Victoria-The Lakes

Candidates

Current MLA: Keith Bain (PC)

District profile: This district was created in the redistribution of 2003. It includes part of the former Cape Breton-The Lakes riding, which was dissolved. It includes Victoria County and part of Cape Breton County.

It's a very rural riding, stretching from Boulardrie Island in the east, skirting the Bras d'Or lakes to the village of Baddeck, and then heading north to the tip of the island.

This district is home to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and the Gaelic College.

The Eskasoni and the Wagmatcook First Nations also make Victoria-The Lakes home. Most people make their living from tourism, fishing or jobs in the service sector.

District map: Victoria-The Lakes (PDF)

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2006 results

Voter turnout: 68.25 per cent in 2006

Political history

The district was created in the 2003 redistribution, although it includes much of the former Victoria riding, which in the past voted Liberal. Kenny MacAskill held that seat for the Liberals since 1988 until 2003.

The Liberal tradition continued in Victoria-The Lakes with the election of Gerald Sampson over second-place finisher Tory Keith Bain. But Bain claimed the upper hand last time around, painting the district Tory blue with a win over Sampson.