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Canadian Federal Election, 1997




The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2 , 1997 , to elect members of the Canadian House Of Commons . Jean Chrétien 's Liberal Party Of Canada won a second majority government. The Reform Party Of Canada replaced the Bloc Québécois as the Official Opposition .

The election closely reflected the pattern that had been set out in the 1993 Election . The Liberals swept Ontario , a divided Bloc managed a reduced majority in Quebec , and much of the west was won by Reform, particularly its Alberta base, enabling the Reform to overtake the Bloc as the second largest party. The major change was that the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Conservative Party Of Canada all but wiped out the Liberals in Atlantic Canada (only Prince Edward Island remained entirely Liberal). Atlantic voters, upset over cuts to Employment Insurance and other programs, defeated two cabinet ministers. David Dingwall , Minister Of Public Works from Nova Scotia , and Doug Young , Minister Of National Defence from New Brunswick , both lost to NDP candidates in a major blow to the Liberals. Chretien's decision to hold an early election did not help, as Manitoba was still recovering from a devestating Red River Flood earlier in the year.

Some commentators on election night were even predicting that the Liberals would be cut down to a Minority Government , although the Liberals would manage a 4 seat majority, considerably lower than the 1993 total due to the losses in Atlantic Canada. Mostly because of these wins in Atlantic Canada, Jean Charest 's Tories and Alexa McDonough 's NDP both regained official party status in the House of Commons. Independent member John Nunziata , who had been expelled from the Liberal Party for opposing the Goods And Servcies Tax , was re-elected in his riding in Toronto .


NATIONAL RESULTS


Voter turnout was 67.0%, one of the lowest federal election turnouts ever.

Notes:

  • Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.


x - less than 0.005% of the popular vote


RESULTS BY PROVINCE


Source: Elections Canada


NOTES


  • 1997 was one of only two elections in Canadian history (the other was 1993) where the official Opposition did not have the majority of the opposition's seats. 60 seats for the Reform Party, yet 86 seats for the other opposition parties and independents combined.



10 closest ridings

#''', NDP def. Ken Streatch, PC by 41 votes
#''', Lib def. François Langlois, BQ by 47 votes
#''', Ref def. Jon Gerrard , Lib by 66 votes
#''', Lib def. Dan Hughes, PC by 99 votes
#''', BQ def. Patrick Gagnon, Lib by 179 votes
#''', Ref def. Dennis Gruending , NDP by 220 votes
#''', Lib def. Art Bull, PC by 232 votes
#''', PC def. Gilbert Fillion, BQ by 317 votes
#''', BQ def. Manon Lecours, Lib by 465 votes
#''', Lib def. Paul Shaw, Ref by 481 votes


SEE ALSO


Articles on parties' candidates in this election:

  Prev 1993 Federal Election
  List Canadian Federal Elections



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