Grande Prairie—Wapiti

Grande Prairie—Wapiti is a large rural riding surrounding the city of Grande Prairie in northwestern Alberta's Peace Country. The constituency covers portions of the County of Grande Prairie as well as smaller communities and rural areas stretching south and west toward the Wapiti River corridor. The economy is anchored by oil and gas, cattle ranching, grain farming, and forestry. The riding's predecessor, Grande Prairie—Smoky, had been held by Wildrose MLA Todd Loewen, and the newly drawn constituency was expected to favour the United Conservative Party.

Candidates

Travis Toews (United Conservative) — A chartered professional accountant and rancher, Toews held CPA and CMA accounting designations. He spent twelve years in public accounting practice, then invested in and managed a corporate family cattle ranching operation and an oilfield environmental company as managing director of the Melbern Group. Toews served as president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association from 2010 to 2012.

Shannon Dunfield (NDP) — Dunfield worked as the manager of Indigenous Health and Diversity for Alberta Health Services in the Northern zone. She had previously served as coordinator of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit programs for the Grande Prairie Public School District and as vice-president of Metis Local 1990. She ran for Grande Prairie city council in 2017 and was recognized as the city's Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

Jason Jones (Alberta Party) — Jones worked in the banking industry and in adult education, and co-pastored with his wife at Jesus is Lord church. His family had roots in the Peace Country dating back to 1912. He identified the opioid crisis as the most pressing issue facing the Grande Prairie region.

Terry Dueck (Independent) — An independent candidate in Grande Prairie—Wapiti.

Local Issues

The Peace Country's heavy reliance on oil and gas extraction made the energy downturn the overriding concern in Grande Prairie—Wapiti. The region had lost thousands of jobs after oil prices collapsed in 2014–2015, and while drilling activity showed partial recovery by 2018, the carbon tax, production curtailment orders, and the lack of pipeline capacity to tidewater remained contentious. Ranchers and oilfield service operators alike viewed the regulatory and tax environment under the NDP government as a burden on an already struggling sector.

Agriculture was a major concern in this riding with a strong ranching tradition. Bill 6, the NDP's farm safety legislation passed in late 2015, had provoked large protest movements, and resentment lingered among rural producers who viewed the original bill as poorly consulted and overreaching. The UCP's pledge to repeal and replace Bill 6 resonated in the constituency.

Infrastructure in the rural Peace Country also featured in local debates. Road maintenance, broadband access in remote areas, and the need for improved health care services in smaller communities were persistent issues. The ongoing delays at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, while located in the neighbouring urban riding, affected rural residents across the region who relied on the city for specialized medical care.