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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Lethbridge (provincial Electoral District)
Lethbridge was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1921 to 1971.

History

Lethbridge
Assembly Years Member Party
1st  1905–1906     Leverett George DeVeber Liberal
 1906–1909 William Charles Simmons
District dissolved into Lethbridge City and Lethbridge District
District re-created from Lethbridge City and Lethbridge District
5th  1921–1926     John Smith Stewart Independent
6th  1926–1930     Andrew Smeaton Dominion Labor
7th  1930–1935
8th  1935–1937     Hans E. Wight Social Credit
 1937–1940     Peter M. Campbell Independent
9th  1940–1944
10th  1944–1948     John C. Landeryou Social Credit
11th  1948–1952
12th  1952–1955
13th  1955–1959
14th  1959–1963
15th  1963–1967
16th  1967–1971
District dissolved into Lethbridge-East and Lethbridge-West

The riding has existed twice, from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1921 to 1971. The Lethbridge electoral district was founded as one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. The electoral district was a continuation of the Lethbridge electoral district responsible for returning a single member to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from 1891 to 1905.

In 1905, the Lethbridge electoral district covered a large patch of southern Alberta and was subsequently broken into Lethbridge District and Lethbridge City in 1909. After Lethbridge District was broken up into Taber and Little Bow in 1913, Lethbridge City was all that remained, using the Lethbridge name; in 1921 Lethbridge was reformed after City was dropped from the name.

The Lethbridge electoral district was abolished in the 1971 electoral district re-distribution, and the territory was formed into Lethbridge-East and Lethbridge-West electoral districts.

The riding was named after the Southern Alberta City of Lethbridge.

Representation

Liberal Leverett George DeVeber was elected as the first representative for the Lethbridge electoral district in 1905, DeVeber had previously held the Lethbridge seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1898 to 1905. DeVeber's time as the representative was short as he was appointed to the Senate on March 8, 1906.

Election results

1905

1905 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leverett George DeVeber 639 56.55% –
Conservative William Carlos Ives 491 43.45% –
Total 1,130 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Eligible electors / turnout N/A N/A –
Liberal pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1906 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, April 12, 1906
Upon Leverett George DeVeber's appointment to the Senate of Canada on March 8, 1906
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Charles Simmons 543 43.90% –
Dominion Labor Frank Henry Sherman 463 37.43% –
Conservative A. E. Keffer 231 18.67% –
Total 1,237 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Eligible electors / turnout N/A N/A –
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1921

1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Smith Stewart 2,252 62.11% –
Dominion Labor John Marsh 1,374 37.89% –
Total 3,626 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Eligible electors / turnout 5,549 65.35% –
Independent pickup new district.
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1926

1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count		 ±%
Dominion Labor Andrew Smeaton 1,584 37.11% 1,962 -0.78%
Conservative Richard R. Davidson 1,459 34.18% 1,713 –
Liberal Walter S. Galbraith 1,225 28.70% – –
Total 4,268 – – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 273 – – –
Eligible electors / turnout 6,353 71.48% 6.13% –
Dominion Labor gain from Independent Swing -10.64%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge 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

1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count		 ±%
Dominion Labor Andrew Smeaton 2,036 43.89% 2,238 6.78%
Independent William D. L. Hardie 1,598 34.45% 1,978 –
Independent Robert Barrowman 1,005 21.66% – –
Total 4,639 – – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 308 – – –
Eligible electors / turnout 7,377 67.06% -4.42% –
Dominion Labor hold Swing 3.26%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1930 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.

1935

1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Hans E. Wight 3,700 55.71% –
Liberal Robert Barrowman 1,946 29.30% –
Dominion Labor Andrew Smeaton 654 9.85% -34.04%
Conservative G. W. Green 341 5.13% –
Total 6,641 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 182 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 8,360 81.61% 14.56%
Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor Swing 8.48%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1937 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, December 2, 1937
Upon the resignation of Hans E. Wight
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Movement Peter M. Campbell 4,099 55.56% –
Social Credit A. J. Burnap 3,279 44.44% -11.27%
Total valid votes 7,378 – –
Rejected, spoiled, and declined – – –
Electors / turnout – – –
Independent Movement gain from Social Credit Swing N/A
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1940

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Movement Peter M. Campbell 4,318 61.01% 5.55%
Social Credit A. E. Smith 2,760 38.99% -5.45%
Total 7,078 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 274 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 8,815 83.40% 1.79%
Independent Movement hold Swing -2.20%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1944

1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes
1st count		 % Votes
final count		 ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 2,367 37.59% 2,692 -1.40%
Independent David Horton Elton 2,247 35.68% 2,388 –
Co-operative Commonwealth B. F. Tanner 1,464 23.25% – –
Labor–Progressive Eugene Scully 219 3.48% – –
Total 6,297 – – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 42 – – –
Eligible electors / turnout 9,190 68.98% -14.43% –
Social Credit gain from Independent Movement Swing -10.05%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1944 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.

1948

1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 3,829 54.40% 16.82%
Liberal H. B. McLaughlin 1,768 25.12% –
Co-operative Commonwealth Emil S. Vaselenak 1,441 20.47% -2.77%
Total 7,038 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 507 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 11,611 64.98% -4.00%
Social Credit hold Swing 13.69%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1952

1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 4,975 72.35% 17.95%
Liberal Rex J. Tennant 1,901 27.65% 2.53%
Total 6,876 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 658 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 14,018 53.75% -11.24%
Social Credit hold Swing 7.71%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1955

1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 4,788 50.28% -22.07%
Liberal Alan Cullen 3,361 35.30% 7.65%
Conservative C.J. Black 883 9.27% –
Co-operative Commonwealth James E. Helwig 490 5.15% –
Total 9,522 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 418 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 15,635 63.58% 9.83%
Social Credit hold Swing -14.86%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1959

1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 7,250 62.01% 11.72%
Progressive Conservative Thomas Spanos 2,917 24.95% –
Liberal Robery Henry Jeacock 1,525 13.04% -22.25%
Total 11,692 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 45 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 18,119 64.78% 1.20%
Social Credit hold Swing 11.04%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1963

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 6,975 60.23% -1.78%
Liberal Alan Cullen 3,786 32.69% 19.65%
New Democratic James Taylor 820 7.08% –
Total 11,581 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 34 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 20,117 57.74% -7.04%
Social Credit hold Swing -4.76%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1967

1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John C. Landeryou 6,155 44.42% -15.80%
Progressive Conservative Wilfred Browns 4,128 29.79% –
Liberal John I. Boras 2,237 16.15% -16.55%
New Democratic Klaas Buijert 1,335 9.64% 2.55%
Total 13,855 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 49 – –
Eligible electors / turnout 21,449 64.82% 7.09%
Social Credit hold Swing -6.45%
Source(s)
Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Plebiscite results

1923 prohibition plebiscite

Options presented on the ballot Votes %
(a) Prohibition - Meaning thereby a continuance and development of present Liquor Legislation; that is, meaning the Abolition of the Sale of all Liquors excepting for strictly Medicinal Sacramental, Manufacturing and Scientific Purposes. 1,342 %
(b) Licensed Sale of Beer - Meaning thereby, the Sale of Beer in Licensed Hotels and other Premises, as provided in the proposed Temperance Act. 56 %
(c) Government Sale of Beer - Meaning thereby, the Sale of Beer by or through Government Vendors for consumption in Private Residences under Government Control and Regulations - other Liquors to be sold through Doctor's Prescription for Medicinal Purposes. 53 %
(d) Government Sale of All Liquors - Meaning thereby, the Sale of all Liquors by or through Government Vendors. Beer to be consumed on Licensed Premises and in Private Residences. Wines and Spirits to be purchased in limited quantities under permit issued by the government, under Government Control and Regulations. 3,157 %
Total 4,914 100%
Spoiled ballots 307

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?
4,237     64.90% 2,291     35.10%
Province wide result: Option A passed.

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Lethbridge
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 %
No 4,119 50.66%
Yes 4,012 49.34%
Total votes 8,131 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 66
15,974 eligible electors, turnout 51.32%

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.

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.

Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Lethbridge and Wetaskiwin were the only cities in Alberta to vote against the proposal. It was defeated by the narrowest margins with polls showing a clear split between the north and south sections of the city. The voter turnout in the district was well above the province wide average of 46% with well over half the electors turning out to vote.

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

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the Plebiscite such as Lethbridge 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Election results for Lethbridge". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "North-West Territories: Council and Legislative Assembly, 1876-1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  3. ^ "Lethbridge Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  4. ^ "The Hon. Leverett George DeVeber, Senator". Parlinfo. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  5. ^ "Official Referendum Vote In Lethbridge". Lethbridge Daily Herald. November 16, 1923. p. 1.
  6. ^ Alberta Gazette. Vol. 53 (December 31 ed.). Government of Alberta. 1957. pp. 2, 247–2, 249.
  7. ^ "Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets". Vol L No 273. The Lethbridge Herald. October 31, 1957. pp. 1–2.
  8. ^ "No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen". Vol L No 267. The Lethbridge Herald. October 24, 1957. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Entirely New Act On Liquor". Vol LI No 72. The Lethbridge Herald. March 5, 1968. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

Further reading

49°41′38″N 112°49′59″W / 49.694°N 112.833°W / 49.694; -112.833

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