Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam

This suburban riding lies north of the Fraser River and between Indian Arm and the Indian River to the west, and Pitt Lake to the east. The city of Port Coquitlam is here, along with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra, Douglas and Boulder islands and the part of Port Moody north of Guildford Drive and Burrard Inlet. The Coquitlam reserve is also here.

The 2006 census recorded 36 per cent of residents as immigrants. Chinese-Canadians make up the largest ethnic group.

Retail trade, manufacturing, construction and the service sector are the major employers. The average family income is $88,857 and the unemployment rate is 5.2 per cent.

The riding was created in 1986 through the combination of sections of New Westminster-Coquitlam and Mission-Port Moody. Ten years later, the boundaries were readjusted, with a third of the residents leaving the riding and a large number being added from Mission-Coquitlam. In 2004, about one-quarter of the riding's population was carved away.

Population: 116,563 (2006 census; an increase of 6.6% since 2001)

Political History

The 2006 race was a virtual copy of the 2004 race. James Moore of the Conservatives was returned for a third term, winning 41.1 per cent of the vote. Moore took 40 per cent of the vote in 2004. The Liberals saw a similar deferential between the two years, winning 27.1 per cent in 2006 versus 27.3 in 2004.

In 1993 and 1997, this riding was won by Reformer Sharon Hayes. She resigned to take care of her ill husband. In a March 1998 byelection, Liberal Lou Sekora won by 1,089 votes. In the general election two years later, Moore unseated Sekora, this time running for the Canadian Alliance. The difference was 11,694 ballots.

The former New Westminster-Coquitlam was held by New Democrats for most of the 1960s, '70s and '80s. Mission-Port Moody was NDP in 1979 and 1980, then went to the Tories in a 1983 byelection.

Port Moody-Coquitlam:

• 1988 - NDP
• 1993, 1997 - REF

Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam:

• 2000 - CA

Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam:

• 2004, 2006 - CON