Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

1909

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1926

1930

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1940

1944

1948

1952

1955

1959

1963

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1971

1975

1979

1982

1986

1989

1989 by-election

1957 liquor plebiscite

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.^[3]

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.^[2]

Province wide, Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts, while Question B passed in all five districts. Stettler barely voted against the proposal; the results were almost a tie. The voter turnout in the district was well above the province wide average of 46%.^[2]

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957.^[2] The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding.^[4] However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.^[5]

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the plebiscite, such as Stettler, 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 for a license to be granted.^[6]