Ridings

Ross Priest

Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birthplace: Montreal, Que.

Career Background: Moved to Whitehorse in 1969, and worked in the construction industry there for 18 years. In 1987, he moved to Cranbrook, B.C., where he became an active partner in a real estate agency until 1999. He has been involved in a wide array of community organizations.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Susan
Children: Yes

Political History
Municipal: In 1999, he was elected mayor of Cranbrook. He is currently serving his second term. He is a director of the regional district of East Kootenay and chair of the RDEK airport expansion committee.

Political History (Federal/Provincial)
Office Address: 401 Cranbrook Street, P.O. Box 38, Cranbrook, B.C.
Tel: 250-417-2899

Jim Abbott

Party: Conservative Party of Canada
Birth Date: Aug. 18, 1942
Age: 61
Birthplace: Toronto, Ont.

University Degree: No
Education: Took a three-year management diploma course at the University of British Columbia as well as a marketing course at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Profession: Businessperson
Career Background: After seven years of managing his own business and two years managing a ladies' clothing chain, he shifted from retail sales to direct selling.
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Jeannette Bryce
Children: Three

Political History
Party: Director of the Kootenay East constituency.
Federal: Elected in Kootenay East in 1993; elected in Kootenay-Columbia in 1997 and 2000.

Political History (Federal/Provincial)
Committees: Former vice-chair of Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. Former member of Justice and Human Rights, Agriculture and Agri-Food; Public Accounts; and National Resources. Member of Canadian Heritage.
Caucus: Former critic for Solicitor General; Revenue; Senate; Regional Development; and Canadian Heritage. Former deputy critic: Foreign Affairs (Asia-Pacific). Became the Conservative Party's Heritage critic in January 2004.
Office Address: 125D Slater Street, Cranbrook, B.C.
Tel: 250-417-2250
Capital Address: Room 915 Confederation Building, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont.
Tel: 613-995-7246

Brent Bush

Party: New Democratic Party of Canada
Birth Date: Mar. 12, 1961
Age: 43
Birthplace: Nanaimo, B.C.

University Degree: Yes
Education: Holds a degree in political science from Simon Fraser University.
Career Background: He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the combat arms of the Canadian Armed Forces between 1989 and 1990. He has worked for Canada Post as a letter carrier, served as shop steward and president of CUPW Kimberley Local. He became active in the East Kootenay District Labour Council, where he currently sits as an executive member at large. In the community, he served as the president of the Kimberley Search and Rescue Society, and currently volunteers for the Kimberley Helping Hands food bank.
Marital Status: Partner
Name of Spouse: Grete

Political History
Party: Currently vice-president of the Kimberley NDP Association and vice-president of the Kootenay Columbia federal riding association. He chaired the planning committee for the NDP regional conference held in Creston.

Carmen Gustafson

Party: Green Party of Canada
Birthplace: Castlegar, B.C.

University Degree: No
Education: Started studying in 2000 at the University of Alberta, where she will graduate in 2005 with a B.Sc. in environmental and conservation sciences.
Career Background: She is an active participant in the university community, especially in the areas of the environment and social justice. She participated in peace marches, critical mass bike rides, volunteered at the Green is Gold eco-conference in 2003 and helped plan the second annual eco-conference in 2004.

Political History (Federal/Provincial)
Tel: 780-988-8890