Stettler (provincial electoral district)


Stettler was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1993.

History

The Stettler electoral district was formed in 1909 from the eastern portions of the Gleichen, Rosebud, Innisfail, Red Deer and Lacombe electoral districts. The district is named after the Town of Stettler.
The Stettler electoral district was abolished in 1993 and combined with portions of the Lacombe electoral district to form Lacombe-Stettler electoral district.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Election results

1909 general election

1913 general election

1917 general election

1921 general election

1926 general election

1930 general election

1935 general election

1940 general election

1944 general election

1948 general election

1952 general election

1955 general election

1959 general election

1963 general election

1967 general election

1971 general election

1975 general election

1979 general election

1982 general election

1986 general election

1989 general election

1989 by-election

Plebiscite results

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.
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. 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%.
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 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.