Abbotsford

This riding runs between the Fraser River in the north and the U.S. border in the south. It contains part of the Fraser Valley Regional District, including the city of Abbotsford, and the Matsqui and Upper Sumas reserves.

The 2006 census found that 26 per cent of residents were immigrants, and about 20 per cent of the population were of Indian origin.

Manufacturing, construction, and the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector are the major employers. The average family income is $75,903 and the unemployment rate is 5.5 per cent.

The Abbotsford riding was created in 2004 by combining nearly equal portions of Fraser Valley and Langley-Abbotsford.

Population: 124,515 (2006 census; an increase of 7.2% since 2001)

Political History

The Tories continued to dominate this riding in 2006, as new candidate Ed Fast won handily, defeating his next-closest competitor, the NDP's Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, by more than a four-to-one margin.

In 2004, Conservative Randy White beat Liberal Moe Gill by nearly 20,000 votes. White was first elected as a Reformer in Fraser Valley West in 1993 and re-elected in Langley-Abbotsford in 1997 and 2000.

Bob Wenman held Fraser Valley West for the Progressive Conservatives from 1974 until 1993.

Running under the Reform/Canadian Alliance banner, Chuck Strahl easily carried the former Fraser Valley East in 1993 and Fraser Valley in the next two general elections. In 2000, he won by 29,544 votes.

Prior to Strahl, Tories dominated that riding, beginning in 1972.

Fraser Valley West:

• 1968, 1972 - NDP
• 1974, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993 - REF

Langley-Abbotsford:

• 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA

Abbotsford:

• 2004, 2006 - CON