Grouard (electoral district)

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Grouard
Alberta electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Alberta
District created1913
District abolished1971
First contested1913
Last contested1967

Grouard was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1971.[1]

History[edit]

Boundary history[edit]

Grouard was created from the southwest quarter of Athabasca in 1913, centred on the small community of Grouard. Its main population centres soon became High Prairie and Falher, containing a number of Franco-Albertan communities. Its boundaries saw minor adjustments throughout its history, but it retained a similar size and shape until abolished in 1971, with the northeast parts going to Lesser Slave Lake and the southwest parts becoming Smoky River.

Representation history[edit]

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Grouard
Assembly Years Member Party
See Athabasca 1905-1913
3rd 1913–1917 Jean Côté Liberal
4th 1917–1921
5th 1921–1923
1923–1924 Vacant
1924–1926 Leonidas Giroux Liberal
6th 1926–1930
7th 1930–1935
8th 1935–1936
1936 Vacant
1936-1940 Joseph Tremblay Liberal
9th 1940–1944
10th 1944–1948 William Fallow Social Credit
1948 Vacant
11th 1948–1951 John Wood Social Credit
1951 Vacant
1951–1952 Joseph Desfosses Liberal
12th 1952–1955
13th 1955–1959
14th 1959–1963 Roy Ells Social Credit
15th 1963–1967
16th 1967–1971
See Lesser Slave Lake after 1971
and Smoky River 1971-1993

Grouard was one of the friendliest ridings for the Alberta Liberal Party, and in its 58-year history, never once voted out an incumbent MLA.

Incumbent Athabasca MLA Jean Côté decided to run in the new riding of Grouard when it was created in 1913, easily defeating his Conservative challenger. He won re-election twice, and was appointed to the Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Mackenzie King in 1923, vacating his seat.

The resulting by-election was won handily by another Liberal, Leonidas Giroux. He was re-elected three times, defending his seat even in 1935, which saw every other seat in rural Alberta swept up by the nascent Social Credit Party of William Aberhart. However, Giroux died in office the following year.

The by-election in fall 1936 was again won by a Liberal, Joseph Tremblay, who narrowly defeated his Social Credit rival. Tremblay won a razor-thin re-election in 1940, one of only two Liberal candidates across the province in that election, and decided to retire when the legislature was dissolved.

The Liberals did not field a single candidate in 1944. With Social Credit candidate William Fallow finally capturing Grouard for the government, this ended the longest streak for any party in Alberta's tumultuous early politics. Fallow also died in office in 1948, but no by-election was held, as a general election took place that year.

Social Credit won the riding for a second time, with John Wood gaining a comfortable victory on the second count. He resigned his post before the term finished, necessitating another by-election in 1951.

Liberal Joseph Desfosses narrowly won the riding back for his party, serving with the revived opposition party until he chose to retire in 1959.

Grouard's final MLA was Roy Ells, who sat with the governing Social Credit for three terms until the riding was abolished in 1971.

Election results[edit]

1910s[edit]

1913 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Jean Côté 347 63.32%
Conservative O. Travers 201 36.68%
Total valid votes[2] 548
Rejected, spoiled and declined -
Electors / Turnout 777 70.53%
Liberal pickup new district.
1917 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jean Côté 688 70.71% +7.39%
Conservative Eugene Gravel 285 29.29% -7.39%
Total valid votes[2] 973
Rejected, spoiled and declined -
Electors / Turnout 1,265 76.92% +6.39%
Liberal hold Swing +7.39%

Following the convention at the time, Côté stood in a by-election upon being named to cabinet. However, since no other candidates contested it, he was acclaimed.

Alberta provincial by-election, October 21, 1918
Ministerial by-election upon Jean Côté's appointment as Provincial Secretary
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jean Côté Acclaimed – –
Total N/A – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Eligible electors / turnout N/A N/A –
Liberal hold Swing –
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1920s[edit]

1921 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jean Côté 963 57.84% -12.87%
United Farmers Henry George Dimsdale 702 42.16%
Total valid votes[2] 1,665
Rejected, spoiled and declined -
Electors / Turnout 2,362 70.49% -6.43%
Liberal hold Swing -27.52%
Alberta provincial by-election, July 11, 1924
Upon the appointment of Jean Côté to the Senate of Canada
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonidas Giroux 1,085 70.36% +12.52%
United Farmers J.M. Cull 457 29.64% -12.52%
Total valid votes 1,542 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined – – –
Electors / turnout – – –
Liberal hold Swing +12.52%
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
1926 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonidas Giroux 1,224 75.05% +4.69%
Conservative Henry George Dimsdale 407 24.95%
Total valid votes[2] 1,631
Rejected, spoiled and declined 64
Electors / Turnout 2,511 67.50% -
Liberal hold Swing -10.13%

1930s[edit]

1930 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonidas Giroux 1,706 62.65% -12.40%
United Farmers Jean Field 1,017 37.35%
Total valid votes[2] 2,723
Rejected, spoiled and declined 6
Electors / Turnout 3,988 68.43% +0.93%
Liberal hold Swing -24.88%
1935 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leonidas Giroux 2,272 55.89% -6.76%
Social Credit R.A. Pelletier 1,447 35.60%
United Farmers E.E. Requier 346 8.51% -28.84%
Total valid votes[2] 4,065
Rejected, spoiled and declined 135
Electors / Turnout 5,378 78.10% +9.67%
Liberal hold Swing -21.18%
Alberta provincial by-election, December 7, 1936
Upon the death of Leonidas Giroux
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Tremblay 1,668 52.26% -3.63%
Social Credit W. J. Desrosiers 1,524 47.74% +12.14%
Total valid votes 3,192 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Electors / turnout N/A N/A –
Liberal hold Swing -7.89%
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.

1940s[edit]

1940 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Tremblay 1,747 39.05% -13.21%
Social Credit J.A. Maurice 1,703 38.06% -9.68%
Co-operative Commonwealth Michael O'Grady 1,024 22.89%
Second Count
Liberal Joseph Tremblay 1,965 50.05% +11.00%
Social Credit J.A. Maurice 1,961 49.95% +11.89%
No second preference 548
Total valid votes[2] 4,474
Rejected, spoiled and declined 197
Electors / Turnout 7,528 62.05% -
Liberal hold Swing -1.77%

First-count swing is calculated from the 1936 by-election, while second-count swing reflects increase in vote share from the first count.

1944 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit William Fallow 2,612 57.29% +19.23%
Co-operative Commonwealth Mike O'Grady 1,560 34.22% +11.33%
Labor–Progressive Merie Evanuk 387 8.49%
Total valid votes[2] 4,559
Rejected, spoiled and declined 168
Electors / Turnout 7,019 67.35% +5.30%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing +3.95%
1948 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit John Wood 2,493 44.58% -12.71%
Liberal André Dechêne 1,850 33.08%
Co-operative Commonwealth D.B. Fraser 1,249 22.34% -11.88%
Second Count
Social Credit John Wood 2,717 58.63% +14.05%
Liberal André Dechêne 1,917 41.37% +8.29%
No second preference 958
Total valid votes[2] 5,592
Rejected, spoiled and declined 376
Electors / Turnout 7,881 75.73% +8.38%
Social Credit hold Swing -22.90%

1950s[edit]

Alberta provincial by-election, June 21, 1951
Upon the resignation of John Wood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Desfosses 2,275 44.16% +11.08%
Social Credit D. McLaughlin 2,197 42.64% -1.94%
Co-operative Commonwealth C.R. Clark 680 13.20% -9.14%
Total valid votes 5,152 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined N/A – –
Electors / turnout N/A N/A –
Liberal gain from Social Credit Swing +6.51%
Source(s)
"By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
1952 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Desfosses 2,358 42.54% -1.62%
Social Credit Joseph St. Arnaud 2,234 40.30% -2.34%
Co-operative Commonwealth Charlton R. Clark 951 17.16% +3.96%
Second Count
Liberal Joseph Desfosses 2,558 51.54% +9.00%
Social Credit Joseph St. Arnaud 2,405 48.46% +8.16%
No second preference 580
Total valid votes[2] 5,543
Rejected, spoiled and declined 335
Electors / Turnout 8,974 65.50% -
Liberal hold Swing +0.36%
1955 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Desfosses 2,855 49.70% +7.16%
Social Credit Fred Bullen 2,319 40.37% +0.07%
Co-operative Commonwealth Charlton R. Clark 571 9.94% -7.22%
Second Count
Liberal Joseph Desfosses 3,026 55.41% +5.71%
Social Credit Fred Bullen 2,435 44.59% +4.22%
No second preference 284
Total valid votes[2] 5,745
Rejected, spoiled and declined 510
Electors / Turnout 9,271 67.47% +1.97%
Liberal hold Swing +3.55%
1959 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Roy Ells 3,727 57.23% +16.86%
Liberal Paul Maisonneuve 1,476 22.67% -27.03%
Progressive Conservative Paul Soulodre 1,309 20.10%
Total valid votes[2] 6,512
Rejected, spoiled and declined 25
Electors / Turnout 9,020 72.47% +5.00%
Social Credit gain from Liberal Swing +21.95%

1960s[edit]

1963 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Roy Ells 3,832 62.81% +5.58%
Liberal Gunner Wahlstrom 1,595 26.14% +3.47%
New Democratic Clifford Tollefson 674 11.05%
Total valid votes[2] 6,101
Rejected, spoiled and declined 42
Electors / Turnout 9,169 67.00% -5.47%
Social Credit hold Swing +1.06%
1967 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Social Credit Roy Ells 3,363 51.30% -11.51%
New Democratic Stan Daniels 2,207 33.67% +22.62%
Liberal Gunner Wahlstrom 985 15.03% -11.11%
Total valid votes[2] 6,555
Rejected, spoiled and declined 36
Electors / Turnout 10,323 63.85% -8.62%
Social Credit hold Swing -17.07%

Plebiscite results[edit]

1957 liquor plebiscite[edit]

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Grouard[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 1,388 69.99%
No 595 30.01%
Total votes 1,983 100%
Rejected, spoiled and declined 48
8,426 eligible electors, turnout 24.10%

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 women should be 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. Grouard voted in favour of the proposal with a landslide majority. Voter turnout in the district was the lowest in the province, at half 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 consider 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 who wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Election results for Grouard". abheritage.ca. Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Results for Grouard". Community Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Alberta Gazette. Vol. 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[edit]

External links[edit]

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