There are also seventeen Indian reserves within the geographical area that are not subject to governance by the municipalities or the Regional District; they have a combined population of 7,550 (2006) and are governed by the Squamish Nation, Musqueam Nation, Tsleil-waututh First Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation, Semiahmoo First Nation, New Westminster Indian Band, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Katzie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation. The cities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission, located to the region's east, are often linked to Vancouver in promotions and tourism and in various non-official usages, as are Squamish and Whistler to the region's north. Demographics The 2016 census indicates a population of 2,463,431 in Greater Vancouver, representing a 6.5 percent increase from the 2011 census. The population of Metro Vancouver is of diverse origin. The 2016 census showed that 48.6 percent of the population was of European heritage, 2.5 percent was of Indigenous heritage, and the remaining 48.9 percent of the population were of visible minority origin, the largest group being Chinese followed by South Asians. Other prominent groups include Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, Southeast Asian, West Asian, and Latin Americans. British Columbia is Canada's most ethnically diverse province. Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses. Politics and government Federal Federally, the electorates in the Greater Vancouver region elect Conservative, New Democratic, and Liberal Members of Parliaments. After the 2011 election, the Conservatives and NDP emerged as the two strongest parties in the region, with Conservative support concentrated in the suburbs around Vancouver (e.g. North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, and south Surrey), and NDP support strongest on the east side of Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster and north Surrey. In 2011, the Liberals were reduced to two seats, both located in Vancouver. However, in the past, Liberal support has been strong in the Lower Mainland. Following the 1993 election, the Liberals held every seat but one in the City of Vancouver. Provincial Greater Vancouver, like the rest of British Columbia, is divided between the BC Liberals and the BC NDP. While the BC Liberals are not formally affiliated with any federal party, they tend to draw support from those who vote for either the Liberal Party of Canada or the Conservative Party of Canada, while the BC NDP provide a centre-left alternative, and is formally affiliated with the New Democratic Party of Canada. Polling from the 2013 provincial election showed that supporters of the