Canadian federal election, 1988

The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

Incumbent Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, had signed the agreement. The Liberal Party, led by John Napier Turner, was opposed to the agreement, as was the New Democratic Party led by Ed Broadbent.

The Conservatives went into the election suffering from a number of scandals. Despite winning a large majority only four years before, they looked vulnerable at the outset. Infighting among the Liberals and vote splitting between the NDP and Liberals led to a second Conservative majority government, however.

The Liberals returned as the official opposition, but the lackluster campaign cost Turner his job as Liberal leader. He was replaced by Jean Chrétien in 1990.

The 1988 election was the most successful for the New Democratic Party. The party dominated in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and also won significant support in Ontario.

The election was the last for Canada's Social Credit movement: the party won no seats, and insignificant portion of the popular vote.

The newly founded Reform Party also contested the election, but was considered little more than a fringe group, and did not win any seats.

76% of eligible voters cast a ballot.

National results

For a complete list of MPs elected in the 1988 election see 34th Canadian parliament.

Note:

"% change" refers to change from previous election

Results by province

xx – less than 0.05% of the popular vote

Note: Parties that captured less than 1 percent of the vote in a province are not recorded.

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Notes

• Number of Parties: 11
  • First appearance: Christian Heritage Party, Reform Party
  • Final appearance: Confederation of Regions Party, Rhinoceros Party, Social Credit Party
  • Final appearance before hiatus: Communist Party (returned in 2000)