Peace River

This riding covers the northwest corner of Alberta, bordered on the west by British Columbia and on the north by the Northwest Territories. The land is largely boreal forest, with farmland in the south.

The major population centre is Grande Prairie in the southwest corner. The aboriginal population is about 14 per cent, and immigrants make up just over five per cent. English is the mother tongue of just under 89 per cent of residents. Next is German, listed by eight per cent.

Mining and oil and gas extraction, together with agriculture and forestry are the major employers, followed by retail trade and the construction industry. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $91,067 and an unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent.

The riding was established in 1924.

Population: 138,009 (2006 census; an increase of 11.4% since 2001)

Political History

In the past 46 years, just three people have represented this riding. Ged Baldwin of the Progressive Conservatives won the riding in 1958 and held the seat until he retired in 1980. He was replaced in the House of Commons by fellow Tory Albert Cooper, who won again in 1984 and 1988. Then, in 1993, the Reform party's Charlie Penson won handily, outpolling all other candidates combined. Penson repeated that feat in every election until 2006. In that vote, Conservative Chris Warkentin beat Independent candidate Bill Given.

• 1925 - PROG
• 1926, 1930 - UFA
• 1935 - SC
• 1940 - LIB
• 1945-57 inclusive - SC
• 1958-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993, 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA
• 2004, 2006 - CON