CAPE BRETON NOVA (7)

Candidates:

Current MLA: Paul MacEwan (LIB)

Riding Profile: This is another urban riding in Cape Breton, taking in a portion of the city of Sydney, namely the Ashby area, as well as the large community of Whitney Pier. This is generally a working-class riding.

The population is 14,210 and the average income is $20,390. Unemployment is running at 16 per cent. Education levels are lower than the provincial average with 45 per cent having dropped out of high school.

The main employers are the Regional Municipality and several call-centers. Most people work in the services sector.

Issues: The main issue seems to be community development. People in the Whitney Pier area have long been clamoring for jobs and development for their neighbourhood, around the steel plant. The main business district in the Pier has lost many of its businesses over the years to Sydney and the malls. The development association has recently come up with a major plan to revive the Pier, and would like to see some government support.

Citizens say they will vote for the candidate who can "put the Pier on the provincial map".

Health, auto insurance and roads are also mentioned as issues.

Political History: For the past 32 years, the riding has been represented by Paul MacEwan - who proved unbeatable, no matter which party he was representing - the NDP, his own Cape Breton Labour Party, and finally, the Liberals.

Now that he has retired, this riding is seen as a potential swing riding - especially by the NDP, whose candidate came a close second to MacEwan in 1999. His name is Gordie Gosse - he's a lifelong resident of the Pier, and runs the local Boys and Girls Club. His opponent for the Liberals, Melvin Crowe, is a political newcomer, but is also well known, because he coached kid's soccer for many years. Todd Marsman is running for the Tories.

1999: LIB Paul MacEwan polled 4,004 votes to NDP Gordie Gosse's 3,253. PC Harold Dorrington was third with 235. 1970-2003: Paul MacEwan.

Voter Turnout: 76.5 per cent in 1999.