Fort McMurray—Lac La Biche

Encompassing the southern half of Fort McMurray and all of Lac La Biche County, this riding sits at the heart of the Athabasca oil sands, the world's third-largest proven oil reserve. The regional economy is almost entirely dependent on bitumen extraction and the service industries that support it. Fort McMurray's population is younger and more transient than the provincial average, shaped by the rhythms of oil sands camp work and shift rotations. Lac La Biche, at the riding's southern end, serves as a gateway community along the Highway 63 corridor and has a more diversified local economy including forestry and agriculture. The seat was won by Brian Jean in a March 2022 by-election, his political return after years away from elected office.

Candidates

Brian Jean (United Conservative) — Jean is a lawyer and businessman who represented the region federally as MP for Athabasca (2004–2006) and Fort McMurray—Athabasca (2006–2014). He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Business Administration from Bond University in Australia and a Bachelor of Science from Warner Pacific College. He was the last leader of the Wildrose Party, guiding it through the 2015 election as leader of the Official Opposition before the 2017 merger that created the UCP. He lost the UCP leadership to Jason Kenney in 2017, then won the Fort McMurray—Lac La Biche by-election in March 2022 on a platform critical of Kenney's leadership. He was appointed to cabinet after Smith's leadership victory as Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Northern Development, then as Minister of Energy and Minerals after the 2023 general election.

Calan William Simeon Hobbs (NDP) — Hobbs ran as the NDP candidate in Fort McMurray—Lac La Biche.

Kdmkevin Johnston (Independent) — Johnston ran as an independent candidate in Fort McMurray—Lac La Biche.

Local Issues

Fort McMurray endured a second major disaster in April 2020 when ice jams on the Athabasca River caused severe flooding in the lower townsite, forcing the evacuation of more than 13,000 residents. The flooding hit a community still dealing with the aftermath of the catastrophic 2016 wildfire, compounding trauma and stretching emergency response capacity. COVID-19 restrictions in effect at the time added logistical complications to the evacuation and sheltering of displaced residents.

The oil sands economy experienced extreme volatility during the inter-election period. The pandemic-driven collapse of 2020, when Western Canadian Select crude briefly turned negative, resulted in widespread production curtailments and layoffs. The recovery that followed, driven by rising global energy prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, brought employment and investment back to the region, but also reignited debates about camp-based labour versus permanent community residency. Fort McMurray's push to encourage workers to live in the community rather than in temporary camps remained an ongoing policy objective.

Jean's presence as a cabinet minister representing the riding gave Fort McMurray direct influence at the highest levels of government for the first time in years. His advocacy for oil sands expansion and market access, and his defence of the industry against federal emissions policies, resonated in a community whose economic fortunes rise and fall with global energy markets.