Riding Profiles

EDMONTON-MILL WOODS (38)

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, although the Liberals have reigned in this territory for the last four elections.

In 2004, incumbent Liberal Weslyn Mather won the seat handily after capturing 5,014 votes to Conservative Naresh Bhardwaj's 2,989 votes. Before Mather, Liberal Don Massey was MLA for more than a decade until he retired in 2004. Since Massey was first elected in 1993, he fended off Tory opponents in three elections, though each win was 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 2004, voter turnout was 45 per cent.