Elmwood - Transcona

This is a mainly suburban riding in the northeast end of Winnipeg. It runs between the Red River in the west and the eastern limits of the city. The southern boundary is Mission Street, Plessis Road, St. Boniface Road, Murdock Road and Dugald Road. The northern boundary is Oakland Avenue, McLeod Avenue, Grassie Boulevard, Perfanick Drive, Angela Street, the CP Rail line and the Winnipeg city limits.

Bus and furniture manufacturers are major employers, with the manufacturing industry as a whole accounting for about 15 per cent of jobs. Retail trade and the service sector are other major sources of employment.

The immigrant population is almost 15 per cent. There are large German and Ukrainian communities, each accounting for about 22 per cent of the total.

The average family income was $65,172 in the 2006 census, and the unemployment rate was five per cent.

The riding of Winnipeg-Transcona was created in 1986 from 60 per cent of Winnipeg-Birds Hill and 19 per cent of Winnipeg North Centre. In 1996, it added a small area from St. Boniface. In 2004, the name was changed to Elmwood-Transcona.

Population: 78,700 (2006 census; an increase of 0.9% since 2001)

Political History

In 2006, New Democrat Bill Blaikie earned his ninth term as MP, winning over Conservative Linda West by more than 6,000 votes. In the previous election, Blaikie earned a victory over Bryan McLeod, another Conservative. Blaikie was first elected in 1979 in Winnipeg-Birds Hill. He is the deputy leader of the NDP.

Winnipeg-Birds Hill:

• 1979, 1980, 1984 - NDP

Winnipeg-Transcona:

• 1988, 1993, 1997, 2000 - NDP

Elmwood-Transcona:

• 2004, 2006 – NDP