Lethbridge (formerly known as Lethbridge—Foothills) is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917. It incorporates the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge County.
Lethbridge has had a centre-right MP at the federal level since the 1930s. The current MP for Lethbridge is Rachael Thomas, who was first elected to parliament in 2015 for the Conservatives.
History
This riding was originally created in 1914 from parts of Macleod riding.
In 1977, it was renamed "Lethbridge—Foothills".
In 1987, Lethbridge—Foothills was abolished and replaced by a new "Lethbridge" riding. The new riding was created from most of Lethbridge—Foothills, along with parts of Macleod and Medicine Hat ridings.
It has been represented by centre-right MPs without interruption since 1930. As in most other federal Alberta ridings outside of Calgary and Edmonton, it usually supports the major right-wing party of the day by landslide margins. Since 1945, a non-conservative party has only won 30 percent of the vote three times. Lethbridge itself is somewhat friendlier to centre-left candidates, at least at the provincial level, which helps reduce the overall margins compared to surrounding ridings. The Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) won both seats in the provincial legislature from the city in the 2015 provincial election, but in 2019 lost the Lethbridge East riding to the United Conservative Party (UCP). The city has occasionally elected provincial Liberals in the past as well. At the federal level, however, the NDP and the Liberals are no match for the overwhelming conservative bent of the more rural areas.
This riding lost territory to Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner and Foothills during the 2012 electoral redistribution.
Historical boundaries
Members of Parliament
Current member of Parliament Its member of Parliament is Rachael Thomas. She was first elected in 2015. She is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Demographics + Panethnic groups in Lethbridge (2011−2021)Panethnic group202120162011 European 96,470 95,430 90,940 Indigenous 7,240 6,135 4,370 East Asian 3,415 3,030 3,135 Southeast Asian 3,220 2,465 1,210 African 3,220 1,925 855 South Asian 3,075 2,135 965 Latin American 2,390 1,665 710 Middle Eastern 755 740 235 Other/multiracial 725 390 365 Total responses 120,500 113,920 102,780 Total population 123,847 117,394 105,999
Election results
Lethbridge, 1987–present
2011 federal election redistributed resultsPundits' Guide to Canadian Elections Party Vote % Conservative 21,617 52.51 New Democratic 12,329 29.95 Liberal 3,759 9.13 Green 1,845 4.48 Christian Heritage 1,614 3.92
Lethbridge—Foothills, 1977–1987
Lethbridge, 1914–1977
See also List of Canadian electoral districts Historical federal electoral districts of Canada
References
Notes
External links
Expenditures - 2008 Expenditures - 2004 Expenditures - 2000 Expenditures - 1997 Elections Canada Website of the Parliament of Canada