Riel (electoral district)

Riel is a provincial electoral division or riding 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 Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital and largest city, and is named after Louis Riel, the leader of the 1870 Red River Rebellion.

Riel is bordered to the south by Seine River, to the east by Lagimodière, to the north by St. Vital, to the northwest by Fort Garry, and to the southwest by Fort Richmond, the latter two across the Red River of the North.

The riding's population in 1996 was 20,228. The riding's character is mostly middle- 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 is a Progressive Conservative–New Democrat swing seat and is often considered one of the bellwether constituencies in Manitoba. It has elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the party that has won every general election since 1988. The current MLA is Mike Moyes of the NDP. The previous MLA was Rochelle Squires of the PCs.

Electoral results

 * Progressive Conservative
 * Shirley Render
 * style="text-align:right;" |3,119
 * style="text-align:right;" |37.83
 * style="text-align:right;" |-6.20
 * style="text-align:right;" |$20,036.18