1969 Manitoba general election
The 1969 Manitoba general election was held on June 25, 1969 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in the legislature, winning 28 out of 57 seats. The governing Progressive Conservative Party fell to 22, and the once-dominant Liberal Party fell to an historical low of five. The Social Credit Party won one seat, and there was also one Independent elected.
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57 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba 29 seats were needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of Election Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It was not clear what form the government would take in the days immediately following the election. There were negotiations among the Liberal and Progressive Conservatives to form a minority coalition government, supported by the Social Credit and Independent members; under this scenario, former Liberal leader Gildas Molgat would have become Premier. These plans came to nothing when Liberal MLA Laurent Desjardins announced that he would sit as a "Liberal Democrat" supporting the NDP, allowing the NDP to form government by one seat. Edward Schreyer became the province's first social democratic Premier shortly thereafter.
The Manitoba NDP had a total election budget of $45,000. Although very small by modern standards, this was the most the party had ever spent up to this time.[1]
The Liberals had managed to remain as the Official Opposition for a decade after losing power in 1959. However, this would be the start of almost 20 years in the political wilderness; the party would not come close to governing again until winning opposition status in 1988.
Results
Party | Party Leader | # of candidates |
Seats | Popular Vote | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1966 | Elected | % Change | # | % | Change | ||||
New Democratic | Edward Schreyer | 57 | 11 | 28 | +154.5% | 128,080 | 38.27% | +15.13 | |
Progressive Conservative | Walter Weir | 57 | 31 | 22 | -29.0% | 119,021 | 35.56% | -4.40 | |
Liberal | Robert Bend | 57 | 14 | 5 | -64.3% | 80,288 | 23.99% | -9.14 | |
Social Credit | Jacob Froese (?) | 6 | 1 | 1 | - | 4,535 | 1.36% | -2.18 | |
Communist | William Cecil Ross | 2 | - | - | - | 744 | 0.22% | +0.02 | |
Independent | 5 | - | 1 | 2,020 | 0.60% | +0.57 | |||
Total | 184 | 57 | 57 | - | 334,688 | 100% |
Preceded by 1966 Manitoba election |
List of Manitoba elections | Succeeded by 1973 Manitoba election |
See also
Riding results
Party key:
- PC: Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
- L: Manitoba Liberal Party
- NDP: New Democratic Party of Manitoba
- SC: Manitoba Social Credit Party
- Comm: Communist Party of Canada - Manitoba
- Ind: Independent
(x) denotes incumbent.
Arthur:
- (x)J. Douglas Watt (PC) 3133
- John McRae (L) 1375
- Raymond Jones (NDP) 980
Assiniboia:
- (x)Stephen Patrick (L) 2355
- Bill Docking (PC) 2329
- Curtis Nordman (NDP) 1466
1969 Manitoba general election: Birtle-Russell | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Harry Graham | 2,374 | 39.59 | |||||
New Democratic | Donald Kostesky | 2,263 | 37.74 | |||||
Liberal | John Braendle | 1,360 | 22.68 | |||||
Total valid votes | 5,997 | 100.00 | ||||||
Rejected and discarded votes | 12 | |||||||
Turnout | 6,009 | 72.47 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 8,292 |
Brandon East:
- Leonard Evans (NDP) 3035
- Emily Lyons (PC) 1962
- Don Martin (L) 1194
Brandon West:
- Edward McGill (PC) 2814
- James M. Skinner (NDP) 2310
- Terry Penton (L) 1796
Burrows:
- (x)Ben Hanuschak (NDP) 3418
- Wasyl Michael Swystun (PC) 1317
- Olga E. Lewicki (L) 751
- Andrew Bileski (Comm) 323
Charleswood:
- Arthur Moug (PC) 3401
- Duncan Edmonds (L) 2361
- John C. Hilgenga (NDP) 1325
Churchill:
- Gordon Beard (Ind) 1151
- Walter Perepeluk (L) 971
- Andre Champagne (PC) 913
- Wilf Hudson (NDP) 822
Crescentwood:
- Cy Gonick (NDP) 2689
- (x)Gurney Evans (PC) 2416
- Francis Creighton Muldoon (L) 1422
Dauphin:
- Peter Burtniak (NDP) 2933
- (x)Stewart McLean (PC) 2892
- Robert E. Sheldon (L) 620
Elmwood:
- (x)Russell Doern (NDP) 3803
- Alan George Gardiner (PC) 1526
- John Kozoriz (L) 1053
Emerson:
- Gabriel Girard (PC) 2467
- (x)John Tanchak (L) 2014
- Stephen Zaretski (NDP) 695
- Jacob Wall (SC) 237
Flin Flon:
- Thomas Barrow (NDP) 2045
- (x)Charles H. Witney (PC) 1675
- Francis Jobin (L) 1276
Fort Garry:
- Bud Sherman (PC) 3570
- G. Grant Cosby (NDP) 2063
- Richard Alan Wankling (L) 1936
Fort Rouge:
- Inez Trueman (PC) 2750
- Una Decter (NDP) 2446
- Jane Sayler Heffelfinger (L) 1941
Gimli:
- John Gottfried (NDP) 2159
- Eric Stefanson (PC) 1936
- Walter Griffin (L) 1663
- James Ferguson (PC) 3000
- (x)Nelson Shoemaker (L) 2583
- Mary McIntosh (NDP) 1064
Inkster:
- (x)Sidney Green (NDP) 4001
- Robert Armstrong (PC) 989
- Gurzon Harvey (L) 661
Kildonan:
- (x)Peter Fox (NDP) 4589
- Don Mills (PC) 1876
- John Gugulyn (L) 851
Lac Du Bonnet:
- (x)Samuel Uskiw (NDP) 4060
- (x)Fred Klym (PC) 1267
- Al Tymko (L) 806
Lakeside:
- (x)Harry Enns (PC) 2532
- Robert Bend (L) 2190
1969 Manitoba general election: La Verendrye | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Liberal | Leonard Barkman | 1,933 | 52.17 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | John Blatz | 1,051 | 28.46 | |||||
New Democratic | Elmer Reimer | 721 | 19.46 | |||||
Total valid votes | 3,705 | 100.00 | ||||||
Rejected and discarded votes | 29 | |||||||
Turnout | 3,734 | 50.64 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 7,369 |
Logan:
- William Jenkins (NDP) 3029
- Samuel Minuk (PC) 871
- Howard Ferguson (L) 679
Minnedosa:
- (x)Walter Weir (PC) 3525
- Emile Roy Shellborn (NDP) 1713
- Donald McNabb (L) 1028
1969 Manitoba general election: Morris | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Warner Jorgenson | 2,472 | 53.76 | |||||
Liberal | Joseph Legault | 1,183 | 25.73 | |||||
New Democratic | William T. Loftus | 712 | 15.48 | |||||
Social Credit | Henry Funk | 231 | 5.02 | |||||
Total valid votes | 4,598 | 100.00 | ||||||
Rejected and discarded votes | 15 | |||||||
Turnout | 4,613 | 61.20 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 7,537 |
Osborne:
- Ian Turnbull (NDP) 3188
- (x)Obie Baizley (PC) 2565
- Win Loewen (L) 965
Pembina:
- George Henderson (PC) 2823
- Kenneth John Draper (L) 1815
- David Harms (SC) 521
- Edith Alsop (NDP) 336
1969 Manitoba general election: Point Douglas | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Donald Malinowski | 2,253 | 52.52 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Slaw Rebchuk | 1,088 | 25.36 | |||||
Liberal | Roger Garrity | 528 | 12.31 | |||||
Communist | Bill Kardash | 421 | 9.81 | |||||
Total valid votes | 4,290 | 100.00 | ||||||
Rejected and discarded votes | 62 | |||||||
Turnout | 4,352 | 46.37 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 9,385 |
Portage la Prairie:
- (x)Gordon Johnston (L) 2451
- Harvey Carmichael (PC) 2440
- Sidney Coulthard (NDP) 1049
Radisson:
- Harry Shafransky (NDP) 3707
- Edward Joseph Albert Kotowich (L) 2284
- Moreen Henderson (PC) 1054
Rhineland:
- (x)Jacob Froese (SC) 1981
- Henry Hildebrand (PC) 1853
- Willo Sterritt Forrester (L) 782
- Jacob W. Heinrichs (NDP) 181
Riel:
- (x)Donald Craik (PC) 3125
- James Edward Buchanan (NDP) 3096
- Raymond Spence (L) 1423
River Heights:
- (x)Sidney Spivak (PC) 4623
- Mark Danzker (L) 1573
- Jack Silverberg (NDP) 1051
Roblin:
- (x)J. Wally McKenzie (PC) 2579
- (x)Mike Kawchuk (NDP) 2448
- J.R. Mitchell (L) 516
Rock Lake:
- (x)Henry Einarson (PC) 3064
- Remi Engelbert DePape (L) 1818
- Timothy Leonard (NDP) 763
Rossmere:
- Edward Schreyer (NDP) 4089
- David Wilfred Pekary (PC) 1746
- Vern Breckman (L) 631
- Stanley Copp (Ind) 238
Rupertsland:
- Jean Allard (NDP) 1366
- S. P. Berthelette (L) 1142
- Paul Burelle (PC) 1026
St. Boniface:
- (x)Laurent Desjardins (L) 4210
- Kamil Michael Gajdosik (NDP) 2656
- Maurice J. Arpin (PC) 1110
St. George:
- Bill Uruski (NDP) 2284
- (x)Elman Guttormson (L) 1886
- Joseph Schwartz (PC) 1169
St. James:
- Al Mackling (NDP) 3642
- (x)Douglas Stanes (PC) 2676
- Peter Moss (L) 1404
St. Johns:
- (x)Saul Cherniack (NDP) 3642
- Joe Rozmus (PC) 1014
- George Strewchuk (L) 736
St. Matthews:
- Wally Johannson (NDP) 2974
- (x)Robert Steen (PC) 2217
- Rudy Peters (L) 1119
1969 Manitoba general election: St. Vital | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Jack Hardy | 2,587 | 36.01 | |||||
New Democratic | Jim Walding | 2,564 | 35.69 | |||||
Liberal | Joe Stangl | 2,034 | 28.31 | |||||
Total valid votes | 7,185 | 100.00 | ||||||
Rejected votes | 39 | |||||||
Turnout | 7,224 | 68.04 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 10,617 | |||||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing |
Ste. Rose:
- (x)Gildas Molgat (L) 2247
- Heinz Marohn (PC) 1198
- Leon Hoefer (NDP) 754
- Norma Oswald (SC) 313
Selkirk:
- Howard Pawley (NDP) 3374
- Robert Stefan Oliver (PC) 2054
- George S. Sigurdson (L) 835
- Thomas Norquay (Ind) 57
Seven Oaks:
- (x)Saul Miller (NDP) 4203
- Daniel Abraham Yanofsky (PC) 1505
- Evelyne Rosborough (L) 813
Souris-Killarney:
- (x)Malcolm Earl McKellar (PC) 3053
- (x)Edward Dow (L) 1982
- Wayne Williams (NDP) 892
Springfield:
- Rene Toupin (NDP) 2724
- George Mulder (PC) 1551
- Hector Bahuaud (L) 807
Sturgeon Creek:
- Frank Johnston (PC) 2781
- Robert Megill Chipman (L) 2251
- Stanley J. Carter (NDP) 1251
- William John Turner (Ind) 336
- James Farrell (Ind) 238
Swan River:
- (x)James Bilton (PC) 1920
- Alex Filuk (NDP) 1757
- Jerry Webb (SC) 1252
- Gordon Beaumont (L) 766
The Pas:
- Ron McBryde (NDP) 1556
- (x)John Carroll (PC) 1361
- Calvert D. Gibson (L) 963
Thompson:
- (x)Joseph Borowski (NDP) 2436
- Thomas Farrell (PC) 1500
- Maurice Desjardins (L) 843
Transcona:
- (x)Russ Paulley (NDP) 4614
- Thelma Jean Opseth Call (L) 1488
- Kenn Gunn-Walberg (PC) 1052
Virden:
- (x)Morris McGregor (PC) 2161
- (x)Earl Dawson (L) 1571
- Ralph Rowan (NDP) 1531
Wellington:
- (x)Philip Petursson (NDP) 3260
- William McGarva (PC) 1522
- Thomas Bernes(L) 1035
Winnipeg Centre:
- Bud Boyce (NDP) 2398
- (x)James Cowan (PC) 1451
- Joseph Wapemoose (L) 822
Wolseley:
- (x)Leonard Claydon (PC) 2360
- Hans J. Wittich (NDP) 1743
- Paul N. Duval (L) 1391
Post-election changes
Jack Hardy (St. Vital, PC) resigned his seat. A by-election was called for April 5, 1971.
Manitoba provincial by-election, April 5, 1971: St. Vital | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Jim Walding | 3,378 | 35.94 | +0.25 | ||||
Liberal | Dan Kennedy | 3,083 | 32.80 | +4.49 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Kenneth Pratt | 2,925 | 31.12 | −4.89 | ||||
Independent | Sam Bordman | 13 | 0.14 | |||||
Total valid votes | 9,399 | 100 | ||||||
Rejected and declined ballots | 10 | |||||||
Turnout | 9,409 | 83.05 | +15.01 | |||||
Electors on the lists | 11,329 | |||||||
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | +2.57 |
Ste. Rose (res. Gildas Molgat, October 7, 1970), April 5, 1971:
- Aime Adam (NDP) 2785
- Fred Werbiski (L) 2118
- John Borcher (PC) 1792
Minnedosa (res. Walter Weir, September 1971), November 16, 1971:
- Dave Blake (PC) 3532
- Emil Shellborn (NDP) 2348
- Hugh Stephenson (L) 1129
Laurent Desjardins formally joined the NDP in 1971.
Wolseley (dec. Leonard Claydon, 1971), June 16, 1972:
- Israel Asper (L) 3530
- Ernie J. Enns (PC) 2271
- Vic Schroeder (NDP) 2174
- William Hawryluk (Ind) 45
Jean Allard left the NDP to sit as an Independent on April 7, 1972. Joseph Borowski left the NDP caucus on June 25, 1972.
Churchill (dec. Gordon Beard, November 12, 1972)[3]
References
- Ian Stewart, Just One Vote: Jim Walding's nomination to constitutional defeat, (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press), 2009, p. 17.
- http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/events/provincialelection1969.shtml
- http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/beard_gw.shtml