Home > Canadian federal election, 1993

The 1993 Canadian federal election, which took place on October 25th, 1993, was one of the most eventful in Canadian history. While Canada's traditional ruling party, the Liberals, was returned to power, the equally old Progressive Conservative Party was all but annihilated. The election also saw the rise of two new parties: the Bloc Québécois, which became the Official Opposition, and the Reform Party, which also won many seats.

The election was called by Progressive Conservative leader Kim Campbell, who had been Prime Minister for only a few months. She had replaced Brian Mulroney, who was considered one of the most unpopular Prime Ministers in Canadian history because of his failed constitutional reforms and the poor state of the Canadian economy. While she was expected to lose the election, she was forced to call one as the Tories' five-year mandate had almost expired.

From the start of the campaign, it seemed that Jean Chrétien's Liberals would likely form the next government. The Liberals ran a successful campaign, based around the Red Book platform.

More uncertain was how the opposition parties would be divided. Two new parties were fighting in this election. The West produced the Reform Party, a right-wing populist party led by Preston Manning. In Quebec, the Bloc Québécois, a separatist party, rose to the fore under the leadership of ex-Tory cabinet minister Lucien Bouchard. Both parties did very well in the election. Reform swept AlbertaAlberta is one of Canada's provinces. Its capital is the city of Edmonton. Other cities and towns include Banff, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. See also: List of communities in Alberta. As of 2004, the population of the province was 3,183, won much of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia or simply B. French: la Colombie-Britannique is the westernmost of Canada's provinces. It was the sixth province to join the confederation of Canada (in 1871). As of 2004, the population was 4,168,123 British Columbians . Geography Its ca, and many seats in SaskatchewanSaskatchewan ( In Detail) ( In Detail) Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples, strength CapitalLargest city Regina Saskatoon Area Total % fresh water 7th largest(5th lgst prov. 651 036 km² 9. 1% Population Total (2001) Density Ranked 6th 1 015 and ManitobaManitoba ( In Detail) ( In Detail) Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Glorious and free Capital Winnipeg Largest City Winnipeg Area Total % fresh water 8th largest(6th lgst prov. 647 797 km² 14. 5% Population Total (2003) Density Ranked 5th 1 162 800 1. 78/km² Ad. The Bloc dominated Quebec, winning enough seats to form the Official Opposition as the second-largest party in Parliament.

Two older parties did not fare so well. The governing Tories were devastated. A poorly-run campaign only exacerbated their problems. Most memorable was an advertisement that attacked Chrétien's paralysed faceThe 1993 Chretien ad was an attack ad made during the 1993 Canadian election by the Progressive Conservative Party against Liberal leader Jean Chretien that many felt focused on Chretien’s facial deformity. It is considered to be a classic example of vote, which offended many Canadians as a perceived cheap shot against a person's physical disability. The Tories were reduced to two seats, their worst showing ever. Kim Campbell, who lost her own Vancouver riding, resigned as leader of the party after the fiasco. Although the party won a considerable number of votes, their vote was spread out over a wide area, resulting in victories in few seats.

The other national party, the New Democratic PartyThis page is about the Canadian political party. For other parties, see New Democratic Party (disambiguation). New Democratic Party Current Leader Jack Layton Founded June 17, 1961 Headquarters 300 279 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, OntarioK1P 5J9 Colours Or, also did poorly, falling to nine seats, losing ground in the West to Reform and in Ontario to the Liberals.

Another new party, the National Party, founded by Mel Hurtig , failed to make a significant impression and disbanded after the election.

Fourteen registered political parties contested the election, a Canadian record.

The Liberals won all but one riding in Ontario, and significant support in the Maritimes and on the Prairies. They also won a fair number of seats in Quebec and British Columbia. This gave them a substantial majority in parliament.