# Warner (provincial electoral district)

Warner was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1963.

## History

The Warner electoral district was formed prior to the 1913 Alberta general election from the eastern portion of the Cardston electoral district and a small portion of the Lethbridge District.
The Warner electoral district would be abolished prior to the 1963 Alberta general election, and the territory would be split between the Taber-Warner and Cypress electoral districts.

### Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Warner :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| See Lethbridge District from 1909-1913 and Cardston electoral district from 1905-1913 |||||
| 3rd | 1913–1917 | Frank S. Leffingwell | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1921 | Frank S. Leffingwell | Liberal |
| 5th | 1921–1926 | Maurice J. Conner | United Farmers |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Maurice J. Conner | United Farmers |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Maurice J. Conner | United Farmers |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | Solon Earl Low | Social Credit |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | James H. Walker | Independent Movement |
| 10th | 1944–1945 | Solon Earl Low | Social Credit |
| 10th | 1945–1948 | Leonard C. Halmrast | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Leonard C. Halmrast | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Leonard C. Halmrast | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Leonard C. Halmrast | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | Leonard C. Halmrast | Social Credit |
| See Taber-Warner electoral district from 1963-1997 and Cypress electoral district from 1963-1986 |||||

## Election results
### 1913

vte1913 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank S. Leffingwell | 314 | 43.67% | – |
| | Independent | William T. Patton | 268 | 37.27% | – |
| | Conservative | W. H. Scott | 137 | 19.05% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 719 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 1,055 | 68.15% | – |
| | 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. |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1917

vte1917 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank S. Leffingwell | 706 | 64.89% | 21.22% |
| | Conservative | Hy. Jas. Tennant | 382 | 35.11% | 16.06% |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,088 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 1,820 | 59.78% | -8.37% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | 11.69% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1921

vte1921 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Maurice J. Conner | 755 | 60.64% | – |
| | Liberal | Frank S. Leffingwell | 490 | 39.36% | -25.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,245 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 1,665 | 74.77% | 14.99% |
| | United Farmers gain from Liberal | United Farmers gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | -4.25% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1926

vte1926 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Maurice J. Conner | 741 | 64.10% | 3.46% |
| | Liberal | Frank S. Leffingwell | 225 | 19.46% | -19.89% |
| | Conservative | G. N. Giles | 190 | 16.44% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,156 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 77 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 1,614 | 76.39% | 1.62% |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | 11.68% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1930

vte1930 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Maurice J. Conner | 1,342 | 65.43% | 1.33% |
| | Liberal | R. W. Risinger | 709 | 34.57% | 15.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,051 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 77 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 3,010 | 70.70% | -5.70% |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | -6.89% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1935

vte1935 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Solon Earl Low | 1,702 | 55.78% | – |
| | United Farmers | James H. Walker | 588 | 19.27% | -46.16% |
| | Liberal | Frank S. Leffingwell | 534 | 17.50% | -17.07% |
| | Independent | H. C. Moir | 227 | 7.44% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,051 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 99 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 3,809 | 82.70% | 12.00% |
| | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Swing | Swing | 2.82% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1940

vte1940 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Movement | James H. Walker | 1,937 | 55.42% | 36.15% |
| | Social Credit | Solon Earl Low | 1,558 | 44.58% | -11.21% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,495 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 98 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,327 | 83.04% | 0.34% |
| | Independent Movement gain from Social Credit | Independent Movement gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | -12.83% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1944

vte1944 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Solon Earl Low | 1,621 | 51.54% | 6.96% |
| | Independent Movement | James H. Walker | 629 | 20.00% | -35.42% |
| | Single Tax | W. Martin Madge | 480 | 15.26% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | R. B. Eshorn | 415 | 13.20% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,145 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 64 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,273 | 75.10% | -7.94% |
| | Social Credit gain from Independent Movement | Social Credit gain from Independent Movement | Swing | Swing | 10.35% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1945 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, August 6, 1945 Upon Solon Earl Low's resignation :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Leonard C. Halmrast | 991 | 75.94% | 24.40% |
| | Single Tax | H.J. Hierath | 314 | 24.06% | -8.80% |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,305 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | – |
| Source(s) "By-elections". elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 24, 2020. |||||||

### 1948

vte1948 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Leonard C. Halmrast | 1,691 | 73.88% | 22.33% |
| | Liberal | William John Colliton | 598 | 26.12% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,289 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 346 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,915 | 53.61% | -21.49% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 8.10% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1952

vte1952 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Leonard C. Halmrast | 1,904 | 75.05% | 1.17% |
| | Liberal | George S. Snow | 633 | 24.95% | -1.17% |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,537 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 146 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,443 | 49.29% | -4.32% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 1.17% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1955

vte1955 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Leonard C. Halmrast | 1,917 | 61.94% | -13.11% |
| | Liberal | J. L. Evans | 1,178 | 38.06% | 13.11% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,095 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 143 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,808 | 55.75% | 6.46% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -13.11% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1959

vte1959 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Leonard C. Halmrast | 2,430 | 72.65% | 10.71% |
| | Liberal | Mark R. Stringam | 915 | 27.35% | -10.71% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,345 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 6 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,335 | 62.81% | 7.06% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 10.71% |
| Source(s) Source: "Warner Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

## Plebiscite results
### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Warner :
| 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 | % |
| | No | 1,399 | 64.74% |
| | Yes | 762 | 35.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,161 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 21 | 21 |
| 5,197 eligible electors, turnout 41.99% ||||
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. Warner voted against the proposal with a heavy majority. The voter turnout in the district was 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 such as Warner 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.