Steinbach (electoral district)

File:SteinbachElectoral2011.jpg

The 2011- Boundaries for Steinbach highlighted in red.

Steinbach is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1989, and has formally existed since the provincial election of 1990. For the 2011 election, Steinbach was redistributed again, it was also contracted for the second consecutive time as population densities in the city and area grew.

Steinbach is located in southeastern Manitoba. It is bordered by Emerson to the west, La Verendrye to the south and east, Dawson Trail to the north, and Morris to the west. The largest community in the riding is the city of Steinbach, the riding's namesake. Other major centres include Mitchell Kleefeld.

Thirty-four per cent of the riding's residents list German as their ethnic origin, and a further 7% list themselves as Dutch. There is a very strong Mennonite presence in the riding. Steinbach's population in 2006 was 19,415. In the year 1999, the average family income was $46,133, and the unemployment rate was 5.00%. Manufacturing accounts for 17% of the riding's industry, followed by agriculture at 14%.

The riding has been held by the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba since its creation, and is considered extremely safe for that party. Steinbach's rural nature, as well as the city's religious background, gives the riding a strong social conservative tint. Manitoba political pundits often refer to Steinbach as a "yellow dog riding," as it is one of many rural ridings where it is often said in jest that the Tories could nominate a yellow dog and still win. It is located within the equally conservative federal riding of Provencher.

The current MLA is Kelvin Goertzen, who was first elected with almost 75% of the vote in 2003. Goertzen is the deputy leader of the Progressive Conservatives in Manitoba.

List of provincial representatives

Name	Party	Took Office	Left Office
Albert Driedger	PC	1990	1999
Jim Penner	PC	1999	2003
Kelvin Goertzen	PC	2003	present

Electoral results

Manitoba general election, 2011
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Kelvin Goertzen	5,469	85.52	+2.54
	New Democratic	Dally Gutierrez	487	7.62	−1.04
	Liberal	Lee Fehler	439	6.86	+2.12
Total valid votes
Rejected and declined votes
Turnout
Registered voters

Manitoba general election, 2007
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Kelvin Goertzen	6,144	82.98	+8.35	$25,321.51
	New Democratic	Rawle Squires	641	8.66	−6.58	$331.36
	Liberal	Jonathan Thiessen	351	4.74	−3.19	$340.30
	Green	Janine Gibson	268	3.62	+1.42	$421.15
Total valid votes			7,404	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			25
Turnout			7,429	49.99
Registered voters			14,862

Manitoba general election, 2003
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Kelvin Goertzen	4,284	74.63	−2.99	$24,714.92
	New Democratic	Bonnie Schmidt	875	15.24	+2.89	$341.35
	Liberal	Monica Guetre	455	7.93	−1.43	$3,465.33
	Green	Connie Jantz	126	2.20	+2.20	$74.58
Total valid votes			5,740	100.00
Rejected and declined votes			41
Turnout			5,781	41.99
Registered voters			13,768

Manitoba general election, 1999
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%	Expenditures
	Progressive Conservative	Jim Penner	5,708	77.62		$27,412.91
	New Democratic	Peter Hiebert	910	12.37		$21.00
	Liberal	Monica Guetre	688	9.36	–	$3,179.52
Total valid votes			7,306	99.35
Rejected and declined votes			48
Turnout			7,354	57.48
Registered voters			12,795

Previous boundaries

File:SteinbachElectoral.png

The 1999-2011 boundaries for Steinbach highlighted in red.