Fredericton

New Brunswick's capital city anchors this riding, which also takes in the military town of Oromocto and surrounding rural areas along the Saint John River valley. Home to the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, Fredericton serves as the province's administrative and educational hub, with a population drawn heavily from the public service and post-secondary sectors. The riding has long been considered a bellwether in federal politics, frequently swinging between the Liberals and Conservatives.

Candidates

Matt DeCourcey (Liberal) — A Fredericton native and graduate of St. Thomas University and Mount Saint Vincent University, DeCourcey had worked as director of communications for New Brunswick's Child and Youth Advocate before seeking the Liberal nomination. He previously served as a staffer for Fredericton MP Andy Scott and Labrador MP Todd Russell, and spent time in The Gambia on an international development initiative.

Keith Ashfield (Conservative) — The incumbent MP, Ashfield had served in the provincial legislature as MLA for New Maryland before winning the federal seat in 2008. He rose through Stephen Harper's cabinet, holding portfolios including Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. His campaign was complicated by health challenges, having battled Hodgkin's lymphoma and suffered a heart attack during his time in office.

Mary Lou Babineau (Green Party) — An associate professor at St. Thomas University who taught Spanish language and literature, Babineau had served as chair of the United Way campaign at St. Thomas and president of the university's faculty association. She was appointed to Elizabeth May's shadow cabinet as Labour and Employment critic during the campaign.

Sharon Scott-Levesque (NDP) — A registered nurse and longtime Fredericton business owner, Scott-Levesque had previously run twice for the provincial New Democrats, in 2010 and 2014. She focused her campaign on affordability and the erosion of the middle class.

About the Riding

Fredericton's economy revolves around government, education, and a growing technology sector centred on the city's Knowledge Park. The University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University together enrol thousands of students and employ a significant share of the local workforce. Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, adjacent to Oromocto, is one of the largest military training facilities in Canada and a major employer in the riding's southern portion. During the 2015 campaign, the future of the aging Mactaquac Dam — a hydroelectric facility upstream on the Saint John River facing an estimated $2 billion to $5 billion in repair or replacement costs — was a prominent local concern, with implications for flood risk, property values, and electricity rates across the province.