Little Bow

Infobox Canada electoral district
name =Little Bow
province =Alberta


caption =2004 boundaries
prov-rep =Barry McFarland
prov-rep-link =
prov-rep-party =Progressive Conservative
prov-rep-party-link =Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
prov-status =active
prov-created =1913
prov-abolished =
prov-created2 =
prov-election-first =1913
prov-election-last =2008.

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.

Riding history

In the over-90-year history of this district, it has only been represented by five members of the 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 Farmers 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.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

2004 Senate nominee election district results

1975 - 1982

1940 - 1948

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.

2004 Student Vote

1967 Daylight Saving Plebiscite

District data from the 1967 Daylight Saving Plebiscite

References

External links

* [http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/e-4.1/20050211/whole.html Electoral Divisions Act 2003]
* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Maps_63a1.pdf Map of Little Bow 1993 - 2004]
* [http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/maps%5Cnb%5C66_a1.pdf Current Riding Map for Little Bow]
* [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ Website of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta]
* [http://www.studentvote.ca/alberta/index.php Student Vote Alberta 2004]
* [http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/ Alberta Heritage] Election results 1905 - 2001 and riding distribution data.
* [http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/ Elections Alberta] Election 2004, Senatorial Results and by-election data.
*Plebiscite district results: History of Alberta Elections 1905 - 1982, published by Elections Alberta.