The riding has been painted blue since its inception in 1995. Tracadie-Sheila is a pretty safe place for the Tories, despite being underappreciated by the party. Incumbent Claude Landry isn’t a minister and the riding hasn’t received any special attention for their loyalty. Despite the lack of recognition, the Tories smoke the Liberals in every election here by roughly 1000 ballots. In 2010 the Liberals came third with a disappointing 1480 to the Tories’ 3808 (NDP placed second with 2518).
Claude Landry has kept the riding safe for the Progressive Conservatives since he took over for Elvy Robichaud in 2006. Robichaud was a valued member of the party who held numerous cabinet posts and was quite frankly a brilliant politician. Landry however has provided much fewer reasons to vote PC. He certainly hasn’t improved the job situation for the riding, they require federal subsidization due to their relative isolation and poor economic performance. But like so many Canadians who stick by their favourite hockey team through thick and thin despite not having won the cup in decades; Tracadie-Sheila keeps giving their support to the blue team.
The Liberal challenger, Serge Rousselle is attempting to take the riding in what would be a shocking upset. His background is in political science and law, but wants to focus on economic development and turning the riding into a fiscally independent powerhouse.
The New Democrats also offer up a Rouselle. Note the different spelling of the name, I don’t believe the two are related. But wouldn’t it be exciting if they were? The NBNDP haven’t provided any information on their Francois Rouselle (lame duck candidate?), nor has the Elections Almanac, Telegraph Journal, or even Google. It’s odd that the NDP wouldn’t put more effort into bolstering their Rouselle, as they did come in second over the Liberals in this riding at last election.
politiconb 