# Redwater (provincial electoral district)

Redwater was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1971 and again from 1993 to 2004.

## History

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Redwater :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| See Sturgeon 1905-1940 and Whitford 1913-1940 |||||
| 9th | 1940–1944 | James Popil | Social Credit |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | James Popil | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Peter Chaba | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Peter Chaba | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Alfred Macyk | Liberal |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | John Dubetz | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Michael Senych | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | Michael Senych | Social Credit |
| See Redwater-Andrew 1971-1993 and Westlock- Sturgeon 1986-1993 |||||
| 23rd | 1993–1996 | Nicholas Taylor | Liberal |
| 23rd | 1996 | Vacant | Vacant |
| 23rd | 1996-1997 | Mary Anne Balsillie | Liberal |
| 24th | 1997–2001 | Dave Broda | Progressive Conservative |
| 25th | 2001–2004 | Dave Broda | Progressive Conservative |
| See Athabasca-Redwater 2004-2012 |||||

### Boundary history

Redwater was created in 1940 from most of the Sturgeon district and a part of Whitford, consisting of the area around Smoky Lake, with the North Saskatchewan River forming its southern boundary. When neighbouring Beaver River was abolished in 1952 a small portion was transferred to Redwater, but otherwise no boundary changes were made until the riding was abolished in 1971. It was replaced by the larger Redwater-Andrew.
In 1993, Redwater was created again out of most of Redwater-Andrew and the part of Westlock-Sturgeon containing Morinville. The new riding extended much further southwest than the original Redwater, touching the northern boundary of Edmonton. It underwent no boundary adjustments until abolished in 2004, with most of the riding transferred to Athabasca-Redwater and a small sliver to Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock.

### Representation history

The riding's first MLA was James Popil, who had already served one term for Social Credit in Sturgeon and was re-elected twice in Redwater. He was succeeded by Peter Chaba, a Ukrainian immigrant, who also held the riding for two terms.
In 1955, however, Chaba was narrowly defeated by Liberal Alfred Macyk on the third count. The Social Credit government then abolished instant-runoff voting because of the Liberal Party's resurgence, and Macyk was defeated in 1959 by their candidate, John Dubetz.
When Dubetz decided not to run again in 1963, Social Credit chose Michael Senych as their candidate. He held the riding for two terms, until it was abolished in 1971.
When Redwater was re-created in 1993, two incumbent MLAs ran against each other: former Liberal leader and two-term MLA for Westlock-Sturgeon, Nicholas Taylor, faced off against Steve Zarusky, two-term PC MLA for Redwater-Andrew. Taylor won by a significant margin, and three years later was subsequently appointed to the Senate by Jean Chrétien. The resulting 1996 by-election was won by another Liberal, Mary Anne Balsillie, by a razor-thin margin.
However, the governing Progressive Conservatives would capture the riding in the following year, with candidate Dave Broda defeating Balsillie in an equally close contest. He was re-elected in 2001 by a much larger margin, and retired from politics when Redwater was abolished in 2004.

## Election results
### 1940s

1940 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Social Credit | James Popil | 2,226 | 56.27% |
| | Independent Movement | J.I. Zubick | 945 | 23.89% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | C.J. Stimpfle | 785 | 19.84% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,956 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 217 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 6,425 | 64.95% |
| | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. | Social Credit pickup new district. |
1944 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | James Popil | 2,390 | 58.45% | +2.18% |
| | Labor–Progressive | Michael Hyduk | 882 | 21.57% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Dale West | 817 | 19.98% | +0.14% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,089 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 95 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 6,118 | 68.39% | +3.44% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -9.70% |
1948 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,807 | 47.85% | -10.60% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | John Dubeta | 1,528 | 40.47% | +20.49% |
| | Liberal | James Salyzyn | 441 | 11.68% |
| Second count ||||||
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,912 | 54.89% | +7.04% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | John Dubeta | 1,572 | 45.11% | +4.64% |
| | Neither | Neither | 292 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,776 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 258 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 6,030 | 66.90% | -1.49% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -15.55% |

### 1950s

1952 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,677 | 39.52% | -8.33% |
| | Liberal | George Repka | 1,268 | 29.88% | +18.20% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Paul Feniak | 1,002 | 23.62% | -16.85% |
| | People's Candidate | Frank Maricle | 296 | 6.98% |
| Second count ||||||
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,833 | 52.72% | +13.20% |
| | Liberal | George Repka | 1,644 | 47.28% | +17.40% |
| | Neither | Neither | 766 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,243 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 320 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 6,636 | 68.76% | +1.86% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -13.27% |
1955 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alfred Macyk | 1,878 | 43.35% | +13.47% |
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,632 | 37.67% | -1.85% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | H.J. Leskiw | 552 | 12.74% | -10.88% |
| | Labor–Progressive | Frank Maricle | 270 | 6.23% |
| Second count ||||||
| | Liberal | Alfred Macyk | 2,214 | 56.01% | +12.66% |
| | Social Credit | Peter Chaba | 1,739 | 43.99% | +6.32% |
| | Neither | Neither | 379 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,332 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 343 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 6,446 | 72.53% | +3.77% |
| | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | +7.66 |
After the 1955 election, a historic breakthrough for the Liberal Party, the government of Ernest Manning abolished alternative vote and introduced first past the post voting across the province. The Social Credit candidate in Redwater was therefore able to win with less than a majority of votes in 1959. This change can also be seen in the dramatic drop in spoiled (incorrectly marked) ballots.
1959 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John Dubetz | 2,092 | 49.17% | +11.50% |
| | Liberal | Alfred Macyk | 1,262 | 29.66% | -13.69% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Martha Bielish | 901 | 21.18% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,255 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 10 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 5,965 | 71.50% | -1.03% |
| | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +12.60% |

### 1960s

1963 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Michael Senych | 1,670 | 41.72% | -7.45% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Joe Bielish | 1,362 | 34.02% | +12.84% |
| | Liberal | Steve Romanchuk | 755 | 18.86% | -10.80% |
| | New Democratic | William Glass | 216 | 5.40% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,003 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 10 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 5,767 | 69.59% | -1.91% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -10.45% |
1967 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Michael Senych | 1,588 | 43.64% | +1.92% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Basil Zailo | 1,314 | 36.11% | +2.09% |
| | New Democratic | Norman Flack | 737 | 20.25% | +14.85% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,639 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 18 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 5,263 | 69.49% | -0.10% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -0.09% |
See Redwater-Andrew and Westlock-Sturgeon for results in the 1970s and 1980s.

### 1990s

1993 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Nicholas Taylor | 6,429 | 51.38% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Steve Zarusky | 4,582 | 36.62% |
| | New Democratic | Robert Tomkins | 1,306 | 10.44% |
| | Natural Law | Geoff Toane | 196 | 1.57% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,513 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 22 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 19,775 | 63.39% |
| | 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. |
Alberta provincial by-election, May 21, 1996 upon the appointment of Nicholas Taylor to the Senate of Canada :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Mary Anne Balsillie | 3,671 | 42.29% | -9.09% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ross Quinn | 3,573 | 41.16% | +4.54% |
| | Social Credit | Don Bell | 773 | 8.91% |
| | New Democratic | Tom Turner | 465 | 5.36% | -5.08% |
| | Forum Party of Alberta | Bill Finn | 135 | 1.56% |
| | Independent | Leonard Fish | 63 | 0.73% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,680 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 20 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 19,130 | 45.48% | -17.91% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -6.82% |
1997 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Broda | 5,297 | 43.88% | +2.72% |
| | Liberal | Mary Anne Balsillie | 4,980 | 41.25% | -1.04% |
| | Social Credit | Don Bell | 987 | 8.18% | -0.73% |
| | New Democratic | Tom Turner | 737 | 6.11% | +0.75% |
| | Natural Law | E. Benjamin Toane | 71 | 0.59% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,072 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 32 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 20,239 | 59.81% | +14.33% |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +1.88% |

### 2000s

2001 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Broda | 7,319 | 58.33% | +14.45% |
| | Liberal | Andrew Raczynski | 3,924 | 31.27% | -9.98% |
| | New Democratic | Mike Radojcic | 658 | 5.24% | -0.87% |
| | Alberta First | Tony Ollenberger | 647 | 5.16% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,548 |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 40 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 21,656 | 58.13% | -1.68% |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +12.22% |

## Plebiscite results
### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Redwater :
| 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 | 1,589 | 76.28% |
| | No | 494 | 23.72% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,083 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 17 | 17 |
| 5,838 eligible electors, turnout 35.97% ||||
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 women should be 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. Redwater voted in favour of the proposal with a landslide majority. Voter turnout in the district was abysmal, falling well below 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 consider 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 twhohat wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.