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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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St. John (electoral District)

Saint John—Rothesay (formerly Saint John) is a federal electoral district in southern New Brunswick, Canada. With its predecessor ridings, St. John—Albert and Saint John—Lancaster, the area has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917.

The district has always included the city of Saint John, and various suburbs and bedroom communities have been added or removed from it over the years. Presently the district also includes the town of Rothesay, the Indian reserve of The Brothers 18, and part of Simonds Parish.

The neighbouring ridings are Fundy Royal and New Brunswick Southwest.

History

Originally, Saint John had a special setup for representation in Parliament. The "City of St. John" returned one member, while the "City and County of St. John", which included the County of Saint John returned one as well. Between 1872 and 1896, the "City and County" riding elected two Members of Parliament. In effect, the city itself had two or even three Members of Parliament. This practice continued until 1914.

After 1914, the counties of Saint John and Albert were joined. The two existing ridings were merged into a new riding, called "St. John—Albert", that also incorporated parts of King's and Albert riding. The new riding returned two Members of Parliament until 1935.

In 1966, St. John—Albert was abolished when Albert County was moved to the Fundy—Royal riding. A new riding, "Saint John—Lancaster", was created.

Saint John—Lancaster was abolished in the 1976 redistribution, and a new riding with substantially the same boundaries was created and named "Saint John". The City of Lancaster had been amalgamated into Saint John.

In recent years, the Progressive Conservative Party has had the most success in the city: its members were elected in all but four elections since 1953: 1974, 1980, 2004, and 2006. Well-known Members of Parliament from the area include Father of Confederation Samuel Leonard Tilley, former Veterans Affairs Minister Gerald Merrithew and popular former mayor Elsie Wayne.

As per the 2012 federal electoral redistribution, this riding was renamed Saint John—Rothesay and lost a small portion of territory to Fundy Royal.

Following the 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution, the riding will largely be replaced by Saint John—Kennebecasis. It gains Quispamsis from Fundy Royal and loses all of the City of Saint John west of the Saint John River to the new riding of Saint John—St. Croix.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
200183,463—    
200682,078−1.7%
201184,670+3.2%

Members of Parliament

These ridings have elected the following members of Parliament:

Parliament Years Member Party Member Party
St. John—Albert
Riding created from City and County of St. John
13th 1917 – 1921     Rupert Wilson Wigmore Government (Unionist)     Stanley Edward Elkin Government (Unionist)
14th 1921 – 1925     John Babington Macaulay Baxter Conservative     Murray MacLaren Conservative
15th 1925 – 1926 Thomas Bell
16th 1926 – 1930
17th 1930 – 1935
18th 1935 – 1938     William Ryan Liberal
1938 – 1940 Allan McAvity
19th 1940 – 1945     King Hazen National Government
20th 1945 – 1949     Progressive Conservative
21st 1949 – 1953     Daniel Aloysius Riley Liberal
22nd 1953 – 1957     Thomas Miller Bell Progressive Conservative
23rd 1957 – 1958
24th 1958 – 1962
25th 1962 – 1963
26th 1963 – 1965
27th 1965 – 1968
St. John—Lancaster
28th 1968 – 1972     Thomas Miller Bell Progressive Conservative
29th 1972 – 1974
30th 1974 – 1979     Mike Landers Liberal
Saint John
31st 1979 – 1980     Eric Ferguson Progressive Conservative
32nd 1980 – 1984     Mike Landers Liberal
33rd 1984 – 1988     Gerald Merrithew Progressive Conservative
34th 1988 – 1993
35th 1993 – 1997 Elsie Wayne
36th 1997 – 2000
37th 2000 – 2003
2003 – 2004     Conservative
38th 2004 – 2006     Paul Zed Liberal
39th 2006 – 2008
40th 2008 – 2011     Rodney Weston Conservative
41st 2011 – 2015
Saint John—Rothesay
42nd 2015–2019     Wayne Long Liberal
43rd 2019–2021
43rd 2021–present

Election results

Saint John—Kennebecasis, 2023 representation order

2021 federal election redistributed results
Party Vote %
  Liberal 16,082 42.60
  Conservative 13,737 36.39
  New Democratic 4,975 13.18
  People's 1,851 4.90
  Green 1,106 2.93

Saint John—Rothesay, 2013 representation order


2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 17,371 46.38 +8.94 $86,136.71
Conservative Mel Norton 12,315 32.88 -1.07 $89,711.32
New Democratic Don Paulin 4,821 12.87 +0.64 $4,012.75
People's Nicholas Pereira 2,001 5.34 +2.29 $3,899.08
Green Ann McAllister 948 2.53 -7.57 $365.47
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,456 $103,960.22
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 58.99 -6.19
Registered voters 63,495
Liberal hold Swing +5.01
Source: Elections Canada
2019 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 15,443 37.43 -11.37 $65,376.07
Conservative Rodney Weston 14,006 33.95 +3.41 $98,624.09
New Democratic Armand Cormier 5,046 12.23 -5.30 $2,746.93
Green Ann McAllister 4,165 10.10 +6.97 none listed
People's Adam J. C. Salesse 1,260 3.05 none listed
Independent Stuart Jamieson 1,183 2.87 $6,611.27
Independent Neville Barnett 150 0.36 $170.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,253 99.40
Total rejected ballots 250 0.60 +0.12
Turnout 41,503 65.18 -3.65
Eligible voters 63,677
Liberal hold Swing -7.39
Source: Elections Canada
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 20,634 48.80 +32.81
Conservative Rodney Weston 12,915 30.54 -19.18
New Democratic AJ Griffin 7,411 17.53 -13.2
Green Sharon Murphy 1,321 3.12 +0.35
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,281 100.0     $196,334.01
Total rejected ballots 205
Turnout 42,486 69.38
Eligible voters 61,236
Source: Elections Canada
2011 federal election redistributed results
Party Vote %
  Conservative 17,881 49.72
  New Democratic 11,052 30.73
  Liberal 5,750 15.99
  Green 992 2.76
  Others 288 0.80

Saint John, 2003 Representation Order

2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rodney Weston 18,456 49.73 +10.18 $79,348.63
New Democratic Rob Moir 11,382 30.67 +14.71 $23,584.68
Liberal Stephen Chase 5,964 16.07 -22.06 $42,496.31
Green Sharon Murphy-Flatt 1,017 2.74 -2.68 $2,700.77
Independent Arthur Watson Jr. 294 0.79 $251.37
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,113 100.0     $82,011.29
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 176 0.47
Turnout 37,289 58.02 +4.01
Eligible voters 64,264
Conservative hold Swing -2.26
Sources:
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rodney Weston 13,782 39.55 +0.25 $73,497.84
Liberal Paul Zed 13,285 38.13 -4.79 $69,234.99
New Democratic Tony Mowery 5,560 15.96 +0.32 $2,720.91
Green Mike Richardson 1,888 5.42 +3.28 $1,008.49
Marijuana Michael Moffat 330 0.95 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,845 100.0     $79,702
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 187 0.53 ±0
Turnout 35,032 54.01 -7.38
Eligible voters 64,868
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.52
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Paul Zed 17,202 42.92 -0.36 $55,428.82
Conservative John Wallace 15,753 39.30 +5.68 $65,915.16
New Democratic Terry Albright 6,267 15.64 -3.42 $6,294.91
Green Vern Garnett 858 2.14 -0.08 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,080 100.0     $74,214
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 214 0.53
Turnout 40,294 61.39 +6.36
Eligible voters 65,639
Liberal hold Swing -3.02
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Paul Zed 15,725 43.28 +13.12 $60,257.89
Conservative Bob McVicar 12,212 33.62 -25.88 $59,750.72
New Democratic Terry Albright 6,926 19.06 +10.34 $13,450.03
Green Jonathan Cormier 807 2.22 +1.92 $1,401.24
Marijuana Jim Wood 369 1.02 -0.38 none listed
Independent Tom Oland 290 0.80 $235.21
Total valid votes/expense limit 36,329 100.0     $73,296
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 224 0.61
Turnout 36,553 55.03 -5.46
Eligible voters 66,423
Liberal notional gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +19.50
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Change for the Conservative Party is based on the combined total of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance.
2000 federal election redistributed results
Party Vote %
  Progressive Conservative 19,236 49.05
  Liberal 11,829 30.16
  Alliance 4,099 10.45
  New Democratic 3,421 8.72
  Others 635 1.62

Saint John, 1996 Representation Order

2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Elsie Wayne 16,751 50.9 -12.2
Liberal Paul Zed 9,535 29.0 +13.1
New Democratic Rod Hill 2,989 9.1 -1.3
Alliance Peter Touchbourne 2,980 9.1 -0.7
Marijuana Jim Wood 461 1.4 +1.4
Green Vern Garnett 131 0.3 +0.3
Natural Law Miville Couture 52 0.2 -0.5
Total valid votes 32,899 100.0
1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Elsie Wayne 22,227 63.1 +19.8
Liberal Diana Alexander 5,612 15.9 -17.7
New Democratic Larry Hanley 3,679 10.4 +6.3
Reform George Richardson 3,467 9.8 +3.6
Natural Law Christopher B. Collrin 232 0.7 n/c
Total valid votes 35,217 100.0

Saint John, previous elections

1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Elsie Wayne 15,123 43.3 +0.2
Liberal Pat Landers 11,736 33.6 -5.0
Independent Joe Boyce 3,685 10.6 +10.6
Reform John Erbs 2,171 6.2 +6.2
New Democratic Shirley Brown 1,443 4.1 -8.4
Canada Party Jim Webb 368 1.1 +1.1
Natural Law Christopher Collrin 252 0.7 +0.7
National Joy Hobson 146 0.4 +0.4
Total valid votes 34,924 100.0
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Gerry Merrithew 16,798 43.1 -9.1
Liberal Joe Boyce 15,067 38.6 +13.1
New Democratic Judith Meinert 4,883 12.5 -8.7
Confederation of Regions Jim Webb 1,806 4.6 +4.6
Libertarian Thomas Gamblin 289 0.7 -0.1
Independent Gary Zatzman 162 0.4 +0.4
Total valid votes 39,005 100.0
1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Gerry Merrithew 16,604 52.2 +13.2
Liberal Cliff Warner 8,109 25.5 -15.9
New Democratic Mary Palmer 6,752 21.2 +2.3
Libertarian Peter Jones 242 0.8 +0.6
Social Credit Gordon Simons 102 0.3 +0.3
Total valid votes 31,809 100.0
1980 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Mike Landers 13,122 41.4 +1.8
Progressive Conservative Eric Ferguson 12,363 39.0 -2.6
New Democratic David M. Brown 5,978 18.9 +0.0
Independent Marilynn Fox 103 0.3 -
Libertarian Peter Jones 66 0.2 -
Marxist–Leninist Gilles DesRosiers 35 0.1 -
Total valid votes 31,667 100.0
lop.parl.ca
1979 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Eric Ferguson 13,989 41.6 +0.6
Liberal Mike Landers 13,316 39.6 -6.5
New Democratic Eldon Richardson 6,358 18.9 +6.5
Total valid votes 33,663 100.0

Saint John—Lancaster, 1966–1976

1974 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Mike Landers 12,860 46.1 +3.9
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 11,419 41.0 -12.9
New Democratic Eldon Richardson 3,457 12.4 +9.9
Marxist–Leninist Jay Baxter 118 0.4 +0.4
Total valid votes 27,854 100.0
1972 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 16,350 53.9 +0.9
Liberal William Ryan 12,783 42.2 +1.2
New Democratic Joseph Drummond 788 2.5 -2.6
Social Credit Tom Enright 394 1.3 +1.3
Total valid votes 30,315 100.0
1968 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 15,756 53.0 +1.6
Liberal William Ryan 12,160 41.0 +4.4
New Democratic Eldon Richardson 1,508 5.1 -6.8
Independent Mildred Crawford 268 0.9 +0.9
Total valid votes 29,692 100.0

St. John—Albert 1914–1966

1965 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 21,909 51.4 -0.3
Liberal Arthur Whelly 15,609 36.6 -3.3
New Democratic Eldon Richardson 5,081 11.9 +7.4
Total valid votes 42,599 100.0
1963 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 21,584 51.7 -0.1
Liberal Arthur Whelly 16,669 39.9 +1.4
New Democratic John Simonds 1,869 4.5 -1.6
Social Credit Paul Sherwood 1,606 3.8 +0.1
Total valid votes 41,728 100.0
1962 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 22,586 51.8 -12.1
Liberal George Urquhart 16,790 38.5 +5.6
New Democratic Eldon Richardson 2,641 6.1 +2.8
Social Credit Harvey Lainson 1,608 3.7 +3.7
Total valid votes 43,625 100.0
1958 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 21,983 63.9 +10.3
Liberal George McLeod 13,917 32.9 -13.5
Co-operative Commonwealth Eldon Richardson 1,394 3.3 +3.3
Total valid votes 37,294 100.0
1957 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 21,983 53.6 +4.1
Liberal Daniel Riley 19,047 46.4 -1.7
Total valid votes 41,030 100.0
1953 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tom Bell 18,881 49.5 +4.8
Liberal Daniel Riley 18,338 48.1 -0.8
Co-operative Commonwealth Raymond McAfee 933 2.4 -4.0
Total valid votes 38,152 100.0
1949 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Riley 18,691 48.9 +7.8
Progressive Conservative King Hazen 17,052 44.7 -2.1
Co-operative Commonwealth Raymond McAfee 2,445 6.4 -5.6
Total valid votes 38,188 100.0
1945 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative King Hazen 16,205 46.8 -3.5
Liberal David Lawrence MacLaren 14,248 41.1 -6.1
Co-operative Commonwealth William Arrowsmith 761 12.0 +9.5
Total valid votes 31,214 100.0
1940 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Government King Hazen 15,110 50.3 +13.4
Liberal Allan McAvity 14,197 47.2 -0.8
Co-operative Commonwealth James Fritch 761 2.5 +2.5
Total valid votes 30,068 100.0

Note: popular vote is compared to 1935 general election.

By-election on February 21, 1938

On William Ryan's death, April 1, 1938

Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Allan McAvity acclaimed


1935 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ryan 15,125 48.0 +13.9
Conservative Douglas King Hazen 11,643 36.9 -19.0
Reconstruction Paul Cross 4,094 13.0
Independent Liberal Howe Cowan 672 2.1
Total valid votes 31,534 100.0

Note: popular vote is compared to the party's total share of the popular vote in the 1930 general election.


1930 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Murray MacLaren 16,454 33.0 Green tickY
Conservative Thomas Bell 16,395 32.9 Green tickY
Liberal Allan McAvity 8,595 17.3
Liberal William Ryan 8,371 16.8
Total valid votes 49,815 100.0

Total Conservative vote: 32,849, or 65.9% of the total, an increase of 4.2% from the 1926 general election.
Total Liberal vote: 16,966, or 34.1%, a decrease of 4.2% from the 1926 general election.

1926 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Murray MacLaren 12,441 31.0 Green tickY
Conservative Thomas Bell 12,310 30.7 Green tickY
Liberal William Michael Ryan 8,007 20.0
Liberal Robert Thomas Hayes 7,356 18.3
Total valid votes 40,114 100.0%

Total Conservative vote: 24,751, or 61.7% of the total, a decrease of 0.2% from the 1925 general election.
Total Liberal vote: 15,363, or 38.3% of the total, an increase of 0.2% from the 1925 general election.

1925 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Murray MacLaren 14,623 31.3 Green tickY
Conservative Thomas Bell 14,250 30.5 Green tickY
Liberal Walter Edward Foster 9,348 20.0
Liberal Robert Thomas Hayes 8,435 18.1
Total valid votes 46,656 100.0

Total Conservative vote: 28,873, or 61.9% of the total, an increase of 11.6% from the 1921 general election.
Total Liberal vote: 17,783, or 38.1% of the total, a decrease of 6.7% from the 1921 general election.

1921 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative John Babington Baxter 11,646 26.0 Green tickY
Conservative Murray MacLaren 10,901 24.3 Green tickY
Liberal H. R. McLellan 10,531 23.5
Liberal William Patrick Broderick 9,546 21.3
Progressive Frederick Alexander Campbell 1,224 2.7
Progressive William Mayhew Calhoun 985 2.2
Total valid votes 44,833 100.0

Total Conservative vote: 22,547, or 50.3% of the total, an increase of 0.3% from the 1920 by-election.
Total Liberal vote: 20,077, or 44.8% of the total, a decrease of 5.2% from the 1920 by-election.
Total Progressive vote: 2,209, or 4.9% of the total.

By-election on September 20, 1920
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Rupert Wilson Wigmore 13,611 50.0 -20.8
Liberal Alban Frederick Emery 13,594 50.0 +20.8
Total valid votes 27,205 100.0

Note: Conservative vote is compared to Government vote in 1917 election, and Liberal vote is compared to Opposition vote. Popular vote is compared to the party's total share of the popular vote in the 1917 general election.

1917 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Government (Unionist) Rupert Wilson Wigmore 13,611 35.4 Green tickY
Government (Unionist) Stanley Edward Elkin 13,594 35.4 Green tickY
Liberal William Patrick Broderick 5,694 14.8
Liberal Alban Frederick Emery 5,530 14.4
Total valid votes 38,429 100.0

Total Conservative vote: 27,205, or 70.8% of the total.
Total Liberal vote: 11,224, or 29.2% of the total.

See also

References

  • "Saint John—Rothesay (Code 13009) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2011.

Notes