Portage la Prairie (provincial electoral district)


Portage la Prairie is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It has existed since the province's creation in 1870.
Portage la Prairie is located in southern Manitoba. It is bordered to the north by Lake Manitoba, to the south by Carman, to the west by Turtle Mountain, and to the east by Lakeside and Morris.
Portage la Prairie itself is in the central part of the riding. Other communities in the riding include Oakville, Newton, St. Marks, and Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation.
The riding's population in 1996 was 18,785. In 1999, the average family income was $45,302, and the unemployment rate was 7.00%. The health and service sector accounts for 18% of the riding's industry, followed by agriculture at 13%.
Thirteen per cent of Portage la Prairie's residents are aboriginal, while a further 6% are German.
Portage la Prairie has been held since by the Progressive Conservative Party for most of its history, although the New Democratic Party has increased its standing in the riding in recent years.

List of provincial representatives

NamePartyTook OfficeLeft Office
Frederick BirdOpposition/Canadian Party18701874
Kenneth McKenzieOpposition/Liberal18741875
Government/Liberal18751878
James CowanGovernment/Conservative18781879
Government/Independent Liberal18791883
Joseph MartinLib18831892
Robert WatsonLib18921899
William GarlandCons18991902
Hugh ArmstrongCons19021914
Ewan McPhersonLib19141920
Fawcett TaylorCons19201933
Toby SexsmithCons19331943
Charles GreenlayCons/PC19431950
Lib-Prog19501959
John ChristiansonPC19591962
Gordon JohnstonLib19621977
Lloyd HydePC19771985
Ed ConneryPC19861992
Brian PallisterPC19921997
David FaurschouPC19972011
Ian WishartPC2011present

Electoral results

June, 2003: