Vermilion (provincial electoral district)

Vermilion is a former provincial electoral district in Alberta which existed from 1905 to 1921.

Election results (partial)

1905 general election

Returning Officer[1]
Thomas J. Cunningham
1905 Alberta general election results[2] Turnout Unknown
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Liberal Matthew McCauley 673 71.67%
     Conservative Frank Fane 248 28.33%
Total 939 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined Unknown
Alberta general election, 1935
Party Candidate Votes
1st count
%Votes
final count
%
Social CreditWilliam Fallow 2,452 44.8% 2,664 65.0%
LiberalArthur P. Hunter 1,062 19.4% 1,437 35.0%
United FarmersRichard Gavin Reid 876 16.0%
CommunistWilliam Halina 838 15.3%
ConservativeAlbert E. Williams 244 4.5%
Turnout 82.8%
Source: Mardon 130

Plebiscite results

1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Vermilion[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 1,258 53.92%
No 1,075 46.08%
Total Votes 2,333 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 15
5,758 Eligible Electors, Turnout 40.79%

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. Vermilion voted in favour of the proposal with a slight majority. Voter turnout in the district was very low, 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]

References

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

External links

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