Athabasca

Athabasca is one of Saskatchewan's two vast northern ridings, stretching across the province's northwestern reaches and encompassing communities such as Ile-a-la-Crosse, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, and La Loche. It is one of the largest yet least populated constituencies in the province, presenting unique challenges for campaigning and governance alike. The riding had been represented by NDP MLA Buckley Belanger since 1995, making him one of the longest-serving members of the legislature. Athabasca was one of only two seats where the NDP remained competitive in northern Saskatchewan, as the Saskatchewan Party's dominance across the rest of the province continued under Premier Scott Moe.

The 2020 election took place on October 26 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added urgency to longstanding concerns about healthcare access and community well-being in the remote north. Voter turnout in Athabasca was notably low at 33.6 per cent, reflecting the logistical difficulties of voting across such a vast and sparsely populated territory.

Candidates

Buckley Belanger (NDP) — Belanger was born in Ile-a-la-Crosse and is of Metis descent. Before entering politics, he served as mayor of Ile-a-la-Crosse from 1988 to 1994 and worked as a journalist and administrator for MBC Radio. Originally elected as a Saskatchewan Liberal in 1995, he crossed to the NDP in 1998, winning a by-election with over 93 per cent of the vote. During his tenure, he served in the Romanow and Calvert governments as minister of Environment and Resource Management, associate minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, and minister of Northern Affairs.

Kelly Kwan (Saskatchewan Party) — Kwan is a Dene-speaking Metis man from Turnor Lake who has been a teacher since 1989. He works as a Dene language instructor for students from Headstart through Grade 9. Kwan and his wife have eight children and four grandchildren. He was acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for Athabasca.

Leroy Laliberte (Green Party) — Laliberte is a Metis Michif originally from the Northern Village of Beauval. He works as the Community Wellness Manager for Flying Dust First Nation.

Local Issues

Northern Saskatchewan faced persistent challenges during the 2016-2020 term that loomed large in Athabasca. Healthcare access was a critical concern, including the absence of dialysis services in the region, which forced patients to travel vast distances for treatment. Housing conditions on reserves and in northern communities remained inadequate, and the cost of living in remote areas continued to strain families. Northern leaders resisted efforts by the provincial government in April 2020 to reopen the economy during the early stages of the pandemic, citing the vulnerability of remote communities with limited healthcare infrastructure.

The suicide crisis in northern Saskatchewan was a defining issue of the term. Suicide rates in the northwest were nearly three times the national average. Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette introduced a private member's bill calling for a provincial suicide prevention strategy, but it was voted down by the Saskatchewan Party majority 43-13 in June 2020. Tristen Durocher subsequently undertook a 635-kilometre walk from Air Ronge to the legislature grounds in Regina to raise awareness, an action that drew national attention and highlighted the government's perceived neglect of northern concerns. The Saskatchewan Party's limited campaign efforts in Athabasca and Cumberland reflected a broader pattern of disengagement from the province's northern ridings.