Fredericton

The riding of Fredericton is centred on New Brunswick's provincial capital, situated along the Saint John River in the west-central part of the province. In addition to the city of Fredericton itself, the riding encompasses surrounding communities including the Town of Oromocto — home to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, one of the largest military training facilities in the Commonwealth — and the Village of New Maryland. The city had a population of approximately 56,000 at the time of the 2011 census.

Candidates

Keith Ashfield (Conservative) — Ashfield was the incumbent MP, first elected in Fredericton in 2008 after a long career in provincial politics. He had served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for New Maryland from 1999 to 2008, holding the post of Minister of Natural Resources and Energy under Premier Bernard Lord and serving as Deputy Speaker of the Legislature. After winning his federal seat, he was appointed Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in October 2008 and subsequently took on the National Revenue portfolio. Heading into the 2011 election, he was a cabinet minister seeking re-election.

Jesse Travis (NDP) — Travis was a New Brunswick NDP activist who had run federally in Fredericton in 2008 and provincially in New Maryland—Sunbury West in 2010. He served as interim leader of the New Brunswick NDP from November 2010 to March 2011, bridging the gap between Roger Duguay's departure and Dominic Cardy's election as leader.

Randy McKeen (Liberal) — McKeen carried the Liberal banner in Fredericton. Limited public biographical information was available about his background heading into the 2011 campaign.

Louise Comeau (Green Party) — Comeau was a climate change and sustainability researcher with more than fifteen years of experience in environmental policy. She had served as Executive Director of the Climate Action Network Canada and was involved in research and advocacy related to climate adaptation and energy policy in New Brunswick.

Adam Scott Ness ran as an Independent candidate.

About the Riding

As New Brunswick's capital, Fredericton's economy is anchored by the provincial government, which is by far the city's largest employer. The riding is also a significant post-secondary education hub, home to both the University of New Brunswick — the province's largest university and one of the oldest English-language universities in Canada — and St. Thomas University. These institutions contribute to a relatively well-educated population and a growing knowledge-based economy. By 2011, Fredericton had developed a notable information technology sector, with firms clustering in the city's downtown and at research parks connected to UNB. Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in Oromocto provides a substantial military and civilian payroll to the region. Key local issues heading into the 2011 election included public-sector employment levels, support for the forestry sector in surrounding areas, and federal investment in Atlantic Canada through agencies like ACOA. The riding had historically been competitive between Liberals and Conservatives at the federal level, but the Conservative brand had strengthened with Ashfield's incumbency and cabinet presence.