CANADA: parliamentary elections House of Commons, 1988

CANADA
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Commons

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1988

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for CANADA <<<

Chamber:

House of Commons

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

21 November 1988

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all members of the House of Commons following premature dissolution of this body on 1 October 1988. Previous general elections had taken place in September 1984.

Background and outcome of elections:

The election date was announced on 1 October 1988 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (Progressive Conservative Party – PCP).
The electoral campaign was dominated by debate over the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the USA (slated to come into effect on 1 January 1989), as well as fluctuating public opinion as measured by an unprecedented number of opinion polls. The Conservatives also pointed to their positive performance while in power, especially in the economic sector. The campaign turning point was the holding of two televised debates between the leaders of the three major political parties (Prime Minister Mulroney, Mr. John Turner of the Liberal Party and Mr. Edward Broadbent of the New Democratic Party (NPD)). With a strong showing by Mr. Turner, who was anti-free-trade, the debates transformed the election into a hotly contested battle. Altogether, 1,574 candidates and 12 parties contested the enlarged House's 295 seats.
Election day results confirmed the final polls, as the PCP won a majority of Commons seats but lost in both popular vote and seats as compared to the 1984 outcome. The PCP was, moreover, favoured by the one-ballot simple majority system since the two opposition parties together won only 126 seats despite obtaining 52.29% of the vote. The gains of the Liberal Party confirmed its status as the official opposition.
The re-election of the PCP was noteworthy in that it marked the first time since 1953 that a political party at the federal level had won two consecutive majorities. On 30 January 1989, a new Cabinet was announced.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (21 November 1988): Elections results

Number of registered electors 17,580,731

Voters 13,278,971 (75.5%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 105,472

Valid votes 13,173,499

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

Progressive Conservative Party (PCP) 295 5,666,492 43.01

Liberal Party 294 4,203,767 31.91

New Democratic Party (NPD) 295 2,685,377 20.38

Reform Party 72 275,483 2.09

Christian Heritage Party 63 102,568 0.78

Rhinoceros Party 74 52,223 0.40

Green Party 68 47,401 0.36

Confederation of Regions Western Party 51 41,497 0.32

Libertarian Party 88 33,118 0.25

Party for the Commonwealth of Canada 59 7,483 0.06

Communist Party 52 7,183 0.05

Social Credit Party 9 3,407 0.03

Independents 54 22,876 0.17

No party affiliation 100 24,624 0.19

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

Progressive Conservative Party (PCP) 169 -42

Liberal Party 83 +40

New Democratic Party (NPD) 43 +13

Reform Party 0 =

Christian Heritage Party 0 =

Rhinoceros Party 0 =

Green Party 0 =

Confederation of Regions Western Party 0 =

Libertarian Party 0 =

Party for the Commonwealth of Canada 0 =

Communist Party 0 =

Social Credit Party 0 =

Independents 0 -1

No party affiliation 0 =

Comments:

13 seats added since last elections.

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 255

Women: 39

Comments:

Plus one vacancy.

Distribution of seats according to age*:

20-29 years 1

30-39 years 51

40-49 years 106

50-59 years 105

60-69 years 20

70-79 years 1

Unknown 10

Distribution of seats according to profession**:

Businessmen and women, industrialists, managers, merchants and owners 63

Lawyers, notaries, solicitors and barristers 57

Professors, teachers and educators 45

Administrators 24

Farmers and ranchers 15

Journalists and broadcasters 15

Civil servants 8

Doctors, dentists, pharmacists and chiropractors 8

Accountants 6

Consultants 5

Political scientists, economists, sociologists, social workers, geographers 5

Engineers 4

Mayor and municipal councilors 4

Real estate representatives and brokers 4

Veterinarians 4

Brokers and insurance agents 3

Financial analysts 3

Members of the clergy 3

Others 30

Comments:

* Plus one vacancy.
** Because some members have more than one occupation, total is higher than total membership.

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for CANADA <<<

Chamber:
	House of Commons
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	21 November 1988
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all members of the House of Commons following premature dissolution of this body on 1 October 1988. Previous general elections had taken place in September 1984.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The election date was announced on 1 October 1988 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (Progressive Conservative Party – PCP). The electoral campaign was dominated by debate over the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the USA (slated to come into effect on 1 January 1989), as well as fluctuating public opinion as measured by an unprecedented number of opinion polls. The Conservatives also pointed to their positive performance while in power, especially in the economic sector. The campaign turning point was the holding of two televised debates between the leaders of the three major political parties (Prime Minister Mulroney, Mr. John Turner of the Liberal Party and Mr. Edward Broadbent of the New Democratic Party (NPD)). With a strong showing by Mr. Turner, who was anti-free-trade, the debates transformed the election into a hotly contested battle. Altogether, 1,574 candidates and 12 parties contested the enlarged House's 295 seats. Election day results confirmed the final polls, as the PCP won a majority of Commons seats but lost in both popular vote and seats as compared to the 1984 outcome. The PCP was, moreover, favoured by the one-ballot simple majority system since the two opposition parties together won only 126 seats despite obtaining 52.29% of the vote. The gains of the Liberal Party confirmed its status as the official opposition. The re-election of the PCP was noteworthy in that it marked the first time since 1953 that a political party at the federal level had won two consecutive majorities. On 30 January 1989, a new Cabinet was announced.

Round no 1 (21 November 1988): Elections results
Number of registered electors	17,580,731
Voters	13,278,971 (75.5%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	105,472
Valid votes	13,173,499

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Progressive Conservative Party (PCP)	295	5,666,492	43.01
Liberal Party	294	4,203,767	31.91
New Democratic Party (NPD)	295	2,685,377	20.38
Reform Party	72	275,483	2.09
Christian Heritage Party	63	102,568	0.78
Rhinoceros Party	74	52,223	0.40
Green Party	68	47,401	0.36
Confederation of Regions Western Party	51	41,497	0.32
Libertarian Party	88	33,118	0.25
Party for the Commonwealth of Canada	59	7,483	0.06
Communist Party	52	7,183	0.05
Social Credit Party	9	3,407	0.03
Independents	54	22,876	0.17
No party affiliation	100	24,624	0.19

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Progressive Conservative Party (PCP)	169	-42
Liberal Party	83	+40
New Democratic Party (NPD)	43	+13
Reform Party	0	=
Christian Heritage Party	0	=
Rhinoceros Party	0	=
Green Party	0	=
Confederation of Regions Western Party	0	=
Libertarian Party	0	=
Party for the Commonwealth of Canada	0	=
Communist Party	0	=
Social Credit Party	0	=
Independents	0	-1
No party affiliation	0	=

*Distribution of seats according to age:**
20-29 years	1
30-39 years	51
40-49 years	106
50-59 years	105
60-69 years	20
70-79 years	1
Unknown	10
Distribution of seats according to profession:**
Businessmen and women, industrialists, managers, merchants and owners	63
Lawyers, notaries, solicitors and barristers	57
Professors, teachers and educators	45
Administrators	24
Farmers and ranchers	15
Journalists and broadcasters	15
Civil servants	8
Doctors, dentists, pharmacists and chiropractors	8
Accountants	6
Consultants	5
Political scientists, economists, sociologists, social workers, geographers	5
Engineers	4
Mayor and municipal councilors	4
Real estate representatives and brokers	4
Veterinarians	4
Brokers and insurance agents	3
Financial analysts	3
Members of the clergy	3
Others	30

Comments:
	* Plus one vacancy. ** Because some members have more than one occupation, total is higher than total membership.