Legislature House of Commons First contested 1925 District webpage profile, map Elector 90,217 | District created 1924 Last contested 2015 Province British Columbia | |
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MP Murray Rankin
New Democratic Census divisions Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay | ||
Victoria is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1872 to 1904 and since 1925.
Contents
- Demographics
- Geography
- Riding associations
- History
- Members of Parliament
- Current Member of Parliament
- 1925present
- 18721902
- References
The riding was originally chartered as Victoria District for the special byelections held in 1871 upon the province's entry into Confederation but like the other B.C. ridings with that appellation the "District" was dropped once the temporary ridings were ratified and made "permanent" for the general election of 1872, which was the first in which the Victoria riding (by that name) appeared. From 1905 up until the 1925 election Victoria was represented by the riding of Victoria City.
Demographics
Ethnic groups (2006): 85.54% White, 4.05% Chinese, 3.07% Aboriginal, 1.26% South Asian, 1.22% Japanese, 1.15% Filipino, 1.09% Black
Languages (2011): 83.93% English, 2.92% Chinese, 1.79% French, 1.40% German
Religions (2001): 35.36% Protestant, 15.05% Catholic, 3.94% Other Christian, 1.62% Buddhist, 40.52% No religion
Median income (2005): $24,022
Geography
It covers the City of Victoria, the municipality of Oak Bay and the southeastern portion of the municipality of Saanich. It also includes the University of Victoria.
Riding associations
Riding associations are the local branches of the national political parties:
History
This electoral district was created in 1872 when Victoria District riding was abolished. It elected two members to the Canadian House of Commons.
In 1878, Sir John A. Macdonald was parachuted into the riding, as he was unelectable in eastern Canada, in the wake of the Pacific Scandal. Victorians voted for him enthusiastically, as he promised to finally bring about the construction of what became the Canadian Pacific Railway. In the fall, he was also acclaimed as member for the Marquette riding in Manitoba.
It was abolished in 1903, and split into Victoria City and Nanaimo ridings.
It was re-created in 1924 from the Victoria City riding, electing one member to the House of Commons.
A redistribution in 1966 trimmed the size of the riding slightly, removing parts of Saanich west of Cedar Hill Road and north of Cedar Hill Cross Road.
Victoria was one two electoral districts in British Columbia that saw no changes to its boundaries proposed following the 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution.
Members of Parliament
This riding has elected the following Members of Parliament:
Current Member of Parliament
The current Member of Parliament for Victoria is Murray Rankin of the New Democratic Party, a former lawyer and University of Victoria law professor.
1925–present
The Victoria riding name was re-established as a one-member seat in 1924.
1872–1902
The Victoria riding was abolished in 1903. Successor ridings were Victoria City and, for western parts of the riding, Nanaimo. This riding elected two members to parliament.