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The 2004 Federal Election
How will the new
boundaries affect the 2004 federal election?
There will be seven new ridings in the upcoming federal election:
three in Ontario, and two each in British Columbia and Alberta.
Some analysts are predicting a four-seat windfall for the Conservative
Party with four new seats in western Canada, the region considered
to be a Conservative Party stronghold.
So, the new and revised ridings will create a fresh dynamic in many
regions of the country. And the first controversy over the new
riding districts has already occurred.
Though Liberal Party candidates, Sheila
Copps and Tony
Valeri waged a no-holds-barred battle for the party
nomination in the reformed electoral district of Hamilton
East-Stoney Creek.
Copps was the deputy prime minister and heritage minister in Jean
Chrétien's government, while Valeri serves as transport
minister in the new Paul Martin cabinet. The riding was created
when electoral boundaries were changed last year. Copps had represented
the Hamilton East riding for the last 20 years.
A lot was made about who identified most with the riding. While
Copps has represented the mostly urban riding for some time,
many voters prefer a representative close to the current prime
minister. Copps tried to paint Valeri as an outsider, claiming
he didn't even live in the riding. As it turned out, the revised
riding boundary runs directly through his backyard.
The Latest Poll Figures
Here is a rundown of the latest measurements
of support among voters for the four main political parties.
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