1981 Edmonton municipal plebiscite

Last updated

On June 19, 1981, residents of Edmonton were asked a series of plebiscite questions.

Contents

Background

During the fall of 1980, a group calling itself the Save City Hall Committee presented a petition to Cal McGonigle, Edmonton's City Clerk, asking that the City Hall be designated as a municipal historic building. McGonigle rejected the petition on the basis of insufficient signatures. This decision was overruled by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta in January 1981, and the petition was declared valid. McGonigle, acting independently of City Council, appealed the ruling on the basis that it could cause "ambiguity about the authority of all city clerks in Alberta in respect to legislation governing petitions."

Council gave first reading to the plebiscite on April 8, with the vote to be held May 10; this date was changed to June 19 when Council discovered that information on the design of the proposed new city hall wouldn't be available in time for a May 10 plebiscite.

In addition to the question on which the Save City Hall Committee had sought a vote, council added two questions of its own, the first dealing with how the city should deal with the need for increased municipal office space and the second asking for the electorate's views on the ward system.

Results

Designating City Hall as a Historical Building

Are you in favour of bylaw No. 6403, a bylaw to designate a building within the City of Edmonton and known as the "City Hall", a Municipal Historic Building to be preserved and used by the City?

Municipal Office Space

There are three basic options to house the Civic Government in the downtown area. These are listed below. Please choose one only.

a. Build a new City Hall on same site, according to the design selected in the recent Architectural Competition - 14126

b. Retain and renovate the present City Hall and construct an extension to use the space between 102A Avenue and the CN Tower to incorporate the theme of the design selected in the recent Architectural Competition - 19115

c. Retain the present City Hall and continue to lease office space as required - 11099

520 ballots were rejected.

Ward System

Before 1971, there were no wards and Alderman were elected at large. For example, if there were 40 candidates for City Council, all 40 names would appear on the ballot and the 12 receiving the largest number of votes were elected. In 1971, four wards with three Aldermen each were set up. Voters in each ward voted only for the candidates competing for the positions in that ward. In 1980, the number of wards was increased to six, with two Alderman each.

Are you in favour of the Ward System? (VOTE YES or NO ONLY)

117 ballots were rejected.

If your answer is yes, do you favour one of the following? (Vote for one if you voted "Yes" above)

There were 2853 ballots rejected.

Related Research Articles

1948 Alberta general election

The 1948 Alberta general election was held on August 17, 1948, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

1967 Alberta general election

The 1967 Alberta general election was held on May 23, 1967, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to the 16th Alberta Legislature. The election was called after the 15th Alberta Legislature was prorogued on April 11, 1967, and dissolved on April 14, 1967.

The 1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite was a province-wide plebiscite conducted in Alberta, Canada The plebiscite asked voters if they were in favour of adding extra ALCB outlets in their district. It was held on October 30, 1957. At the time, the Alberta Liquor Control Board operated only a few stores from which liquor could be legally purchased.

The 1947 municipal election was held November 5, 1947 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board, while four trustees were acclaimed to the separate school board. Voters also voted on two plebiscites, one of which approved two-year mayoral terms. Accordingly, Harry Ainlay's election made him the first mayor of Edmonton to serve a two-year term.

The 1950 municipal election was held November 1, 1950 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. The electorate also decided eleven plebiscite questions. There was no mayoral election, as Sidney Parsons was on the second year of a two year-term. There were no elections for school trustees, as candidates for both the public and separate school boards were acclaimed.

The 1951 municipal election was held November 7, 1951 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board, while four trustees were acclaimed to the public board. The electorate also decided four plebiscite questions.

The 1953 municipal election was held October 14, 1953 to elect six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board, while the mayor and four trustees for the public school board were acclaimed. The electorate also decided five plebiscite questions.

The 1957 municipal election was held November 3, 1957 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board. The electorate also decided seven plebiscite questions.

The 1959 municipal election was held October 14, 1959, to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided eleven plebiscite questions.

The 1960 Edmonton, Alberta municipal election was held October 19, 1960, to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided eight plebiscite questions.

In Alberta, Canada, the 1961 municipal election was held October 18, 1961 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided six plebiscite questions.

The 1963 municipal election was held October 16, 1963 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions.

The 1966 municipal election was held October 19, 1966, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions.

The 1968 Edmonton municipal election was held on October 16, 1968, to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions.

Julia Kiniski, an alderman on the Edmonton City Council, died October 11, 1969. A by-election was held November 27, 1970 to replace her. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions.

On November 30, 1979 residents of Edmonton were asked whether they wished to repeal the municipal bylaw authorizing construction of a Trade and Convention Centre. This building is now known as the Edmonton Convention Centre. Construction of the centre was supported by the mayor, Cec Purves.

The 1992 municipal election was held October 22, 1992 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board. Edmontonians also decided one plebiscite question.

The 1995 Edmonton municipal election was held October 16, 1995 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board. Edmontonians also decided two plebiscite questions.

The 1998 Edmonton municipal election was held October 26, 1998, to elect a mayor and 12 councillors to sit on Edmonton City Council, 9 trustees to sit on the public school board, and 7 trustees to sit on the separate school board. Edmontonians also decided one plebiscite question and participated in the Senate election.

The 1998 Calgary municipal election was held on October 19, 1998 to elect a Mayor and 14 Aldermen to Calgary City Council.

References

City of Edmonton: Edmonton Elections