Cariboo (provincial electoral district)

For the federal electoral district of the same name, see Cariboo (electoral district). For the historical-geographic region, see Cariboo.

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.

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 Byelection: Cariboo, November 27, 1871 2
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Independent George Anthony Boomer Walkem Acclaimed -.- % unknown
Total valid votes n/a -.- %
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
2 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 Davie 199 23.36% unknown
OppositionJohn Evans 173 20.31% unknown
GovernmentEdward Pearson 117 13.73% unknown
GovernmentJohn Johnston Robertson 68 7.98% unknown
GovernmentGeorge Anthony Boomer Walkem 4 254 29.81% unknown
GovernmentSamuel Walker 41 4.81% 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 Cowan 238 30.20% unknown
OppositionJohn Evans 230 29.19% unknown
GovernmentJonathan Nutt 68 8.63% unknown
OppositionGeorge Anthony Boomer Walkem 5 252 31.98% 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 Walkem Acclaimed -.- % 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
     Unknown George Ferguson 94 41.23% unknown
     Unknown John Glasson 55 24.12% unknown
     Unknown Robert McLeese 79 34.65% unknown
Total valid votes 228 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
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 Ferguson 117 13.19% unknown
OppositionDaniel McKay 82 9.25% unknown
GovernmentRobert McLeese 169 19.05% unknown
OppositionSamuel Walker 107 12.06% unknown
OppositionCharles Wilson 195 21.98% unknown
Total valid votes 887 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
5th British Columbia election, 1886
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
OppositionNeil R. Campbell 39 5.17% unknown
GovernmentGeorge Cowan 111 14.70% unknown
OppositionGeorge Ferguson 90 11.92% unknown
OppositionRobert McLeese 113 14.97% unknown
GovernmentJoseph Mason 125 16.56% unknown
OppositionDenis Murphy 88 11.65% unknown
OppositionRobert Lauderdale Shaw 38 5.03% unknown
     Independent Samuel Walker 61 8.08% unknown
GovernmentCharles Wilson 90 11.92% unknown
Total valid votes 755 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
6th British Columbia election, 1890
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
GovernmentJoseph Mason 187 29.13% unknown
GovernmentJohn Robson 8 158 24.61% unknown
OppositionSamuel Augustus Rogers 163 25.39% unknown
OppositionWilliam Pinchbeck 134 20.87% 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 Adams 147 21.33% unknown
OppositionJohn Charlton Kinchant 95 13.79% unknown
OppositionRobert McLeese 142 20.61% unknown
GovernmentSamuel Augustus Rogers 167 24.24% unknown
GovernmentHugh Watt 138 20.03% unknown
Total valid votes 689 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
8th British Columbia election, 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
OppositionHans Lars Helgesen 218 28.76% unknown
GovernmentJoseph Hunter 173 22.82% unknown
OppositionJohn Charlton Kinchant 195 25.73% unknown
GovernmentSamuel Augustus Rogers 172 22.69% unknown
Total valid votes 758 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
9th British Columbia election, 1900
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     Conservative Joseph Hunter 302 31.17% unknown
     Progressive Harry Jones 201 20.74% unknown
     Progressive John Charlton Kinchant 177 18.27% unknown
     Conservative Samuel Augustus Rogers 289 29.82% unknown
Total valid votes 969 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
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 Jones 159 18.55% unknown
LiberalJohn McKay Yorston 158 18.54% 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 Holt 182 22.01% 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 Stoddart 561 61.65% unknown
LiberalJohn McKay Yorston 414 31.75% unknown
Total valid votes 1,304 100.00%
Total rejected ballots
Turnout %
17th British Columbia election, 1928
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
LiberalRobert Neil Campbell 400 28.25% 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 MacKenzie 511 25.58% 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 LeBourdais 1,370 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 Chetwynd 2,684 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 Chetwynd 2,733 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 Chetwynd 3,014 60.86 unknown
LiberalFelix Rudolph Kohnke 1,141 23.04% 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 Kohnke 2,073 27.43% unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare 3,091 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 Democrat Stanley Doubleday Crowe 1,482 20.63% unknown
LiberalFelix Rudolph Kohnke 1,134 15.79% unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare 3,015 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 Democrat Hartley Douglas Dent 2,530 35.74% unknown
LiberalRonald Charles MacKay 719 10.16% unknown
Social CreditWilliam Collins Speare 3,830 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 Fraser 5,766 52.05% unknown
     New Democrat Kirby Gerald Seabrook 2,961 26.73% unknown
LiberalDavid Zirnhelt 2,351 21.22% unknown
Total valid votes 11,078 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 85
Turnout %
30th British Columbia election, 1972
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     New Democrat Ronald Hjalmar Anderson 5,435 38.68% unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser 6,780 48.25% unknown
LiberalLawrence Albert Gladue 1,837 13.07% unknown
Total valid votes 14,052 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 220
Turnout %
31st British Columbia election, 1975
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
     New Democrat Grethyl Verda Adams 6,122 30.13% unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser 14,194 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 Fraser 13,736 64.09% unknown
     New Democratic Party Byron Ralph Kemp 7,233 33.75% 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 Fraser 16,446 61.82% unknown
     New Democrat Steven Edward Hilbert 8,990 33.80% unknown
GreenJeremie Louis LeBourdais 11 212 0.80% unknown
     Western Canada Concept Harold Alexander Paley 405 1.52% unknown
LiberalQuintin Robert McAdam Robertson 549 2.06% 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'Arcy 1,738 3.61% unknown
     New Democrat John Dressler 8,386 17.41% unknown
     Progressive Conservative Peter V. Epp 555 1.15% unknown
Social CreditAlex Fraser 14,954 30.312% unknown
     Independent Jeremie Louis LeBourdais 214 0.44% unknown
     New Democrat Christine M. Slater 8,250 17.13% unknown
Social CreditT. Neil Vant 12,715 26.40% unknown
LiberalSylvia Anne Louise Warn 927 1.93% 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