Rural voters want jobs, representation in New Brunswick Southwest

New Brunswick Southwest has been a Conservative stronghold for the past two decades, but in this campaigneven the incumbent, Conservative John Williamsonsays the riding "isn't a sure thing" for the party.

"You can't take anything for granted in today's volatileelection cycle," Williamson said during a series of candidate profiles.

"The big issue, door to door, is jobs and the economy and what the government can do to help, what government can improve the situation for working families, businesses, so our tomorrow's are going to be better than todayand I think we have a good record on that."

• AUDIO: NDP candidate Andrew Graham
• AUDIO: Liberal candidate Karen Ludwig
• AUDIO: Green candidate Gayla MacIntosh
• AUDIO: Conservative candidate John Williamson

In 2011, Williamson secured more than56 percent of the vote.

It wasn't necessarily a surprise, since the region has historically elected Conservatives since1968, dating back to the old Carleton-Charlotte riding.

Opponents hope there is enough desire for change among voters to finally overtake the Tory dominance in the large rural riding in the southwest corner of the province.

The only time a Liberal candidate has captured the riding was in 1993 when the Progressive Conservatives collapsed underKim Campbell.

Liberal candidate Karen Ludwig says she's up for the challenge to do it again in the southwestern riding.

She says the biggest issues facing the riding are sustainable jobs, health care and dealing withan aging population.

"For a long time, New Brunswick Southwest felt like a forgotten riding in terms of attention from Ottawa, attention in terms of infrastructure investments, focus on jobs," Ludwig said.

"I'm told theincumbent hasn't represented their interests and they feel embarrassed."

Campaign focuses on jobs

Ludwig, the associate dean of faculty for Yorkville University, has a background in business and says more small business opportunities are badly needed in areas like tourism.

"Many tourism businesses in New Brunswick Southwest could benefit from greater exposure. It's encouraging when people come to the area and are amazed at the possibilities, the beauty, the diversity of the areaand they ask the question, 'How can I work here?'" Ludwig said.

"They look for business opportunities, they look for high-speed internet, in rural New Brunswick, high-speed internet is an issue. They're looking at expanding markets in St. Stephen and St. Andrewsand students graduating form local community colleges are looking for jobs."

Over the last decade, the NDP has overtaken the Liberals for second place in the riding, taking 23 per centof the vote in 2011.

It is Andrew Graham's fourth time running federally for the NDP.

Graham, a carpenter and woodworker, says he is also hearing that constituents are looking for better job prospects.

"They want a change in how government looks at rural communities. Farmers feed cities, we need resource extraction that can build a diversified rural economy," Graham said.

"But over the past decades, the Liberal and Conservative governments have not understood how vital this area is, rural Canada."

Graham says he's also hearing that people feel overlooked and want stronger rural representation.

"Just because people living in rural areas doesn't mean they don't want something positive and progressive for the communities. And as wecan see with the closing of rural schools and threatening our courthouses in St. Stephen, people are tired of these worn out policies that are breaking down our rural communities," he said.

"They want real change. And some vision."

Pipeline concerns

Gayla MacIntosh, a taxi driver, is the Green Party candidate for New Brunswick Southwest.

She says even though she's also hearing the push for jobs, people don't wantprojects, such asTransCanada Corp.'s proposed Energy East pipeline, to come at the expense of the environment.

"What is the risk we're taking by bringing in the pipeline, by bringing in shale gas? Is it worth the risk?" MacIntosh said.

"I would rather it be put back on the table and backed off. We're giving away most of our resources instead of getting out of them what we should be getting I don't want to put our environment into risk."

The riding was formed in 2004 by taking 90 per cent of Charlotte-New Brunswick Southwest and adding 11 per cent of Fundy-Royal.

Charlotte-New Brunswick Southwest had been created in 1996, with the majority of its residents coming from the old Carleton-Charlotte riding.