Colin Neilsen, coordinator of the recall campaign against Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, sets up the anti HST headquarters office at 216-1595 McKenzie in the Gordon Head area, in Victoria Nov. 18, 2010.Deddeda Stemler for the Globe and Mail
Oak Bay-Gordon Head offers a prime hunting ground for the Fight HST recall campaign because of its stable population, mild climate and large number of affluent retirees who seem ripe for an anti-tax Tea Party movement.
Here's a snapshot of this urban, seaside riding based on statistics from the 2006 Census:
Moneyed
The average family income here is $108,000 - well above the provincial average - so the harmonized sales tax makes a bigger impression on pocketbooks. The average home is worth about $210,000 more than the B.C. average. Even single moms earn about $11,000 more per year than the provincial average.
Deep roots
People move less often in these communities than elsewhere in B.C., which is critical to the recall campaign. Elections BC will only count signatures from people who were eligible to vote in this riding during the May 12, 2009 election. Canvassers will be armed with one of the most accurate voters' lists in B.C.
Where the palm trees grow
The area has one of the mildest winters in Canada, so December and January is not such a bad time to be a canvasser standing on a street corner or going door to door. Still, the riding has a significant number of snowbirds - affluent retirees who head south for the winter. Organizers want to capture that crowd before they fly away after Christmas.
Hand me that ballot
In last year's election, just half of eligible voters turned up at the polls provincewide. But Oak Bay-Gordon Head voters showed one of the strongest turnouts, with almost 67 per cent voting. Participation rates increase with advanced age and advanced education. On both scores, this riding is rich with active voters.
Justine Hunter