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1976 Quebec general election

Canadian provincial election


Canadian provincial election

FieldValue
election_name1976 Quebec general election
countryQuebec
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
party_colourno
party_nameno
previous_election1973 Quebec general election
previous_year1973
previous_mps30th National Assembly of Quebec
next_election1981 Quebec general election
next_year1981
elected_mps31st National Assembly of Quebec
seats_for_election110 seats in the [31st National Assembly of Quebec](31st-national-assembly-of-quebec)
56 seats were needed for a majority
turnout85.27% (4.88%)
election_dateNovember 15, 1976
image1[[File:René Lévesque 1980 (3x4).jpg130x150px]]
colour1
leader1René Lévesque
leader_since1October 14, 1968
party1
leaders_seat1Taillon
last_election16 seats, 30.22%
seats1**71**
seat_change165
popular_vote1**1,390,351**
percentage1**41.37%**
swing111.15%
image2[[File:Robert-Bourassa (3x4).jpg130x150px]]
colour2
leader2Robert Bourassa
leader_since2January 17, 1970
party2
leaders_seat2Mercier *(lost re-election)*
last_election2102 seats, 54.65%
seats226
seat_change276
popular_vote21,135,056
percentage233.78%
swing220.87%
image3**UN**
colour3
leader3Rodrigue Biron
leader_since3May 22, 1976
party3
leaders_seat3Lotbinière
last_election30 seats, 4.92%
seats311
seat_change311
popular_vote3611,666
percentage318.20%
swing313.28%
image4**RC**
colour4
leader4Camil Samson
leader_since4May 11, 1975
party4
leaders_seat4Rouyn-Noranda
last_election42 seats, 9.92%
seats41
seat_change41
popular_vote4155,451
percentage44.63%
swing45.29%
image5**PNP**
colour5
leader5Jérôme Choquette
leader_since5October 24, 1976
party5
leaders_seat5Outremont *(lost re-election)*
last_election5*pre-creation*
seats51
seat_change51
popular_vote531,043
percentage50.92%
swing50.92%
map_image1976 Quebec general election.svg
map_captionPopular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Click the map for more details.
titlePremier
before_electionRobert Bourassa
before_party
after_electionRené Lévesque
posttitlePremier after election
after_party

56 seats were needed for a majority The 1976 Quebec general election was held on November 15, 1976 to elect members to National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. It was one of the most significant elections in Quebec history, rivalled only by the 1960 general election, and caused major repercussions in the rest of Canada. The Parti Québécois, led by René Lévesque, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Premier Robert Bourassa.

The Parti Québécois's campaign focused on providing good government, in contrast to the many scandals that had plagued the Liberals since 1973. The PQ's stated goal of achieving independence for Quebec from Canada was portrayed as only secondary, but the election of a sovereigntist government in Quebec caused great upset in the rest of Canada and led to extensive discussions about reforming the Canadian Confederation and finding ways of accommodating Quebec.

The Parti Québécois used its term in office to introduce numerous bills to implement its agenda. The first bill introduced in the new session of the National Assembly was legislation to confirm French as the sole official language of Quebec, and to implement measures to make this a social reality. The legislative number of this bill, "Bill One," was intended to signify the importance of the bill for the new government. The bill was withdrawn and significantly altered, however, and was eventually re-introduced as "Bill 101" (or la Loi 101 in French), also known as the Charter of the French Language. With some modifications, the Charter of the French Language remains in effect today and has shaped modern Quebec society in far-reaching ways.

The 1976 election also set the stage for the 1980 Quebec referendum on the PQ's proposal for political independence in an economic union with the rest of Canada called sovereignty-association. The proposal was soundly defeated in the referendum.

Bourassa had called the election after only three years, well before the maximum possible term of five years. It is possible that he may have counted on a boost from his successful rescue of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal after cost overruns and construction delays by the Montreal municipal government of Mayor Jean Drapeau. If so, he badly miscalculated. He not only lost the election, but was resoundingly defeated in his own riding by a PQ challenger. Bourassa resigned as Liberal leader, and his political career appeared to be over. He left Quebec and took up teaching positions in the United States and Europe. However, he later made a remarkable comeback in the 1985 general election.

The once-powerful Union Nationale made a modest comeback after being shut out from the legislature three years earlier. It won 11 seats under Rodrigue Biron and, for the first time, won significant support from some anglophone voters. An anglophone UN member, William Shaw was elected to the National Assembly. However, this proved to be the party's last hurrah. Successive floor-crossings, retirements, and resignations reduced the UN to only five members during the term. The party lost all of those remaining seats five years later, never to return; it would continue to exist nominally until 1989.

Campaign

The Liberals and péquistes both fielded full slates. The Unionists and the créditistes decided not to nominate candidates in Beauce-Sud, in order to clear the way for the pénépiste Fabien Roy to hold the riding. The Unionists did not have a candidate in Outremont. Otherwise, all other constituencies experienced at least four-way contests.

The election also saw the emergence of two other political groups. The Democratic Alliance, led by Nick Auf der Maur, ran 13 candidates in the anglophone areas of the Island of Montreal, while the Parti national populaire (founded by Fabien Roy and Jérôme Choquette) had 36 candidates provincewide but ran a less-organized campaign. The PNP had attempted to merge with the UN earlier in August, but the effort was called off in September because of a falling-out between Choquette and the UN leader Rodrigue Biron.

CandidatesTotal
align="center"**PQ**align="center"**Lib**
31
449
524
620
712
83
91
Total110

Results

|- ! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party ! rowspan=2 | Party leader ! colspan=4 | MNAs ! colspan=4 | Votes |- ! Candidates 1973 !1976 !± !# ! ± !% ! ± (pp) | 110 || 6 || 71 || 65 || 1,390,351 || 492,542 || 41.37% || 11.15 | 110 || 102 || 26 || 76 || 1,135,056 || 488,678 || 33.78% || 20.87 | 108 || – || 11 || 11 || 611,666 || 465,457 || 18.20% || 13.28 | 109 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 155,451 || 139,255 || 4.63% || 5.29 | 36 || – || 1 || 1 || 31,043 || 31,043 || 0.92% || New | 13 || – || – || – || 17,762 || 17,762 || 0.53% || New | || 22 || – || – || – || 12,984 || 6,023 || 0.39% || 0.16 -RMS coalition | 21 || – || – || – || 3,080 || 3,080 || 0.09% || New | 14 || – || – || – || 1,776 || 1,612 || 0.05% || 0.04 | 12 || – || – || – || 1,249 || 1,249 || 0.04% || New | 1 || – || – || – || 88 || 88 || – || New |- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:left;" | Total |556||110 ! " colspan="2"|110 ! " colspan="2"|3,360,506 ! " colspan="2"| 100.00% |- | 70,446

15,686
3,430,952
405,214
85.27
4.89
-
4,023,743
259,132
}

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary QC1973.svg |1973 |File:Ternary QC1976.svg |1976

PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
{{bartable11.15
{{bartable-20.87
{{bartable13.28
{{bartable-5.29
{{bartable0.92
{{bartable0.16
{{bartable0.65

Synopsis of results

RidingWinning partyTurnout
including spoilt ballotsVotesName**[1973](1973-quebec-general-election)**PartyVotesShareMargin
#Margin
%PQLibUNCrPNPDAIndOthTotal
Abitibi-EstLibPQ11,26540.15%3,88113.83%69.47%11,2656,3383,0677,38428,054
Abitibi-OuestLibPQ8,53336.51%1,2245.24%80.57%8,5335,4562,0737,30923,371
AnjouLibPQ19,44056.15%8,32424.04%88.99%19,44011,1162,93874423315134,622
ArgenteuilLibLib9,45234.89%1,2754.71%82.34%8,1779,4526,6602,80327,092
ArthabaskaLibPQ12,46538.95%3,47410.86%89.36%12,4658,9917,5363,00932,001
Beauce-NordLibPQ10,97437.12%4121.39%85.29%10,97410,5626,41283078629,564
Beauce-SudCrPNP17,23868.24%11,57345.82%83.62%2,3565,66517,23825,259
BeauharnoisLibPQ15,50846.29%3,93611.75%90.09%15,50811,5725,2241,19533,499
BellechasseLibUN8,50136.85%7983.46%81.68%5,8817,7038,50169229423,071
BerthierLibPQ8,67334.27%4021.59%85.00%8,6738,2716,9071,45425,305
BonaventureLibLib9,77148.63%3,60317.93%80.87%6,1689,7713,83631820,093
BourassaLibPQ14,46544.94%2,1626.72%88.04%14,46512,3034,45760124910932,184
BourgetLibPQ17,12254.85%7,04722.58%87.99%17,12210,0753,25057319531,215
Brome-MissisquoiLibUN11,38049.27%5,93025.67%82.93%4,7725,45011,3801,08726214723,098
ChamblyLibPQ21,02947.32%5,20111.70%90.62%21,02915,8286,77681144,444
ChamplainLibPQ12,51440.73%4,42814.41%87.67%12,5148,0867,8822,24030,722
CharlesbourgLibPQ19,98548.92%4,78511.71%89.20%19,98515,2004,0781,30128540,849
CharlevoixLibLib12,41954.58%4,89921.53%83.27%7,52012,4191,6701,14622,755
ChâteauguayLibPQ15,60043.00%5,26114.50%88.30%15,60010,3399,26285122936,281
ChauveauLibPQ21,47247.48%5,05411.17%88.87%21,47216,4184,8292,50745,226
ChicoutimiPQPQ20,63862.51%13,74241.62%88.55%20,6386,8964,4291,05333,016
CrémazieLibPQ16,46350.40%4,61214.12%89.09%16,46311,8513,44946127716332,664
D'Arcy-McGeeLibLib21,24868.03%14,19045.43%83.86%1,47621,2487,0588395041731,232
Deux-MontagnesLibPQ13,44941.42%2,4667.59%86.17%13,44910,9836,4311,35225632,471
DorionLibPQ15,48652.36%5,34318.06%84.55%15,48610,1432,66179839010029,578
DrummondLibPQ14,60542.45%6,39418.58%89.05%14,6057,7788,2113,60121134,406
DubucLibPQ11,33744.67%3,66114.42%85.23%11,3377,6764,4421,92625,381
DuplessisLibPQ20,10058.60%11,32433.01%78.85%20,1008,7763,0504611,91634,303
FabreLibPQ24,06751.94%9,07819.59%89.24%24,06714,9895,6581,15646346,333
FrontenacLibPQ11,04738.86%1,5585.48%88.16%11,0476,3959,4891,49428,425
GaspéLibUN8,30534.53%4201.75%82.01%7,6307,8858,30523324,053
GatineauLibLib13,44448.98%6,14822.40%78.30%7,29613,4445,2851,42527,450
GouinLibPQ14,36053.53%5,34519.92%84.45%14,3609,0152,48279717226,826
HullLibPQ12,03140.57%20.01%79.05%12,03112,0294,1931,40229,655
HuntingdonLibUN9,46542.31%2,72812.19%84.21%5,4286,7379,46574322,373
IbervilleLibPQ11,74035.71%1,5334.66%87.38%11,7409,12910,2071,80232,878
Îles-de-la-MadeleineLibPQ3,38747.89%600.85%87.16%3,3873,327298607,072
Jacques-CartierLibLib10,39035.34%1,2554.27%84.86%8,66610,3909,13552368329,397
Jean-TalonLibLib14,33949.46%2,8079.68%88.54%11,53214,3392,70641728,994
Jeanne-ManceLibPQ22,89145.48%4,6069.15%86.39%22,89118,2857,73290527524550,333
JohnsonLibUN11,18445.33%4,80519.48%86.65%6,3795,34811,1841,76124,672
Joliette-MontcalmLibPQ15,80742.41%5,31114.25%88.14%15,80710,4969,6121,172899737,273
JonquièreLibPQ20,37358.23%9,51127.18%89.26%20,37310,8622,2201,53534,990
Kamouraska-TémiscouataLibPQ7,86233.88%3101.34%79.37%7,8627,5524,9572,83723,208
L'AcadieLibLib14,08245.50%4,40614.24%86.08%9,67614,0826,43427632715230,947
L'AssomptionLibPQ26,44954.49%14,43929.74%89.24%26,44912,0108,1551,72420548,543
Lac-Saint-JeanLibPQ14,74450.91%6,91123.86%86.97%14,7447,8333,9712,41428,962
LaFontainePQPQ20,62761.79%12,46937.35%86.95%20,6278,1583,0821,03928319133,380
LaporteLibPQ23,12956.56%11,08627.11%87.64%23,12912,0434,5611,02713340,893
La PrairieLibPQ17,12238.13%6471.44%87.88%17,12216,47510,37593044,902
Laurentides-LabelleLibPQ13,79449.25%4,06914.53%83.32%13,7949,7252,9921,49928,010
LaurierLibLib11,85841.68%2,2758.00%82.79%9,58311,8584,96267892144628,448
LavalLibLib17,60542.94%2,2855.57%88.42%15,32017,6056,6291,12931941,002
LavioletteLibPQ11,00339.32%2,1747.77%86.41%11,0036,0748,8291,60335711527,981
LévisLibPQ17,22748.49%5,88716.57%88.81%17,22711,3405,5851,37535,527
LimoilouLibPQ14,42445.33%3,70711.65%86.09%14,42410,7174,6561,723176527431,822
LotbinièreLibUN12,35552.23%6,71328.38%87.55%4,6055,64212,3551,05523,657
Louis-HébertLibPQ22,85058.22%9,54324.31%90.80%22,85013,3072,70538639,248
MaisonneuvePQPQ15,39062.15%9,07436.64%80.89%15,3906,3162,0406522202212324,763
Marguerite-BourgeoysLibLib14,55136.65%8062.03%84.91%13,74514,55110,49260331239,703
MaskinongéLibLib9,12435.84%4031.58%88.24%8,7219,1246,5611,05525,461
MataneLibPQ11,04248.79%2,68411.86%82.23%11,0428,3582,31959831622,633
MatapédiaLibPQ10,74156.27%5,45828.59%81.76%10,7415,2831,5521,51219,088
Mégantic-ComptonLibUN8,53939.58%2,50211.60%82.63%4,8096,0378,5392,18821,573
MercierLibPQ13,45051.38%3,73614.27%81.76%13,4509,7141,9756475833226,176
Mille-ÎlesLibPQ25,13453.80%10,07021.55%90.84%25,13415,0644,6871,29034220446,721
Mont-RoyalLibLib18,40862.23%13,29544.94%83.36%4,77618,4085,11315388524729,582
Montmagny-L'IsletLibLib9,22037.44%2,3709.62%81.84%6,8499,2206,8501,71024,629
MontmorencyLibPQ17,30050.42%5,19015.13%88.23%17,30012,1103,1871,71334,310
Nicolet-YamaskaLibUN8,76334.62%7502.96%87.93%7,1958,0138,7631,34025,311
Notre-Dame-de-GrâceLibLib13,16143.88%4,42914.77%84.26%4,10013,1618,7321671193,49711710329,996
OrfordLibLib8,32132.90%6362.51%81.40%7,6858,3216,9792,07722825,290
OutremontLibLib13,21945.30%2,3878.18%84.31%10,83213,2193504,12938027029,180
PapineauLibPQ12,96736.32%670.19%79.55%12,96712,9007,4831,94740935,706
Pointe-ClaireLibUN15,61044.96%3,4319.88%85.51%3,28412,17915,6101271649432,41234,719
Pontiac-TémiscamingueLibLib8,14943.57%3,58119.14%74.98%3,2098,1494,5682,14163818,705
PortneufLibLib10,36240.47%2,78310.87%89.04%7,57910,3623,8153,74110625,603
PrévostLibPQ20,07549.59%7,56918.70%84.94%20,07512,5065,7072,19540,483
RichelieuLibPQ16,14151.98%4,27413.76%90.28%16,14111,8672,18985431,051
RichmondLibUN7,77839.15%1,9079.60%86.17%5,2945,8717,77892519,868
RimouskiLibPQ15,23253.04%5,14617.92%86.34%15,23210,0861,6641,6518728,720
Rivière-du-LoupLibPQ9,41538.53%1,9047.79%84.49%9,4157,5115,2302,28124,437
Robert-BaldwinLibLib14,47636.11%3,9479.84%86.95%7,43014,47610,5294102,1885,06040,093
RobervalLibLib11,76739.67%9323.14%80.90%10,83511,7673,1393,92329,664
RosemontLibPQ15,45551.07%5,38017.78%85.25%15,45510,0753,54759630928330,265
Rouyn-NorandaCrRC9,00937.90%1,4566.13%83.77%7,5534,9232,2839,00923,768
SaguenayPQPQ15,49169.16%11,21250.06%78.48%15,4914,2792,05457522,399
Saint-FrançoisLibPQ11,11541.60%3,62313.56%84.96%11,1157,4926,1141,99626,717
Saint-HenriLibPQ14,24647.72%4,14213.87%83.78%14,24610,1044,54970125329,853
Saint-HyacintheLibUN10,00233.63%580.20%86.38%9,9447,69410,0021,75335029,743
Saint-JacquesPQPQ13,05860.31%7,18033.16%75.34%13,0585,8781,68657945121,652
Saint-JeanLibPQ14,57045.73%3,69511.60%87.87%14,57010,8755,43997731,861
Saint-LaurentLibLib14,83746.18%6,29719.60%84.76%8,54014,8377,40929432771932,126
Saint-LouisLibLib9,62842.07%1,7767.76%75.22%7,8529,6283,4604221,15137122,884
Saint-MauriceLibPQ12,83645.77%4,78817.07%88.64%12,8368,0484,7492,00540528,043
Saint-AnneLibPQ9,05938.62%6892.94%75.67%9,0598,3703,7834971216498967923,454
Sainte-MarieLibPQ13,61754.97%5,04320.36%81.54%13,6178,5741,71167419724,773
SauvéPQPQ23,64758.60%13,37233.14%84.99%23,64710,2755,20497712312940,355
SheffordLibLib9,66231.81%3841.26%87.20%8,1349,6629,2783,08521730,376
SherbrookeLibPQ12,44042.51%3,89513.31%84.69%12,4408,5456,2551,87215029,262
TaillonLibPQ34,09862.65%22,34541.06%85.32%34,09811,7536,1892,12925654,425
TaschereauLibPQ9,92945.14%1,8328.33%80.05%9,9298,0972,5311,17915110721,994
TerrebonneLibPQ21,29850.61%7,89918.77%89.48%21,29813,3995,7231,66142,081
Trois-RivièresLibPQ13,82143.79%3,18210.08%85.26%13,82110,6395,6621,43731,559
VanierLibPQ16,64049.80%5,06315.15%87.41%16,64011,5773,3721,82733,416
Vaudreuil-SoulangesLibPQ11,52435.85%5341.66%86.69%11,52410,9908,54890517432,141
VerchèresLibPQ16,79648.24%4,99014.33%88.89%16,79611,8065,22499234,818
VerdunLibLib13,20144.09%3,26110.89%83.60%9,94013,2015,83349931515029,938
ViauLibPQ13,51343.44%1,9326.21%84.67%13,51311,5814,89276036131,107
WestmountLibLib14,72450.74%8,74430.13%82.23%3,48314,7245,980902104,53429,021

: = open seat : = turnout is above provincial average : = winning candidate was in previous Legislature : = incumbent had switched allegiance : = previously incumbent in another riding : = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature : = incumbency arose from byelection gain : = other incumbents renominated : = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada : = multiple candidates

MNAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

; Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Bas-Saint-Laurent

; Côte-Nord and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

; Capitale-Nationale

; Mauricie

; Chaudière-Appalaches and Centre-du-Québec

; Estrie

; Montérégie

; Montreal East

; Montreal West

; Laval

; Laurentides

; Lanaudière

; Outaouais

; Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec

Analysis

Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotalPQLibUNRC
654271
17926
2911
11
11
Total2075132110
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
7120181
26759
1113804
121918
1131
184
55
-RMS coalition7
4
1
SourcePartyTotal
align="center"**PQ**align="center"**Lib****UN**
Seats retainedIncumbents returned6
Open seats held3
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance1
Previous incumbent from other riding1
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated52
Open seats gained13
Byelection gain held
Incumbent changed allegiance
**Total**7126

References

References

  1. Tremblay, Réjean. (November 16, 1976). "Bas-Saint-Laurent : Une vaste mosaïque dominée par le PQ". [[La Presse (Canadian newspaper).
  2. Bercier, Rhéal. (August 4, 1976). "La fusion du PNP et de l'UN se fera en congrès, en octobre". [[La Presse (Canadian newspaper).
  3. O'Neill, Pierre. (September 4, 1976). "UN-PNP : la rupture". [[Le Devoir]].
  4. Drouilly, Pierre. (November 7, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1976". Atlas des élections au Québec.
  5. . ["Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription"](https://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/patrimoine/depcir/index.html). *[[National Assembly of Quebec]]*.
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