Saanich—Gulf Islands

Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1988. It is named for its geographical location across the Gulf Islands and Saanich Peninsula in the Vancouver Island region.

Demographics

Panethnic groups in Saanich—Gulf Islands (2011−2021)

Panethnic group	2021		2016		2011
	Pop.	%	Pop.	%	Pop.	%
EuropeanTemplate:Efn	88,690		85,125		85,695
East AsianTemplate:Efn	8,705		8,175		6,740
Indigenous	4,825		4,675		3,885
South Asian	3,820		3,285		2,350
Southeast AsianTemplate:Efn	2,345		1,655		1,330
African	860		705		640
Latin American	785		530		490
Middle EasternTemplate:Efn	670		440		530
OtherTemplate:Efn	660		530		440
Total responses	111,360		105,110		102,085
Total population	113,541		107,339		104,285
Notes: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses. Demographics based on 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution riding boundaries.

More than 21 percent of Saanich—Gulf Islands' residents are immigrants, and more than 31 percent are older than 65, making this the riding with the third largest senior population in Canada. The riding has a median age of 52.4, making it the riding with the highest median age in Canada. The average family income is $119,500; unemployment is 6.4 percent.

According to the 2021 Canadian census; 2013 representation

Languages: 82.3% English, 2.6% Mandarin, 1.8% Yue, 1.2% French, 1.2% German, 1.2% Punjabi
Religions (2021): 35.6% Christian (10.3% Catholic, 6.6% Anglican, 4.6% United Church, 1.3% Baptist, 1.1% Lutheran, 1.0% Presbyterian), 1.7% Sikh, 1.0% Buddhist, 58.3% No religion
Median income (2020): $44,400
Average income (2020): $59,550

Geography

The riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands consists of the north part of the Municipality of Saanich, as well as the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney on Vancouver Island. The district also includes a number of the southern Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring Island, the Pender Islands, Galiano Island, Mayne Island and Saturna Island. The district's southeastern border runs along the University of Victoria.

History

The electoral district was created in 1987 from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands ridings.

The 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution concluded that the electoral boundaries of Saanich—Gulf Islands should be adjusted, and a modified electoral district of the same name will be contested in future elections. The redefined Saanich—Gulf Islands loses a small portion of its current territory in the urbanized portion of Saanich to the new district of Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. These new boundaries were legally defined in the 2013 representation order, which came into effect upon the call of the 42nd Canadian federal election, which was held October 19, 2015.

Political geography

Despite the usually close vote between the various right-leaning parties, the Canadian Alliance, Reform and Conservative parties consistently won the district from 1993 to 2011. From 1953 to 2011, the riding and its predecessor, Esquimalt—Saanich, were only won by a non-conservative candidate two times: 1968 by Liberal David Anderson, and in 1988 by New Democrat Lynn Hunter. In each election from 2011 onwards, it has been won by Green party leader Elizabeth May, who in 2015 won every poll-district within the constituency. The 1988 Conservative loss is attributed to vote splitting between the Progressive Conservatives and the new Reform party. Despite a Conservative majority in 2011, the Greens won their very first elected seat here and it went on to become their only stronghold in the country. The peninsular portion of the riding is more competitive, with significant support for all parties except the Liberals. However, the Gulf Islands have probably the strongest Green support in the country, with many voters being environmentally conscious, moderate retirees, as well as a notable artist population. Even with the Green collapse nationally in 2021, May held on with 37%, although it was her lowest voteshare in the riding.

Riding associations

Riding associations are the local branches of political parties:

Party

Association name

President

HQ city

Saanich--Gulf Islands Conservative Association

Michael Dickerson

Central Saanich

Saanich--Gulf Islands Green Party Association

Thomas Niemann

Saanich

Saanich--Gulf Islands Federal Liberal Association

Sulochana Saravanabawan

Saanich

Saanich--Gulf Islands Federal NDP Riding Association

Elroy Deimert

Sidney

Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:

Current member of Parliament

As of 2024, the district's member of Parliament is Green Party leader Elizabeth May. She was first elected in 2011 and was the first Green MP to be elected to the House of Commons. She defeated Conservative incumbent and cabinet minister Gary Lunn.

Election results

Template:Graph:Chart

Graph of election results in Saanich—Gulf Islands (1988-, minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

2021 federal election redistributed results
Party		Vote	%
Template:Canadian party colour |	Green	25,136	35.77
Template:Canadian party colour |	Conservative	15,915	22.65
Template:Canadian party colour |	New Democratic	13,738	19.55
Template:Canadian party colour |	Liberal	13,216	18.81
Template:Canadian party colour |	People's	2,115	3.01
Template:Canadian party colour |	Others	156	0.22

2011 federal election redistributed results
Party		Vote	%
Template:Canadian party colour |	Green	28,993	46.42
Template:Canadian party colour |	Conservative	22,785	36.48
Template:Canadian party colour |	New Democratic	6,898	11.04
Template:Canadian party colour |	Liberal	3,787	6.06

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See also

• List of Canadian electoral districts
• Historical federal electoral districts of Canada

References

• Template:SCref
• Library of Parliament Riding Profile 1987–1996
• Library of Parliament Riding Profile 1996–2005
• Expenditures – 2004
• Expenditures – 2000
• Expenditures – 1997

External links

• Website of the Parliament of Canada
• Website of the Conservative Party in Saanich Gulf Islands
• Website of the Green Party
• Website of the Liberal Party of Canada in Saanich Gulf Islands
• Website of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Saanich Gulf Islands