The governing Liberal Party Of Canada won a third consecutive Majority Government easily, as they had been expected to do when the election was called in October, and throughout the campaign. The election was regarded as a great success by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the Liberal Party, but a failure for every other party. Without important issues or a very exciting campaign, voter turn-out reached a record low.
Voter turn-out: 64.1% (corrected from initial reporting of 61.2%)
The parties:
- The campaigned on its successful economic record and relatively scandal-free seven years in office. The Liberals increased their number of seats in the House of Commons from 155 seats to 172 seats. The Liberals also regained ground in eastern Canada that they lost during the 1997 election due to a change to unemployment rules that hurt seasonal workers.
- The went into the election with great hopes. New leader Stockwell Day was expected to appeal far more to the crucial Ontario voters, and the Canadian Alliance was hoping for major improvements. The Alliance campaigned on tax cuts, an end to the federal gun registration program, and family values. The campaign was dogged by accusations that the party would allow private health care to operate along-side the public Medicare system and introduce Two-tier Health Care , and for threatening Gay Rights and Abortion rights, all of which the party denied. Day's personal image also suffered, particularly due to gaffes along the campaign trail. The Alliance ended up winning only two Ontario ridings. This led to the eventual downfall of Day the next year. At one point, the Alliance was at 30.5% in the polls, and some thought they could win the election. While they did not do so, they did, however, retain their official opposition status, and increased their numbers in the House of Commons by six seats, from 60 to 66.
- The failed to attract much interest in their campaign, and Gilles Duceppe , despite performing well in the debates, was not a very popular leader in Quebec . The Bloc Québécois 's seat total fell from 44 to 38.
- The campaigned intensely on the issue of medicare, but failed to make much headway with voters. Their seat count fell from 21 to 13. The NDP 's vote remained high in eastern Canada, especially Nova Scotia, where it traditionally has not done so well.
- The aimed to regain its former place in Canadian politics under the leadership of former Prime Minister Joe Clark . The PC Party had a very disappointing election, falling from 20 to 12 seats, and being almost exclusively confined to the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland. It won the 12 seats needed for Official Party Status in the House of Commons, however. Failure to win 12 seats would have marginalized the party in the House of Commons, and likely led to a more rapid decline.
On election night, controversy arose when a CBC producer's gratuitously Sexist comment about Stockwell Day's daughter-in-law, Juliana Thiessen Day , was accidentally broadcast on the Canadian networks' pooled election feed from Day's riding.
"% change" refers to change from previous election
- Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election
1 - percentage change from Reform Party Of Canada in previous election.
Source: Elections Canada
1. ''' (BQ) def. Julie Boulet (Lib) by 15 votes
2. ''' (BQ) def. Pierre Lafleur (Lib) by 42 votes
3. ''' (Lib) def. Gord Brown (CA) by 55 votes
4. ''' (CA) def. Dennis Gruending (NDP) by 68 votes
5. ''' (Lib) def. Louise Hardy (NDP) by 70 votes
6. ''' (Lib) def. Gilles Bernier (PC) by 150 votes
7. ''' (CA) def. John Solomon (NDP) by 161 votes
8. ''' (NDP) def. Don Leier (CA) by 164 votes
9. ''' (NDP) def. Don Findlay (CA) by 209 votes
10. ''' (BQ) def. Marc Bélanger (Lib) by 276 votes
10. ''' (Lib) def. Kevin MacAdam (PC) by 276 votes
Articles on parties' candidates in this election:
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