Victoria is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1872 to 1904 and since 1925. The riding was originally chartered as Victoria District for the special byelections held in 1871 upon the province's entry into Confederation. But, like the other B.C. ridings with that appellation, the "District" was dropped once the temporary ridings were ratified and made "permanent" for the general election of 1872; this was the first in which the Victoria riding (by that name) appeared. From 1905 up until the 1925 election, Victoria was represented by the riding of Victoria City. Demographics Notes: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.Demographics based on 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution riding boundaries. Ethnic groups (2006): 85.54% White, 4.05% Chinese, 3.07% Aboriginal, 1.26% South Asian, 1.22% Japanese, 1.15% Filipino, 1.09% Black Languages (2011): 83.93% English, 2.92% Chinese, 1.79% French, 1.40% German Religions (2001): 35.36% Protestant, 15.05% Catholic, 3.94% Other Christian, 1.62% Buddhist, 40.52% No religion Median income (2005): $24,022 Geography It covers the entire city of Victoria, the municipality of Oak Bay and the southeastern portion of the municipality of Saanich. It also includes the University of Victoria. Riding associations Riding associations are the local branches of the national political parties: History This electoral district was created in 1872 when Victoria District riding was abolished. It elected two members to the House of Commons of Canada through Block voting. Of the two it elected in 1872, one was the first Jewish MP of Canada; the other served as MP while also serving as premier of the province. In 1878, Sir John A. Macdonald was parachuted into the riding, as he was unelectable in eastern Canada, in the wake of the Pacific Scandal. Macdonald, previously the MP for the Marquette riding in Manitoba, had to run in a by-election as he had been appointed to the cabinet (to serve as prime minister). He chose Victoria, which had not yet held its portion of the 1878 federal election. Victorians voted for him enthusiastically, as he promised to finally bring about the construction of what became the Canadian Pacific Railway. He did not run for re-election in Victoria, instead securing a safe seat in Ontario in 1882. It was abolished in 1903, and split into Victoria City and Nanaimo ridings. It was re-created in 1924 from the Victoria City riding,