1957 Canadian election
Elections and parties in
Canada
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The 1957 Canadian election was held June 10, 1957. This election brought to an end twenty-two years of Liberal rule in a surprise victory by the Progressive Conservatives under John Diefenbaker.
The Campaign
The Liberals had won election after election on programs of successful fiscal management and moderate and conciliatory policies. By the 1950s, many believed that the party was arrogant and too close to business. Controversial debates, such as that over the Trans-Canada Pipeline, had hurt the government. Western Canadians also felt alienated from the government which they believed was dominated by Ontario and Quebec interests. Louis St. Laurent, nicknamed 'Uncle Louis', was still popular, but many felt he had lost touch with ordinary Canadians.
The Tory party in 1956 had elected the fiery and charismatic Diefenbaker as their leader. Many people disliked him, and felt he had too little experience to be a strong challenger to the Liberals. Because they believed that there was little hope of defeating the Liberals in the next election, many Tories supported Diefenbaker as a caretaker leader.
The Tory campaign was based on Canadian nationalism and the need for a change. The Tories also embraced their Red Tory side, pledging to out-spend the Liberals on social programs. The Liberals were attacked as free marketers who would leave the Canadian population without an adequate safety net. One of the most ambitious elements of the Tory program was the Orange Lodge, and had a history of making anti-Catholic statements
The Tories' greatest asset soon turned out to be Diefenbaker, however. His ethnic background attracted a new group of supporters to the traditionally Anglo-Anglican Tory party. He was also able to use his charisma to great success. This was the first Canadian election to be televised, and while only a minority of Canadians owned a television, most got some opportunity to see the candidates they were voting for. Diefenbaker was viewed as honest and dedicated, while the 75 year old St. Laurent was felt to be distant and humourless.
The campaign was also the first in Canada to use modern political advertising techniques. Strategists like Dalton Camp and Allister Grosart ran a more tightly-planned campaign than any in Canadian history. An important strategy was almost completely ignoring the province of Quebec -- the strategists felt they had little chance there. They also believed they could win without the province.
The Results
In an era before widespread polling, the results of the election came as a surprise to most Canadians, including most politicians. The Liberals won the popular vote, but lost the election as they piled up massive majorities in Quebec. In the West, Ontario, and the Maritimes, the Tories gained enough seats to form a minority government. Noted Liberal ministers like C.D. Howe, the "Minister of Everything", lost their seats.
Many Canadians were overjoyed to see change, and spontaneous celebrations occurred in many parts of the country. The CBC anchor covering the election famously lit a cigar in satisfaction with the result.
Effects
The Liberal defeat caused many high profile Liberals to resign and be replaced by younger members. St. Laurent resigned and was replaced by Lester B. Pearson. The Tory minority government lasted for less than a year before Diefenbaker called another election in which he won the largest majority in Canadian history, including winning many seats in Quebec.
National results
| Party
| Party Leader
| # of candidates
| Seats
| Popular Vote
|
| Before
| After
| % Change
| #
| %
| Change
|
| Progressive Conservative
| | 256
|
| 109
|
| 2,564,732
| 38.81%
| +7.80%
|
| Liberal
| <center> Louis St. Laurent
| 265
|
| 105
|
| 2,703,687
| 40.91%
| -7.71%
|
| Cooperative Commonwealth
| <center> M.J. Coldwell
| 162
|
| 25
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| 707,828
| 10.71%
| -0.57%
|
| Social Credit
| <center> Solon Low
| 114
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| 19
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| 434,312
| 6.57%
| +1.16%
|
| Independent Liberal
| <center>
| 27
|
| 2
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| 93,466
| 1.41%
| +0.20%
|
| Independent
| <center>
| 15
|
| 2
|
| 70,060
| 1.06%
| +0.02%
|
| Independent PC
| <center>
| 6
|
| 1
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| 14,525
| 0.22%
| +0.19%
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| Candidats des électeurs
| <center> Réal Caouette
| 1
|
| 0
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| 8,129
| 0.12%
| n.a.
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| Labour Progressive
| <center> Tim Buck
| 10
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| 0
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| 7,760
| 0.12%
| -0.94%
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| Independent SC
| <center>
| 2
|
| 0
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| 2,737
| 0.04%
| n.a.
|
| Canadian Democrat
| <center>
| 1
|
| 0
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| 628
| 0.01%
| n.a.
|
| Liberal Conservative Coalition
| <center>
| 1
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| 0
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| 252
| 0.00%
| n.a.
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| Capital familial
| <center> H-G Grenier
| 1
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| 0
|
| 237
| x
| x
|
| National Credit Control
| <center>
| 1
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| 0
|
| 122
| x
| n.a.
|
| Total
| <center>
| <center> 862
| <center>
| <center> 263
| <center>
| <center> 6,608,475
| <center> 100.00%
| <center>
|
| Sources: http://www.elections.ca --
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n.a. = not applicable - the party was not recognized in the previous election
x - less than 0.005% of the popular vote
74.1 percent of eligible voters voted.
