Athabasca (Alberta provincial electoral district)

Athabasca was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1986.[1]

Athabasca
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1905
District abolished1986
First contested1905
Last contested1982

History

The Athabasca electoral district was one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. Throughout the years the district's boundaries would continue to change; however, the district would remain in North-East Alberta throughout the 81 years of its existence.

The Athabasca electoral district would return a single member to the Legislative Assembly through first-past-the-post system of voting from 1905 until 1924, when the United Farmers government introduced the new The Alberta Election Act which would institute instant-runoff voting in rural electoral districts throughout the province.[2] Instant-runoff voting would remain until the Social Credit government introduced amendments to The Election Act prior to the 1959 Alberta general election which returned every district in the province to a single member elected through first-past-the-post voting system.[3] Instant-runoff voting would have a relatively minor effect on the Athabasca district, as elected members received a plurality of votes (above 50%) in all general elections besides 1926, 1940 and 1955.

The Athabasca district was re-distributed prior to the 1986 Alberta general election. The area the district covered was merged with Lac La Biche to form the riding of Athabasca-Lac La Biche.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Athabasca
Assembly Years Member Party
1st  1905–1909     William Bredin Liberal
2nd  1909–1913 Jean Côté
3rd  1913–1917 Alexander Grant MacKay
4th  1917–1920
 1920–1921 George Mills
5th  1921–1926
 1926–1926     Independent Liberal
6th  1926–1930     John W. Frame Liberal
 1930–1930     United Farmers
7th  1930–1935     Frank Robert Falconer Liberal
8th  1935–1935     Clarence H. Tade Social Credit
 1935–1940 Charles Cathmer Ross
9th  1940–1944 Gordon William Lee
10th  1944–1948
11th  1948–1952
12th  1952–1955 Antonio Aloisio
13th  1955–1959
14th  1959–1963
15th  1963–1967
16th  1967–1971
17th  1971–1975     Frank Pierpoint Appleby Progressive Conservative
18th  1975–1979
19th  1979–1982
20th  1982–1986
See Athabasca-Lac La Biche electoral district from 1986 to 1993

Boundary history

Election results

1905 general election

Returning officer[4]
Henry Barrington Round

The Athabasca electoral district was created in 1905 as part of the original twenty-five electoral districts when Alberta was formed into a province from the Northwest Territories. The district consisted mostly of undeveloped wilderness covering the eastern half of northern Alberta. In 1905 the primary occupation was hunting and trapping and the local economy existed around the fur trade. The town of Athabasca, which was the only major settlement in the district, was experiencing a boom at that time as people flocked north to buy real estate.[5]

The provincial Liberal party nominated William Fletcher Bredin as their candidate. He was a pioneer fur trader and was well known in the district.[6] He made history by becoming the first person acclaimed to serve in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.[7] The provincial Conservative party being very weak in organization in northern Alberta was unable to find a candidate to oppose him. This was the only electoral district during this general election that sent a candidate to Edmonton by acclamation.

1905 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalWilliam Fletcher BredinAcclaimed
Total N/A
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A
Liberal pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1909 general election

1909 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJean Côté23059.59%
LiberalWilliam Fletcher Bredin14938.60%
ConservativeV. Maurice71.81%
Total 386
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 62062.26%
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1913 general election

1913 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalAlexander Grant MacKay41465.20%-32.99%
ConservativeJames H. Wood22134.80%32.99%
Total 635
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 1,17953.86%
Liberal hold Swing 4.70%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1917 general election

1917 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalAlexander Grant MacKay75265.79%0.59%
ConservativeAlfred F. Fugl39134.21%-0.59%
Total 1,143
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 1,59571.66%
Liberal hold Swing 0.59%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1918 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, September 27, 1918
Ministerial by-election upon Alexander Grant MacKay's appointment as Minister of Municipal Affairs
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalAlexander Grant MacKayAcclaimed
Total N/A
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1920 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, June 3, 1920
Upon Alexander Grant MacKay's death on April 25, 1920
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalGeorge Mills64069.11%
IndependentJames Cornwall28630.89%
Total 926
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1921 general election

1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalGeorge Mills1,04370.43%4.63%
ConservativeJohn Angelo43829.57%-4.63%
Total 1,481
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A
Liberal hold Swing 4.63%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1926 general election

1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
First count
LiberalJohn W. Frame37332.89%-37.54%
United FarmersJ. P. Evans29526.01%
ConservativeW. J. Dent24521.61%-7.96%
Independent LiberalGeorge Mills22119.49%
Total 1,134
Ballot transfer results
LiberalJohn W. Frame45155.41%
United FarmersJ. P. Evans36344.59%
ConservativeW. J. DentEliminated
Independent LiberalGeorge MillsEliminated
Total 814
Rejected, spoiled and declined 62
Eligible electors / turnout 1,75068.34%
Liberal hold Swing -20.43%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes.
As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality

1930 general election

1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalFrank Robert Falconer1,05755.11%22.22%
United FarmersJohn W. Frame86144.89%18.88%
Total 1,918
Rejected, spoiled and declined 81
Eligible electors / turnout 3,12963.89%
Liberal gain from Party Swing 5.11%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1935 general election

1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditClarence H. Tade1,76458.24%
LiberalFrank Robert Falconer95031.36%-34.43%
ConservativeAngus McLeod31510.40%-23.81%
Total 3,029
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 4,26471.04%
Social Credit gain from Party Swing 8.33%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1935 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, November 4, 1935
Upon Clarence H. Tade's resignation on October 8, 1935 to provide a seat for Minister Charles Cathmer Ross
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditCharles Cathmer RossAcclaimed
Total N/A
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout N/AN/A
Social Credit hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1940 general election

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
First count
Social CreditGordon William Lee1,96548.13%-10.11%
IndependentM. P. Cordingley1,33632.72%
Co-operative CommonwealthNorman J. Shopland78219.15%
Total 4,083
Ballot transfer results
Social CreditGordon William Lee2,07858.13%
IndependentM. P. Cordingley1,49741.87%
Co-operative CommonwealthNorman J. ShoplandEliminated
Total 3,575
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 6,93861.92%
Social Credit hold Swing 4.38%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes.
As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality

1944 general election

1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGordon William Lee2,28853.73%5.60%
Co-operative CommonwealthJohn E. Ball1,41033.11%13.96%
Labor–ProgressiveG. J. McKenzie56013.15%
Total 4,258
Rejected, spoiled and declined 120
Eligible electors / turnout 7,13261.39%
Social Credit hold Swing 10.31%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1948 general election

1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditGordon William Lee2,37452.08%-1.65%
Co-operative CommonwealthNorman J. Shopland1,22626.90%-6.21%
LiberalVictor C. Hicks95821.02%
Total 4,558
Rejected, spoiled and declined 251
Eligible electors / turnout 8,14859.02%-2.37%
Social Credit hold Swing 2.28%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1952 general election

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio2,01250.78%-1.30%
LiberalVal M. Breckenridge86421.81%0.79%
Co-operative CommonwealthJ. Lyall McMillan62315.72%-11.18%
FarmerSam Nowakowsky46311.69%
Total 3,962
Rejected, spoiled and declined 321
Eligible electors / turnout 6,45766.33%7.31%
Social Credit gain Swing 1.89%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1955 general election

1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
First count
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio2,07346.43%-2.72%
LiberalRichard Edward Hall2,06946.34%26.76%
Labor–ProgressiveJohn Harry2933.38%
Total 4,435
Ballot transfer results
LiberalRichard Edward Hall2,14550.57%
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio2,09749.43%
Labor–ProgressiveJohn HarryEliminated
Total 4,242
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 6,58167.39%
Liberal gain from Social Credit Swing -14.23%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes.
As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality

1959 general election

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio2,33354.29%7.86%
LiberalRichard Edward Hall1,06924.88%-21.46%
Progressive ConservativeRobert Shopland70716.45%
Labor–ProgressiveJohn Harry1884.38%1.00%
Total 4,297
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Eligible electors / turnout 5,99971.80%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing 14.45%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1963 general election

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio2,24150.83%-3.47%
LiberalDave Hunter1,82741.44%16.56%
New DemocraticJudith Johnston2235.06%
CommunistTrygve Hansen1182.68%
Total 4,409
Rejected, spoiled and declined 35
Eligible electors / turnout 6,07073.21%
Social Credit hold Swing -10.01%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1967 general election

1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditAntonio Aloisio1,73345.11%-5.72%
New DemocraticGeorge Opryshko1,17030.45%25.40%
LiberalDave Hunter93924.44%-17.00%
Total 3,842
Rejected, spoiled and declined 2
Eligible electors / turnout 5,60468.59%
Social Credit hold Swing 2.63%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1971 general election

1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Pierpoint Appleby3,26146.71%
Social CreditAllan Gerlach2,58537.02%-8.09%
New DemocraticPeter Opryshko1,13616.27%-14.17%
Total 6,982
Rejected, spoiled and declined 51
Eligible electors / turnout 9,20076.45%7.14%
Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit Swing -2.49%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1975 general election

1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Pierpoint Appleby3,72359.88%13.17%
New DemocraticPeter Opryshko1,68627.12%10.90%
Social CreditPeter Hupka5829.36%-27.66%
LiberalJohn Murphy2263.64%
Total 6,217
Rejected, spoiled and declined 26
Eligible electors / turnout 8,92369.97%-6.47%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 11.54%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1979 general election

1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Pierpoint Appleby4,15355.46%-4.42%
New DemocraticPeter Opryshko1,79223.93%-3.19%
Social CreditErnest W. Maser98913.21%3.85%
LiberalRobert Blain Logan5547.40%3.76%
Total 7,488
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A
Eligible electors / turnout 11,07167.64%-2.33
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -0.62%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1982 general election

1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeFrank Pierpoint Appleby5,34257.07%1.61%
New DemocraticEd Caraher1,95220.85%-3.07%
Western Canada ConceptCon Sehn1,53816.43%
Social CreditAdam Hauch5295.65%-1.75%
Total 9,361
Rejected, spoiled and declined 18
Eligible electors / turnout 12,08777.60%9.94%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 2.34%
Source(s)
Source: "Athabasca Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Plebiscite results

1948 electrification plebiscite

District results from the first province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation:

Option A Option B
Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission?
1,262     29.08% 3,077     70.92%
Province wide result: Option A passed.

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Athabasca[8]
Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the
sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote?
Ballot choice Votes %
Yes 1,161 64.11%
No 650 35.89%
Total votes 1,811 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 62
5,774 eligible electors, turnout 32.44%

On October 30, 1957, a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.[9]

The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A, asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B, asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton, asked if men and women should be allowed to drink together in establishments.[8]

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Athbasca voted by a large majority in favor of the issue. The district recorded one of the lowest turnouts, well below the province wide 46% average.[8]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[8] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.[10] However, the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[11]

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones. Business owners who wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[12]

By-elections and member party changes

  • September 27, 1918 — Appointment of Alexander Grant MacKay as the Minister of Municipal Affairs
  • June 3, 1920 — Death of Alexander Grant MacKay
  • November 4, 1935 — Resignation of Clarence Tade to provide a seat for Minister Charles Cathmer Ross
  • November 7, 1938 — Death of Charles Cathmer Ross
  • 1921 - 1926 — George Mills became an Independent Liberal (date not available).
  • 1926 - 1930 — John W. Frame crossed the floor from the Liberals to the United Farmers of Alberta (date not available).

See also

References

  1. "Election results for Athabasca". abheritage.ca. Wayback Machine: Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. The Alberta Election Act, S.A. 1924, c. 34
  3. The Election Act, S.A. 1956, c. 15
  4. "Territories Elections Ordinance; Province of Alberta". Vol VI No. 12. The Rocky Mountain Echo. October 30, 1905. p. 4.
  5. "Athabasca History". Athabasca Heritage Society. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
  6. "The Roots & Birth of Mirror 1870 to 1930". Mirror and District Museum. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  7. "Athabasca election results 1905". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  8. Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  9. "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  10. "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  11. "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1968. p. 1.
  12. "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

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