Fredericton

This riding takes in the provincial capital of Fredericton as well as parts of the counties of York, Sunbury and Queens. Communities include St. Mary's, Chipman, New Maryland and Oromocto, as well as the St. Mary's and Oromocto reserves.

In the 2006 census about eight per cent of residents listed French as their mother tongue. Just over six per cent are immigrants.

About 25 per cent of residents over age 25 have a university certificate or degree. The government is the riding's biggest employer. The unemployment rate is 7.2 per cent, and the average family income is the highest in the province at $72,597.

The riding was established in 1914 as York-Sunbury and in 1986 as Fredericton. On June 29, 1989, the riding name was changed to Fredericton-York-Sunbury. The riding was re-established as Fredericton in the 1996 redistribution. In 2004, the riding added about 7,000 residents from Fundy Royal riding.

Population: 85,886 (2006 census; an increase of 3.7% since 2001)

Political History

Liberal incumbent Andy Scott won again in 2006, continuing a Liberal streak. Scott caused a political upset in 1993 by unseating longtime Conservative incumbent Bud Bird.

Since 1957, this had been solid Tory country, held by just three MPs: Chester MacRae (1957-72), Robert Howie (1972-88) and Bird (1988-93). Scott unseated Bird by more than 8,000 votes. Scott hung on to power in a closer race in 1997 and in 2000 earned a third term by defeating Tory Raj Venugopal by 3,256 votes.

• 1945-53 inclusive - LIB
• 1957-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - LIB