Saint John—Rothesay

Encompassing the port city of Saint John and the affluent suburbs of Rothesay and Quispamsis in the Kennebecasis Valley, this riding blends an industrial urban core with some of the wealthiest residential communities in New Brunswick. Saint John, situated where the Saint John River empties into the Bay of Fundy, is home to the Irving Oil refinery — the largest in Canada — and has long been the province's commercial and industrial centre. The riding was reconfigured under the 2012 redistribution to unite the city with the Kennebecasis Valley suburbs.

Candidates

Wayne Long (Liberal) — A Saint John businessman best known as the longtime president of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Long managed the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise for more than a decade, including through its 2011 Memorial Cup championship. He had also worked in the seafood industry, serving as a product manager for Stolt Sea Farm and as president of Scotiaview Seafood Inc.

Rodney Weston (Conservative) — The incumbent MP since 2008, Weston had earlier served as a provincial MLA for Saint John-Fundy from 1999 to 2003, holding the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture under Premier Bernard Lord. He later served as chief of staff to Lord before moving to federal politics. Before public life, he owned a gas station and worked as a trucking contractor in St. Martins, where he also served as deputy mayor and fire chief.

AJ Griffin (NDP) — An IT professional and fitness instructor, Griffin had drawn early attention in the campaign with strong initial polling numbers. She voiced concern about the proposed Energy East pipeline, arguing it was premature to commit to the project without completed environmental reviews.

Sharon Murphy (Green Party) — Murphy carried the Green Party banner in the riding.

About the Riding

Saint John's economy is dominated by the Irving family of companies, whose refining, forestry, shipbuilding, and media operations make them the largest private-sector employer in the province. The proposed Energy East pipeline, which would have carried western Canadian crude oil to a new marine terminal on the Bay of Fundy for export, was a defining issue in the 2015 campaign. Proponents pointed to billions in capital investment and thousands of construction jobs, while opponents raised environmental and safety concerns. The city had experienced population decline in the years preceding the election, losing residents according to census data, and candidates grappled with how to revitalize the local economy beyond its traditional resource base. The Kennebecasis Valley communities of Rothesay and Quispamsis, by contrast, are prosperous commuter suburbs with strong schools and high property values, creating a riding that spans a wide socioeconomic spectrum.