Athabasca (Saskatchewan provincial electoral district)

Last updated
Athabasca
Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Saskatchewan electoral district
Saskatchewan 2022 Athabasca.svg
Provincial electoral district
Legislature Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
MLA
 
 		 
Jim Lemaigre
Saskatchewan
District created1908
First contested 1908
Last contested2022
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.

Contents

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:

LegislatureYearsMemberParty
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
29th  2022–Present   Jim Lemaigre Saskatchewan

Election results

Athabasca, 1934–present

Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 15 February 2022
Resignation of Buckley Belanger
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Saskatchewan Jim Lemaigre 1,16351.3+14.79
New Democratic Georgina Jolibois 91640.4-16.40
Independent Darwin Roy1576.9-
Buffalo Clint Arnason120.5-
Total valid votes2,24899.1
Total rejected ballots170.8-0.05
Turnout2,26524.42-9.21
Eligible voters9,277
Saskatchewan gain from New Democratic Swing +15.6
Source: Elections Saskatchewan [3]


2020 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,73056.80-7.88
Saskatchewan Kelly Kwan1,11236.51+12.79
Green Leroy Laliberte2046.70+4.75
Total valid votes3,046 99.14
Total rejected ballots26 0.85+0.44
Turnout3,07233.63+0.22
Eligible voters9,136
New Democratic hold Swing -10.33
Source: Elections Saskatchewan [4]
2016 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,75664.68+0.88
Saskatchewan Philip Elliott64423.72-11.16
Liberal Michael Wolverine2629.65–
Green Max C.D. Morin531.95+0.62
Total valid votes2,71599.60
Total rejected ballots110.40+0.10
Turnout2,72633.40-12.17
Eligible voters8,161
New Democratic hold Swing +5.98
Source: Elections Saskatchewan, [5] [6] [7] Global News [2]
2011 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,88863.83+4.42
Saskatchewan Bobby Woods1,03034.82+2.93
Green George Durocher401.35–1.86
Total valid votes2,95899.70
Total rejected ballots90.30-0.20
Turnout2,96745.57-9.56
Eligible voters6,511
New Democratic hold Swing +0.75
2007 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 1,88559.41–11.26
Saskatchewan Phil Elliott1,01231.89+9.18
Liberal Malvina Iron1745.48–0.49
Green Sean Gilchrist1023.21–
Total valid votes3,17399.50
Total rejected ballots160.50+0.03
Turnout3,18955.13-7.79
Eligible voters5,785
New Democratic hold Swing –10.22
2003 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,50870.67–13.71
Saskatchewan Greg Ross80622.71+20.16
Liberal Philip Durocher2125.97–7.09
Progressive Conservative Sean Gilchrist230.54–
Total valid votes3,54999.52
Total rejected ballots170.48-0.09
Turnout3,56662.91+12.70
Eligible voters5,668
New Democratic hold Swing –16.94
1999 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,51284.38–9.27
Liberal Allan Adam38913.07+8.85
Saskatchewan Bert Roach762.55+0.42
Total valid votes2,97799.43
Total rejected ballots170.57-0.12
Turnout2,99450.21+8.50
Eligible voters5,963
New Democratic hold Swing –9.06
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 26 October 1998
Resignation of Buckley Belanger
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Buckley Belanger 2,15393.65+53.43
Liberal Winston McKay974.22–41.38
Saskatchewan Tyson Delorme492.13+1.16
Total valid votes2,29999.31
Total rejected ballots160.69-0.28
Turnout2,31541.71-6.76
Eligible voters5,550
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +47.41
Source: Elections Saskatchewan, [8]

^ Saskatchewan Party change compared to Progressive Conservative

1995 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Buckley Belanger 1,34745.60+40.86
New Democratic Fred Thompson 1,18840.22–43.58
Independent Jimmy Montgrand39013.20–
Progressive Conservative Clay Poupart290.98–7.54
Total valid votes2,95499.03
Total rejected ballots290.97-1.59
Turnout2,98348.47-22.23
Eligible voters6,154
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +42.22
1991 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 3,25383.80+28.60
Progressive Conservative Frank Petit3318.53–2.18
Liberal Darren McKee1844.74–29.36
Independent Mike Daley1142.94–
Total valid votes3,88297.44
Total rejected ballots1022.56+1.82
Turnout3,98470.70+2.51
Eligible voters5,635
New Democratic hold Swing +15.39
1986 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 2,35755.20+16.04
Liberal Jim Durocher1,45634.10+30.51
Progressive Conservative Pat Cardinal45710.70–17.63
Total valid votes4,27099.26
Total rejected ballots320.74-0.44
Turnout4,30268.19+3.26
Eligible voters6,309
New Democratic hold Swing –7.24
1982 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Frederick J. Thompson 1,60639.16–19.08
Progressive Conservative Bruce Clarke1,16226.33–1.03
Independent Rod Bishop97623.80–
Aboriginal People's Vital Morin2105.10–
Liberal Willard Quewezance1473.58–8.81
Total valid votes4,10198.82
Total rejected ballots491.18+0.07
Turnout4,15064.92-3.38
Eligible voters6,392
New Democratic hold Swing –9.02
1978 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 2,34058.24+20.11
Progressive Conservative Frank Petit1,18029.37+18.55
Liberal Hal Coupland 49812.39–17.35
Total valid votes4,01898.89
Total rejected ballots451.11+0.39
Turnout4,06368.31-10.29
Eligible voters5,948
New Democratic hold Swing +0.78
1975 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New Democratic Fred Thompson 1,48338.12–4.39
Liberal Ben Siemens1,15729.74–13.70
Independent Rod Bishop82921.31–
Progressive Conservative Roy Simpson42110.82+9.64
Total valid votes3,89099.29
Total rejected ballots280.71
Turnout3,91878.60
Eligible voters4,985
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +4.66
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 27 September 1972
On the election being overturned by judicial recount
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,39843.44–6.73
New Democratic Robert Dalby1,36842.51–7.32
Independent Ray Jones41412.87–
Progressive Conservative William Howard McGill381.18–
Total valid votes3,218100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +0.30
Source: Saskatchewan Archives, [9]
1971 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,77050.17+0.58
New Democratic Robert Dalby1,75849.83+28.46
Total valid votes3,528100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –13.94
1967 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,39749.59+9.28
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton81829.04–5.02
New Democratic Tony Wood60221.37–4.26
Total valid votes2,817100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +7.15
1964 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 1,07640.31+6.41
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton90934.06+12.36
Co-operative Commonwealth John M. Stonehocker68425.63–2.31
Total valid votes2,669100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –2.98
1960 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Allan Ray Guy 97233.90–9.81
Co-operative Commonwealth Allan Quant80127.94–21.44
Progressive Conservative Harry J. Houghton62221.70–
Social Credit Dana Spence47216.46+9.55
Total valid votes2,867100.0  
Liberal gain from Co-operative Commonwealth Swing +5.82
1956 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Co-operative Commonwealth John James Harrop 83649.38+10.74
Liberal Frederick Alexander Matheson74043.71–17.65
Social Credit John I. Bondoreff1176.91–
Total valid votes1,693100.0  
Co-operative Commonwealth gain from Liberal Swing +14.19
1952 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal James Ripley 54361.36–
Co-operative Commonwealth C.L. MacLean34238.64+10.08
Total valid votes885100.0  
Liberal gain from Independent Swing +56.98
1948 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Louis Marcien Marion 62852.60–28.18
Co-operative Commonwealth Axel Olsen34128.56+21.20
Independent Joseph David Le Chasseur22518.84–
Total valid votes1,194100.0  
Independent notional gain from Liberal Swing –24.69
1944 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Louis Marcien Marion 62680.77
Independent Errick Guttormur Erickson7810.06
Co-operative Commonwealth Pierre Ephrem Ayotte577.35
Progressive Conservative Alexander Fred De Laronde91.16
Independent LiberalFrancis Xavier Poitras50.65
Total valid votes775100.0  
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 28 July 1941
On the death of Jules Marion, 5 April 1941
PartyCandidateVotes
Liberal Hubert Staines acclaimed
1938 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Jules Marion 64250.55+8.36
Liberal William J. Windrum62849.45–
Total valid votes1,270100.0  
Liberal gain from Liberal Swing +20.54
1934 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Deakin Hall 1,32957.81
Liberal Jules Marion 97042.19-24.63
Total valid votes2,299100.0  
Liberal gain from Liberal Swing +41.22

Île-à-la-Crosse, 1917–1934

1929 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal A. Jules Marion 86266.82+2.52
Conservative Albert A. Bock42833.18
Total valid votes1,290100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -15.33
Saskatchewan provincial by-election, 6 April 1926
Death of Joseph Octave Nolin
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal A. Jules Marion 65264.30+2.99
Liberal Joseph Eugene Burnouf36235.70
Total valid votes1,014100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -16.35
Source: Saskatchewan Archives, [10]
1925 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 59161.31+3.39
Independent F. M. Clark37338.69
Total valid votes964100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -17.65
1921 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 38457.92-13.08
Independent Joseph Eugene Burnouf27942.08
Total valid votes663100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -27.58
1917 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Octave Nolin 32871.00-9.30
Independent Leon Sergeant13429.00
Total valid votes462100.0  
Liberal hold Swing -19.15

Athabasca, 1908–1917

1912 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Nolin 16380.30–16.26
Progressive Conservative George Robert Russel4019.70+16.26
Total valid votes203100.0  
Liberal hold Swing –16.26

^ Progressive Conservative change from Provincial Rights

1908 Saskatchewan general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Joseph Nolin 25296.55
Provincial Rights Aime T. Besnard93.45
Total valid votes261100.0  
Liberal pickup new district.

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References

  1. ↑ "Sask. Party scores historic win in Athabasca".
  2. 1 2 "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.
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