Acadie—Bathurst is the name of a federal electoral district (riding) in New Brunswick, Canada. Its population is 76,392. (2001). The riding has mostly been held by the Liberal Party thanks to strong support from the francophone Acadian population. There is also a notable Red Tory tendency in the riding that enabled the former Progressive Conservative Party to win on occasion.

In the 1997 federal election, the New Democratic Party's Yvon Godin won an unexpected victory over powerful Liberal cabinet minister Doug Young, mostly due to unpopular Liberal cuts to Employment Insurance. Godin has held the riding ever since.

In the 2004 Canadian election he ran against Serge Rouselle of the Liberals, Joel Bernard , of the Conservatives, and Mario Lanteigne of the Greens. Despite stiff competition, the popular Godin retained by a wide margin on election day.

Geography

The district includes eastern Gloucester County, and the communities along Nepisiguit Bay .

History

The electoral district was created at confederation in 1867, and was known as Gloucester until its name was changed in 1990.

In 2004 there were some legal problems regarding the 2003 boundaries. The following is from the Elections Canada website:

In May 2004, the Federal Court of Canada made its decision in Raîche v. Canada (Attorney General) , concerning a portion of the electoral boundary between the ridings of Miramichi and Acadie–Bathurst. The Court held that, in transferring certain parts of parishes from the riding of Acadie–Bathurst to Miramichi, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for New Brunswick erred in its application of the rules governing the preparation of its recommendations. The new boundaries commission was created under Part I of the Inquiries Act in response to this court decision.

The current proposal is to change the boundaries back to the ones used in the 1996 representation.

List of Members:

1. Timothy Warren Anglin, Liberal (1867-1882)
2. Kennedy F. Burns , Conservative (1882-1894)
3. Théotime Blanchard , Conservative (1894-1900)
4. Onésiphore Turgeon , Liberal (1900-1922)
5. Jean George Robichaud , Liberal (1922-1926)
6. Peter J. Veniot, Liberal (1926-1936)
7. Clarence J. Veniot , Liberal (1936-1945)
8. Clovis-Thomas Richard , Liberal (1945-1952)
9. Albany Robichaud , Prog. Cons. (1952-1953)
10. Hédard-J. Robichaud , Liberal (1953-1968)
11. Herb Breau, Liberal (1968-1984)
12. Roger Clinch , Prog. Cons. (1984-1988)
13. Douglas Young, Liberal (1988-1997)
14. Yvon Godin, NDP (1997-present)