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Appendix 12General Election Results Since 1867Since the early days of Confederation, most Members of the House of Commons have been members of political parties. The nature of these political parties has varied with time, and several different parties have had representation in the House. While a majority government is formed by the political party or the coalition of parties holding the majority of the seats in the House, a minority government is formed by one or more parties, but without the majority of seats. Most governments since Confederation have been majority governments formed by a single party having gathered a majority of the seats in a general election. However, the general elections of 1921, 1925, 1957, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1979, 2004, 2006 and 2008 all resulted in no single party obtaining a majority of seats.
[1] Source: Madden, W.D., (ed.), Canadian Guide of Leadership and Electoral History, 1867-1997, Fort McMurray, Alberta, 1998 and updated by the Library of Parliament. For more information, see also History of Federal Ridings since 1867 on the Parliament of Canada Web site at www.parl.gc.ca. The numbers reflecting party strengths indicated in this listing are based on the results immediately following general elections and do not account for any changes in party affiliation that may have occurred between general elections. [2] During the general elections of 1867 and 1872, elections in the constituencies were held at various times between the dates listed. Upon the assent of the Dominion Elections Act on May 26, 1874, the holding of all elections on one day became statutory, with certain exceptions because of physical difficulties in some areas. [3] The government that was formed under the leadership of Sir John A. Macdonald as a result of the general election of 1867 was an amalgamation of Liberal and Conservative elements that had initially favoured Confederation. The party retained this Liberal-Conservative base throughout some subsequent elections but was generally referred to as the Conservative Party. [4] In November of 1873, the Macdonald government was forced to resign as a result of the Canadian Pacific Railway scandal. Alexander Mackenzie, leading the Liberals, took office. [5] During World War I, the term of the Twelfth Parliament was extended beyond five years. On February 8, 1916, the House adopted an Address to His Majesty the King requesting that the term of that Parliament be extended to October 7, 1917 (Journals, p. 62). [6] On October 12, 1917, Prime Minister Borden formed a Ministry, known as the Unionist government, which brought together Liberal-Conservative and Liberal Members of Parliament who supported conscription during World War I. These Members campaigned as Unionist candidates in the general election of December 17, 1917. [7] Due to the restructuring of the party system as a result of the conscription issue of 1917, the Liberal candidates elected to the House as a result of the general election of 1917 were known as the Laurier Liberals. [8] As a result of the general election of December 6, 1921, the Liberals won 117 seats in the House of Commons, one short of a majority. However, with the support of Members of the Progressive Party, W. L. Mackenzie King was able to form a government and was sworn in as Prime Minister on December 29, 1921. The First Session of the Fourteenth Parliament opened on March 8, 1922. Over the course of the Fourteenth Parliament, as a result of Members crossing the floor and by-elections, Mr. King’s government fluctuated between minority and majority status in the House. [9] As a result of the general election of October 29, 1925, Liberal representation in the House was reduced to 101 Members. However, with the support of the Progressive Party, W.L. Mackenzie King remained Prime Minister. On June 26, 1926, Mr. King requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and order a general election. The Governor General declined to do so and, following the resignation of Mr. King, called upon Arthur Meighen, the leader of the Liberal-Conservatives, to form a government. On June 29, 1926, Arthur Meighen formed a government with the support of a minority of the Members of the House. The distribution of seats was as follows: Government: 116; Opposition: 129. His government faced Parliament for only three days before being defeated on July 1, 1926. The Fifteenth Parliament was dissolved the next day and a general election was called for September 14, 1926. [10] Liberal: 116; Liberal-Progressive: 9. The Liberal-Progressives had agreed to join the Liberals to form a majority government. One of the issues of the 1926 electoral campaign was the break-up of the Progressive Party. Some of its supporters retained the party label while some ran as Liberal-Progressives. Others adopted the banner of the United Farmers of Alberta. [11] Liberal: 171; Liberal-Progressive: 2. [12] Liberal: 178; Liberal-Progressive: 3. [13] The general election of 1945 was the first general election that saw the election to the House of candidates under the banner of the Progressive Conservative Party. The change in the name of the party had been adopted on December 11, 1942 at a party convention. [14] Liberal: 189; Liberal-Labour: 1. [15] Liberal: 170; Liberal-Labour: 1. [16] In 1961, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was dissolved and became the New Democratic Party under the leadership of T.C. Douglas. [17] Liberal: 128; Liberal-Labour: 1. [18] On September 1, 1963, 13 Members from Quebec left the Social Credit Party to form the Ralliement des Créditistes under Réal Caouette. [19] Liberal: 130; Liberal-Labour: 1. [20] Liberal: 154; Liberal-Labour: 1. [21] A few days after the general election of 1988, the Member who had been elected for the constituency of Beaver River, Alberta, John Dahmer, died suddenly without having taken his seat in the House. A by-election took place on March 13, 1989. A candidate for the Reform Party, Deborah Grey, was elected. |
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