# Fort McMurray—Athabasca

Fort McMurray—Athabasca (formerly Athabasca) was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1968 to 2015. It was a predominantly rural riding in northeastern Alberta, representing the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17, the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124, Big Lakes County, Lac La Biche County, Athabasca County and the southeastern part of Northern Sunrise County.

## Demographics

    According to the 2011 Canadian census
Ethnic groups: 65.8% White, 22.1% Aboriginal, 3.8% South Asian, 2.5% Filipino, 1.9% Black, 1.2% Arab
Languages: 80.7% English, 4.9% Cree, 3.1% French, 1.6% Tagalog
Religions: 67.3% Christian (33.4% Catholic, 7.3% Anglican, 5.0% United Church, 3.8% Pentecostal, 1.5% Lutheran, 1.4% Baptist, 1.3% Christian Orthodox, 13.6% Other Christian), 3.4% Muslim, 1.5% Hindu, 26.2% No religion
Median income (2010): $47,348

## History

It was created as "Athabasca" riding in 1966 from Athabaska and Peace River ridings. In 2004, it was renamed "Fort McMurray—Athabasca".
Following the Canadian federal electoral redistribution, 2012, this riding was abolished. 69% was redistributed into the new riding of Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, 19% to Peace River—Westlock (notably the towns of Slave Lake and High Prairie among others) and 11% to Lakeland.

### Members of Parliament

This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Athabasca Riding created from Athabaska and Peace River |||||
| 28th | 1968–1972 | Paul Yewchuk | Progressive Conservative |
| 29th | 1972–1974 | Paul Yewchuk | Progressive Conservative |
| 30th | 1974–1979 | Paul Yewchuk | Progressive Conservative |
| 31st | 1979–1980 | Paul Yewchuk | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1980–1984 | Jack Shields | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1984–1988 | Jack Shields | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1988–1993 | Jack Shields | Progressive Conservative |
| 35th | 1993–1997 | David Chatters | Reform |
| 36th | 1997–2000 | David Chatters | Reform |
| 36th | 2000–2000 | David Chatters | Alliance |
| 37th | 2000–2003 | David Chatters | Alliance |
| 37th | 2003–2004 | David Chatters | Conservative |
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Brian Jean | Conservative |
| Riding renamed — Fort McMurray—Athabasca |||||
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Brian Jean | Conservative |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Brian Jean | Conservative |
| 41st | 2011–2014 | Brian Jean | Conservative |
| 41st | 2014–2015 | David Yurdiga | Conservative |
| Riding dissolved into Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, Peace River—Westlock and Lakeland |||||

## Election results
### Fort McMurray—Athabasca, 2004–2015

vteCanadian federal by-election, June 30, 2014 Resignation of Brian Jean :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Yurdiga | 5,991 | 46.71 | −25.13 |
| | Liberal | Kyle Harrietha | 4,529 | 35.31 | +24.89 |
| | New Democratic | Lori McDaniel | 1,472 | 11.48 | −1.77 |
| | Green | Brian Deheer | 453 | 3.53 | −0.96 |
| | Libertarian | Tim Moen | 381 | 2.97 | – |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 12,826 | 100.0 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 34 | 0.26 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,860 | 15.37 | −25.38 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 83,647 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | −25.01 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Jean | 21,988 | 71.84 | +4.73 | $68,113 |
| | New Democratic | Berend Wilting | 4,053 | 13.24 | +0.34 | $24 |
| | Liberal | Karen Young | 3,190 | 10.42 | -0.18 | $20,825 |
| | Green | Jule Asterisk | 1,374 | 4.49 | -1.88 | $2,734 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 30,605 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 144 | 0.47 | +0.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,749 | 40.75 | +5 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 75,456 | – | – |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.20 |
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Jean | 17,160 | 67.12 | +2.67 | $48,046 |
| | New Democratic | Mark Voyageur | 3,300 | 12.91 | -1.58 | $1,853 |
| | Liberal | John Webb | 2,710 | 10.60 | -4.17 | $5,459 |
| | Green | Dylan Richards | 1,628 | 6.37 | +1.47 | |
| | Independent | Shawn Reimer | 350 | 1.37 | – | $666 |
| | First Peoples National | John Malcolm | 233 | 0.91 | -0.47 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Jacob Strydhorst | 186 | 0.73 | – | $733 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 25,567 | 100.00 | $101,823 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 86 | 0.34 | +0.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,653 | 36 | -12 |
2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Jean | 20,342 | 64.45 | +4.16 | $59,027 |
| | Liberal | Mel H. Buffalo | 4,663 | 14.77 | -9.28 | $3,333 |
| | New Democratic | Roland Lefort | 4,573 | 14.49 | +4.03 | $19,091 |
| | Green | Ian Hopfe | 1,547 | 4.90 | -0.28 | $8 |
| | First Peoples National | John Malcolm | 437 | 1.38 | – | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 31,549 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 97 | 0.31 | -0.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,646 | 48.32 | +0.47 |

### Athabasca, 1968–2004

2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Brian Jean | 17,942 | 60.3 | -6.40 | $84,096 |
| | Liberal | Doug Faulkner | 7,158 | 24.05 | -4.35 | $52,713 |
| | New Democratic | Robert Cree | 3,115 | 10.46 | +7.94 | $4,942 |
| | Green | Ian Hopfe | 1,542 | 5.18 | +4.18 | $112 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 29,757 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 112 | 0.37 | +0.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,869 | 47.85 | -8.43 |
2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Alliance | David Chatters | 18,775 | 54.45 | -0.16 | $34,623 |
| | Liberal | Harold Cardinal | 9,793 | 28.40 | -1.62 | $66,236 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Doug Faulkner | 4,224 | 12.25 | +3.10 | $26,660 |
| | New Democratic | Alysia Erickson | 872 | 2.52 | -2.17 | |
| | Marijuana | Reginald Normore | 469 | 1.36 | – | |
| | Green | Harvey Alex Scott | 345 | 1.00 | -0.50 | $194 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 34,478 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 104 | 0.30 | +0.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,582 | 56.28 | +6.86 |
1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Reform | David Chatters | 14,673 | 54.61 | +7.47 | $48,747 |
| | Liberal | Adam Germain | 8,066 | 30.02 | +5.42 | $59,100 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Don McGladdery | 2,459 | 9.15 | -9.96 | $17,026 |
| | New Democratic | Bryan Nelson | 1,262 | 4.69 | -2.87 | |
| | Green | Dave Gregory | 405 | 1.50 | +0.53 | $1,206 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 26,865 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 72 | 0.27 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,937 | 49.42 |
1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform | David Chatters | 15,348 | 47.14 | +41.68 |
| | Liberal | Lawrence Courtoreille | 8,011 | 24.60 | +12.26 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Shields | 6,223 | 19.11 | -33.70 |
| | New Democratic | Ian Thorn | 2,461 | 7.56 | -19.73 |
| | Green | Harvey A. Scott | 315 | 0.97 | |
| | Natural Law | Roger Shapka | 202 | 0.62 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 32,560 | 100.00 |
1988 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Shields | 17,248 | 52.81 | -15.50 |
| | New Democratic | Ian Thorn | 8,911 | 27.28 | +10.20 |
| | Liberal | Dan Meakes | 4,031 | 12.34 | +0.32 |
| | Reform | Betty Lebsack | 1,781 | 5.45 | |
| | Christian Heritage | Simone Middelkoop | 585 | 1.79 | |
| | Communist | Laurent St. Denis | 104 | 0.32 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 32,660 | 100.00 |
1984 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Shields | 23,997 | 68.31 | +20.83 |
| | New Democratic | Ann Dort-MacLean | 6,001 | 17.08 | +2.01 |
| | Liberal | Mike Woodward | 4,222 | 12.02 | -23.08 |
| | Confederation of Regions | Fred W. Borger | 578 | 1.65 | |
| | Social Credit | Rudolph Michetti | 332 | 0.95 | -0.71 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 35,130 | 100.00 |
1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jack Shields | 13,287 | 47.48 | -11.19 |
| | Liberal | Chuck Knight | 9,822 | 35.10 | +6.30 |
| | New Democratic | Harry W. Daniels | 4,218 | 15.07 | +4.90 |
| | Social Credit | Clayton Eberhart | 463 | 1.65 | -0.71 |
| | Independent | Herman Huizingh | 196 | 0.70 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 27,986 | 100.00 |
1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Yewchuk | 15,978 | 58.67 | -4.68 |
| | Liberal | C.A. Chuck Knight | 7,843 | 28.80 | +3.56 |
| | New Democratic | Robert Godbout | 2,770 | 10.17 | -1.25 |
| | Social Credit | Clayton Eberhart | 645 | 2.37 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 27,236 | 100.00 |
1974 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Yewchuk | 13,15 | 63.34 | +3.10 |
| | Liberal | Yvon Mahé | 5,243 | 25.24 | +2.56 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Opryshko | 2,372 | 11.42 | -1.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 20,772 | 100.00 |
1972 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Yewchuk | 12,936 | 60.24 | +13.14 |
| | Liberal | Jim Ducharme | 4,871 | 22.68 | -17.89 |
| | New Democratic | Peter Eugene Opryshko | 2,677 | 12.47 | +0.15 |
| | Social Credit | Albert V. Bourcier | 989 | 4.61 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,473 | 100.00 |
1968 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Paul Yewchuk | 8,852 | 47.10 |
| | Liberal | Michael Maccagno | 7,626 | 40.58 |
| | New Democratic | Terry Anderson | 2,315 | 12.32 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 18,793 | 100.00 |