Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock

Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock is a provincial electoral district in northern Alberta, created by the 2017 Electoral Boundaries Commission from parts of the former Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock and Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater ridings. The riding spans a large swath of rural and small-town Alberta, encompassing the communities of Athabasca, Barrhead, Westlock, Swan Hills, and Smoky Lake, along with surrounding agricultural land and portions of the boreal forest. The Athabasca River flows through the district. Wildrose-turned-UCP incumbent Glenn van Dijken, first elected in Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock in 2015, sought re-election in this expanded riding.

Candidates

Glenn Van Dijken (United Conservative) --- Operating a family grain farm in Dapp, Alberta alongside his wife Barb, van Dijken and his spouse earned the Outstanding Young Farmers of Alberta title in 2001. He also served on the board of directors of Federated Co-operative Limited. After winning his seat under the Wildrose banner in 2015, he secured the UCP nomination for the new riding in July 2018, capturing 70 percent of the vote.

Therese Taschuk (NDP) — A Smoky Lake resident, Taschuk previously served on town council. Before opening a day home in 2007, she worked for Aspen View Public Schools as a custodian, educational assistant, and preschool instructor, and served as president of CUPE Local 1461. She was acclaimed as the NDP candidate.

Wayne Rufiange (Alberta Party) — The Alberta Party’s candidate in the riding.

Buster Malcolm (Alberta Independence) — The Alberta Independence Party candidate.

Brad Giroux (Independent) — An independent candidate in the riding.

Local Issues

Rural crime was the most prominent local issue in Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock during the NDP’s term. Property crime, theft, and vandalism on farms and acreages generated frustration across northern Alberta’s rural communities. The Barrhead and Area Regional Crime Coalition was established in early 2018 to coordinate responses, and the Town of Athabasca and Athabasca County participated in a provincial pilot program aimed at addressing the root causes of rural crime. Residents called for more rural prosecutors, faster response times, and increased penalties for trespassing on agricultural land.

The NDP government’s Bill 6 — the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, passed in late 2015 — remained deeply unpopular in this agricultural riding. The legislation extended occupational health and safety rules and workers’ compensation coverage to farm and ranch employees, measures that many producers viewed as an unwelcome intrusion into their operations. The UCP pledged to repeal and replace the legislation. The economic downturn in the energy and forestry sectors also affected the riding, particularly in Swan Hills, which depended on oil and gas activity. Residents expressed concern about the carbon tax’s impact on farm input costs and the broader regulatory burden on rural industries.