Yellowhead

This large rural riding is in west-central Alberta, reaching from B.C. almost to Edmonton, and bordered on the southwest by the Brazeau River. Jasper National Park is in the southwest corner and communities include Jasper, Hinton, Edson, Whitecourt, Drayton Valley and Barrhead.

Ten per cent of residents are aboriginal and six per cent are immigrants. English is the mother tongue of ninety per cent of the population, French of two per cent and aboriginal languages of just over one per cent.

The riding is rich in natural resources and has extensive forestry reserves. National and provincial parks fuel an extensive tourism industry. The 2006 census shows an average family income of $86,623 and an unemployment rate of 4.8 per cent.

Created in 1976, the Yellowhead riding was only slightly altered in the 2004 redistribution. About one per cent of the residents found themselves removed from the riding, while 1,789 were added from St. Albert, 1,145 from Red Deer and 135 from Athabaska.

Population: 103,111 (2006 census; an increase of 5.2% since 2001)

Political History

In 2006, Conservative Rob Merrifield defeated NDP candidate Noel Lapierre and Liberal Nancy Love to earn his third term in the riding. In the previous election, Merrifield defeated Liberal Peter Crossly. Merrifield was elected as a Canadian Alliance member in 2000 and as a Conservative in 2004.

Between 1958 and 1993, this riding went to the Tories in all but one election. Beginning in 1972, Joe Clark was MP for 21 years, including during his term as prime minister. In 1988, Clark fended off Reform Leader Preston Manning, but Cliff Breitkreuz of Reform won in 1993 and 1997.

• 1979-88 inclusive - PC
• 1993, 1997 - REF
• 2000 - CA
• 2004, 2006 - CON