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Redwater (provincial electoral district)

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Coordinates: 54°05′N 112°29′W / 54.09°N 112.48°W / 54.09; -112.48
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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

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]

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 Credit James Popil 2,226 56.27%
Independent Movement J.I. Zubick 945 23.89%
Co-operative Commonwealth C.J. Stimpfle 785 19.84%
Total valid votes 3,956
Rejected, spoiled and declined 217
Registered electors / turnout 6,425 64.95%
Social Credit pickup new district.
1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Social Credit James Popil 2,390 58.45% +2.18%
Labor–Progressive Michael Hyduk 882 21.57%
Co-operative Commonwealth Dale West 817 19.98% +0.14%
Total valid votes 4,089
Rejected, spoiled and declined 95
Registered electors / turnout 6,118 68.39% +3.44%
Social Credit hold Swing -9.70%
1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,807 47.85% -10.60%
Co-operative Commonwealth John Dubeta 1,528 40.47% +20.49%
Liberal James Salyzyn 441 11.68%
Second count
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,912 54.89% +7.04%
Co-operative Commonwealth John Dubeta 1,572 45.11% +4.64%
  Neither 292
Total valid votes 3,776
Rejected, spoiled and declined 258
Registered electors / turnout 6,030 66.90% -1.49%
Social Credit hold Swing -15.55%

1950s

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,677 39.52% -8.33%
Liberal George Repka 1,268 29.88% +18.20%
Co-operative Commonwealth Paul Feniak 1,002 23.62% -16.85%
People's Candidate Frank Maricle 296 6.98%
Second count
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,833 52.72% +13.20%
Liberal George Repka 1,644 47.28% +17.40%
  Neither 766
Total valid votes 4,243
Rejected, spoiled and declined 320
Registered electors / turnout 6,636 68.76% +1.86%
Social Credit hold Swing -13.27%
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Liberal Alfred Macyk 1,878 43.35% +13.47%
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,632 37.67% -1.85%
Co-operative Commonwealth H.J. Leskiw 552 12.74% -10.88%
Labor–Progressive Frank Maricle 270 6.23%
Second count
Liberal Alfred Macyk 2,214 56.01% +12.66%
Social Credit Peter Chaba 1,739 43.99% +6.32%
  Neither 379
Total valid votes 4,332
Rejected, spoiled and declined 343
Registered electors / turnout 6,446 72.53% +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 Credit John Dubetz 2,092 49.17% +11.50%
Liberal Alfred Macyk 1,262 29.66% -13.69%
Progressive Conservative Martha Bielish 901 21.18%
Total valid votes 4,255
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Registered electors / turnout 5,965 71.50% -1.03%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing +12.60%

1960s

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Social Credit Michael Senych 1,670 41.72% -7.45%
Progressive Conservative Joe Bielish 1,362 34.02% +12.84%
Liberal Steve Romanchuk 755 18.86% -10.80%
New Democratic William Glass 216 5.40%
Total valid votes 4,003
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Registered electors / turnout 5,767 69.59% -1.91%
Social Credit hold Swing -10.45%
1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Social Credit Michael Senych 1,588 43.64% +1.92%
Progressive Conservative Basil Zailo 1,314 36.11% +2.09%
New Democratic Norman Flack 737 20.25% +14.85%
Total valid votes 3,639
Rejected, spoiled and declined 18
Registered electors / turnout 5,263 69.49% -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]
Liberal Nicholas Taylor 6,429 51.38%
Progressive Conservative Steve Zarusky 4,582 36.62%
New Democratic Robert Tomkins 1,306 10.44%
Natural Law Geoff Toane 196 1.57%
Total valid votes 12,513
Rejected, spoiled and declined 22
Registered electors / turnout 19,775 63.39%
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]
Liberal Mary Anne Balsillie 3,671 42.29% -9.09%
Progressive Conservative Ross Quinn 3,573 41.16% +4.54%
Social Credit Don Bell 773 8.91%
New Democratic Tom Turner 465 5.36% -5.08%
Forum Party of Alberta Bill Finn 135 1.56%
Independent Leonard Fish 63 0.73%
Total valid votes 8,680
Rejected, spoiled and declined 20
Registered electors / turnout 19,130 45.48% -17.91%
Liberal hold Swing -6.82%
1997 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Progressive Conservative Dave Broda 5,297 43.88% +2.72%
Liberal Mary Anne Balsillie 4,980 41.25% -1.04%
Social Credit Don Bell 987 8.18% -0.73%
New Democratic Tom Turner 737 6.11% +0.75%
Natural Law E. Benjamin Toane 71 0.59%
Total valid votes 12,072
Rejected, spoiled and declined 32
Registered electors / turnout 20,239 59.81% +14.33%
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.88%

2000s

2001 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%[3]
Progressive Conservative Dave Broda 7,319 58.33% +14.45%
Liberal Andrew Raczynski 3,924 31.27% -9.98%
New Democratic Mike Radojcic 658 5.24% -0.87%
Alberta First Tony Ollenberger 647 5.16%
Total valid votes 12,548
Rejected, spoiled and declined 40
Registered electors / turnout 21,656 58.13% -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 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Results for Redwater". Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2017-01-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "By-Elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  5. ^ a b c d 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 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

54°05′N 112°29′W / 54.09°N 112.48°W / 54.09; -112.48

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