2005 Candidates (as received from Elections B.C.):
- Ian Douglas Bruce, DR BC
- Murray Robert Coell, BC Liberal Party
- Christine Hunt, New Democratic Party of B.C.
- Ken Rouleau, Green Party of BC
Districts Profile:
Located north of Victoria on Vancouver Island's southeast coast, this riding takes in the municipalities of Central and North Saanich and fans out to encompass the nearby islands of Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, North and South Pender, and Prevost. The Institute of Ocean Services and the Marine Technology Centre near Patricia Bay are located here, providing valuable research bases. The islands are primarily rural, with small farms, artists, writers, and self-employed and retired people. Tourism is significant to the economy, particularly during the summer. Health and social services and retail are the major employers. The average family income, at $68,784, is above the B.C. average, and the unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent is well below. One in five people here is an immigrant, but more notably, 22 per cent are over 65 – the province's third highest such percentage.
Political History:
The incumbent in Saanich North and The Islands is Liberal Murray Robert Coell, the minister of community, aboriginal and women's services. Coell was first elected in 1996, beating New Democrat Lynda Laushway by 2,828 votes. In 2001 he collected twice the votes of the runner-up, Andrew Lewis of the Green Party. Immediately preceding Coell was Liberal Clive Tanner, who won easily here in 1991. This area was a Socred stronghold from the 1950s through 1991. MLAs during that period included J.D. Tisdale (1953-72), Hugh Curtis (who from 1972-75 sat as a Progressive Conservative before turning Socred from 1975-86) and, when this became a two-member riding in 1986, Mel Couvelier and Terry Huberts (both 1986-91).
In 2001, voter turnout in Saanich North and the Islands was 75.9 per cent – the fifth highest in the province.
Main > Districts 
