St. Paul (provincial electoral district)

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.

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.

{{CANelec/top|AB|1913|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/administration/year_result.php?Constit=St.%20Paul|title=Abheritage.ca — St. Paul results|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208184246/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/administration/year_result.php?Constit=St.%20Paul|archive-date=2010-12-08}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Prosper-Edmond Lessard|441|55.75%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Conservative|L. Garneau|350|44.25%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|791}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|942|83.97%}}

{{CANelec/pickup|AB|Liberal}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1917|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Prosper-Edmond Lessard|1,077|66.65%| +10.9%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Conservative|James Brady|539|33.35%| -10.9%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|1,616}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|1,946|83.04%| -0.93%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Liberal| +10.9%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1921|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|United Farmers|Laudas Joly|1,378|58.34%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Prosper-Edmond Lessard|984|41.66%| -24.99%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,362}}

{{CANelec/gain|AB|United Farmers|Liberal| +41.67%}}

{{end}}

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

{{CANelec/top|AB|1926|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|United Farmers|Laudas Joly|1,453|67.24%| +8.90%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|H. Montambeault|603|27.90%| -13.76%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Independent|E. McPheeters|105|4.86%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,161}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|151}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|3,252|71.09%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|United Farmers| +11.33%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1930|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Joseph Miville Dechene|1,653|50.27%| +22.37%}}

{{CANelec|AB|United Farmers|Laudas Joly|1,635|49.73%| -17.51%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|3,288}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|149}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|4,776|71.96%| +0.87%}}

{{CANelec/gain|AB|Liberal|United Farmers| +19.94%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1935|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,567|46.88%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Joseph Miville Dechene|1,963|35.85%| -14.42%}}

{{CANelec|AB|United Farmers|Laudas Joly|946|17.27%| -32.46%}}

|-

!colspan=6|Second round

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,679|53.12%| +6.24%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Joseph Miville Dechene|2,364|46.88%| +11.03%}}

{{Canadian party colour|AB|vacant|row}}

|colspan=2|Neither

|align=right|433

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,476}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|180}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|6,876|82.26%| +10.30%}}

{{CANelec/gain|AB|Social Credit|Liberal| +30.65%}}

{{end}}

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

{{CANelec/top|AB|1940|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,270|48.38%| +1.50%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Independent|J. Binette|1,609|34.29%| -1.56%}}

{{CANelec|AB|CCF|C. Milaney|813|17.33%}}

|-

!colspan=6|Second round

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,421|57.56%| +9.18%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Independent|J. Binette|1,785|42.44%| +8.15%}}

{{Canadian party colour|AB|vacant|row}}

|colspan=2|Neither

|align=right|486

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|4,692}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|241}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,023|70.24%| -12.02%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| +1.53%}}

{{end}}

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.

{{CANelec/top|AB|1944|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|1,851|44.87%| -3.51%}}

{{CANelec|AB|CCF|J. Beauregard|1,503|36.43%| +19.10%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Labour Progressive|Daniel Gamache|771|18.69%}}

|-

!colspan=6|Second round

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|1,949|55.10%| +10.23%}}

{{CANelec|AB|CCF|J. Beauregard|1,588|44.90%| +8.47}}

{{Canadian party colour|AB|vacant|row}}

|colspan=2|Neither

|align=right|588

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|4,125}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|254}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|6,875|63.69%| -6.55%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| -11.31%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1948|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,197|42.89%| -1.98%}}

{{CANelec|AB|CCF|Michael Grekul|1,510|29.47%| -6.96%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Irvin Baril|1,416|27.64%}}

|-

!colspan=6|Second round

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Joseph Beaudry|2,980|65.29%| +22.40%}}

{{CANelec|AB|CCF|Michael Grekul|1,584|34.71%| +5.07%}}

{{Canadian party colour|AB|vacant|row}}

|colspan=2|Neither

|align=right|559

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,123}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|454}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,607|73.31%| +9.62%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| +2.49%}}

{{end}}

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.

{{CANelec/top|AB|1952|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|2,581|53.59%| +10.70%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Laval J. Fortier|2,235|46.41%| +18.77%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|4,816}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|214}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,071|71.14%| -2.17%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| -4.04%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1955|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|2,761|52.84%| -0.75%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|J.R. Sweeney|2,049|39.22%| -7.19%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Labour Progressive|Don Gamache|415|7.94%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,225}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|288}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,218|76.37%| +5.23%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| +3.22%}}

{{end}}

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.

{{CANelec/top|AB|1959|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|3,412|68.51%|15.67%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|J. Van Brabant|1,034|20.76%| -18.46%}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|Gordon Shave|534|10.72%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|4,980}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|10}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|6,682|74.68%| -1.69%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| +17.07%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1963|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|2,889|61.05%| -7.46%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Rene P. Foisy|1,363|28.80%| +8.04%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|H.B. Hodgins|265|5.60%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Communist|Don Gamache|215|4.54%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|4,732}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|12}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,027|67.51%| -7.17%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| +7.75%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1967|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|2,275|44.41%| -16.64%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Armand Lamothe|1,489|29.07%| +0.27%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Pierre M. Vallee|788|15.38%| +9.78%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Independent PC|Leroy P. Christensen|571|11.15%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,123}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|14}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,512|68.38%| +0.87%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|Social Credit| -8.46%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1971|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|Mick Fluker|2,661|45.81%| +34.66%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Raymond Reierson|2,041|35.14%| -9.27%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Laurence J. Dubois|898|15.46%| +0.08%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Lawrence P. Coutu|209|3.60%| -25.47%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,809}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|11}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,720|75.39%| +7.01%}}

{{CANelec/gain|AB|PC|Social Credit| +21.97%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1975|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|Mick Fluker|2,912|57.27%| +11.46%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|John Hull|848|16.68%| -18.46%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Pierre Vallee|764|15.02%| -0.44%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Roland Genereux|561|11.03%| +7.43%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|5,085}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|19}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|7,899|64.62%| -10.77%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|PC| +14.96%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1979|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|Charles Anderson|3,173|46.47%| -10.80%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Laurent Dubois|2,854|41.80%| +26.78%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|John Hull|582|8.52%| -8.16%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Orest Boyko|219|3.21%| -7.82%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|6,828}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|31}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|9,452|72.57%| +7.95}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|PC| -18.79%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1982|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|John Drobot|4,269|56.26%| +9.79%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Laurent Dubois|2,872|37.85%| -3.95%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Western Canada Concept|Iris Bourne|447|5.89%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|7,588}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|39}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|10,194|74.82%| +2.25%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|PC| +6.87%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1986|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|John Drobot|3,018|47.98%| -8.28%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Martin Naundorf|1,429|22.72%| -15.13%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Representative|Roland Rocque|1,380|21.94%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|George Michaud|463|7.36%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|6,290}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|21}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|10,760|58.65%| -16.17%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|PC| +3.43%}}

{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|AB|1989|St. Paul (provincial electoral district)|St. Paul|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|AB|PC|John Drobot|2,931|46.09%| -1.89%}}

{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Paul Langevin|2,304|36.23%| +28.87%}}

{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Victor Chrapko|1,124|17.68%| -5.04%}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|6,359}}

{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|19}}

{{CANelec/total|Electors / Turnout|10,437|61.11%| +2.46%}}

{{CANelec/hold|AB|PC| -15.38%}}

{{end}}

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.{{cite news|title=Albertans Vote 2 to 1 For More Liquor Outlets|publisher=The Lethbridge Herald|date=October 31, 1957|pages=1–2|work=Vol L No 273}}

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. 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%.

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.{{cite news|title=No Sudden Change In Alberta Drinking Habits Is Seen|publisher=The Lethbridge Herald|date=October 24, 1957|page=1|work=Vol L No 267}} However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.{{cite news|title=Entirely New Act On Liquor|publisher=The Lethbridge Herald|date=March 5, 1958|page=1|work=Vol LI No 72}}

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.{{cite book|title=Alberta Bills 12th Legislature 1st Session|publisher=Government of Alberta|chapter=Bill 81|page=40|year=1958}}

• List of Alberta provincial electoral districts
• St. Paul, Alberta, a town in east-central Alberta, Canada, within the County of St. Paul No. 19

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |author1=Office of the Chief Electoral Officer |author2=Legislative Assembly Office |author2-link=Legislative Assembly of Alberta |author-link1=Elections Alberta |title=A Century of Democracy: Elections of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, 1905-2005 |date=2006 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Alberta |series=The Centennial Series |location=Edmonton, AB |isbn=0-9689217-8-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/centennialseries04perr/mode/2up |access-date=25 May 2020}}

• [http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/ Elections Alberta]
• [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ The Legislative Assembly of Alberta]

{{AB-former-ED}}

{{AlbertaElections}}

{{Coord|54.00|N|111.29|W|display=title}}

Category:Former provincial electoral districts of Alberta