Cariboo (provincial electoral district)

Cariboo was one of the twelve original electoral districts created when British Columbia became a Canadian province in 1871. Roughly corresponding to the old colonial electoral administrative district of the same name, it was a three-member riding until the 1894 election, when it was reduced through reapportionment and became a two-member riding until the 1916 election, after which it has been a single-member riding. It produced many notable Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), including George Anthony Boomer Walkem, third and fifth holder of the office of Premier of British Columbia and who was one of the first representatives elected from the riding; John Robson, ninth Premier of British Columbia; and Robert Bonner, a powerful minister in the W.A.C. Bennett cabinet, and later CEO of MacMillan Bloedel and BC Hydro.

Demographics

Population, 1871 Population, 1961
Population change,
Area (km²)
Population density

Political geography

When the riding was created, the bulk of its population was in the Cariboo goldfields district around Barkerville, although its boundaries extended to the Yukon boundaries - the original Cariboo riding at its creation included all of the former New Caledonia fur district, north of those parts of it now in the Lillooet Land District which formed the Lillooet riding.1 As mining exploration and other settlement spread northwards from the Cariboo mining areas, the Omineca, Fort George and Peace River (British Columbia electoral district)|ridings were split off by the end of the 19th Century, and the Cariboo riding was reduced to the Cariboo Plateau, south from Quesnel to just south of Williams Lake and 150 Mile House, and including the Barkerville, British Columbia region as well as the remote Chilcotin region, which had no voting (settler) population when the riding was formed other than isolated traders and trappers who may have had time or means to vote. Nearly all of the 785 voters in the first election were in the goldfield towns, Quesnel (then Quesnellemouthe), Williams Lake or towns and ranches south along the Cariboo Road and other routes of the era, and those along the West Fraser from the Chilcotin River, including the Gang Ranch south to just north of Big Bar, an isolated canyon ranching, river-crossing and wagon-trail town in the Fraser Canyon, which was in the Lillooet riding.

Following the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), increased settlement on the Cariboo Plateau south of the goldfields region shifted the population weight of the riding to that area, which was increasingly centred on the town of Williams Lake and the plateau between there and Kamloops, British Columbia. The southern Cariboo region, later added in a redistribution and division of the Cariboo riding into Cariboo South and Cariboo North, which exist today, was originally part of the Lillooet riding. The Lillooet and Cariboo provincial ridings combined formed the original definition of the Cariboo federal riding.

1 New Caledonia's southern boundary was vague, but it was generally accepted to include the Thompson area although its heartland is the Fort Saint James-Fraser Lake region northwest of Prince George.

First Nations

When the riding was created its boundaries stretched from the Quesnel Lake and Chilcotin areas, flanking the great plateau of central BC on its east and west, all the way north to the Yukon border. At that time, although irrelevant to the issue of electoral representation, the riding's population included members of the Shuswap, Carrier, Chilcotin, Sekani and other more northerly nations. As the riding was reduced to roughly correspond with the Cariboo district (excluding Lillooet-Ashcroft, which were in the Lillooet electoral district, at least until the mid-20th century) the native population became only Shuswap, along the Fraser and east of it, and the Chilcotin people, who lived to the west of it. First Nations people, even in the reduced riding area, mostly outnumbered the total figure for non-natives until the early 20th century, but were not allowed to vote or run for office.

Notable MLAs

Electoral history

Note: Winners of each election are in bold.

1st British Columbia general election, 1871
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Independent Cornelius Booth 155 19.74% unknown
  Independent John Evans 107 13.63% unknown
  Independent Joseph Hunter 162 20.64% unknown
  Independent John Spencer Thompson 132 16.82% unknown
  Independent George Anthony Boomer Walkem 1 229 29.17% unknown
Total valid votes 785 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
1Premier 1874-1876
British Columbia provincial by-election, November 27, 1871
Party Candidate Votes
IndependentGeorge Anthony Boomer WalkemAcclaimed
The byelection was called due to Walkem's resignation upon appointment to the Executive Council (cabinet) on November. This byelection was one of a series held to confirm appointments to the Executive Council, which was the old parliamentary convention. As this byelection writ was filled by acclamation, no polling day was required and the seat was filled within two weeks. The stated date is the date the return of writs was received by the Chief Electoral Officer.
British Columbia byelection: Cariboo, June 22, 1872 3
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Independent Abraham Barlow 23 9.35% unknown
  Independent John George Barnston 132 53.66% unknown
  Independent Edward Pearson 91 36.99% unknown
Total valid votes n/a -.- %
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
3 Caused by resignation of C. Booth 23 April 1872 upon appointment as Clerk to the Bench at Kootenay 19 April 1872.
2nd British Columbia election, 1875
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
OppositionAlexander Edmund Batson Davie19923.36% unknown
OppositionJohn Evans17320.31% unknown
GovernmentEdward Pearson11713.73%unknown
GovernmentJohn Johnston Robertson687.98%unknown
GovernmentGeorge Anthony Boomer Walkem 4 25429.81% unknown
GovernmentSamuel Walker414.81%unknown
Total valid votes 852 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
4 Incumbent Premier from 1874; term ended in 1876
3rd British Columbia election, 1878
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
OppositionGeorge Cowan23830.20% unknown
OppositionJohn Evans23029.19% unknown
GovernmentJonathan Nutt688.63%unknown
OppositionGeorge Anthony Boomer Walkem 5 25231.98% unknown
Total valid votes 788 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
5 Elected Premier
British Columbia byelection: Cariboo, August 3, 1878 6
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
OppositionGeorge Anthony Boomer WalkemAcclaimed -.- % unknown
Total valid votes n/a -.- %
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
6 Byelection caused by Walkem's resignation upon appointment to the Executive Council June. Date is that of return of writ, as a polling day was not necessary.
British Columbia byelection: Cariboo, October 29, 18797
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
UnknownGeorge Ferguson9441.23%
UnknownJohn Glasson5524.12%
UnknownRobert McLeese7934.65%
Total valid votes 228
7 Cause of byelection was the death of John Evans August.
4th British Columbia election, 1882
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Independent George Cowan 217 24.46% unknown
OppositionGeorge Ferguson11713.19%unknown
OppositionDaniel McKay829.25%unknown
GovernmentRobert McLeese16919.05% unknown
OppositionSamuel Walker10712.06%unknown
OppositionCharles Wilson19521.98% unknown
Total valid votes 887 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
5th British Columbia election, 1886
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
OppositionNeil R. Campbell395.17%unknown
GovernmentGeorge Cowan11114.70% unknown
OppositionGeorge Ferguson9011.92%unknown
OppositionRobert McLeese11314.97% unknown
GovernmentJoseph Mason12516.56% unknown
OppositionDenis Murphy8811.65%unknown
OppositionRobert Lauderdale Shaw385.03%unknown
  Independent Samuel Walker 61 8.08% unknown
GovernmentCharles Wilson9011.92%unknown
Total valid votes 755 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
6th British Columbia election, 1890
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
GovernmentJoseph Mason18729.13% unknown
GovernmentJohn Robson 8 15824.61% unknown
OppositionSamuel Augustus Rogers16325.39% unknown
OppositionWilliam Pinchbeck13420.87%unknown
Total valid votes 642 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
8 Incumbent Premier since 1889; term ended in 1892
7th British Columbia election, 1894
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
GovernmentWilliam Adams14721.33% unknown
OppositionJohn Charlton Kinchant9513.79%unknown
OppositionRobert McLeese14220.61%unknown
GovernmentSamuel Augustus Rogers16724.24% unknown
GovernmentHugh Watt13820.03%unknown
Total valid votes 689 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
8th British Columbia election, 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
OppositionHans Lars Helgesen21828.76% unknown
GovernmentJoseph Hunter17322.82%unknown
OppositionJohn Charlton Kinchant19525.73% unknown
GovernmentSamuel Augustus Rogers17222.69%unknown
Total valid votes 758 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
1900 British Columbia general election
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
ConservativeJoseph Hunter30231.17Y
ConservativeSamuel Augustus Rogers28929.82Y
ProgressiveHarry Jones20120.74
ProgressiveJohn Charlton Kinchant17718.27
Total valid votes 969
10th British Columbia election, 1903
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative William Adams 411 23.76% unknown
  Liberal Harry Jones 439 25.37% unknown
  Liberal James Murphy 501 28.96% unknown
     Conservative Samuel Augustus Rogers 379 21.91% unknown
Total valid votes 1,730 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
11th British Columbia election, 1907
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative Leon Frederick James Champion 135 20.64% unknown
  Liberal Harry Jones 184 28.14% unknown
     Conservative Charles Wilson 152 23.34% unknown
  Liberal John McKay Yorston 183 27.98% unknown
Total valid votes 654 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
12th British Columbia election, 1909
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative Michael Callanan 273 31.86% unknown
     Conservative John Anderson Fraser 267 31.15% unknown
LiberalHarry Jones15918.55%unknown
LiberalJohn McKay Yorston15818.54%unknown
Total valid votes 857 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
13th British Columbia election, 1912
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative Michael Callanan 310 37.48% unknown
     Conservative John Anderson Fraser 335 40.51% unknown
LiberalJohn Holt18222.01%unknown
Total valid votes 827 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
14th British Columbia election, 1916
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative John Anderson Fraser 207 31.36% unknown
  Liberal John McKay Yorston 453 68.64% unknown
Total valid votes 660 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
15th British Columbia election, 1920
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative John Anderson Fraser 349 38.35% unknown
  Liberal John McKay Yorston 561 61.65% unknown
Total valid votes 910 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
16th British Columbia election, 1924
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     Conservative John Anderson Fraser 397 30.44% unknown
ProvincialDavid Alexander Stoddart56161.65% unknown
LiberalJohn McKay Yorston41431.75%unknown
Total valid votes 1,304 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
17th British Columbia election, 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
LiberalRobert Neil Campbell40028.25%unknown
     Conservative Roderick Mackenzie 623 44.00% unknown
  Independent David Alexander Stoddart 393 27.75% unknown
Total valid votes 1,416 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 157
Turnout %
18th British Columbia election, 1933
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Rupert Williams Haggen 398 19.92% unknown
  Liberal Donald Morrison MacKay 1,089 54.50% unknown
Non-Partisan Independent GroupRoderick Mackenzie51125.58%unknown
Total valid votes 1,998 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 38
Turnout %
19th British Columbia election, 1937
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Independent Jennie E. Clarke 655 25.43% unknown
  Liberal Louis LeBourdais 1,921 74.57% unknown
Total valid votes 2,578 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 62
Turnout %
20th British Columbia election, 1941
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Richmond Charles Biss 338 11.86% unknown
  Independent Truman Charles Docherty 404 14.18% unknown
  Independent John Hargreaves 257 9.02% unknown
  Liberal Louis LeBourdais 1,429 50.16% unknown
     Conservative Christy McDevitt 257 9.02% unknown
Total valid votes 2,849 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 92
Turnout %
21st British Columbia election, 1945
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
CoalitionLouis LeBourdais1,370 57.93% unknown
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Charles Archibald Thomas 995 42.07% unknown
Total valid votes 2,365 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 67
Turnout %
22nd British Columbia election, 1949
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Co-operative Commonwealth Nicholas Charles Bird 1,314 33.12% unknown
CoalitionAngus MacLean 2,653 66.88% unknown
Total valid votes 3,967 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 110
Turnout %
23rd British Columbia election, 19529
Party Candidate Votes
1st count
% Votes
final count
% ±%
Social Credit LeagueWilliam Ralph Talbot Chetwynd2,684 51.84% 2,684 51.84%
  Liberal Angus McLean 1,029 19.88% 1,029 19.88% unknown
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Roland Riley 689 13.31% 689 13.31% unknown
  Progressive Conservative Kenneth Winston Thibaudeau 775 14.97% 775 14.97% unknown
Total valid votes 5,177 % 5,177 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 216
Turnout 77.94%
9 Preferential ballot; only one count necessary due to majority on first count
24th British Columbia election, 1953 10
Party Candidate Votes
1st count
% Votes
final count
% ±%
  Progressive Conservative Jack Gardner Boultbee 509 9.63% 509 9.63% unknown
Social Credit LeagueWilliam Ralph Talbot Chetwynd2,733 51.73% 2,733 51.73%
  Liberal Gideon Earl Malcolm 1,050 19.87% 1,050 19.87% unknown
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Joseph Wilson McConnell 992 18.77% 992 18.77% unknown
Total valid votes 5,284 100.00% 5,284 %
Total rejected ballots 288
Total Registered Voters
Turnout %
10 Preferential ballot; only one count shown due to majority on first count
25th British Columbia election, 1956
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Social CreditWilliam Ralph Talbot Chetwynd3,014 60.86 unknown
LiberalFelix Rudolph Kohnke1,14123.04%unknown
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. James Lehman 797 16.09% unknown
Total valid votes 4,952 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 45
Turnout %
26th British Columbia election, 1960
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Stanley Doubleday Crowe 1,842 24.37% unknown
LiberalFelix Rudolph Kohnke2,07327.43%unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare3,091 40.90% unknown
  Progressive Conservative Celian Orvian Tingley 552 7.30% unknown
Total valid votes 7,558 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 112
Turnout %
27th British Columbia election, 1963
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  Progressive Conservative John Alfred Vernon Cade 1,551 21.60% unknown
New DemocraticStanley Doubleday Crowe1,48220.63%unknown
LiberalFelix Rudolph Kohnke1,13415.79%unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare3,015 41.98% unknown
Total valid votes 7,182 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 49
Turnout %
28th British Columbia election, 1966
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
New DemocraticHartley Douglas Dent2,53035.74%unknown
LiberalRonald Charles MacKay71910.16%unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare3,830 54.10% unknown
Total valid votes 7,079 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 74
Turnout %
29th British Columbia election, 1969
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Social CreditAlex Fraser5,766 52.05% unknown
New DemocraticKirby Gerald Seabrook2,96126.73%unknown
LiberalDavid Zirnhelt2,35121.22%unknown
Total valid votes 11,078 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 85
Turnout %
30th British Columbia election, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
New DemocraticRonald Hjalmar Anderson5,43538.68%unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser6,780 48.25% unknown
LiberalLawrence Albert Gladue1,83713.07%unknown
Total valid votes 14,052 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 220
Turnout %
31st British Columbia election, 1975
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
New DemocraticGrethyl Verda Adams6,12230.13%unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser14,194 69.87% unknown
Total valid votes 20,316 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 235
Turnout %
32nd British Columbia election, 1979
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Social CreditAlex Fraser13,736 64.09% unknown
New DemocraticByron Ralph Kemp7,23333.75%unknown
  Independent Brian Hartley Mayne 462 2.16% unknown
Total valid votes 21,431 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 315
Turnout %
33rd British Columbia election, 1983
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Social CreditAlex Fraser16,446 61.82% unknown
New DemocraticSteven Edward Hilbert8,99033.80%unknown
GreenJeremie Louis LeBourdais 112120.80%unknown
Western Canada ConceptHarold Alexander Paley4051.52%unknown
LiberalQuintin Robert McAdam Robertson5492.06%unknown
Total valid votes 26,602 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 393
Turnout %
11 Son of former MLA Louis Lebourdais
34th British Columbia election, 1986 12
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
LiberalMichael George D'Arcy1,7383.61%unknown
New DemocraticJohn Dressler8,38617.41%unknown
  Progressive Conservative Peter V. Epp 555 1.15% unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser14,954 30.312% unknown
  Independent Jeremie Louis LeBourdais 214 0.44% unknown
New DemocraticChristine M. Slater8,25017.13%unknown
Social CreditT. Neil Vant12,715 26.40% unknown
LiberalSylvia Anne Louise Warn9271.93%unknown
  Progressive Conservative Charles Richard Wyse 778 1.62% unknown
Total valid votes 48,157 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 778
Turnout %
12 Seat increased to two members from one.

Sources

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