St. Albert—Edmonton

St. Albert—Edmonton was a newly drawn riding for the 2015 election, combining the bedroom community of St. Albert, northwest of Edmonton, with portions of the capital city's northwestern suburbs. The riding replaced parts of the former Edmonton—St. Albert constituency and was shaped by the 2012 federal redistribution. With a population of approximately 65,000, St. Albert is one of Alberta's wealthiest municipalities, known for its arts community and family-oriented neighbourhoods.

Candidates

Michael Cooper (Conservative) — A St. Albert native, Cooper earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, both with distinction, from the University of Alberta. Called to the Alberta bar in 2010, he practised civil litigation at the Edmonton firm Ogilvie LLP until entering politics.

Beatrice Ghettuba (Liberal) — Ghettuba carried the Liberal Party's standard in the riding during a national campaign that saw the party make significant gains across the country.

Brent Rathgeber (Independent) — A lawyer by training, Rathgeber was first elected as the Conservative MP for Edmonton—St. Albert in 2008. In June 2013 he resigned from the Conservative caucus, citing the government's lack of commitment to transparency after his private member's bill on public-sector salary disclosure was amended in committee. He sat as an independent for the remainder of the Parliament and sought re-election under that banner in the redrawn riding.

Darlene Malayko (NDP) — Malayko stood as the NDP candidate in the riding, competing in a constituency where the party hoped to capitalize on its 2015 Alberta provincial breakthrough.

Andrea Oldham (Green Party) — Oldham represented the Green Party, completing the roster of candidates.

About the Riding

St. Albert is a largely residential city of approximately 65,000 situated along the Sturgeon River, just minutes from downtown Edmonton. It is consistently ranked among Canada's best places to live, with above-average household incomes and strong public services. The Edmonton portion of the riding includes newer suburban developments in the city's northwest. Major employers include the Sturgeon Community Hospital, the St. Albert Catholic and public school divisions, and a commercial corridor along St. Albert Trail. Many residents commute to Edmonton for work in the provincial public service, the University of Alberta, and the energy sector. Key federal issues in 2015 included government accountability and transparency — given the riding's recent political history — as well as infrastructure investment, veterans' services, and the economic outlook amid falling oil prices.