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National parties make wealthy constituency a test case

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Why you can trust SCMP
Petti Fong

Vancouver

The fortunate residents of Vancouver Quadra are heading to the polls for the third time in four years.

Electoral extravagances notwithstanding, the federal riding, or constituency, at the most westerly point in Vancouver is indeed blessed - residents are among the most educated in the province of British Columbia and their average household income is one of the highest in Canada.

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Up until now, they have also been very loyal.

Vancouver Quadra has voted in a Liberal Party member of Parliament for the past two decades. But the minority Conservative government is throwing a lot of resources at the election to try to grab the seat, which is one of four ridings across Canada to hold by-elections today.

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Another is in Saskatchewan and two are in Toronto. But the one in Vancouver is being watched closely for a variety of reasons.

The Conservative government has survived longer than expected and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has so far been able to avoid having to call an early general election. This is despite the Liberals' continued agitation over the government's commitment in Afghanistan and a minor scandal over whether the Conservatives offered a dying independent MP a life-insurance policy to secure a crucial vote.

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