Riding Profile:
This southeast Edmonton riding is bordered on the north and east by
Whitemud Drive and Mill Creek, on the south by 23rd, 28th and 34th Avenues,
and on the west by Gateway Boulevard. In the 2004 redistribution the
riding expanded significantly east, taking in an area formerly in the
south of Edmonton-Mill Creek. A smaller area in the southwest of the
riding was lost to Edmonton-Ellerslie.
In this riding, almost 28 per cent of residents are immigrants. Muslims,
Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists make up more than 15 per cent of the population.
Over half the residents - 52.5 per cent - were born in Alberta. The
average household income of $57,119 is somewhat under the provincial
average, and almost one in five people are considered low income. Retail
and manufacturing provide the most jobs. Single-parent families, at
14.5 per cent, are more common here than in all but one other riding
in the province.
Political History:
In its 25-year existence, this riding has elected Conservative, New
Democrat and Liberal MLAs. The incumbent is a Liberal, Don Massey. For
the past three elections he has fended off Tory opponents, though each
win has been progressively narrower. In 1993, Massey's margin was 2,774
votes, over Bill Pidruchney. Four years later, Ziad Jaber lost by 2,120
votes. Then, in 2001, Carl Benito came within 518 votes. Massey's predecessor
was a New Democrat, Gerry Gibeault, who served here from 1986-93. Tory
Milt Pahl was the MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods from 1979-86.
In 2001, voter turnout was 54.3 per cent.