PICTOU CENTRE (40)

Candidates:

Current MLA: John Hamm (PC), Premier

Riding Profile: Pictou Centre consists of the urban area of Pictou County: the towns of New Glasgow, Stellarton and Trenton. The area is the home and headquarters of the national grocery chain Sobeys Inc., as well as the Sobey family's Empire Group holding company.

The Convergys Call Centre has undergone a recent expansion. It is now a major employer, as is railcar manufacturer Trenton Works. New Glasgow is a regional shopping and services centre for the northern part of the province.

The Aberdeen Hospital is a major employer. The Community college is undergoing a $5-million expansion and two new high schools are being built.

The total population is 17,660 and the average income is above the provincial average at $25,810. More than 10 per cent of the people have a university degree. Unemployment is lower than the provincial average.

Issues: Issues include job creation to prevent emigration by young people, and the increasing centralization of medical and government services in Halifax. There are also concerns about labour and trades shortages.

Political History: Residents of this Tory stronghold have voted PC for the past 30 years. The last Liberal to win the seat was Ralph Fiske in 1970. Premier John Hamm first won the seat in 1993.

1999: PC John Hamm won 64 per cent of the vote, ahead of NDP Jeff Callaghan (22 per cent) and LIB Marie Maxwell (14 per cent). 1998: PC John Hamm defeated LIB Roseanne Skoke by nearly 3,000 votes. 1993: PC John Hamm defeated LIB Mary Daley by 476 votes. 1988: PC Jack MacIsaac defeated LIB Bob Leahy by 3,450 votes.

Voter Turnout: 67 per cent in 1999.