South Shore - St. Margaret's

This riding is in the southwest corner of Nova Scotia and comprises the counties of Shelburne and Lunenburg, the region of Queens and a small part of Halifax region. Major communities in the riding include Lunenburg, Lockeport, Bridgewater and Shelburne, as well as four native reserves.

Shelburne has one of the largest natural harbours in the world and Lunenburg is home of the famous fishing schooner, the Bluenose. In recent years, Lunenburg County has become known as the Christmas Tree Capital of Canada. The major industry in the riding is manufacturing, with some fishing and a small forestry industry.

Almost 97 per cent of the population cites English as its mother tongue. The total immigrant population is slightly more than four per cent, according to the 2006 census. The average family income is $61,279, with an unemployment rate of 10.3 per cent.

In 2004, eight per cent of Halifax West was added in the southeast and the riding was renamed South Shore-St. Margaret's. The riding of South Shore was established in 1966 from a major part of Queens-Lunenburg and parts of Shelburne-Yarmouth-Clare and Halifax. In the 1996 redistribution, Seal Island moved into West Nova.

Population: 82,855 (2006 census; a decrease of 1% since 2001)

Political History

Conservative Gerald Keddy won a fourth term in 2006. He defeated New Democrat Gordon Earle and Liberal Darian Malcom Huskilson. Earle was runner-up by just 60 votes over third-place Huskilson.

In 2004, Keddy defeated Liberal John Chandler to earn his third term.

In the former Queens-Lunenburg or Lunenburg ridings, Liberal Robert Winters served three terms: in 1945, 1949 and 1953. PC Lloyd Crouse first won in 1957 and went on to be elected to 11 terms in the riding, winning his last election in 1984. In 1988, PC Peter McCreath won.

• 1968-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993 - LIB
• 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - PC