St. Paul (provincial electoral district)

St. Paul was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1993.[1]

St. Paul
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1913
District abolished1993
First contested1913
Last contested1989

Boundary history

When created in 1913, the riding contained all the farmland north of the North Saskatchewan River and east of Lac La Biche, corresponding approximately to the current Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul riding. In 1952 the riding was split in half, creating the riding of Bonnyville and leaving St. Paul with approximately the same boundaries as the County of St. Paul No. 19 until abolished in 1993.

Representation history
Members of the Legislative Assembly for St. Paul
Assembly Years Member Party
See Pakan 1909–1913
3rd 1913–1917 Prosper-Edmond
Lessard		 Liberal
4th 1917–1921
5th 1921–1926 Laudas Joly United Farmers
6th 1926–1930
7th 1930–1935 Joseph Dechene Liberal
8th 1935–1940 Joseph Beaudry Social Credit
9th 1940–1944
10th 1944–1948
11th 1948–1952
12th 1952–1955 Raymond Reierson
13th 1955–1959
14th 1959–1963
15th 1963–1967
16th 1967–1971
17th 1971–1975 Mick Fluker Progressive
Conservative
18th 1975–1979
19th 1979–1982 Charles Anderson
20th 1982–1986 John Drobot
21st 1986–1989
22nd 1989–1993
See Lac La Biche-St. Paul 1993–2012

The first MLA for St. Paul was Prosper-Edmond Lessard, who had already served one term as MLA for the short-lived Pakan district with the government Liberals. In 1921, with the fall of the Liberal government, he was defeated by Laudas Joly of the United Farmers of Alberta.

After two terms, Joly was defeated by Liberal Joseph Miville Dechene. He served one term as MLA before the Social Credit sweep in 1935. The party would hold St. Paul for all 36 years they formed government, with Joseph Beaudry serving for four terms and Raymond Reierson serving for five.

In 1971, the Progressive Conservatives came to power, and Mick Fluker captured St. Paul for the new government. He retired after two terms. Charles Anderson kept the riding for the PC's in the 1979 election, and retired after only one term.

PC John Drobot served as MLA for the next three terms until the riding was abolished in 1993. He did not run in the new riding of Lac La Biche-St. Paul, which was captured by the Liberals.

Election results

1910s
1913 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%[2]
LiberalProsper-Edmond Lessard44155.75%
ConservativeL. Garneau35044.25%
Total valid votes 791
Electors / Turnout 94283.97%
Liberal pickup new district.
1917 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalProsper-Edmond Lessard1,07766.65%+10.9%
ConservativeJames Brady53933.35%-10.9%
Total valid votes 1,616
Electors / Turnout 1,94683.04% -0.93%
Liberal hold Swing +10.9%

1920s
1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United FarmersLaudas Joly1,37858.34%
LiberalProsper-Edmond Lessard98441.66%-24.99%
Total valid votes 2,362
United Farmers gain from Liberal Swing +41.67%

In 1926, Alberta began to use the instant-runoff system to elect MLAs in rural districts.

1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
United FarmersLaudas Joly1,45367.24%+8.90%
LiberalH. Montambeault60327.90%-13.76%
IndependentE. McPheeters1054.86%
Total valid votes 2,161
Rejected, spoiled and declined 151
Electors / Turnout 3,25271.09%
United Farmers hold Swing +11.33%

1930s
1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJoseph Miville Dechene1,65350.27%+22.37%
United FarmersLaudas Joly1,63549.73%-17.51%
Total valid votes 3,288
Rejected, spoiled and declined 149
Electors / Turnout 4,77671.96% +0.87%
Liberal gain from United Farmers Swing +19.94%
1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,56746.88%
LiberalJoseph Miville Dechene1,96335.85%-14.42%
United FarmersLaudas Joly94617.27%-32.46%
Second round
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,67953.12%+6.24%
LiberalJoseph Miville Dechene2,36446.88%+11.03%
  Neither 433
Total valid votes 5,476
Rejected, spoiled and declined 180
Electors / Turnout 6,87682.26% +10.30%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing +30.65%

Second-round swing reflects increase in vote share from the first round. Overall swing is calculated from first preferences.

1940s
1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,27048.38%+1.50%
IndependentJ. Binette1,60934.29%-1.56%
Co-operative CommonwealthC. Milaney81317.33%
Second round
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,42157.56%+9.18%
IndependentJ. Binette1,78542.44%+8.15%
  Neither 486
Total valid votes 4,692
Rejected, spoiled and declined 241
Electors / Turnout 7,02370.24% -12.02%
Social Credit hold Swing +1.53%

First-round swing is calculated from first preferences in the 1935 election. The independent vote share is compared to the Liberal share in 1935. See Unity Coalition.

1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry1,85144.87%-3.51%
Co-operative CommonwealthJ. Beauregard1,50336.43%+19.10%
Labor–ProgressiveDaniel Gamache77118.69%
Second round
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry1,94955.10%+10.23%
Co-operative CommonwealthJ. Beauregard1,58844.90%+8.47
  Neither 588
Total valid votes 4,125
Rejected, spoiled and declined 254
Electors / Turnout 6,87563.69% -6.55%
Social Credit hold Swing -11.31%
1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,19742.89%-1.98%
Co-operative CommonwealthMichael Grekul1,51029.47%-6.96%
LiberalIrvin Baril1,41627.64%
Second round
Social CreditJoseph Beaudry2,98065.29%+22.40%
Co-operative CommonwealthMichael Grekul1,58434.71%+5.07%
  Neither 559
Total valid votes 5,123
Rejected, spoiled and declined 454
Electors / Turnout 7,60773.31% +9.62%
Social Credit hold Swing +2.49%

1950s

St. Paul was split for the 1952 election, with the northeastern half of the riding becoming the district of Bonnyville. Former St. Paul MLA Laudas Joly became its first representative.

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson2,58153.59%+10.70%
LiberalLaval J. Fortier2,23546.41%+18.77%
Total valid votes 4,816
Rejected, spoiled and declined 214
Electors / Turnout 7,07171.14% -2.17%
Social Credit hold Swing -4.04%
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson2,76152.84%-0.75%
LiberalJ.R. Sweeney2,04939.22%-7.19%
Labor–ProgressiveDon Gamache4157.94%
Total valid votes 5,225
Rejected, spoiled and declined 288
Electors / Turnout 7,21876.37% +5.23%
Social Credit hold Swing +3.22%

Alberta reverted to traditional first past the post elections beginning in 1959. This can be seen in the dramatic drop in spoiled (incorrectly marked) ballots compared to previous elections.

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson3,41268.51%15.67%
LiberalJ. Van Brabant1,03420.76%-18.46%
Progressive ConservativeGordon Shave53410.72%
Total valid votes 4,980
Rejected, spoiled and declined 10
Electors / Turnout 6,68274.68% -1.69%
Social Credit hold Swing +17.07%

1960s
1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson2,88961.05%-7.46%
LiberalRene P. Foisy1,36328.80%+8.04%
New DemocraticH.B. Hodgins2655.60%
CommunistDon Gamache2154.54%
Total valid votes 4,732
Rejected, spoiled and declined 12
Electors / Turnout 7,02767.51% -7.17%
Social Credit hold Swing +7.75%
1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson2,27544.41%-16.64%
LiberalArmand Lamothe1,48929.07%+0.27%
New DemocraticPierre M. Vallee78815.38%+9.78%
Independent PCLeroy P. Christensen57111.15%
Total valid votes 5,123
Rejected, spoiled and declined 14
Electors / Turnout 7,51268.38% +0.87%
Social Credit hold Swing -8.46%

1970s
1971 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMick Fluker2,66145.81%+34.66%
Social CreditRaymond Reierson2,04135.14%-9.27%
New DemocraticLaurence J. Dubois89815.46%+0.08%
LiberalLawrence P. Coutu2093.60%-25.47%
Total valid votes 5,809
Rejected, spoiled and declined 11
Electors / Turnout 7,72075.39% +7.01%
Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit Swing +21.97%
1975 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMick Fluker2,91257.27%+11.46%
Social CreditJohn Hull84816.68%-18.46%
New DemocraticPierre Vallee76415.02%-0.44%
LiberalRoland Genereux56111.03%+7.43%
Total valid votes 5,085
Rejected, spoiled and declined 19
Electors / Turnout 7,89964.62% -10.77%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +14.96%
1979 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeCharles Anderson3,17346.47%-10.80%
New DemocraticLaurent Dubois2,85441.80%+26.78%
Social CreditJohn Hull5828.52%-8.16%
LiberalOrest Boyko2193.21%-7.82%
Total valid votes 6,828
Rejected, spoiled and declined 31
Electors / Turnout 9,45272.57% +7.95
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -18.79%

1980s
1982 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Drobot4,26956.26%+9.79%
New DemocraticLaurent Dubois2,87237.85%-3.95%
Western Canada ConceptIris Bourne4475.89%
Total valid votes 7,588
Rejected, spoiled and declined 39
Electors / Turnout 10,19474.82% +2.25%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +6.87%
1986 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Drobot3,01847.98%-8.28%
New DemocraticMartin Naundorf1,42922.72%-15.13%
RepresentativeRoland Rocque1,38021.94%
LiberalGeorge Michaud4637.36%
Total valid votes 6,290
Rejected, spoiled and declined 21
Electors / Turnout 10,76058.65% -16.17%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +3.43%
1989 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Drobot2,93146.09%-1.89%
LiberalPaul Langevin2,30436.23%+28.87%
New DemocraticVictor Chrapko1,12417.68%-5.04%
Total valid votes 6,359
Rejected, spoiled and declined 19
Electors / Turnout 10,43761.11% +2.46%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -15.38%

Plebiscite results

1957 liquor plebiscite
1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: St. Paul[3]
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 1,321 58.40%
No 941 41.60%
Total Votes 2,262 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 18
6,080 Eligible Electors, Turnout 37.50%

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.[4]

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 woman were allowed to drink together in establishments.[3]

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. St. Paul voted in favour of the proposal by a solid majority. Voter turnout in the district was abysmal falling well under the province wide average of 46%.[3]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[3] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not considered the results binding.[5] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[6]

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 that wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[7]

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References
  1. "Election results for St. Paul". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. "Abheritage.ca — St. Paul results". Archived from the original on 2010-12-08.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  3. Alberta Gazette. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  4. "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  5. "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  6. "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1958. p. 1.
  7. "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

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