Riel (electoral district)

Riel is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1968, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1969. The riding is located in the south-central region of the City of Winnipeg, and is named after Louis Riel, the leader of the 1870 Red River Rebellion.

Riel

Manitoba electoral district
Provincial electoral district
Legislature	Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
MLA	Rochelle Squires Progressive Conservative
First contested	1969
Last contested	2016

Riel is bordered to the east by St. Vital, to the south by Seine River, to the north by St. Vital, and to the west by the ridings of Fort Richmond and Fort Garry-Riverview.

The riding's population in 1996 was 20,228. The riding's character is mostly middle-class and upper middle-class. In 1999, the average family income was $63,126, and the unemployment rate was 5.50%. Nine percent of the riding's residents are francophone.

The service industry accounts for 15% of Riel's economy, followed by health and social services at 12.5%.

Riel has more often been represented by candidates of the Progressive Conservative Party than the NDP (NDP).The current MLA is Progresssive Conservative Rochelle Squires. The previous MLA was Christine Melnick of the NDP who won with 53% of votes cast in 2003 and 60% in the 2007 Manitoba election.