2005 Candidates (as received from Elections B.C.):

• George Abbott, BC Liberal Party
• Chris Emery, British Columbia Marijuana Party
• Andrew Nicholas, Hokhold B.C. Patriot Party
• Beryl Ludwig, BC Conservative Party
• Barbara Westerman, Green Party of BC
• Calvin Ross White, New Democratic Party of B.C.

Maps from Elections B.C. will open in a new window.

Districts Profile:

This southeastern B.C. riding runs from the Armstrong area in the south to the headwaters of the Seymour River in the north, and is bisected by Highway 1 from west of Sorrento to east of Craigellachie. Other communities include Enderby and Salmon Arm. Manufacturing and agriculture are among the major industries here, as are tourism and recreational activities. The average family income is just $52,508, while unemployment is high for B.C.: 11.1 per cent. Just 10 per cent of residents are immigrants, while five per cent are First Nations people. Eighteen per cent of the population is over age 65.

Political History:

The incumbent in Shuswap is Liberal George Abbott, the minister of sustainable resource management. He was first elected in 1996, defeating Calvin White of the New Democrats by 727 votes. Then, in 2001, Abbott received more than three times the votes of New Democrat Wayne Fowler, the runner-up. Preceding Abbott was Shannon O'Neil of the NDP, elected in 1991 through a 405-vote victory over Michel Saab of the Liberals. In the 1960s, '70 and '80s, New Democrats and Socreds traded this seat. MLAs in that period were Socred Frank Jefcoat (1960-72), New Democrat Don Lewis (1972-75), Socred Len Bawtree (1975-79), New Democrat Bill King (1979-83) and Socred Cliff Michael (1983-91).

In 2001, the voter turnout in Shuswap was 72 per cent – just above the provincial average.