Wascana

This riding contains the southeast portion of Regina, south of the CP Rail line and east of Albert Street, and then stretches to the east and southeast, taking in many small, rural communities.

Nine per cent of residents are immigrants, and eight per cent are aboriginals. Nearly 26 per cent of residents over age 25 have a university certificate or degree. Eight-five per cent list English as their mother tongue, while just two per cent list French.

The Wascana riding includes the provincial legislature, the University of Regina and the Conexus Arts Centre. Government and the service sector are the main employers. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $85,476 – the highest in the province – and an unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent.

Wascana was formed in 1996 by merging two-thirds of Regina-Wascana with one-third of Regina-Qu'Appelle.

Population: 75,717 (2006 census; an increase of 4.4% since 2001)

Political History

After electing New Democrats for several years, voters in this area turned back to the Tories in 1988. Since then, they've elected Liberal Ralph Goodale, who returned to Parliament in 1993 after several years in provincial politics.

Goodale was first elected MP for the former riding of Assiniboia in 1974. His most recent win, in 2006, was by almost 8,500 votes over Conservative Brad Farquhar. Goodale defeated Tory candidate Doug Cryer in 2004. Goodale has held a number of cabinet portfolios, including agriculture, natural resources, public works and services and finance.

Regina East and Regina West:

• 1979, 1980, 1984 - NDP

Regina-Wascana:

• 1988 - PC
• 1993 - LIB

Wascana:

• 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - LIB