1968 Canadian federal election
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| 1968 Canadian federal election | |
|---|---|
 Lokal_Profil · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source | |
| Country | Canada |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 1965 Canadian federal election |
| Previous year | 1965 |
| Next election | 1972 Canadian federal election |
| Next year | 1972 |
| Seats for election | 264 seats in the House of Commons of Canada |
| Majority seats | 133 |
| Turnout | 75.7% |
| Election date | June 25, 1968 |
| Leader1 | Pierre Trudeau |
| Party1 | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Leaders seat1 | Mount Royal |
| Last election1 | 131 seats, 40.18% |
| Seats1 | 155 |
| Seat change1 | +24 |
| Popular vote1 | 3,686,801 |
| Percentage1 | 45.37% |
| Swing1 | +5.19% |
| Leader2 | Robert Stanfield |
| Party2 | Progressive Conservative Party of Canada |
| Leaders seat2 | Halifax |
| Last election2 | 97 seats, 32.41% |
| Seats2 | 72 |
| Seat change2 | –25 |
| Popular vote2 | 2,554,397 |
| Percentage2 | 31.43% |
| Swing2 | –0.98% |
| Leader3 | Tommy Douglas |
| Party3 | New Democratic Party |
| Leaders seat3 | Burnaby—Coquitlam |
| Last election3 | 21 seats, 17.91% |
| Seats3 | 22 |
| Seat change3 | +1 |
| Popular vote3 | 1,378,263 |
| Percentage3 | 16.96% |
| Swing3 | –0.95% |
| Image4 | 150px |
| Leader4 | Réal Caouette |
| Party4 | Ralliement créditiste |
| Leaders seat4 | Témiscamingue |
| Last election4 | 9 seats, 4.66% |
| Seats4 | 14 |
| Seat change4 | +5 |
| Popular vote4 | 360,404 |
| Percentage4 | 4.43% |
| Swing4 | –0.23% |
| Title | Prime Minister |
| Before election | Pierre Trudeau |
| Before party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| After election | Pierre Trudeau |
| After party | Liberal Party of Canada |
1968 Canadian federal election was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada. It was the first election contested by Pierre Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, following his accession to the party leadership in April. The election was dominated by the charismatic personality of Trudeau and took place during a period of significant social change, resulting in a decisive majority government for the Liberals.
Background
The election was called by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, who had announced his retirement after a minority government period marked by significant legislative achievements like the introduction of the Canada Pension Plan and the new Flag of Canada. Pearson's successor, Pierre Trudeau, won a dramatic leadership convention at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park, defeating rivals such as Paul Martin Sr. and John Turner. Trudeau, the former Minister of Justice, had quickly become a national phenomenon, associated with the era's youth culture and a vision of a "Just Society". His rise coincided with a period of rising Quebec nationalism and social unrest, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and protests against the Vietnam War.
Parties and leaders
The governing Liberal Party of Canada was led by the charismatic Pierre Trudeau, who represented the Mount Royal riding. The official opposition was the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, now led by Robert Stanfield, the former Premier of Nova Scotia, who had replaced John Diefenbaker in a 1967 leadership convention. The New Democratic Party (NDP) was led by former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, the father of medicare. In Quebec, the Ralliement créditiste, a populist social credit party, was led by Réal Caouette. Other minor parties included the Communist Party of Canada and a handful of independent candidates.
Campaign
The campaign was famously dubbed "Trudeaumania" due to the unprecedented public excitement surrounding the Liberal leader. Trudeau campaigned on a platform of national unity, individual rights, and constitutional renewal, drawing massive crowds at events like a parade in Toronto. Robert Stanfield and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada emphasized economic stability and attacked Trudeau's style as superficial, but struggled to gain traction. The New Democratic Party, under Tommy Douglas, focused on expanding social programs but was largely overshadowed. In Quebec, Réal Caouette's Ralliement créditiste effectively mobilized rural voters dissatisfied with the traditional parties. Key issues included official bilingualism, the threat of separatism, and the ongoing FLQ crisis.
Results
The election resulted in a strong majority government for Pierre Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada. The Liberals won 155 seats, a gain of 24, and secured 45.4% of the popular vote. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, led by Robert Stanfield, was reduced to 72 seats, losing significant ground in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. The New Democratic Party made a modest gain, winning 22 seats under Tommy Douglas. The Ralliement créditiste solidified its position as the main alternative to the Liberals in Quebec, winning 14 seats. Voter turnout was 75.7%. Notable new MPs elected included future Prime Minister John Turner in Ottawa—Carleton and future NDP leader Ed Broadbent in Oshawa.
Aftermath
The victory gave Pierre Trudeau a powerful mandate to pursue his agenda. His government would soon face major challenges, including the invocation of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis of 1970 and contentious negotiations with provincial premiers like Quebec's Robert Bourassa and Alberta's Peter Lougheed. The election marked the beginning of the "Trudeau era" in Canadian politics, which would see major policy initiatives such as the Official Languages Act, the establishment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the patriation of the Constitution. The weakened Progressive Conservative Party of Canada began a long period of rebuilding under Robert Stanfield, while the New Democratic Party continued to build its base under subsequent leaders like David Lewis.
Category:1968 elections in Canada Category:Federal elections in Canada Category:1968 in Canadian politics