Turtle Mountain (electoral district)
Turtle Mountain is a provincial electoral division in the
Canadian province of
Manitoba. It was created with the westward expansion of the province's borders in
1881, eliminated by redistribution in
1968, and re-established in
1979, formally returned to the electoral map with the
provincial election of 1981.
Turtle Mountain is located in the southwestern region of the province. It is bordered to the north by
Ste. Rose, to the west by
Minnedosa and
Arthur-Virden, to the east by
Pembina,
Carman and
Portage La Prairie, and to the
American state of
North Dakota.
The riding is primarily rural. Communities in the riding include
Killarney,
Carberry,
Glenboro,
Pilot Mound and
MacGregor.
The riding's population in
1996 was 18,569. As of
1999, the average family income was $43,265, and the unemployment rate was 3.50%. Agriculture accounts for 37% of all industry in the riding, followed by health and social service work at 9%. Thirteen per cent of the riding's residents are
German.
Turtle Mountain has been represented by the
Progressive Conservative Party for most of its history, and is considered safe for that party. The current MLA is
Cliff Cullen, who was elected in a
2004 by-election.
