Long Range Mountains: The race guaranteed to produce a new MP

With the federal election less than a week away, there's only one riding in Newfoundland and Labradorwith no incumbent in the race: Long Range Mountains. Gerry Byrne, who has represented the soon-to-be-former riding of Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Vertesince 1996, will be running in the provincial election on Nov. 30.

Here's a breakdown of the four new faces vying to be itsMP.

Wayne Ruth, Conservative Party of Canada

On his resum:

Ruth is former four-term mayor of Kippens. He is also a past-president of the Federation of Newfoundland and Labrador Municipalities (now known as Municipalities NL), a founding member of the Atlantic Mayors Congress, and a former member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Why he's running:

"It really comes down to representation from the perspective of where you sit in Ottawa. If you're sitting at the table with government, you have more of a chance to get things for your province, for your regionStrategically, the people in the province should look at it and say 'we need a Conservative person sitting at the table'."

Top issues:

Ruth wants to focus on funding for health care, and the commercial fishery citing the Conservatives' election promise to invest $20 million into the lobster industry, primarily in marketing and promotion as beneficial for Long Range Mountains.

How he'll work to improve the local economy:

"We have to encourage the private sector. Small businesses come to mind, but we can't burden them down with too many taxes. We'll just discourage people from having small businesses."

Terry Cormier, Green Party

On hisresum:

Cormierhad a 35-year career with the federal Department of Foreign Affairs, with postings in Africa, Europe, Asiaand Ottawa. He was also the department's Director of International Crime and Terrorism from 1999 to2004.

Why he's running:

"I really feel that democracy doesn't work,and people are saying that. They say they don't feel they have a voice in Ottawa, it doesn't make any difference who they vote for, if they vote red or it they vote blue, it don't make any difference. They feel disengaged, and I think politics can be much better."

Top issues:

Commercial fishery quotas, transferring licenses inter-generationally, and fishery and ocean research. Cormier also cites issues surrounding the Qalipu First Nationsenrolmentprocess as a priority.

How he'll work to improve the local economy:

"It [the Green Party platform] focuses on small businesses, it focuses on venture capital in certain areas where we need to put emphasis. There are lots of jobs in clean energy, for instance. The tourism sector, obviously, requires a great deal of importance. I also think that, for instance, we need to do a lot more with respect to food security, and farming industry in Newfoundland."

Devon Babstock, NDP

On hisresum:

Babstock has spent the last six years as a school administrator in small coastal communities, including Ramea, Cow Head andDaniel's Harbour. He's currently the vice-principalof Gros Morne Academy inRocky Harbour. Babstock was also a teacher and principal in Natuashish.

Why he's running:

"It just felt like the time was right. I was becoming a little bit upset with some of the things that the current government was doing, some things around theerosion of our rights, with such things as Bill C-51. I thought, well, if I'm not going to do it now, when is it going to be a better time?I can make the most impact now. Although Ido have a young family [Babstock has a one-and a three-year-old]I'm doing it for them, I think I can make a real difference."

Top issues:

Babstock is concerned about the aging population, and says the NDP platforms of rolling back retirement age to 65, and boosting the guaranteed income supplement would have big impacts in the riding.

How he'll work to improve the local economy:

On the commercial fishery: "I don't think the government has been listening to them as much as they should've been in the past few years.I think we need to have more of say in our fishery here. The federal government regulates it, but we need to be able to have more of a say in what we're catching, how much we're catching, and how we're catching it."

Gudie Hutchings, Liberal

On herresum:

Hutchings has worked in tourism and outfitting for around 30 years, and is a past-president of the Newfoundland and LabradorOutfittersAssociation, as well as a founder of the Canadian Federation of OutfitterAssociations. She is also a past-president of the Corner Brook Chamber of Commerce, and is currently the head of the Battle Harbour Historic Trust.

Whyshe's running:

"I'm not afraid of anything, and have a huge passion for the province.And it's my time to give back. Living here all my life and being from here, a great family connection that I'm so proud of, it's my time to give back, and give back with 150 per cent to make a difference for the Long Range Mountains."

Top issues:

Hutchings says commercial fish quotas are a top concern, as well as the veterans issues that form a plank of the Liberals platform, such as re-opening Corner Brook's Veterans Affairs districtoffice.

How she'll work to improve the local economy:

"We know that the middle class is the heart of the Canadian economy, and that's why when we strengthen the middle class, we know we're going togrow our economy. Justin Trudeauhas already announced many, many elements of the plan for growthone of them is the Canadian child benefit. And that'll provide more help to low- and middle-income families, and less to wealthy families."