Little Bow (electoral district)

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Location of Little Bow
Location of Little Bow
Little Bow present Boundaries
Little Bow present Boundaries
Little Bow 1993 - 2004 Boundaries
Little Bow 1993 - 2004 Boundaries

Little Bow is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.

The district, named after the Little Bow River, was created in 1913 from the north-west corner of Lethbridge District and the eastern portions of Okotoks, High River, Nanton and Claresholm districts.

Throughout its history, this district has been dominated by agricultural activities. Because the area is prone to summer time drought and frequent water rationing, agriculture has been limited to grain crops and cattle ranches. The recent BSE crisis, and the subsequent closure of the US border to Canadian cattle, has been a major election issue.

The district's major communities, Vulcan, Coalhurst, the Siksika Reserve, Arrowwood, Picture Butte and Mossleigh provide service centres for area's agricultural and oil & gas industries.

Contents

[edit] Riding history

In the over-90-year history of this district, it has only been represented by five members of the Alberta Legislative Assembly. The recent history has shown voters in this riding tend to favour the candidate more than the party as shown by Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Raymond Speaker's lengthy term in office.

The Alberta Liberal Party held this riding for the first two elections in 1913 and 1917. From 1921 to 1935, through the entire term of the United Farmers of Alberta government, this riding elected United Farmer MLAs. Near the end of his term in office, former cabinet minister Oran McPherson went through a scandal-ridden divorce that made front page headlines. He lost favour with his constituents at a time when the United Famers lost popularity.

Between 1935 and 1982, the riding elected Social Credit MLAs, including the almost unbeatable Raymond Speaker. Speaker ended up crossing the floor three times before retiring in 1992 to run for the Canadian House of Commons.

After Speaker left in 1992, a contentious and divided by-election took place. The Progressive Conservative candidate Barry McFarland barely retained this seat for the party. The Liberal Party was within inches of taking back Little Bow, with its best result in seventy years. Little Bow produced some of the worst results for the Alberta Liberal Party in their entire history. Since then, the Liberals have built up a base support but have not come close to another breakthrough.

Al Strom, son of the former Social Credit leader Harry Strom, also ran, hoping to retake one of the most loyal Social Credit seats. Two other right-wing parties ended up running and dividing the vote. Since 1992, Little Bow has remained a Progressive Conservative stronghold.

[edit] Members elected

  Name Party Elected Left Office
     James McNaughton Liberal 1913 1921
     Oran McPherson United Farmers 1921 1935
     Peter Dawson Social Credit 1935 1963
     Raymond Speaker Social Credit 1963 1982
     Independent 1982 1984
     Representative 1984 1987
     Progressive Conservative 1987 1992
     Barry McFarland Progressive Conservative 1992 present

[edit] Boundaries

The north boundary follows the Bow River and travels along the Siksika Reserve boundary, and again in a south easterly direction along the Bow River.

The boundary then follows the Oldman River west, and then turns south and west again until it reaches the St. Mary River, then travels north west, and goes around the Lethbridge city limits and follows the river north. The border then travels north until it reaches the Little Bow River and continues in a northerly direction to the starting point.

Cardston-Taber-Warner borders to the south.

Lethbridge East, Lethbridge West, Livingstone-Macleod and Highwood border to the east.

[edit] Demographics

Population Registered voters
32,897 19,649
Age Population %
0-4 2,585 7.9%
5-19 9,130 28.0%
20-24 1,855 5.7%
25-44 8,800 27.0%
45-64 6,930 21.3%
65-74 2,090 6.4%
75+ 1,185 3.6%
51.1% Male 48.9% Female
43.7% Married 20.3% Single never married

Source:Government of Alberta[1]

[edit] Riding associations

Party President
     Alberta Alliance Jay Phin
     Liberal
     New Democrat
     Progressive Conservative Ryan Smith

Four riding associations are registered with Elections Alberta.

[edit] Election results 1913 - 2004

[edit] 2004

2004 Results Turnout 45.97%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 4,894 54.18%
     Liberal Arij Langstraat 1,965 21.75%
     Alberta Alliance Jay Phin 859 9.51%
     Social Credit Brian Cook 556 6.16%
     Separation Grant Shaw 432 4.78%
     New Democrats Hugh Logie 327 3.62%
Total 9,033 100%

[edit] 1993 - 2001

2001 Results Turnout 56.66% 1997 Results Turnout 54.34% 1993 Results Turnout 66.30%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,881 64.80%     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,726 69.56%     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 6,709 67.24%
     Liberal Arij Langstraat 2,534 23.86% Liberal Alida Hess 2,075 21.46% Liberal Donna Graham 2,886 28.93%
     Independent Jon Koch 885 8.33% New Democrat Marko Hilgersom 868 8.98% New Democrat Rod Lachmuth 382 3.82%
     New Democrat Andrea Enes 319 3.00%
Total 10,003 100% Total 10,636 100% Total 9,724 100%

[edit] 1986 - 1992

1992 By-Election Results Turnout 60.99% 1989 Results Turnout 53.79% 1986 Results Turnout 62.12%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 1,966 35.21%     Progressive Conservative Raymond Speaker 3,907 78.74%     Representative Raymond Speaker 3,791 63.65%
     Liberal Donna Graham 1,704 30.51% Liberal Elzien Schopman 579 11.67% Progressive Conservative Cliff Wright 1,805 30.31%
     New Democrat Ruth Scalplock 601 10.76% New Democrat Keith Ford 476 9.59% C.o.R. Dean Oseen 158 2.65%
     Social Credit Al Strom 521 9.33% New Democrat Christina Tomaschuk 137 2.30%
     Alliance Alberta Larry Haller 399 7.14% Liberal Ben Loman 65 1.09%
     C.o.R. Dean Oseen 394 7.05%
Total 5,585 100% Total 4,919 100% Total 5,966 100%

[edit] 1975 - 1982

1982 Results Turnout 77.77% 1979 Results Turnout 69.59% 1975 Results Turnout 74.04%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Independent Raymond Speaker 3,174 50.09%     Social Credit Raymond Speaker 3,748 65.63%     Social Credit Raymond Speaker 3,132 57.64%
     Progressive Conservative Cliff Wright 2,144 33.83% Progressive Conservative Richard Papworth 1,684 29.48% Progressive Conservative George McMorris 2,019 37.15%
     Western Canada Concept Wayne Lawlor 851 13.43% New Democrat Beth Jantzie 236 4.13% Liberal Ben Loman 157 2.89%
     New Democrat Beth Jantzie 168 2.65% Liberal John Fujimargari 43 0.75% New Democrat Wayne Doolittle 126 2.31%
Total 6,352 100% Total 5,733 100% Total 5,445 100%

[edit] 1963 - 1971

1971 Results Turnout 78.84% 1967 Results Turnout 66.55% 1963 Results Turnout 69.72%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Social Credit Raymond Speaker 3,400 58.52%     Social Credit Raymond Speaker 3,368 68.48%     Social Credit Raymond Speaker 3,367 64.00%
     Progressive Conservative John Green 2,114 36.39% Independent Arthur Ulrich 978 19.89% Progressive Conservative Douglas Galbraith 1,245 23.66%
     New Democrat Edward Rodney 295 5.08% New Democrat John Head 572 11.63% Liberal Arthur Ulrich 649 12.34%
Total 5,820 100% Total 4,933 100% Total 5,286 100%

[edit] 1952 - 1959

1959 Results Turnout 78.24% 1955 Results Turnout 75.24% 1952 Results Turnout 70.99%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Social Credit Peter Dawson 2,668 62.63%     Social Credit Peter Dawson 2,481 53.85%     Social Credit Peter Dawson 2,668 65.39%
     Progressive Conservative Bernard Tonken 989 23.22% Liberal Varno Westersund 1,359 29.50% Liberal Maxwell Morrison 1,001 24.53%
     Liberal Donald McNiven 603 14.15% Conservative Norman Scotney 510 11.07% Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. David Smith 411 10.07%
Total 4,542 100% Total 4,607 100% Total 4,345 100%

[edit] 1940 - 1948

1948 Results Turnout 75.08% 1944 Results Turnout 76.36% 1940 Results Turnout 86.01%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Social Credit Peter Dawson 1,865 55.08%     Social Credit Peter Dawson 1,958 55.14%     Social Credit Peter Dawson 2,162 51.53%
     Independent George Carson 1,086 32.07% Independent J.D. Hagerman 826 23.26% Independent E.H. Griffin 2,034 48.47%
     Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. John P. Griffin 435 12.85% Co-operative Commonwealth Fed. Rudolph Kotkas 767 21.60%
Total 3,559 100% Total 3,569 100% Total 4,324 100%

[edit] 1926 - 1935

1935 Results Turnout 87.91% 1930 Results Turnout n/a 1926 Results Turnout 77.93%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Social Credit Peter Dawson 2,322 66.34%     United Farmers Oran McPherson Acclaimed     United Farmers Oran McPherson 1,367 57.01%
     United Farmers Oran McPherson 704 20.11% Liberal James McNaughton 556 23.19%
Liberal L.H. Stack 474 13.54% Conservative P.M. Patterson 475 19.81%
Total 3,613 100% Total n/a Total 2,398 100%

[edit] 1913 - 1921

1921 Results Turnout 73.97% 1917 Results Turnout 35.90% 1913 Results Turnout 78.22%
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes % Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     United Farmers Oran McPherson 1,554 64.48%     Liberal James McNaughton 808 77.39%     Liberal James McNaughton 721 52.02%
     Liberal James McNaughton 856 35.52% Socialist H. Thomas 236 22.61% Conservative John T. MacDonald 339 24.46%
Independent F.A. Bryant 202 14.57%
Independent Alfred Buddon 124 8.95%
Total 2,410 100% Total 1,044 100% Total 1,386 100%

[edit] By-elections and floor-crossings

By-elections

  • March 5, 1992—Raymond Speaker resigned on January 3, 1992.

Floor-crossings

  • October 5, 1982 Raymond Speaker leaves Social Credit and declares Independent status.
  • 1984 Raymond Speaker founds and becomes leader of the Representative Party.
  • 1987 Raymond Speaker crosses the floor to the Progressive Conservative Party, ending the Representative Party.

[edit] 2004 Senator-in-waiting nomination election district results

2004 Senator-in-waiting results: Little Bow
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Rank
     Progressive Conservative Bert Brown 3,723 17% 2
     Progressive Conservative Betty Unger 2,824 13% 1
     Independent Link Byfield 2,720 12% 4
     Progressive Conservative Cliff Breitkreuz 2,171 10% 3
     Progressive Conservative Jim Silye 2,000 9% 5
     Alberta Alliance Vance Gough 1,948 9% 8
     Progressive Conservative David Usherwood 1,866 8% 6
     Alberta Alliance Michael Roth 1,807 8% 7
     Alberta Alliance Gary Horan 1,674 6% 10
     Independent Tom Sindlinger 1,412 6% 9

Voters had the option of selecting four candidates on the ballot

[edit] Alberta Student Vote 2004

On November 19, 2004, a Student Vote was conducted at participating Alberta schools of all types, to parallel the 2004 election, and to educate students about the electoral process. The vote was conducted in 80 of the 83 ridings.

[edit] Participating schools in Little Bow

  • Calvin Christian School
  • Champion School
  • Coalhurst High School
  • Dorothy Danliesh Elementary School
  • Huntsville School
  • Lomond Colony School
  • Noble Central School
  • Picture Butte High School
  • R.I. Baker Middle School
  • St. Josephs School

[edit] Student Vote 2004 results

2004 Student Vote results
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Barry McFarland 396 41.4%
     Liberal Arij Langstraat 176 18.3%
     New Democrat Hugh Logie 114 11.8%
     Alberta Alliance Jay Phin 106 11.0%
     Social Credit Brian Cook 98 10.2%
     Separation Grant Shaw 73 7.6%

[edit] Plebiscite district results

[edit] 1971 Daylight Savings Plebiscite

District data from the 1971 Daylight Savings Plebiscite

Do you favour province-wide Daylight Saving Time?
For Against
2,306   40.17% 3,434   59.83%
Province wide result: Passed

[edit] 1967 Daylight Savings Plebiscite

District data from the 1967 Daylight Savings Plebiscite

Do you favour province-wide Daylight Saving Time?
For Against
1,365   27.98% 3,185   72.01%
Province wide result: Failed

[edit] 1957 Liquor Plebiscite

District data for the 1957 Alberta Liquor Plebiscite

Do you approve additional types of outlets for the sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote?
For Against
1,591   52.56% 1,436   47.44%
Provice wide results: Passed

[edit] 1948 Electrification Plebiscite

District data for the 1948 Electrification Plebiscite

Option A Option B
Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission?
1,653     52.14% 1,517     47.86%
Province wide result: Option A passed.

[edit] External links and references


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See also: Politics of Alberta • List of Alberta general elections • 2004 election
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