Canadian federal election

The prime minister may ask the governor general to call an election at virutally any time, though one must called within five years of the last election. Traditionally governments have waited four years between elections, but under Jean Chrétien's Liberal government elections have been held every three and half years. Parties generally only wait the maximum of five years between elections if they expect to lose and hope a postponement will allow more time for things to change in their favour.

Elections are generally held in either the fall of spring. This avoids the problems of a winter campaign, where outdoor events are hard to hold and voters are generally grumpier. It also avoids the problems of the summer with many people on holiday and many more uninterested in politics.

Using a first past the post system Canadians vote for members of Parliament, who are sent to the House of Commons. Canadians do not vote directly for the prime minister, nor do they vote for other positions such as senators. See also Canadian electoral system for more detail.

By-elections held between general elections can also be held. The federal government can also hold nation-wide referendums on major issues. The last referendum was held in 1992 over the Charlottetown Accord. On occasion one particular issue will dominate an election, and the election will thus be a virtual referendum. The most recent instance of this was the 1988 election, which was considered by most parties to be a referendum on free trade with the United States.

Canadian election turn-out is generally higher than that in the United States but lower than in most European nations. Election turn-out has also steadily been falling for many decades. Currently about two-thirds of eligible voters vote in federal elections.

The next Canadian election is expected in the spring of 2004.

List of Canadian Elections

• Canadian federal election, 1867, Sir John A. Macdonald's Conservatives form Canada's first majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1872, Macdonald is re-elected with another majority
• Canadian federal election, 1874, Alexander Mackenzie's Liberals win their first majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1878, Macdonald's Conservatives sweep back to power with a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1882, Macdonald is re-elected with another majority
• Canadian federal election, 1887, Macdonald is re-elected for his fifth majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1891, Sir John Abbott's Conservatives win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1896, Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberals win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1900, Laurier is re-elected with another majority
• Canadian federal election, 1904, Laurier is re-elected for his third majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1908, Laurier is re-elected for his fourth majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1911, Sir Robert Borden's Conservatives win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1917, Borden's pro-conscription unionists win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1921, William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberals win a minority government
• Canadian federal election, 1925, King is re-elected with another minority
• Canadian federal election, 1926, King wins a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1930, Bennett's Conservatives win a majority
• Canadian federal election, 1935, King's Liberals swept back in majority
• Canadian federal election, 1940, King's Liberals is re-elected with another majority
• Canadian federal election, 1945, King's Liberals win a third straight majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1949, Louis St. Laurent's Liberals win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1953, St. Laurent wins a second majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1957, John Diefenbaker's Tories win a surprise minority government
• Canadian federal election, 1958, Diefenbaker re-elected with a strong majority
• Canadian federal election, 1962, John Diefenbaker's government hangs onto power with a minority.
• Canadian federal election, 1963, Lester B. Pearson's Liberals defeat Diefenbaker's Tories, but win only a minority government
• Canadian federal election, 1965, Pearson re-elected with another minority government
• Canadian federal election, 1968, Pierre Trudeau's Liberals win a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1972, Trudeau re-elected with a minority government
• Canadian federal election, 1974, Trudeau wins a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1979, Joe Clark's Tories win a minority government defeating Trudeau
• Canadian federal election, 1980, Pierre Trudeau is re-elected with a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1984, Brian Mulroney's Tories win the most seats ever defeating John Turner's Liberals
• Canadian federal election, 1988, Brian Mulroney's Tories are re-elected to a second majority government
• Canadian federal election, 1993, Jean Chrétien's Liberals defeat Kim Campbell's Conservatives
• Canadian federal election, 1997, Chrétien's Liberals are re-elected to a second majority government
• Canadian federal election, 2000, Chrétien's Liberals are re-elected to a majority government
• Canadian federal election, 2004, is expected to be held this spring, Paul Martin will lead the Liberals who are looking for a fourth consecutive majority government

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