St. Paul (provincial electoral district)
# St. Paul (provincial electoral district)

St. Paul was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1993.

## Boundary history

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.

## Representation history

Members of the Legislative Assembly for St. Paul :

| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| - | - | - | - |
| See Pakan 1909–1913 |||||
| 3rd | 1913–1917 | Prosper-Edmond Lessard | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1921 | Prosper-Edmond Lessard | Liberal |
| 5th | 1921–1926 | Laudas Joly | United Farmers |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Laudas Joly | United Farmers |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Joseph Dechene | Liberal |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Joseph Beaudry | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit |
| 17th | 1971–1975 | Mick Fluker | Progressive Conservative |
| 18th | 1975–1979 | Mick Fluker | Progressive Conservative |
| 19th | 1979–1982 | Charles Anderson | Progressive Conservative |
| 20th | 1982–1986 | John Drobot | Progressive Conservative |
| 21st | 1986–1989 | John Drobot | Progressive Conservative |
| 22nd | 1989–1993 | John Drobot | Progressive Conservative |
| See Lac La Biche-St. Paul 1993–2012 |||||

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.

## Election results

### 1910s

1913 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Prosper-Edmond Lessard | 441 | 55.75% |
| | Conservative | L. Garneau | 350 | 44.25% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 791 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 942 | 83.97% |
| | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. |

1917 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Prosper-Edmond Lessard | 1,077 | 66.65% | +10.9% |
| | Conservative | James Brady | 539 | 33.35% | -10.9% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,616 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 1,946 | 83.04% | -0.93% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +10.9% |

### 1920s

1921 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | United Farmers | Laudas Joly | 1,378 | 58.34% |
| | Liberal | Prosper-Edmond Lessard | 984 | 41.66% | -24.99% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,362 |
| | United Farmers gain from Liberal | United Farmers gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +41.67% |

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

1926 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | United Farmers | Laudas Joly | 1,453 | 67.24% | +8.90% |
| | Liberal | H. Montambeault | 603 | 27.90% | -13.76% |
| | Independent | E. McPheeters | 105 | 4.86% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,161 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 151 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 3,252 | 71.09% |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | +11.33% |

### 1930s

1930 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Joseph Miville Dechene | 1,653 | 50.27% | +22.37% |
| | United Farmers | Laudas Joly | 1,635 | 49.73% | -17.51% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,288 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 149 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 4,776 | 71.96% | +0.87% |
| | Liberal gain from United Farmers | Liberal gain from United Farmers | Swing | Swing | +19.94% |

1935 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,567 | 46.88% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Miville Dechene | 1,963 | 35.85% | -14.42% |
| | United Farmers | Laudas Joly | 946 | 17.27% | -32.46% |
| Second round ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,679 | 53.12% | +6.24% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Miville Dechene | 2,364 | 46.88% | +11.03% |
| | Neither | Neither | 433 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,476 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 180 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 6,876 | 82.26% | +10.30% |
| | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +30.65% |

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

### 1940s

1940 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,270 | 48.38% | +1.50% |
| | Independent | J. Binette | 1,609 | 34.29% | -1.56% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | C. Milaney | 813 | 17.33% |
| Second round ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,421 | 57.56% | +9.18% |
| | Independent | J. Binette | 1,785 | 42.44% | +8.15% |
| | Neither | Neither | 486 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,692 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 241 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,023 | 70.24% | -12.02% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | +1.53% |

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.

1944 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 1,851 | 44.87% | -3.51% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | J. Beauregard | 1,503 | 36.43% | +19.10% |
| | Labor–Progressive | Daniel Gamache | 771 | 18.69% |
| Second round ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 1,949 | 55.10% | +10.23% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | J. Beauregard | 1,588 | 44.90% | +8.47 |
| | Neither | Neither | 588 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,125 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 254 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 6,875 | 63.69% | -6.55% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -11.31% |

1948 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,197 | 42.89% | -1.98% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Michael Grekul | 1,510 | 29.47% | -6.96% |
| | Liberal | Irvin Baril | 1,416 | 27.64% |
| Second round ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Beaudry | 2,980 | 65.29% | +22.40% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Michael Grekul | 1,584 | 34.71% | +5.07% |
| | Neither | Neither | 559 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,123 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 454 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,607 | 73.31% | +9.62% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | +2.49% |

### 1950s

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.

1952 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 2,581 | 53.59% | +10.70% |
| | Liberal | Laval J. Fortier | 2,235 | 46.41% | +18.77% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,816 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 214 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,071 | 71.14% | -2.17% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -4.04% |

1955 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 2,761 | 52.84% | -0.75% |
| | Liberal | J.R. Sweeney | 2,049 | 39.22% | -7.19% |
| | Labor–Progressive | Don Gamache | 415 | 7.94% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,225 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 288 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,218 | 76.37% | +5.23% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | +3.22% |

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.

1959 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 3,412 | 68.51% | 15.67% |
| | Liberal | J. Van Brabant | 1,034 | 20.76% | -18.46% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gordon Shave | 534 | 10.72% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,980 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 10 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 6,682 | 74.68% | -1.69% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | +17.07% |

### 1960s

1963 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 2,889 | 61.05% | -7.46% |
| | Liberal | Rene P. Foisy | 1,363 | 28.80% | +8.04% |
| | New Democratic | H.B. Hodgins | 265 | 5.60% |
| | Communist | Don Gamache | 215 | 4.54% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,732 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 12 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,027 | 67.51% | -7.17% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | +7.75% |

1967 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 2,275 | 44.41% | -16.64% |
| | Liberal | Armand Lamothe | 1,489 | 29.07% | +0.27% |
| | New Democratic | Pierre M. Vallee | 788 | 15.38% | +9.78% |
| | Independent PC | Leroy P. Christensen | 571 | 11.15% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,123 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 14 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,512 | 68.38% | +0.87% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -8.46% |

### 1970s

1971 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mick Fluker | 2,661 | 45.81% | +34.66% |
| | Social Credit | Raymond Reierson | 2,041 | 35.14% | -9.27% |
| | New Democratic | Laurence J. Dubois | 898 | 15.46% | +0.08% |
| | Liberal | Lawrence P. Coutu | 209 | 3.60% | -25.47% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,809 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 11 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,720 | 75.39% | +7.01% |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit | Progressive Conservative gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | +21.97% |

1975 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Mick Fluker | 2,912 | 57.27% | +11.46% |
| | Social Credit | John Hull | 848 | 16.68% | -18.46% |
| | New Democratic | Pierre Vallee | 764 | 15.02% | -0.44% |
| | Liberal | Roland Genereux | 561 | 11.03% | +7.43% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 5,085 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 19 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 7,899 | 64.62% | -10.77% |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +14.96% |

1979 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Charles Anderson | 3,173 | 46.47% | -10.80% |
| | New Democratic | Laurent Dubois | 2,854 | 41.80% | +26.78% |
| | Social Credit | John Hull | 582 | 8.52% | -8.16% |
| | Liberal | Orest Boyko | 219 | 3.21% | -7.82% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,828 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 31 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 9,452 | 72.57% | +7.95 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -18.79% |

### 1980s

1982 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Drobot | 4,269 | 56.26% | +9.79% |
| | New Democratic | Laurent Dubois | 2,872 | 37.85% | -3.95% |
| | Western Canada Concept | Iris Bourne | 447 | 5.89% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,588 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 39 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 10,194 | 74.82% | +2.25% |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +6.87% |

1986 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Drobot | 3,018 | 47.98% | -8.28% |
| | New Democratic | Martin Naundorf | 1,429 | 22.72% | -15.13% |
| | Representative | Roland Rocque | 1,380 | 21.94% |
| | Liberal | George Michaud | 463 | 7.36% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,290 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 21 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 10,760 | 58.65% | -16.17% |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +3.43% |

1989 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | John Drobot | 2,931 | 46.09% | -1.89% |
| | Liberal | Paul Langevin | 2,304 | 36.23% | +28.87% |
| | New Democratic | Victor Chrapko | 1,124 | 17.68% | -5.04% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 6,359 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 19 |
| Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | Electors / Turnout | 10,437 | 61.11% | +2.46% |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -15.38% |

## Plebiscite results

### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: St. Paul :

| 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 | Ballot Choice | Votes | % |
| | Yes | 1,321 | 58.40% |
| | No | 941 | 41.60% |
| Total Votes | Total Votes | 2,262 | 100% |
| Rejected, Spoiled and Declined | Rejected, Spoiled and Declined | 18 | 18 |
| 6,080 Eligible Electors, Turnout 37.50% ||||

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.

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. However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.

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.

