British Columbia Southern Interior

Located in the mountains east of the Okanagan, this riding borders the U.S. to the south and contains the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, part of the Regional District of Central Kootenay (including the cities of Castlegar and Nelson and the villages of Kaslo, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton and Slocan), and part of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (including the towns of Oliver, Osoyoos and Princeton, as well as the village of Keremeos).

About 13 per cent of residents are immigrants and four per cent are aboriginal. Eighty-three per cent list English as their mother tongue and 1.5 per cent list French. Fourteen per cent list a non-official language, with Russian, German, Punjabi and Italian the most numerous.

Southern Interior is a rich source of many natural resources. Forestry, manufacturing and the service sector are major employers. Tourism, including skiing and sightseeing, has become increasingly important. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $63,655 and an unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent.

The riding of West Kootenay-Okanagan was established in 1996 by combining most of Kootenay-West Revelstoke with a portion of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt. In 2004, the riding became Southern Interior, losing a small portion of its previous population while gaining about 9,000 people from Okanagan-Coquihalla.

Population: 95,477 (2006 census; a decrease of 0.7% since 2001)

Political History

The Conservatives brought in a new candidate in 2006, then lost the riding. New Democrat Alex Atamanenko captured it easily, taking 49 per cent of the vote. Tory hopeful Derek Zeisman was a close third behind Liberal Bill Profili; the two were separated by less than 500 votes.

Former Tory MP Jim Gouk served four terms in the riding, but chose to retire after Parliament dissolved in 2005. He was elected on the Reform ticket in 1993, edging out his Liberal rival by 728 votes. His victories were more comfortable until 2004, when Atamanenko came in 780 votes behind him.

Historically, New Democrats held sway, controlling the riding from 1945 to 1974. Then Bob Brisco of the Tories served two terms. Brisco was unseated by the NDP's Lyle Kristiansen in 1980, came back in 1984 and was unseated again by Kristiansen in 1988.

Kootenay East:

• 1925-40 inclusive - CON
• 1945-72 inclusive - CCF/NDP
• 1974, 1979 - PC
• 1980 - NDP
• 1984 - PC

Kootenay West-Revelstoke:

• 1988 - NDP
• 1993 - REF

West Kootenay-Okanagan:

• 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA

Southern Interior:

• 2004 - CON
• 2006 - NDP