Athabasca (Saskatchewan provincial electoral district)

Athabasca
Saskatchewan electoral district
Provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
MLA
 
 		 
Leroy Laliberte
New Democratic
District created1908
First contested1908
Last contested2024
Demographics
Population (2001)13,041
Electors (2003)7,146
Census division(s)Division No. 18
Census subdivision(s)Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Buffalo River Dene Nation 193, Canoe Lake 165, Chicken 224, Chicken 225, Clearwater River Dene 222, Clearwater River Dene Band 223, Cole Bay, Division No. 18, Unorganized, Dore Lake, Fond du Lac 227, Green Lake, Île-à-la-Crosse, Jans Bay, La Loche, La Plonge 192, Michel Village, Patuanak, Pinehouse, St. George's Hill, Stony Rapids, Turnor Lake, Wapachewunak 192D

Athabasca is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located in the extreme northwest corner of the province. The major industries are tourism, mineral extraction, forestry, commercial fishing, and trapping. The Cluff Lake uranium mine is located in this constituency, as well as the Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park and the Clearwater River Provincial Park. The major communities are La Loche, Île-à-la-Crosse and Buffalo Narrows with populations of 2,136, 1,268, and 1,137 respectively.

The district was most recently contested in the 2020 general election, during which incumbent NDP MLA Buckley Belanger was re-elected, but a by-election is scheduled for February 15, 2022 to replace Belanger who resigned to run (unsuccessfully) for the Liberal Party of Canada in the riding of Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River during the 2021 Canadian federal election.

The original Athabasca electoral district was created before the 1908 general election out of parts of Battleford, Redberry, Prince Albert and Kinistino, and consisted of the sparsely populated northern half of Saskatchewan. For the 1912 general election, the electoral district was divided in half, with the eastern half becoming Cumberland. The district's southern border was slightly altered before the 1917 general election, and was re-named Île-à-la-Crosse. Île-à-la-Crosse and Cumberland were re-joined prior to the 1934 general election, and the new combined riding was given the name Athabasca. Cumberland was split off again prior to the 1938 general election. Prior to the 1952 general election, Athabasca was shifted to the northeastern corner of the province, with most of its previous incarnation being transferred to Meadow Lake, with small parts transferred to the new Athabasca riding and Cumberland. This arrangement lasted until the 1971 general election, when the northern half of Meadow Lake was added back to the district. Finally, prior to the 1975 general election, the riding moved back to the northwestern corner of the province, adding back most of the territory in Meadow Lake, while losing it eastern half to Cumberland. The riding has remained in this configuration ever since.

History

In 1995 Buckley Belanger was elected, winning by 159 votes. Belanger left the Liberals, putting his seat on the line to run as a New Democrat. In the by-election, he defeated the Liberal candidate by 2,050 votes (94% of the popular vote), the second-largest majority in the history of the province. Belanger was subsequently re-elected in every general election since then, most recently in 2016. He resigned in 2021 to run as a Liberal in the 2021 Canadian federal election, but failed to be elected to the federal riding of Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River. After his defeat, he declined to seek re-election to his provincial seat. In the subsequent by-election, the Saskatchewan Party's Jim Lemaigre, defeating NDP candidate Georgina Jolibois. This was considered an upset, as the NDP has held the predominantly-indigenous riding almost continuously since 1975.[1]

Along with the neighbouring northern riding of Cumberland, Athabasca is considered one of the safest New Democratic seats in Saskatchewan,[2] although candidates for the centre-right Saskatchewan Party have polled somewhat better results in the 21st century compared to SP and Progressive Conservative candidates in previous elections.

Member of the Legislative Assembly

This riding has elected the following members of the Legislative Assembly:

Legislature Years Member Party
Athabasca
2nd  1908–1912     Joseph Nolin Liberal
3rd  1912–1917
Île-à-la-Crosse
4th  1917–1921     Joseph Nolin Liberal
5th  1921–1925
6th  1925–1926
 1926–1929 A. Jules Marion
7th  1929–1934
Athabasca
8th  1934–1938     Deakin Hall Liberal
9th  1938–1941 Jules Marion
 1941–1944 Hubert Staines
10th  1944–1948 Louis Marcien Marion
11th  1948–1952     Independent
12th  1952–1956     James Ripley Liberal
13th  1956–1960     John James Harrop Co-operative Commonwealth
14th  1960–1964     Allan Ray Guy Liberal
15th  1964–1967
16th  1967–1971
17th  1971–1972
 1972–1975
18th  1975–1978     Frederick John Thompson New Democratic
19th  1978–1982
20th  1982–1986
21st  1986–1991
22nd  1991–1995
23rd  1995–1998     Buckley Belanger Liberal
 1998–1999     New Democratic
24th  1999–2003
25th  2003–2007
26th  2007–2011
27th  2011–2016
28th  2016–2020
29th  2020–2021
 2022–2024     Jim Lemaigre Saskatchewan
30th  2024–Present     Leroy Laliberte New Democratic

Election results

Athabasca, 1934–present

Main article: 2022 Athabasca provincial by-election
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 15 February 2022
Resignation of Buckley Belanger
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Saskatchewan Jim Lemaigre 1,163 51.3 +14.79
New Democratic Georgina Jolibois 916 40.4 -16.40
Independent Darwin Roy 157 6.9 -
Buffalo Clint Arnason 12 0.5 -
Total valid votes 2,248 99.1
Total rejected ballots 17 0.8 -0.05
Turnout 2,265 24.42 -9.21
Eligible voters 9,277
Saskatchewan gain from New Democratic Swing +15.6
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[3]


2020 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,730 56.80 -7.88
Saskatchewan Kelly Kwan 1,112 36.51 +12.79
Green Leroy Laliberte 204 6.70 +4.75
Total valid votes 3,046 99.14
Total rejected ballots 26 0.85 +0.44
Turnout 3,072 33.63 +0.22
Eligible voters 9,136
New Democratic hold Swing -10.33
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[4]
2016 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,756 64.68 +0.88
Saskatchewan Philip Elliott 644 23.72 -11.16
Liberal Michael Wolverine 262 9.65 –
Green Max C.D. Morin 53 1.95 +0.62
Total valid votes 2,715 99.60
Total rejected ballots 11 0.40 +0.10
Turnout 2,726 33.40 -12.17
Eligible voters 8,161
New Democratic hold Swing +5.98
Source: Elections Saskatchewan,[5][6][7] Global News[2]
2011 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,888 63.83 +4.42
Saskatchewan Bobby Woods 1,030 34.82 +2.93
Green George Durocher 40 1.35 –1.86
Total valid votes 2,958 99.70
Total rejected ballots 9 0.30 -0.20
Turnout 2,967 45.57 -9.56
Eligible voters 6,511
New Democratic hold Swing +0.75
2007 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,885 59.41 –11.26
Saskatchewan Phil Elliott 1,012 31.89 +9.18
Liberal Malvina Iron 174 5.48 –0.49
Green Sean Gilchrist 102 3.21 –
Total valid votes 3,173 99.50
Total rejected ballots 16 0.50 +0.03
Turnout 3,189 55.13 -7.79
Eligible voters 5,785
New Democratic hold Swing –10.22
2003 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,508 70.67 –13.71
Saskatchewan Greg Ross 806 22.71 +20.16
Liberal Philip Durocher 212 5.97 –7.09
Progressive Conservative Sean Gilchrist 23 0.54 –
Total valid votes 3,549 99.52
Total rejected ballots 17 0.48 -0.09
Turnout 3,566 62.91 +12.70
Eligible voters 5,668
New Democratic hold Swing –16.94
1999 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,512 84.38 –9.27
Liberal Allan Adam 389 13.07 +8.85
Saskatchewan Bert Roach 76 2.55 +0.42
Total valid votes 2,977 99.43
Total rejected ballots 17 0.57 -0.12
Turnout 2,994 50.21 +8.50
Eligible voters 5,963
New Democratic hold Swing –9.06
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 26 October 1998
Resignation of Buckley Belanger
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,153 93.65 +53.43
Liberal Winston McKay 97 4.22 –41.38
Saskatchewan Tyson Delorme 49 2.13 +1.16
Total valid votes 2,299 99.31
Total rejected ballots 16 0.69 -0.28
Turnout 2,315 41.71 -6.76
Eligible voters 5,550
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +47.41
Source: Elections Saskatchewan,[8]

^ Saskatchewan Party change compared to Progressive Conservative

1995 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Buckley Belanger 1,347 45.60 +40.86
New Democratic Fred Thompson 1,188 40.22 –43.58
Independent Jimmy Montgrand 390 13.20 –
Progressive Conservative Clay Poupart 29 0.98 –7.54
Total valid votes 2,954 99.03
Total rejected ballots 29 0.97 -1.59
Turnout 2,983 48.47 -22.23
Eligible voters 6,154
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +42.22
1991 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 3,253 83.80 +28.60
Progressive Conservative Frank Petit 331 8.53 –2.18
Liberal Darren McKee 184 4.74 –29.36
Independent Mike Daley 114 2.94 –
Total valid votes 3,882 97.44
Total rejected ballots 102 2.56 +1.82
Turnout 3,984 70.70 +2.51
Eligible voters 5,635
New Democratic hold Swing +15.39
1986 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 2,357 55.20 +16.04
Liberal Jim Durocher 1,456 34.10 +30.51
Progressive Conservative Pat Cardinal 457 10.70 –17.63
Total valid votes 4,270 99.26
Total rejected ballots 32 0.74 -0.44
Turnout 4,302 68.19 +3.26
Eligible voters 6,309
New Democratic hold Swing –7.24
1982 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Frederick J. Thompson 1,606 39.16 –19.08
Progressive Conservative Bruce Clarke 1,162 26.33 –1.03
Independent Rod Bishop 976 23.80 –
Aboriginal People's Vital Morin 210 5.10 –
Liberal Willard Quewezance 147 3.58 –8.81
Total valid votes 4,101 98.82
Total rejected ballots 49 1.18 +0.07
Turnout 4,150 64.92 -3.38
Eligible voters 6,392
New Democratic hold Swing –9.02
1978 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 2,340 58.24 +20.11
Progressive Conservative Frank Petit 1,180 29.37 +18.55
Liberal Hal Coupland 498 12.39 –17.35
Total valid votes 4,018 98.89
Total rejected ballots 45 1.11 +0.39
Turnout 4,063 68.31 -10.29
Eligible voters 5,948
New Democratic hold Swing +0.78
1975 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 1,483 38.12 –4.39
Liberal Ben Siemens 1,157 29.74 –13.70
Independent Rod Bishop 829 21.31 –
Progressive Conservative Roy Simpson 421 10.82 +9.64
Total valid votes 3,890 99.29
Total rejected ballots 28 0.71
Turnout 3,918 78.60
Eligible voters 4,985
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +4.66
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 27 September 1972
On the election being overturned by judicial recount
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,398 43.44 –6.73
New Democratic Robert Dalby 1,368 42.51 –7.32
Independent Ray Jones 414 12.87 –
Progressive Conservative William Howard McGill 38 1.18 –
Total valid votes 3,218 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +0.30
Source: Saskatchewan Archives,[9]
1971 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,770 50.17 +0.58
New Democratic Robert Dalby 1,758 49.83 +28.46
Total valid votes 3,528 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –13.94
1967 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,397 49.59 +9.28
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton 818 29.04 –5.02
New Democratic Tony Wood 602 21.37 –4.26
Total valid votes 2,817 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +7.15
1964 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,076 40.31 +6.41
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton 909 34.06 +12.36
Co-operative Commonwealth John M. Stonehocker 684 25.63 –2.31
Total valid votes 2,669 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –2.98
1960 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 972 33.90 –9.81
Co-operative Commonwealth Allan Quant 801 27.94 –21.44
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton 622 21.70 –
Social Credit Dana Spence 472 16.46 +9.55
Total valid votes 2,867 100.0  
Liberal gain from Co-operative Commonwealth Swing +5.82
1956 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Co-operative Commonwealth John James Harrop 836 49.38 +10.74
Liberal Frederick Alexander Matheson 740 43.71 –17.65
Social Credit John I. Bondoreff 117 6.91 –
Total valid votes 1,693 100.0  
Co-operative Commonwealth gain from Liberal Swing +14.19
1952 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Ripley 543 61.36 –
Co-operative Commonwealth C.L. MacLean 342 38.64 +10.08
Total valid votes 885 100.0  
Liberal gain from Independent Swing +56.98
1948 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Louis Marcien Marion 628 52.60 –28.18
Co-operative Commonwealth Axel Olsen 341 28.56 +21.20
Independent Joseph David Le Chasseur 225 18.84 –
Total valid votes 1,194 100.0  
Independent notional gain from Liberal Swing –24.69
1944 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Louis Marcien Marion 626 80.77
Independent Errick Guttormur Erickson 78 10.06
Co-operative Commonwealth Pierre Ephrem Ayotte 57 7.35
Progressive Conservative Alexander Fred De Laronde 9 1.16
Independent Liberal Francis Xavier Poitras 5 0.65
Total valid votes 775 100.0  
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 28 July 1941
On the death of Jules Marion, 5 April 1941
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Hubert Staines acclaimed
1938 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jules Marion 642 50.55 +8.36
Liberal William J. Windrum 628 49.45 –
Total valid votes 1,270 100.0  
Liberal gain from Liberal Swing +20.54
1934 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Deakin Hall 1,329 57.81
Liberal Jules Marion 970 42.19 -24.63
Total valid votes 2,299 100.0  
Liberal gain from Liberal Swing +41.22

Île-à-la-Crosse, 1917–1934

1929 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal A. Jules Marion 862 66.82 +2.52
Conservative Albert A. Bock 428 33.18
Total valid votes 1,290 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -15.33
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 6 April 1926
Death of Joseph Octave Nolin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal A. Jules Marion 652 64.30 +2.99
Liberal Joseph Eugene Burnouf 362 35.70
Total valid votes 1,014 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -16.35
Source: Saskatchewan Archives,[10]
1925 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 591 61.31 +3.39
Independent F. M. Clark 373 38.69
Total valid votes 964 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -17.65
1921 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 384 57.92 -13.08
Independent Joseph Eugene Burnouf 279 42.08
Total valid votes 663 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -27.58
1917 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 328 71.00 -9.30
Independent Leon Sergeant 134 29.00
Total valid votes 462 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -19.15

Athabasca, 1908–1917

1912 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Nolin 163 80.30 –16.26
Progressive Conservative George Robert Russel 40 19.70 +16.26
Total valid votes 203 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –16.26

^ Progressive Conservative change from Provincial Rights

1908 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Joseph Nolin 252 96.55
Provincial Rights Aime T. Besnard 9 3.45
Total valid votes 261 100.0  
Liberal pickup new district.

References

  1. ^ "Sask. Party scores historic win in Athabasca".
  2. ^ a b "Saskatchewan election results 2016: NDP wins Athabasca riding". Global News. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. ^ "2022 Athabasca By-Election". Elections Saskatchewan. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Register of Official Candidates by Constituency - March 19 - FINAL" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 19 March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  6. ^ "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Athabasca By-Election - October 26, 1998" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 26 March 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Saskatchewan Election Results by Electoral Division" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Saskatchewan Election Results by Electoral Division" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. Retrieved 26 December 2021.