Macleod

Located in southwest Alberta, this rural riding stretches from Waterton Lakes National Park in the south to the western and southern half of Calgary in the north. Communities include High River, Okotoks, Vulcan, Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod and Claresholm, as well as the southern tip of Banff. Several First Nations reserves are also here: the Blood reserve in the southeast corner, the Tsuu T'ina Nation west of Calgary, the Peigan reserve in the south and the Siksika reserve in the northeast corner.

Overall, aboriginals account for about 11 per cent of residents. Another nine per cent are immigrants. Eighty-six per cent of residents listed English as their mother tongue in the 2006 census. Just under one per cent listed French, and a similar number listed an aboriginal language – Blackfoot being the largest in this group.

Agriculture is the main industry here. The average family income is $117,980 and unemployment is 3.9 per cent.

Macleod was originally established in 1907, abolished in 1966 and re-established in 1986. It has been largely unaltered by the past two redistributions. In 2004, it lost about six per cent of its former area while adding small sections from the Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Wild Rose ridings.

Population: 107,638 (2006 census; an increase of 10.4% since 2001)

Political History

Conservative Ted Menzies won the role of MP over Liberal Bernie Kennedy in the last election. In the previous campaign, Menzies won the riding with 75 per cent of the vote, defeating Liberal Chris Shade.

Grant Hill served as MP from 1993 to 2004. He was a member of the Reform, Canadian Alliance and Conservative parties.

Before the 1986 redistribution, most of Macleod's residents were in the Bow River riding. From 1979 to 1988, the PCs' Gordon Taylor held that seat.

• 1988 - PC
• 1993, 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA
• 2004, 2006 - CON