Appendix 10: General Election Results Since 1867

Members are elected to the House of Commons under different political affiliations. The nature of these political affiliations has varied with time, and several different affiliations have been represented in the House. A majority government is formed with the support of the majority of Members, most often when the same political party holds the majority of seats or when the majority of Members share a similar political affiliation. Most governments since 1867 have been majority governments. However, the general elections of 1921, 1925, 1957, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1979, 2004, 2006 and 2008 resulted in a government formed with the support of a minority of Members. The government was therefore a minority government.

Parliament	Date of Election	Total Number of Seats¹	Government	Results by Number of Seats by Political Affiliation²
1st	07-08-1867 to 20-09-1867³	181⁴	Conservative majority⁵	Conservative71 Liberal-Conservative29 Liberal62 Anti-Confederation18
2nd	20-07-1872 to 12-10-1872	200	Conservative majority⁶	Conservative64 Liberal-Conservative36 Liberal93 Independent2 Independent Conservative2 Independent Liberal2 Liberal (Reformer)1
3rd	22-01-1874	206	Liberal majority	Liberal130 Conservative38 Liberal-Conservative25 Independent Liberal5 Independent4 Independent Conservative3 Liberal (Reformer)1
4th	17-09-1878	206	Conservative majority	Conservative84 Liberal-Conservative51 Liberal62 Independent5 Independent Conservative2 Independent Liberal1 Nationalist1
5th	20-06-1882	211	Conservative majority	Conservative93 Liberal-Conservative41 Liberal72 Independent Liberal2 Independent1 Independent Conservative1 Nationalist1
6th	22-02-1887	215	Conservative majority	Conservative 95 Liberal-Conservative 30 Liberal 78 Independent Liberal 5 Independent Conservative 3 Nationalist 2 Independent 1 Nationalist Conservative 1
7th	05-03-1891	215	Conservative majority	Conservative 93 Liberal-Conservative 23 Liberal 90 Independent Conservative 4 Independent 2 Independent Liberal 1 Nationalist 1 Nationalist Conservative 1
8th	23-06-1896	213	Liberal majority	Liberal 117 Conservative 71 Liberal-Conservative 15 Independent Conservative 4 McCarthyite 2 Patrons of Industry 2 Independent 1 Independent Liberal 1
9th	07-11-1900	213	Liberal majority	Liberal 128 Conservative 69 Liberal-Conservative 10 Independent 3 Independent Conservative 1 Independent Liberal 1 Independent Labour 1
10th	03-11-1904	214	Liberal majority	Liberal 137 Conservative 70 Liberal-Conservative 5 Independent 1 Independent Conservative 1
11th	26-10-1908	221	Liberal majority	Liberal 133 Conservative 82 Liberal-Conservative 3 Independent 1 Independent Conservative 1 Labour 1
12th	21-09-1911⁷	221	Conservative majority	Conservative 131 Liberal-Conservative 1 Liberal 85 Independent Conservative 3 Labour 1
13th	17-12-1917	235	Unionist majority⁸	Unionist (Conservative and Liberal) 141 Unionist (Liberal) 11 Laurier Liberal 82⁹ Independent 1
14th	06-12-1921	235	Liberal minority¹⁰	Liberal 118 Progressive 58 Conservative 49 Labour 3 Independent 2 United Farmers of Alberta 2 Independent Conservative 1 Independent Progressive 1 United Farmers of Ontario 1
15th	29-10-1925	245	Liberal minority¹¹	Conservative 115 Liberal 100 Progressive 22 Independent 2 Labour 2 United Farmers of Alberta 2 Independent Conservative 1 Independent Liberal 1
16th	14-09-1926	245	Liberal majority¹²	Liberal 116 Liberal Progressive 8 Conservative 91 Progressive 11 United Farmers of Alberta 11 Labour 4 Independent 2 Independent Liberal 1 United Farmers of Ontario 1
17th	28-07-1930	245	Conservative majority	Conservative 136 Liberal 88 United Farmers of Alberta 9 Liberal Progressive 3 Progressive 3 Independent 2 Labour 2 Independent Labour 1 Progressive Conservative 1
18th	14-10-1935	245	Liberal majority	Liberal 173 Conservative 39 Social Credit 17 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 7 Liberal Progressive 4 Independent 1 Independent Conservative 1 Independent Liberal 1 Reconstruction 1 United Farmers of Ontario-Labour 1
19th	26-03-1940	245	Liberal majority	Liberal 179 National Government 34¹³ Conservative 5 Social Credit 9 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 8 Liberal Progressive 3 Independent Liberal 2 Unity 2 Independent 1 Independent Conservative 1 New Democracy 1
20th	11-06-1945	245	Liberal majority¹⁴	Liberal 118 Independent Liberal 5 Liberal Progressive 1 Progressive Conservative 66¹⁵ Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 28 Social Credit 13 Independent 8 Bloc populaire canadien 2 Independent CCF 1 Independent Progressive Conservative 1 Labour Progressive 1
21st	27-06-1949	262	Liberal majority	Liberal 191 Progressive Conservative 41 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 13 Social Credit 10 Independent 4 Independent Liberal 1 Liberal Progressive 1 Liberal Labour 1
22nd	10-08-1953	265	Liberal majority	Liberal 169 Progressive Conservative 51 Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 23 Social Credit 15 Independent 3 Independent Liberal 2 Liberal Progressive 1 Liberal Labour 1
23rd	10-06-1957	265	Progressive Conservative minority	Progressive Conservative 111 Liberal 104 Social Democracy 25¹⁶ Social Credit 19 Independent 2 Independent Liberal 2 Independent Progressive Conservative 1 Liberal Labour 1
24th	31-03-1958	265	Progressive Conservative majority	Progressive Conservative 208 Liberal 48 Social Democracy 8 Liberal Labour 1
25th	18-06-1962	265	Progressive Conservative minority	Progressive Conservative 116 Liberal 99 Social Credit 30 New Democratic Party 19¹⁷ Liberal Labour 1
26th	08-04-1963	265	Liberal minority	Liberal 128 Progressive Conservative 95 Social Credit 24 New Democratic Party 17 Liberal Labour 1
27th	08-11-1965	265	Liberal minority	Liberal 131 Progressive Conservative 97 New Democratic Party 21 Ralliement des créditistes 9¹⁸ Social Credit 5 Independent 1 Independent Progressive Conservative 1
28th	25-06-1968	264	Liberal majority	Liberal 154 Progressive Conservative 72 New Democratic Party 22 Ralliement créditiste 14¹⁹ Independent 1 Liberal Labour 1
29th	30-10-1972	264	Liberal minority	Liberal 109 Progressive Conservative 107 New Democratic Party 31 Social Credit 15²⁰ Independent 2
30th	08-07-1974	264	Liberal majority	Liberal 141 Progressive Conservative 95 New Democratic Party 16 Social Credit 11 Independent 1
31st	22-05-1979	282	Progressive Conservative minority	Progressive Conservative 136 Liberal 114 New Democratic Party 26 Social Credit 6
32nd	18-02-1980	282	Liberal majority	Liberal 147 Progressive Conservative 103 New Democratic Party 32
33rd	04-09-1984	282	Progressive Conservative majority	Progressive Conservative 211 Liberal 40 New Democratic Party 30 Independent 1
34th	21-11-1988	295	Progressive Conservative majority	Progressive Conservative 169 Liberal 83 New Democratic Party 43
35th	25-10-1993	295	Liberal majority	Liberal 177 Bloc Québécois 54 Reform Party 52 New Democratic Party 9 Progressive Conservative 2 Independent 1
36th	02-06-1997	301	Liberal majority	Liberal 155 Reform Party 60 Bloc Québécois 44 New Democratic Party 21 Progressive Conservative 20 Independent 1
37th	27-11-2000	301	Liberal majority	Liberal 172 Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance 66²¹ Bloc Québécois 38 New Democratic Party 13 Progressive Conservative 12
38th	28-06-2004	308	Liberal minority	Liberal 135 Conservative 99²² Bloc Québécois 54 New Democratic Party 19 Independent 1
39th	23-01-2006	308	Conservative minority	Conservative 124 Liberal 103 Bloc Québécois 51 New Democratic Party 29 Independent 1
40th	14-10-2008	308	Conservative minority	Conservative 143 Liberal 77 Bloc Québécois 49 New Democratic Party 37 Independent 2
41st	02-05-2011	308	Conservative majority	Conservative 166 New Democratic Party 103 Liberal 34 Bloc Québécois 4 Green 1
42nd	19-10-2015	338	Liberal majority	Liberal 184 Conservative 99 New Democratic Party 44 Bloc Québécois 10 Green 1

1.: The numbers reflect the results immediately following the general election and do not take into account changes in political affiliation, resignations, deaths or elections subsequently declared null and void.
2.: The results were obtained by accounting for the political affiliation of the Member of Parliament elected in each of the electoral districts in the general election.
3.: In the general elections of 1867 and 1872, elections in the constituencies were held at various times between the dates listed. After 1874 and the Dominion Elections Act, the holding of the general election on the same day became mandatory, with certain exceptions because of physical difficulties in some areas.
4.: Due to riots, the returning officer made a special report and there was no election in Kamouraska, Quebec. A by-election was held on February 17, 1869.
5.: Liberal-Conservative and Conservative Members always sat together in the House of Commons and, if applicable, in the same government.
6.: On November 5, 1873, the government led by Liberal-Conservative John A. Macdonald resigned as a result of the Canadian Pacific Railway scandal. On November 7, 1873, the Liberals, led by Alexander Mackenzie, formed a government and the second session was prorogued. The 2nd Parliament was subsequently dissolved on January 2, 1874.
7.: During the First World War, the term of the 12th 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).
8.: On October 12, 1917, Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden formed a cabinet known as the Unionist government, which brought together Conservative, Liberal-Conservative and Liberal Members of Parliament who supported conscription during the First World War. These Members campaigned under the Unionist banner and were elected in the general election of December 17, 1917. The results of the 1917 general election led to a majority Unionist government.
9.: Following the reorganization of political affiliations resulting from the conscription issue in 1917, the Liberals who did not join the Unionists and who remained loyal to Sir Wilfrid Laurier were called the Laurier Liberals.
10.: Although the Liberals elected 118 Members, the minimum number required to have a majority of seats in the House, in the general election of December 6, 1921, changes in political affiliation, resignations, by-elections and deaths in office caused the Liberals to swing between a majority and minority of seats. The government formed by W. L. Mackenzie King was therefore considered the first minority government since 1867. The Liberals were able to govern with the support of the Progressives.
11.: Even though the Conservatives elected more Members than the Liberals, Liberal Member W. L. Mackenzie King, himself defeated in York North, Ontario, remained Prime Minister with the support of the Progressives. On June 26, 1926, the Prime Minister asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and order a general election. The Governor General refused and W. L. Mackenzie King resigned. The Governor General subsequently asked Conservative Member Arthur Meighen to form a government, which he did on June 29, 1926, with the support of a minority of Members. This government retained the confidence of the House for only three days and was defeated on July 1, 1926. The 15th Parliament was dissolved the following day.
12.: Even though the Liberals elected a minority of Members with 116, Liberal Member W. L. Mackenzie King was able to form a government regarded as a majority with the support of Progressive Liberal Members.
13.: In the 1940 general election, the Conservative Party and its leader, Robert James Manion, campaigned under the National Government banner while some Conservative candidates campaigned under the traditional banner.
14.: Like in 1926, even though the Liberals elected a minority of Members with 118, they were able to form a majority government with the support of Independent Liberal Members and a Liberal Progressive Member.
15.: The Conservative Party became the Progressive Conservative Party on December 11, 1942. Previously, in the 19th Parliament, Progressive Conservative candidates were elected in by-elections.
16.: In 1955, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation changed its name in French to the Parti social démocratique du Canada. The party name, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, remained unchanged in English.
17.: In 1961, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was dissolved and became the New Democratic Party.
18.: On September 1, 1963, 13 Members forming the Quebec wing of the Social Credit Party of Canada left the party to form the Ralliement des créditistes under the leadership of Member David Réal Caouette. Candidates were subsequently elected under the banner of the Ralliement des créditistes in the general election of November 8, 1965.
19.: In 1967, Ralliement des créditistes changed its name to Ralliement créditiste.
20.: In 1971, Ralliement créditiste Members returned to the Social Credit Party of Canada and Member David Réal Caouette became the leader of the party. He subsequently led the party’s campaign and was re-elected in the electoral district of Témiscamingue in the general election of October 30, 1972.
21.: In 2000, the Reform Party was dissolved and became the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance.
22.: In 2003, the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance to become the Conservative Party of Canada.

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