Lethbridge (federal electoral district)

Lethbridge (formerly known as Lethbridge—Foothills) is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917. It incorporates the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge County.

Lethbridge
Alberta electoral district
Lethbridge in relation to other Alberta federal electoral districts as of the 2013 Representation Order.
Federal electoral district
LegislatureHouse of Commons
MP
 
 
 
Rachael Thomas
Conservative
District created1987
First contested1988
Last contested2021
District webpageprofile, map
Demographics
Population (2011)[1]105,999
Electors (2019)88,226
Area (km²)[2]3,028
Pop. density (per km²)35
Census division(s)Division No. 2, Division No. 3
Census subdivision(s)Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Coaldale

Lethbridge has had a centre-right MP at the federal level since the 1930s. The current MP for Lethbridge is Rachael Thomas, who was first elected to parliament in 2015 for the Conservatives and was re-elected in 2021 as a Conservative MP.

History

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This riding was originally created in 1914 from parts of Macleod riding.

In 1977, it was renamed "Lethbridge—Foothills".

In 1987, Lethbridge—Foothills was abolished and replaced by a new "Lethbridge" riding. The new riding was created from most of Lethbridge—Foothills, along with parts of Macleod and Medicine Hat ridings.

It has been represented by centre-right MPs without interruption since 1930. As in most other federal Alberta ridings outside of Calgary and Edmonton, it usually supports the major right-wing party of the day by landslide margins. Since 1945, a non-conservative party has only won 30 percent of the vote three times. Lethbridge itself is somewhat friendlier to centre-left candidates, at least at the provincial level, which helps reduce the overall margins compared to surrounding ridings. The Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) won both seats in the provincial legislature from the city in the 2015 provincial election, but in 2019 lost the Lethbridge East riding to the United Conservative Party (UCP). The city has occasionally elected provincial Liberals in the past as well. At the federal level, however, the NDP and the Liberals are no match for the overwhelming conservative bent of the more rural areas.[citation needed]

This riding lost territory to Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner and Foothills during the 2012 electoral redistribution.

Historical boundaries

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Members of Parliament

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Parliament Years Member Party
Lethbridge
Riding created from Macleod
13th  1917–1921     William Ashbury Buchanan Government (Unionist)
14th  1921–1925     Lincoln Henry Jelliff Progressive
15th  1925–1926
16th  1926–1930     United Farmers
17th  1930–1935     John Smith Stewart Conservative
18th  1935–1940     John Horne Blackmore Social Credit
19th  1940–1945
20th  1945–1949
21st  1949–1953
22nd  1953–1957
23rd  1957–1958
24th  1958–1962     Deane Gundlock Progressive Conservative
25th  1962–1963
26th  1963–1965
27th  1965–1968
28th  1968–1972
29th  1972–1974 Kenneth Earl Hurlburt
30th  1974–1979
Lethbridge—Foothills
31st  1979–1980     Blaine Thacker Progressive Conservative
32nd  1980–1984
33rd  1984–1988
Lethbridge
34th  1988–1993     Blaine Thacker Progressive Conservative
35th  1993–1997     Raymond Speaker Reform
36th  1997–2000 Rick Casson
 2000–2000     Alliance
37th  2000–2003
 2003–2004     Conservative
38th  2004–2006
39th  2006–2008
40th  2008–2011
41st  2011–2015 Jim Hillyer
42nd  2015–2019 Rachael Thomas
43rd  2019–2021
44th  2021–present

Current member of Parliament

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Its member of Parliament is Rachael Thomas. She was first elected in 2015. She is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Demographics

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Panethnic groups in Lethbridge (2011−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[3] 2016[4] 2011[5]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 96,470 80.06% 95,430 83.77% 90,940 88.48%
Indigenous 7,240 6.01% 6,135 5.39% 4,370 4.25%
East Asian[b] 3,415 2.83% 3,030 2.66% 3,135 3.05%
Southeast Asian[c] 3,220 2.67% 2,465 2.16% 1,210 1.18%
African 3,220 2.67% 1,925 1.69% 855 0.83%
South Asian 3,075 2.55% 2,135 1.87% 965 0.94%
Latin American 2,390 1.98% 1,665 1.46% 710 0.69%
Middle Eastern[d] 755 0.63% 740 0.65% 235 0.23%
Other/multiracial[e] 725 0.6% 390 0.34% 365 0.36%
Total responses 120,500 97.3% 113,920 97.04% 102,780 96.96%
Total population 123,847 100% 117,394 100% 105,999 100%
Notes: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses.
Demographics based on 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution riding boundaries.

Election results

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Graph of election results in Lethbridge (1914-1977), Lethbridge—Foothills, Lethbridge (1987-present) (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)

Lethbridge, 1987–present

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Graph of election results in Lethbridge (1987-present) (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rachael Harder 32,817 55.38 -10.07 $74,582.67
New Democratic Elaine Perez 11,386 19.22 +4.48 $649.51
Liberal Devon Hargreaves 8,928 15.07 +1.41 $22,887.05
People's Kimmie Hovan 4,097 6.91 +5.45 $3,238.34
Independent Kim Siever 1,179 1.99 $0.00
Christian Heritage Geoffrey Capp 566 0.96 -0.13 $7,470.57
Total valid votes/Expense limit 58,973 $118,112.55
Total rejected ballots 282
Turnout 66.13 -2.96
Eligible voters 89,663
Conservative hold Swing -7.28
Source: Elections Canada[6]


2019 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rachael Harder 40,713 65.79 +9.03 $81,336.37
New Democratic Shandi Bleiken 9,110 14.72 -5.78 none listed
Liberal Amy Bronson 8,443 13.64 -4.86 $39,899.72
Green Stephnie Watson 1,939 3.13 +0.56 none listed
People's Grant Hepworth 1,007 1.63 - none listed
Christian Heritage Marc Slingerland 670 1.08 -0.23 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 61,882 99.46
Total rejected ballots 335 0.54
Turnout 62,217 69.09
Eligible voters 90,051
Conservative hold Swing +7.42
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rachael Harder 32,321 56.76 +4.25 $120,662.32
New Democratic Cheryl Meheden 11,674 20.50 -9.45 $115,672.18
Liberal Mike Pyne 10,532 18.50 +9.36 $34,405.68
Green Kas MacMillan 1,461 2.57 -1.92 $2,377.70
Christian Heritage Geoffrey Capp 746 1.31 -2.61 $13,993.12
Rhinoceros Solly Krygier-Paine 209 0.37
Total valid votes/expense limit 56,943 100.00   $218,320.12
Total rejected ballots 158 0.28
Turnout 57,101 69.42
Eligible voters 82,225
Conservative hold Swing +6.85
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2011 federal election redistributed results[11]
Party Vote %
  Conservative 21,617 52.51
  New Democratic 12,329 29.95
  Liberal 3,759 9.13
  Green 1,845 4.48
  Christian Heritage 1,614 3.92
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Jim Hillyer 27,173 56.51 -10.45 $72,625
New Democratic Mark Sandilands 13,097 27.24 +13.02 $36,703
Liberal Michael Cormican 4,030 8.38 -0.92 $23,067
Green Cailin Bartlett 2,095 4.36 -2.86 $0
Christian Heritage Geoffrey Capp 1,716 3.57 +1.26 $14,727
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,086 100.00
Total rejected ballots 307 0.63 +0.34
Turnout 48,393 54.20 +1
Eligible voters 89,280
2008 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rick Casson 31,714 66.96 -0.34 $78,789
New Democratic Mark Sandilands 6,733 14.22 +0.52 $18,476
Liberal Michael Cormican 4,404 9.30 -1.95 $21,463
Green Amanda Swagar 3,420 7.22 +3.68
Christian Heritage Geoffrey Capp 1,094 2.31 -0.49 $13,529
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,365 100.00 $94,223
Total rejected ballots 138 0.29 +0.04
Turnout 47,503 53 -9
2006 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rick Casson 35,061 67.30 +4.68  
New Democratic Melanee Thomas 7,135 13.70 +3.98
Liberal Michael Cormican 5,859 11.25 -10.31  
Green Andrea Sheridan 1,846 3.54 +0.89
Christian Heritage Marc Slingerland 1,458 2.80 +0.53
Independent Howard Forsyth 735 1.41 N/A
Total valid votes 52,094 100.00
Total rejected ballots 132 0.25 +0.03
Turnout 52,226 63.7 +4.0
2004 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Rick Casson 29,765 62.62 -12.22 $68,346
Liberal Ken Nicol 10,250 21.56 +4.62 $34,339
New Democratic Melanee Thomas 4,623 9.72 +3.97 $10,460
Green Erin Marie Matthews 1,262 2.65 +0.78 $32
Christian Heritage Ken Vanden Broek 1,079 2.27 $16,322
Marijuana Dustin Sobie 553 1.16
Total valid votes 47,532 100.00
Total rejected ballots 135 0.28 -0.07
Turnout 47,667 61.74 -0.19

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote in 2000.

2000 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Alliance Rick Casson 30,380 66.02 +10.49 $61,765
Liberal Vaughan Hartigan 7,797 16.94 -2.24 $10,339
Progressive Conservative Kimberly Denise Budd 4,062 8.82 -9.26 $3,506
New Democratic Garth Hardy 2,648 5.75 +0.38 $6,135
Green Don C. Ferguson 864 1.87 $1,324
Canadian Action Dan Lamden 264 0.57 -0.22 $739
Total valid votes 46,015 100.00
Total rejected ballots 163 0.35 +0.16
Turnout 46,178 61.93 +2.26

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997.

1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Reform Rick Casson 22,828 55.53 +2.97 $63,487
Liberal John McGee 7,887 19.18 -6.29 $47,656
Progressive Conservative Greg Weadick 7,436 18.08 +2.86 $40,649
New Democratic Victor Lough 2,211 5.37 +2.56 $3,877
Christian Heritage Nellie Slingerland 418 1.01 $1,944
Canadian Action J-C Lessard 326 0.79 $9,690
Total valid votes 41,106 100.00
Total rejected ballots 79 0.19
Turnout 41,185 59.67
1993 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Ray Speaker 24,565 52.56 +45.76
Liberal John William McGee 11,905 25.47 +6.89
Progressive Conservative Dean Lien 7,113 15.22 -43.19
National Carson Tannant 1,592 3.41
New Democratic Doug Petherbridge 1,313 2.81 -6.99
Natural Law Cliff Kinzel 247 0.53
Total valid votes 46,735 100.00
1988 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Thacker 26,750 58.41 -8.97
Liberal Robert Grbavac 8,513 18.59 +7.15
New Democratic Don Ferguson 4,489 9.80 -4.88
Reform Phil Connolly 3,116 6.80
Christian Heritage Charles Cavilla 2,932 6.40
Total valid votes 45,800 100.00

Lethbridge—Foothills, 1977–1987

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Graph of election results in Lethbridge—Foothills (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
1984 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Thacker 31,316 67.38 -1.22
New Democratic Connie Credico 6,822 14.68 +4.69
Liberal Shaun Ward 5,315 11.44 -5.85
Independent Steven V. Pinchak 2,145 4.61
Social Credit Rod W. Start 456 0.98 -1.61
Confederation of Regions Cyril Baranosky 426 0.92
Total valid votes 46,480 100.00
1980 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Thacker 27,307 68.60 -1.30
Liberal Shaun G. Ward 6,882 17.29 -0.37
New Democratic Dave Porteous 3,974 9.98 +1.04
Social Credit D. Willard Paxman 1,031 2.59 -0.49
Independent Peter Jones 482 1.21
Communist David Wallis 132 0.33 -0.09
Total valid votes 39,808 100.00
1979 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Thacker 29,069 69.89 +6.37
Liberal Jim Gladstone 7,345 17.66 -4.15
New Democratic Roger Rickwood 3,720 8.94 -1.32
Social Credit Wagner Saende 1,282 3.08 -1.32
Communist David Wallis 174 0.42
Total valid votes 41,590 100.00

Lethbridge, 1914–1977

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Graph of election results in Lethbridge (1914-1977) (minor parties that never got 2% of the vote or didn't run consistently are omitted)
1974 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Kenneth Earl Hurlburt 20,602 63.52 +5.72
Liberal Sven Ericksen 7,075 21.81 -1.50
New Democratic Bessie Annand 3,329 10.26 -1.82
Social Credit Vern Young 1,428 4.40 -2.40
Total valid votes 32,434 100.00
1972 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Kenneth Earl Hurlburt 18,845 57.80 +12.85
Liberal Andy Russell 7,601 23.31 -7.63
New Democratic Hal Hoffman 3,941 12.09 +2.86
Social Credit Keith L. Hancock 2,219 6.81 -8.08
Total valid votes 32,606 100.00
1968 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Deane Gundlock 11,901 44.95 +3.92
Liberal John I. Boras 8,193 30.94 +11.21
Social Credit Ernest R. Patterson 3,941 14.88 -17.59
New Democratic George Edward Orchard 2,442 9.22 +2.46
Total valid votes 26,477 100.00
1965 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Deane Gundlock 10,147 41.02 -2.28
Social Credit Wallace C. Strom 8,032 32.47 -2.51
Liberal Frank Sherring 4,882 19.74 +3.57
New Democratic Frances Joyce Grantham 1,673 6.76 +1.95
Total valid votes 24,734 100.00
1963 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Deane Gundlock 11,475 43.30 -0.77
Social Credit Steve Kapcsos 9,271 34.98 +0.49
Liberal Martin Hoyt 4,284 16.17 +1.90
New Democratic Peter Uganecz 1,277 4.82 -2.35
Independent John Arthur Spencer 193 0.73
Total valid votes 26,500 100.00
1962 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Deane Gundlock 11,105 44.07 -14.26
Social Credit Steve Kapcsos 8,693 34.50 6.25
Liberal Mark Reed Stringam 3,595 14.27 +2.42
New Democratic Milo Douglas 1,806 7.17
Total valid votes 25,199 100.00
1958 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Deane Gundlock 13,364 58.33 +43.55
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 6,471 28.25 -24.77
Liberal Clarence G. Yanosik 2,714 11.85 -20.36
Independent SC Ervin D. Olsen 361 1.58
Total valid votes 22,910 100.00
1957 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 10,910 53.02 -3.61
Liberal Asael E. Palmer 6,627 32.20 -0.80
Progressive Conservative John Arthur Spencer 3,041 14.78 +4.41
Total valid votes 20,578 100.00
1953 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 9,737 56.62 +9.64
Liberal Ernest Roderick McFarland 5,676 33.01 +2.53
Progressive Conservative James Erle Carr 1,783 10.37 -2.65
Total valid votes 17,196 100.00
1949 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 8,880 46.98 +3.46
Liberal Louis Sherman Turcotte 5,760 30.47 +7.54
Progressive Conservative John Arthur Jardine 2,460 13.02 -4.90
Co-operative Commonwealth William Wesley Scott 1,801 9.53 -3.47
Total valid votes 18,901 100.00
1945 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 7,250 43.52 +2.49
Liberal Louis Sherman Turcotte 3,820 22.93 -12.79
Progressive Conservative Philip Baker 2,985 17.92 -5.33
Co-operative Commonwealth William Wesley Scott 2,165 13.00
Labor–Progressive William Henry Childress 439 2.64
Total valid votes 16,659 100.00

Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election. Social Credit vote is compared to New Democracy vote in 1940 election.

1940 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democracy John Horne Blackmore 6,362 41.03 -9.97
Liberal Lynden Eldon Fairbairn 5,538 35.72 +19.21
National Government John Smith Stewart 3,605 23.25 -0.15
Total valid votes 15,505 100.00

Note: "National Government" vote is compared to Conservative vote in 1935 election. New Democracy vote is compared to Social Credit vote in 1935 election.

1935 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Horne Blackmore 6,516 51.00
Conservative John Smith Stewart 2,990 23.40 -15.43
Liberal Lynden Eldon Fairbairn 2,109 16.51 -13.67
Co-operative Commonwealth John Albert Johansen 737 5.77 -25.22
Reconstruction A. Gladstone Virtue 425 3.33
Total valid votes 12,777 100.00

Note: CCF vote is compared to Progressive vote in 1930 election.

1930 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Smith Stewart 4,863 38.84 -1.23
Progressive Thomas Owen King 3,880 30.99 -28.95
Liberal Arthur George Baalim 3,779 30.18
Total valid votes 12,522 100.00

Note: Progressive vote is compared to UFA vote in 1926 election.

1926 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Farmers of Alberta Lincoln Henry Jelliff 5,138 59.93 +6.24
Conservative Andrew Bryden Hogg 3,435 40.07 -6.24
Total valid votes 8,573 100.00

Note: UFA vote is compared to Progressive vote in 1925 election.

1925 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Lincoln Henry Jelliff 5,399 53.69 +4.45
Conservative John Smith Stewart 4,656 46.31 +33.12
Total valid votes 10,055 100.00
1921 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Lincoln Henry Jelliff 4,961 49.25
Labour Martin Francis Finn 3,170 31.47
Conservative William Sargent Ball 1,328 13.18 -55.05
Liberal James Edward Lovering 615 6.10
Total valid votes 10,074 100.00
1917 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes %
Government (Unionist) William Ashbury Buchanan 5,302 68.24
  Opposition-Labour Lambert "L" Pack 2,468 31.76
Total valid votes 7,770 100.00

See also

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References

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  • "Lethbridge (federal electoral district) (Code 48019) Census Profile". 2011 census. Government of Canada - Statistics Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2011.

Notes

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  1. ^ Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^ Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
  1. ^ Statistics Canada: 2012
  2. ^ Statistics Canada: 2012
  3. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 26, 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (October 27, 2021). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (November 27, 2015). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "September 20, 2021 General Election Election Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Lethbridge (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Pundits' Guide to Canadian Elections
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