But the party is trailing badly in polls and even the NDP incumbent, Attorney General Graeme Bowbrick, is worried the winning streak may come to an end. There is always the risk that in a tidal wave it doesn't matter what you do personally, it won't make a difference. Dennis Cocke, who represented the riding for 17 years, said the New Democrats should be worried. New Westminster, the first city incorporated in the province and intended to be the provincial capital, has seen an influx of development in the last 20 years. The waterfront is lined with condominiums.
New residents arrive to escape higher housing costs elsewhere.
Some blame the NDP for leaky condos, drugs and prostitution problems that arrived with the SkyTrain terminus and a local health-care crunch. True, a lot of the traditional working class, lower-middle income people just can't afford to live there any more, said Chris Kukucha, a political scientist at Douglas College. But the NDP has problems beyond simple demographics. I think it's going to be one of the ridings to watch. I think it's going to be tough for them to hang onto the riding.