Ponoka (provincial electoral district)

Ponoka was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of Alberta represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1986.

History

The electoral district was created during the creation of the province and used from the 1905 Alberta general election. The district was redrawn frequently over the years but had remained largely a thin slice in central Alberta. The district was re-distributed in the 1986 Alberta general election and became Ponoka-Rimbey.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

  Name Party Elected Left Office
     John R. McLeod Liberal 1905 1909
     William A. Campbell Liberal 1909 1917
     Charles Cunningham Conservative 1917 1921
  Percival Baker United Farmers 1921 1921
  vacant 1921 1921
  John Edward Brownlee United Farmers 1921 1935
  Edith Rogers Social Credit 1935 1940
     Percy McKelvey Independent 1940 1944
  Ora Moore Social Credit 1944 1952
  Glen Johnston Social Credit 1952 1967
  Neville Roper Social Credit 1967 1971
     Don McCrimmon Progressive Conservative 1971 1982
     Halvar Jonson Progressive Conservative 1982 1986

Partial election results

1905 Alberta general election results[1] Turnout Unknown
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Liberal John R. McLeod 375 58.59%
     Conservative John A. Jackson 265 41.41%
Total 640 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined Unknown
Returning Officer[2] William Alexander Campbell
Alberta provincial by-election, 1921
Party Candidate Votes
United FarmersJohn Edward Brownlee Acclaimed
Source: Mardon 107
Alberta general election, 1926
Party Candidate Votes%
United FarmersJohn Edward Brownlee 1,357 62.9%
LiberalMarcus Crandell 453 21.0%
ConservativeArthur Beaumont 347 16.1%
Source: Mardon 107
Alberta general election, 1930
Party Candidate Votes
United FarmersJohn Edward Brownlee Acclaimed
Source: Mardon 107
Alberta general election, 1935
Party Candidate Votes%
Social CreditEdith Rogers 2,295 59.3%
United FarmersJohn Edward Brownlee 879 22.7%
LiberalRobert McLaren 696 18.0%
Turnout 84.8%
Source: "Election results for Ponoka, 1935". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 
Alberta general election, 1940
Party Candidate Votes
1st count
%Votes
final count
%
IndependentPercy McKelvey 1,920 43.62% 2,234 52.21%
Social CreditEdith Rogers 1,907 43.32% 2,045 47.79%
Co-operative CommonwealthC. A. Johnson 575 13.06%
Turnout 74.7%
Source: "Election results for Ponoka, 1940". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 

Plebiscite results

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Ponoka[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 %
No 1,500 53.96%
Yes 1,280 46.04%
Total Votes 2,780 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 53
6,317 Eligible Electors, Turnout 44.88%

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. Ponoka voted against the proposal by a comfortable margin. The voter turnout in the district was just slightly below 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 such as Ponoka 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]

References

  1. "Ponoka Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  2. "Territories Elections Ordinance; Province of Alberta". Vol VI No. 12 (The Rocky Mountain Echo). October 30, 1905. p. 4.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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, 1968. p. 1.
  7. "Bill 81". Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session. Government of Alberta. 1958. p. 40.

External links

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