COLCHESTER - MUSQUODOBOIT VALLEY (12)

Candidates:

Liberal: Joan Barnhill NDP: Kathryn Belzer PC: Brooke Taylor

Current MLA: Brooke Taylor (PC)

Riding Profile: This is largely rural area dependent on farming, lumbering and light manufacturing. It includes the communities of Middle and Upper Musquodoboit, Stewiacke, Shubenacadie, Brookfield and Hilden. Mactara is a major forestry employer. There are also greenhouse operations. Many people drive to Truro or Halifax to work.

The Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, Mastodon Ridge and the Musquodoboit Valley Forest Nursery are popular with locals and tourists. There are also a large number of golf courses, recreation centres and country music fans in this riding.

The population is 19,130 and the average income is $24,090. Thirty-eight per cent of citizens have some post-secondary training.

Issues: Issues include poor secondary roads and the high cost of car insurance. A proposal to build a $100-million hospital may also divide people.

Political History: This riding was formed in 1993 from all of Colchester South and part of Bedford-Musquodoboit Valley. Both ridings traditionally voted Progressive Conservative, and the Tories have won every race since the new riding was created.

Incumbent Brooke Taylor took 67 per cent of the popular vote last time.

1999: PC Brooke Taylor received 5,465 votes to defeat NDP Jim Harpell, who came second with 1,591 and LIB Leo Stacey, who was third with 1,052. 1998: PC Brooke Taylor defeated NDP Jim Harpell by 3,162 votes. 1993: PC Brooke Taylor defeated LIB John Tilley in a byelection by 356 votes after PC Ken Streatch resigned to run federally. 1993: PC Ken Streatch defeated LIB John Tilley by 758 votes.

Voter Turnout: 64 per cent in 1999.