| Lethbridge | |
| Province: | Alberta |
| Prov-Status: | defunct |
| Prov-Created: | 1905 |
| Prov-Abolished: | 1909 |
| Prov-Created2: | 1921 |
| Prov-Abolished2: | 1971 |
| Prov-Election-First: | 1905 |
| Prov-Election-Last: | 1967 |
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.
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.[2] [3] DeVeber's time as the representative was short as he was appointed to the Senate on March 8, 1906.[4]
| Options presented on the ballot | Votes[5] | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (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 | ||
District results from the first province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation.
| 1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Lethbridge[6] | ||||
| 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 | % | ||
| bgcolor=red | No | 4,119 | 50.66% | |
| bgcolor=green | Yes | 4,012 | 49.34% | |
| align=right colspan=2 | Total votes | 8,131 | 100% | |
| align=right colspan=2 | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 66 | ||
| 15,974 eligible electors, turnout 51.32% | ||||
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.[6]
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.[7] 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.[6]
Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.[6] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not considered the results binding.[8] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.[9]
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.[10]