Official results for the Westlock-St. Paul riding confirm the unofficial results reported after the May 2 federal election, which indicated a surge of support for returning MP Brian Storseth. Elections Canada released the official results on Aug. 17.
Storseth's support increased to around 78 per cent in the riding, up around five per cent from 2008 and 10 per cent from 2006. The Conservatives' vote share in the riding increased 12 per cent from the 2004 election when Dave Chatters ran.
The official results also confirm the declining support for the Liberal Party and increased support for the NDP. The Liberals received only around six per cent of votes in 2011, down from 10 per cent in 2008, 15 per cent in 2006 and 19 per cent in 2004.
The NDP earned the second largest share of the votes in the riding at 12 per cent. The party matched the Liberals at 10 per cent in 2008 and earned the same 10 per cent in 2006 and around nine per cent in 2004.
The Green Party took four per cent, down from almost seven per cent in 2008.
Poll results show strong support for Storseth in all the towns, villages and hamlets in the Lakeland. In St. Paul, Storseth took around 75 per cent of the vote, up three per cent from 2008.
The NDP came in at a distant second with 11 per cent in St. Paul, around the same support it received in 2008. Support for the Liberals dropped to nine per cent from 11 in 2008 while the Greens also saw fewer supporters at five per cent compared to around six in 2008.
Other towns in the riding show similar results. Storseth earned 81 per cent of the Town of Bonnyville vote (including the Bonnyville Beach poll), up from 77 per cent in 2008. Support for the NDP grew from 6.5 per cent in 2008 to around 7.5 per cent, while Liberals remained the same around eight per cent. The Green Party dropped from nearly six per cent in 2008 to 2.5 per cent, indicating a possible shift from Green to Conservatives and the NDP.
Storseth also increased his support by around 3.5 per cent in Cold Lake, while NDP garnered nearly a 2.5 per cent increase. Liberal support dropped from eight to 5.5 per cent while Greens stayed the same around five per cent.
Conservatives earned 76 per cent in Elk Point, around a 3.5 per cent increase from 2008. NDP support increased a percentage point to 13.
In Glendon, Storseth took nearly 86 per cent of the vote, up from 78.5 per cent in 2008, possibly at the expense of the NDP, which fell from 11 to seven per cent of the village vote.
The only locations where Storseth did not receive a commanding majority of votes were on First Nations reserves. While the Conservatives won the most votes in Kehewin by one in 2008, support fell to 27 per cent. NDP support increased to 47 per cent from 15 in 2008, at the expense of the Conservatives and the Liberals, who fell from 41 per cent support in 2008 (one vote behind Storseth) to 27 per cent.
“We've made some headway over the last couple years," said Storseth on the First Nations vote. “I work very hard for all our constituents but at the end of the day, our Conservative government certainly has some priorities that resonate better with some people more than other people."
“We represent all people in our riding whether they vote for us or not," he said, noting certain demographics have voted consistently across the country.
At Whitefish, NDP earned 52 per cent of the vote and Liberals 15, while in 2008 the Liberals took 71 per cent when Leila Houle ran and the NDP only 11. The NDP also dominated the Saddle Lake vote with almost 64 per cent. The Liberals took 64 per cent in 2008 but fell to 17. Storseth increased his vote by eight per cent. The NDP had similar success at replacing the strong 2008 Liberal vote in Frog Lake, where it took 65 per cent while Conservatives remained at around 12 per cent. At Cold Lake First Nations, the NDP took 51 per cent at the expense of the Liberals while support for the Conservatives remained the same at around 20 per cent.
Fighting for water quality and “making sure they're not stomped on by industry" was part of the NDP's success at increasing its share of the First Nations vote, according to Mandy Melnyk, chair of the Alberta NDP rural caucus.
“All NDPers, we work to have a more fair and equitable society," she said. “I think that's why the aboriginal community would probably be more inclined to support us."
People voted for the party because of its “strong and steady track record" for being their voice in Ottawa, she said. The party has addressed childcare, housing, water, air quality and poverty issues on reserves, she said.
“My speculation would be aboriginal communities have seen us go repeatedly to bat for them on issues particularly pertaining to their treaty rights and their human rights."
First Nations also turned to the NDP and away from the Liberals because of the track record of the Liberal government, according to Melnyk. The leadership of Jack Layton also probably resonated with First Nations more than former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, she added.
Despite strong rural support for Conservatives, Melnyk remains optimistic for an NDP breakthrough in rural Alberta. “We are dealing with a very redneck province, but I do think that if you look, the heart and soul of the CCF movement in this country came from rural roots."
She said the rural caucus of the Alberta NDP is “growing tremendously" and that the party wants to improve communication of the party's position on issues “at their front gate." As oil and gas develops and as a good portion of the wealth comes from rural areas, “I think rural voters are going to start paying a little bit more attention as to what's happening to their communities and the quality of life in those communities."
Despite strong First Nations support for NDP, Métis communities in the area went either Conservative or NDP. Conservatives won 84 per cent at Victoria Settlement, up four per cent from 2008. Storseth increased his votes on Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement from 32 per cent to 45 per cent, defeating the previous Liberal win in 2008. The NDP took the most votes at Fishing Lake Metis Settlement with 45 per cent at the expense of the Liberals, which earned the most votes in 2008.
Poll results include statistics for advance polls but not mobile polls. The statistics used in the story reflect polling results for the named polls only and not surrounding communities unless mentioned.