Prince GeorgeâÂÂPeace RiverâÂÂNorthern Rockies (previously Prince GeorgeâÂÂPeace River) is a federal electoral district in northern British Columbia, Canada. It has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1968.
It consists of all of the province of British Columbia east of the Great Divide and some communities west of the divide. It contains large areas of uninhabited wilderness.
Communities include the oil-and-gas exploration centre of Fort St. John; Fort Nelson, with the province's biggest wood products plant; Dawson Creek; Large Coal Mining operations in Tumbler Ridge and the part of Prince George north of the Nechako River and east of the Fraser River.
This electoral district was originally created in 1966 from parts of Cariboo and Kamloops ridings.
It was abolished in 1976 when it was redistributed into Fort NelsonâÂÂPeace River riding and a part of Prince GeorgeâÂÂBulkley Valley ridings. In 1978, Fort NelsonâÂÂPeace River was renamed "Prince GeorgeâÂÂPeace River". There were no elections during the period it was called "Fort NelsonâÂÂPeace River".
This riding has elected conservative candidates consistently since 1972: Progressive Conservative Frank Oberle from 1972 to 1993, and Reform Party of Canada/Canadian Alliance/Conservative Jay Hill from 1993 until 2010. The district is currently represented by Bob Zimmer of the Conservatives.
The 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution concluded that the electoral boundaries of Prince GeorgeâÂÂPeace River should be adjusted, and a modified electoral district will be contested in future elections. The redefined riding regains the community of Valemount and area that had been transferred to KamloopsâÂÂThompsonâÂÂCariboo in the previous redistribution. Although not directly related to this boundary adjustment, the riding was renamed as Prince GeorgeâÂÂPeace RiverâÂÂNorthern Rockies to acknowledge the Northern Rockies Regional District, whose status in the riding is unchanged. These new boundaries and the new name were legally defined in the 2013 representation order, which came into effect upon the call of the 2015 Canadian federal election.
This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
Its current member of Parliament is Bob Zimmer. He was first elected in 2011. He represents the Conservative Party of Canada.