District created 1924 Last contested 2015 | MP Dan VandalLiberal First contested 1925 District webpage profile, map Elector 64,202 | |
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Saint Boniface—Saint Vital (French: Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital; formerly Saint Boniface) is a federal electoral district in Winnipeg, Manitoba that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1925.
Contents
The district covers roughly the southern portion of the city of Winnipeg, east of the Red River. In particular, it contains the Franco-Manitoban community of Saint Boniface and roughly the northern two-thirds of the community of St. Vital. The riding (as federal electoral districts are called in Canada) has a sizeable French population (16% according to the last census) and was a Liberal Party stronghold for most of its history. However, Conservative Shelly Glover, a Winnipeg police sergeant, won it in 2008 and three years later became the first centre-right MP in the riding's history to be re-elected.
It is the only riding in Western Canada that regularly elects francophone candidates to parliament.
History
In 1996, its English name was changed from "St. Boniface" to "Saint Boniface".
In 2008, Conservative candidate and Winnipeg police officer Shelly Glover, defeated Liberal incumbent Raymond Simard, who had held the seat since a 2002 by-election. She easily defeated Simard in a 2011 rematch, becoming the second centre-right MP to win a second full term in the riding's history.
Saint Boniface was largely superseded by "Saint Boniface—Saint Vital", losing territory to Winnipeg South and Elmwood—Transcona, and gaining territory from Winnipeg South during the 2012 electoral redistribution. The riding reverted to form when Glover retired in 2015, when Liberal candidate Dan Vandal, who represented much of Saint Boniface on Winnipeg City Council, won it resoundingly as part of a Liberal near-sweep of Winnipeg.
Name changes
The federal riding's name has undergone various changes since its creation in 1924.
Members of Parliament
The riding has elected the following Members of Parliament: