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.

Related Topics:
June 2 - 1997 - Canadian House of Commons - Jean Chrétien - Liberal Party of Canada - Reform Party of Canada - Bloc Québécois - Official Opposition

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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 largest opposition 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 the Maritimes. Maritime 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.

Related Topics:
1993 election - Ontario - Quebec - Alberta - New Democratic Party - Progressive Conservative Party of Canada - Maritimes - Employment insurance - David Dingwall - Minister of Public Works - Nova Scotia - Doug Young - Minister of National Defence - New Brunswick

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Commentators on election night even predicting a minority government, although the Liberals were secure in forming the next administration due to a divided opposition. Because of losses in the Maritimes, the Liberal majority was reduced considerably from the 1993 total. Mostly because of these wins in the Maritimes, 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 GST, was re-elected in his riding in Toronto.

Related Topics:
Jean Charest - Alexa McDonough - John Nunziata - GST - Toronto

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