B.C. Votes 2017: Delta North riding profile
Former Olympian Ravi Kahlon is hoping to take this traditionally close riding back for the NDP
In advance of the 2017 B.C. election, we'll be profiling all 87 electoral districts in the province. Here is Delta North, one of two ridings in Delta — and one where the NDP suffered one of its biggest disappointments in 2013.
Summary: A suburban riding to the west of Surrey, Delta North contains everything in the municipality east of Highway 91 along with Annacis Island — the same boundaries it has had since it was created prior to the 1991 elelction.
Politics: The riding has been decided by 2,000 votes or less in five of the six elections it has been contested, going to both the NDP and Liberals three times.
The NDP was expected to win the riding for a third straight time in 2013, but with MLA Guy Gentner retiring, Scott Hamilton defeated NDP candidate Sylvia Bishop by 203 votes, taking the riding for the B.C. Liberals.
Candidates: Hamilton is running for re-election. A four-term councillor in Delta prior to 2013, he has remained a backbench MLA for the duration of his term.
The NDP candidate is Ravi Kahlon, a former national field hockey player who played for Canada in the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics. He has worked for the NDP caucus the last seven years.
The Green Party candidate is Jacquie Miller, a former environmental analyst and manager for the Northwest Territories government who has worked in a variety of roles for First Nations clients since her return to B.C.
Where do the Liberals do well? There's a pretty clear distinction in North Delta, with the B.C. Liberals doing best in West Nordel next to Burns Bog and south of the Cougar Canyon Environmental Reserve.
What about the NDP? It, by contrast, does better in the older neighbourhoods of Scottsdale and Anneville.