ATHABASCA — Voters in the Athabasca constituency will head to the polls Oct. 28 for the provincial election, with three candidates vying for the MLA seat. The candidates represent the Saskatchewan Party, NDP and Green Party.
Jim Lemaigre (Incumbent), Saskatchewan Party
Jim Lemaigre was elected as the MLA for Athabasca in a byelection on Feb. 15, 2022, according to the information provided by Saskatchewan Party on their website. Prior to his election he worked in public safety. Lemaigre is a member of Clearwater River Dene Nation and speaks Dene fluently. He is a retired member of the RCMP, and currently serves as a program manager for the First Nations and Indigenous Policing Program. He and his family enjoy spending time outdoors and look forward to serving northwest Saskatchewan.
Leroy Laliberte, NDP
Leroy Laliberte, originally from the northern village of Beauval, is running as the NDP candidate. Laliberte is the community wellness manager for Flying Dust First Nation, according to the NDP website, and is the founder and director of Burn Youth/BURN Consulting. He has been involved in youth and community development for over 20 years and has worked with all levels of government to develop positive strategies affecting communities throughout Canada. He is a co-chair to the North West Friendship Centre and also sits on the advisory council to the College of Medicine/Indigenous Health at the University of Saskatchewan. Laliberte and his wife Diana have three children.
Raven Reid, Green Party
Raven Reid is the Green Party candidate for Athabasca. Though fewer details are available about her background as of Oct. 14, the Green Party's platform typically emphasizes environmental sustainability, Indigenous rights and local community empowerment, along with a commitment to addressing climate change and promoting green energy initiatives in Saskatchewan.
