid votes/expense limit | 68,150 | 99.53 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 323 | 0.47 | +0.18 | |||||
Turnout | 68,473 | 74.63 | -4.05 | |||||
Eligible voters | 91,752 | |||||||
Green hold | Swing | -3.04 | ||||||
Source: Elections Canada[7][8] |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Green | Elizabeth May | 37,070 | 54.40 | +7.99 | $191,615.15 | |||
Conservative | Robert Boyd | 13,260 | 19.46 | −17.02 | $148,289.09 | |||
Liberal | Tim Kane | 11,380 | 16.70 | +10.64 | $56,913.03 | |||
New Democratic | Alicia Cormier | 6,181 | 9.07 | −1.97 | $52,539.33 | |||
Libertarian | Meghan Jess Porter | 249 | 0.37 | – | $231.52 | |||
Total valid votes/expense limit | 68,140 | 99.71 | $223,670.30 | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 201 | 0.29 | – | |||||
Turnout | 68,341 | 78.68 | – | |||||
Eligible voters | 86,863 | |||||||
Green hold | Swing | +12.50 | ||||||
Source: Elections Canada[9][10][11] |
2011 federal election redistributed results[12] | |||
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Party | Vote | % | |
Green | 28,993 | 46.42 | |
Conservative | 22,785 | 36.48 | |
New Democratic | 6,898 | 11.04 | |
Liberal | 3,787 | 6.06 |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Green | Elizabeth May | 31,890 | 46.33 | +35.88 | $87,738 | |||
Conservative | Gary Lunn | 24,544 | 35.66 | −7.77 | $89,604 | |||
New Democratic | Edith Loring-Kuhanga | 8,185 | 11.89 | +6.20 | $66,273 | |||
Liberal | Renée Hetherington | 4,208 | 6.11 | −33.25 | $50,002 | |||
Total valid votes/expense limit | 68,827 | 100.0 | $293,617 | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 160 | 0.23 | ||||||
Turnout | 68,987 | 75.25 | ||||||
Eligible voters | 91,673 | |||||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | +21.82 |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Conservative | Gary Lunn | 27,988 | 43.43 | +6.28 | ||||
Liberal | Briony Penn | 25,367 | 39.36 | +13.28 | ||||
Green | Andrew Lewis | 6,732 | 10.45 | +0.51 | ||||
New Democratic | Julian West | 3,667 | 5.69 | −20.85 | ||||
Libertarian | Dale P. Leier | 246 | 0.38 | – | ||||
Western Block | Patricia O'Brien | 195 | 0.3 | +0.03 | ||||
Canadian Action | Jeremy Arney | 139 | 0.2 | – | ||||
Christian Heritage | Dan Moreau | 114 | 0.2 | – | ||||
Total valid votes | 64,448 | 100.0 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 179 | 0.27 | ||||||
Turnout | 64,639 | 70.40 | ||||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −3.50 | ||||||
Julian West was selected as the New Democratic Party candidate for the 2008 election, but withdrew after the filing deadline following a scandal.[13] Due to the late withdrawal his name remained on the ballot. |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Conservative | Gary Lunn | 24,416 | 37.15 | +2.58 | $80,272 | |||
New Democratic | Jennifer Burgis | 17,455 | 26.54 | +4.96 | $50,412 | |||
Liberal | Sheila Orr | 17,144 | 26.08 | −0.70 | $79,489 | |||
Green | Andrew Lewis | 6,533 | 9.94 | −6.77 | $19,061 | |||
Western Block | Patricia O'Brien | 183 | 0.27 | – | $0 | |||
Total valid votes | 65,721 | 100.0 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 134 | 0.20 | ||||||
Turnout | 65,855 | 73.2 | ||||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −1.19 |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Conservative | Gary Lunn | 22,050 | 34.57 | −18.86 | $81,613 | |||
Liberal | David Mulroney | 17,082 | 26.78 | −5.51 | $61,819 | |||
New Democratic | Jennifer Burgis | 13,763 | 21.58 | +13.56 | $40,318 | |||
Green | Andrew Lewis | 10,662 | 16.71 | +11.20 | $79,731 | |||
Independent | Mary Moreau | 214 | 0.33 | – | $12 | |||
Total valid votes | 63,771 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 159 | 0.25 | ||||||
Turnout | 63,930 | 73.97 | ||||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −6.68 | ||||||
Conservative change is from a combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative votes. |
| ||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Alliance | Gary Lunn | 25,392 | 43.15 | +0.09 | $61,497 | |||
Liberal | Karen Knott | 19,002 | 32.29 | +0.82 | $63,669 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Don Page | 6,049 | 10.28 | +2.76 | $10,385 | |||
New Democratic | Pat O'Neill | 4,721 | 8.02 | −6.31 | $9,666 | |||
Green | Wally Du Temple | 3,243 | 5.51 | +2.77 | $7,217 | |||
Natural Law | Kathleen Lapeyrouse | 217 | 0.36 | −0.07 | $100 | |||
Independent | Dan Moreau | 123 | 0.20 | – | ||||
Communist | Charley Stimac | 88 | 0.14 | – | $189 | |||
Total valid votes | 58,835 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 165 | 0.28 | ||||||
Turnout | 59,000 | 70.60 | ||||||
Alliance hold | Swing | −0.36 | ||||||
Canadian Alliance change is based on the Reform Party. |
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Reform | Gary Lunn | 24,275 | 43.06 | +5.91 | $61,075 | |||
Liberal | Clark Roberts | 17,742 | 31.47 | +5.45 | $59,743 | |||
New Democratic | Chuck Beyer | 8,080 | 14.33 | −4.53 | $29,672 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Marilyn Loveless | 4,243 | 7.52 | −4.00 | $23,349 | |||
Green | Julia Lerner | 1,546 | 2.74 | – | $745 | |||
Natural Law | Andy Guest | 248 | 0.43 | −0.31 | $321 | |||
Canadian Action | Valerie Rampone | 234 | 0.41 | – | $4,335 | |||
Total valid votes | 56,368 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 181 | 0.32 | ||||||
Turnout | 56,549 | 74.26 | ||||||
Reform hold | Swing | +0.23 |
1993 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Reform | Jack Frazer | 26,016 | 37.15 | +24.67 | ||||
Liberal | Alex Phillips | 18,226 | 26.02 | +8.40 | ||||
New Democratic | Lynn Hunter | 13,207 | 18.86 | -16.54 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Marilyn Loveless | 8,070 | 11.52 | -21.94 | ||||
National | Judith Rayburn | 3,730 | 5.33 | – | ||||
Natural Law | Andy Guest | 521 | 0.74 | – | ||||
Independent | C.R. Bob Ward | 215 | 0.31 | – | ||||
Canada Party | Arleigh Rolind | 52 | 0.07 | – | ||||
Total valid votes | 70,037 | 100.0 | ||||||
Reform gain from New Democratic | Swing | +8.14 |
1988 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
New Democratic | Lynn Hunter | 23,168 | 35.40 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Patrick D. Crofton | 21,900 | 33.46 | |||||
Liberal | Kathryn Clout | 11,534 | 17.62 | |||||
Reform | Bob Slavick | 8,165 | 12.48 | |||||
Independent | Patrick Kelly | 216 | 0.33 | |||||
Libertarian | William St. John Buckler | 214 | 0.33 | |||||
Independent | Doug Christie | 172 | 0.26 | |||||
Communist | Ernie Knott | 78 | 0.12 | |||||
Total valid votes | 65,447 | 100.0 | ||||||
This riding was created from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands, which elected a Progressive Conservative and a New Democrat, respectively, in the previous election. Patrick Crofton was the incumbent from Esquimalt—Saanich. |
Federal ridings on Vancouver Island | |
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Green | |
New Democratic |
List of federal ridings in British Columbia | |
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British Columbia Interior | |
Fraser Valley and the Southern Lower Mainland | |
Vancouver and the Northern Lower Mainland | |
Vancouver Island |