Redwater (provincial electoral district)

Redwater was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1971 and again from 1993 to 2004.[1]

Redwater
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1940
District abolished1971
District re-created1993
District re-abolished2004
First contested1940
Last contested2001

History

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Redwater
Assembly Years Member Party
See Sturgeon 1905-1940 and Whitford 1913-1940
9th 1940–1944 James Popil Social Credit
10th 1944–1948
11th 1948–1952 Peter Chaba
12th 1952–1955
13th 1955–1959 Alfred Macyk Liberal
14th 1959–1963 John Dubetz Social Credit
15th 1963–1967 Michael Senych
16th 1967–1971
See Redwater-Andrew 1971-1993 and Westlock-
Sturgeon
1986-1993
23rd 1993–1996 Nicholas Taylor Liberal
1996 Vacant
1996-1997 Mary Anne Balsillie Liberal
24th 1997–2001 Dave Broda Progressive
Conservative
25th 2001–2004
See Athabasca-Redwater 2004-2012

Boundary history

Redwater was created in 1940 from most of the Sturgeon district and a part of Whitford, consisting of the area around Smoky Lake, with the North Saskatchewan River forming its southern boundary. When neighbouring Beaver River was abolished in 1952 a small portion was transferred to Redwater, but otherwise no boundary changes were made until the riding was abolished in 1971. It was replaced by the larger Redwater-Andrew.

In 1993, Redwater was created again out of most of Redwater-Andrew and the part of Westlock-Sturgeon containing Morinville. The new riding extended much further southwest than the original Redwater, touching the northern boundary of Edmonton. It underwent no boundary adjustments until abolished in 2004, with most of the riding transferred to Athabasca-Redwater and a small sliver to Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock.[2]

Representation history

The riding's first MLA was James Popil, who had already served one term for Social Credit in Sturgeon and was re-elected twice in Redwater. He was succeeded by Peter Chaba, a Ukrainian immigrant, who also held the riding for two terms.

In 1955, however, Chaba was narrowly defeated by Liberal Alfred Macyk on the third count. The Social Credit government then abolished instant-runoff voting because of the Liberal Party's resurgence, and Macyk was defeated in 1959 by their candidate, John Dubetz.

When Dubetz decided not to run again in 1963, Social Credit chose Michael Senych as their candidate. He held the riding for two terms, until it was abolished in 1971.

When Redwater was re-created in 1993, two incumbent MLAs ran against each other: former Liberal leader and two-term MLA for Westlock-Sturgeon, Nicholas Taylor, faced off against Steve Zarusky, two-term PC MLA for Redwater-Andrew. Taylor won by a significant margin, and three years later was subsequently appointed to the Senate by Jean Chrétien. The resulting 1996 by-election was won by another Liberal, Mary Anne Balsillie, by a razor-thin margin.

However, the governing Progressive Conservatives would capture the riding in the following year, with candidate Dave Broda defeating Balsillie in an equally close contest. He was re-elected in 2001 by a much larger margin, and retired from politics when Redwater was abolished in 2004.

Election results

1940s

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%[3]
Social CreditJames Popil2,22656.27%
Independent MovementJ.I. Zubick94523.89%
Co-operative CommonwealthC.J. Stimpfle78519.84%
Total valid votes 3,956
Rejected, spoiled and declined 217
Registered electors / turnout 6,42564.95%
Social Credit pickup new district.
1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditJames Popil2,39058.45%+2.18%
Labor–ProgressiveMichael Hyduk88221.57%
Co-operative CommonwealthDale West81719.98%+0.14%
Total valid votes 4,089
Rejected, spoiled and declined 95
Registered electors / turnout 6,11868.39% +3.44%
Social Credit hold Swing -9.70%
1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,80747.85%-10.60%
Co-operative CommonwealthJohn Dubeta1,52840.47%+20.49%
LiberalJames Salyzyn44111.68%
Second count
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,91254.89%+7.04%
Co-operative CommonwealthJohn Dubeta1,57245.11%+4.64%
  Neither 292
Total valid votes 3,776
Rejected, spoiled and declined 258
Registered electors / turnout 6,03066.90% -1.49%
Social Credit hold Swing -15.55%

1950s

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,67739.52%-8.33%
LiberalGeorge Repka1,26829.88%+18.20%
Co-operative CommonwealthPaul Feniak1,00223.62%-16.85%
People's CandidateFrank Maricle2966.98%
Second count
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,83352.72%+13.20%
LiberalGeorge Repka1,64447.28%+17.40%
  Neither 766
Total valid votes 4,243
Rejected, spoiled and declined 320
Registered electors / turnout 6,63668.76% +1.86%
Social Credit hold Swing -13.27%
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
LiberalAlfred Macyk1,87843.35%+13.47%
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,63237.67%-1.85%
Co-operative CommonwealthH.J. Leskiw55212.74%-10.88%
Labor–ProgressiveFrank Maricle2706.23%
Second count
LiberalAlfred Macyk2,21456.01%+12.66%
Social CreditPeter Chaba1,73943.99%+6.32%
  Neither 379
Total valid votes 4,332
Rejected, spoiled and declined 343
Registered electors / turnout 6,44672.53% +3.77%
Liberal gain from Social Credit Swing +7.66

After the 1955 election, a historic breakthrough for the Liberal Party, the government of Ernest Manning abolished alternative vote and introduced first past the post voting across the province. The Social Credit candidate in Redwater was therefore able to win with less than a majority of votes in 1959. This change can also be seen in the dramatic drop in spoiled (incorrectly marked) ballots.

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditJohn Dubetz2,09249.17%+11.50%
LiberalAlfred Macyk1,26229.66%-13.69%
Progressive ConservativeMartha Bielish90121.18%
Total valid votes 4,255
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Registered electors / turnout 5,96571.50% -1.03%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing +12.60%

1960s

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditMichael Senych1,67041.72%-7.45%
Progressive ConservativeJoe Bielish1,36234.02%+12.84%
LiberalSteve Romanchuk75518.86%-10.80%
New DemocraticWilliam Glass2165.40%
Total valid votes 4,003
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Registered electors / turnout 5,76769.59% -1.91%
Social Credit hold Swing -10.45%
1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Social CreditMichael Senych1,58843.64%+1.92%
Progressive ConservativeBasil Zailo1,31436.11%+2.09%
New DemocraticNorman Flack73720.25%+14.85%
Total valid votes 3,639
Rejected, spoiled and declined 18
Registered electors / turnout 5,26369.49% -0.10%
Social Credit hold Swing -0.09%

See Redwater-Andrew and Westlock-Sturgeon for results in the 1970s and 1980s.

1990s

1993 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%[3]
LiberalNicholas Taylor6,42951.38%
Progressive ConservativeSteve Zarusky4,58236.62%
New DemocraticRobert Tomkins1,30610.44%
Natural LawGeoff Toane1961.57%
Total valid votes 12,513
Rejected, spoiled and declined 22
Registered electors / turnout 19,77563.39%
Liberal pickup new district.
Alberta provincial by-election, May 21, 1996
upon the appointment of Nicholas Taylor to the Senate of Canada
Party Candidate Votes%±%[4]
LiberalMary Anne Balsillie3,67142.29%-9.09%
Progressive ConservativeRoss Quinn3,57341.16%+4.54%
Social CreditDon Bell7738.91%
New DemocraticTom Turner4655.36%-5.08%
Forum Party of AlbertaBill Finn1351.56%
IndependentLeonard Fish630.73%
Total valid votes 8,680
Rejected, spoiled and declined 20
Registered electors / turnout 19,13045.48% -17.91%
Liberal hold Swing -6.82%
1997 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Progressive ConservativeDave Broda5,29743.88%+2.72%
LiberalMary Anne Balsillie4,98041.25%-1.04%
Social CreditDon Bell9878.18%-0.73%
New DemocraticTom Turner7376.11%+0.75%
Natural LawE. Benjamin Toane710.59%
Total valid votes 12,072
Rejected, spoiled and declined 32
Registered electors / turnout 20,23959.81% +14.33%
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.88%

2000s

2001 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%[3]
Progressive ConservativeDave Broda7,31958.33%+14.45%
LiberalAndrew Raczynski3,92431.27%-9.98%
New DemocraticMike Radojcic6585.24%-0.87%
Alberta FirstTony Ollenberger6475.16%
Total valid votes 12,548
Rejected, spoiled and declined 40
Registered electors / turnout 21,65658.13% -1.68%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +12.22%

Plebiscite results

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Redwater[5]
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 1,589 76.28%
No 494 23.72%
Total Votes 2,083 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 17
5,838 eligible electors, turnout 35.97%

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.[6]

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.[5]

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Redwater voted in favour of the proposal with a landslide majority. Voter turnout in the district was abysmal, falling well below the province wide average of 46%.[5]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[5] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.[7] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[8]

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 twhohat wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[9]

See also

References

  1. "Election results for Redwater". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission (February 2003). "Proposed Electoral Division Areas, Boundaries, and Names for Alberta. Final Report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. "Results for Redwater". Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. "By-Elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  5. Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  6. "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  7. "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  8. "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1958. p. 1.
  9. "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature first Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

54.09°N 112.48°W / 54.09; -112.48

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