Desnethe—Missinippi—Churchill River

Desnethe—Missinippi—Churchill River is one of the largest federal ridings by area in Canada, covering the entire northern half of Saskatchewan. Spanning roughly 588,000 square kilometres, the riding stretches some 800 kilometres from its southernmost communities to the Northwest Territories border. Its landscape ranges from farmland in the south through boreal forest to the Canadian Shield in the northeast, encompassing a vast network of rivers, lakes, and wild rice beds.

The riding is home to a predominantly Indigenous population, with about 70 percent of residents identifying as First Nations or Metis according to census data. Communities include La Ronge, Meadow Lake (prior to 2022 redistribution), La Loche, Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Pinehouse, Pelican Narrows, and Stony Rapids, among many others. The riding's name reflects its Dene, Cree, and Metis heritage.

Candidates

Buckley Belanger (Liberal) was born in Ile-a-la-Crosse and built a career in broadcasting, establishing radio and television facilities across a dozen northern communities through his company, Belanger Communications. He served three terms as mayor of Ile-a-la-Crosse and was elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 1995, going on to hold several provincial cabinet portfolios including Environment, Northern Affairs, and SaskWater under Premiers Romanow and Calvert. He ran federally in this riding in 2021 but was defeated.

Jim Lemaigre (Conservative) is a member of the Clearwater River Dene Nation and a former RCMP constable who served in multiple Saskatchewan communities. He later managed the First Nations and Indigenous Policing Program through the Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety. Lemaigre won the Athabasca provincial seat for the Saskatchewan Party in a 2022 by-election but was defeated in the 2024 provincial general election.

Doug Racine (NDP) is a descendant of the Red River Metis who grew up on a family trapline and became a registered hunting guide at age 15. After 12 years of military service including overseas peacekeeping tours, Racine completed a law degree and practised criminal, civil, and administrative law for 25 years. He co-founded the Aboriginal Law Group and has represented Indigenous organizations across Western Canada.

About the Riding

The economy of northern Saskatchewan is driven by natural resources, particularly uranium mining in the Athabasca Basin, which produces a significant share of the world's uranium supply. Forestry, trapping, commercial fishing, and wild rice harvesting also sustain communities throughout the riding. La Ronge serves as the primary administrative and service hub for the north.

The riding faces acute challenges around healthcare access, housing, and infrastructure. Many communities are fly-in or accessible only by winter roads, and physician and nursing shortages affect health centres across the region. Clean drinking water remains a pressing concern, with several First Nations communities subject to long-term boil water advisories.

The 2025 election in this riding attracted close attention as one of Saskatchewan's most competitive races. The riding has swung between Liberals, Conservatives, and the NDP over the past several elections, reflecting its unique demographic mix. Northern economic development, resource revenue sharing with Indigenous communities, and the drug and mental health crisis affecting communities like La Loche were prominent campaign issues.