PICTOU WEST (42)

Candidates:

Current MLA: Muriel "Fluff" Baillie (PC)

Riding Profile: Pictou West includes the western part of Pictou County to River John. Its northern boundary is the Northumberland Strait. The largest community is the town of Pictou.

The communities of Scotsburn and Saltsprings lie to the south of the town of Pictou. Residents of the rural part of the riding generally rely on agriculture, forestry and tourism along the Sunrise Trail.

Manufacturing employs nearly a quarter of the people. Granton is home to a Michelin Tire plant, which employs 1,500 and Kimberly Clark, a pulp-and-paper operation in Abercrombie, employs 400 people.

The population is 14,830 and the average income is $23,870. Educational levels are higher than average, with 37 per cent of citizens having some post-secondary training.

Political History: This is traditionally a PC Riding. Since 1956, the Liberals have won the seat just once, in 1974. The NDP have also won it once in 1998.

This time around, three well-known municipal councillors are running. The PC candidate won a contested nomination by a single vote, defeating another Pictou County councillor from the River John area.

1999: PC Muriel Baillie defeated NDP Charlie Parker by 147 votes. LIB Paul Landry was a strong third, with just 1,000 votes separating him from the winner. 1998: NDP Charlie Parker squeaked past PC Luke Young by 33 votes to win the seat. LIB Rob McDowell took 20 per cent of the vote. 1993: PC Don McInnes defeated LIB Rob McDowell by 700 votes. NDP Sonny Campbell took 12 per cent of the vote. 1988: PC Don McInnes defeated LIB John Henderson by 1,546 votes.

Voter Turnout: nearly 80 per cent in 1999.