WAVERLEY-FALL RIVER-BEAVERBANK (51)
formerly Bedford-Fall River(4)

Candidates:

Current MLA: Peter Christie (PC), Minister of Municipal Relations

Riding Profile: This is a new riding created by the boundary redistribution process in 2003. It absorbs some of the communities formerly represented by the old Bedford-Fall River riding (28 per cent), as well as Waverley, Fall River, Windsor Junction, Beaverbank and Middle Beaverbank east of Sackville. It includes 47 per cent of the former Sackville-Beaverbank riding and six per cent of Dartmouth East (mainly the Portobello subdivision).

This area of Halifax County is largely rural, with plenty of lakes and trees, although most people work in the city or at the Halifax International Airport.

These outlying areas of Halifax are some of the fastest growing communities in the province. The demand for more services, particularly schools and recreation, has been the subject of recent promises by the government. This is an affluent area that is increasingly popular with young families and well-educated professionals lured by open spaces and lower taxes.

The population is 17,820 and the average income is $33,660.

Political History:

1999: The riding was won handily by PC Peter Christie, who defeated NDP Jane Earle by nearly 4,000 votes. 1998: LIB Francene Cosman defeated PC Peter Christie by 313 votes. 1993: LIB Francene Cosman defeated PC Peter Kelly by 393 votes. Kelly is now the mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Voter Turnout: 65 per cent in 1999.