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1996 British Columbia general election

Canadian provincial election


Canadian provincial election

FieldValue
election_name1996 British Columbia general election
countryBritish Columbia
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
party_colourno
party_nameno
previous_election1991 British Columbia general election
previous_year1991
next_election2001 British Columbia general election
next_year2001
seats_for_election75 seats of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
38 seats were needed for a majority
election_dateMay 28, 1996
outgoing_members35th Parliament of British Columbia
elected_members36th Parliament of British Columbia
turnout59.11% 4.92 pp
image1[[File:Glen Clark 2011 NDP convention crop.jpg150x150px]]
colour1
leader1Glen Clark
leader_since1February 18, 1996
party1
leaders_seat1Vancouver Kingsway
last_election151 seats
seats139
seat_change112
popular_vote1624,395
percentage139.45%
swing11.26
image2[[File:Gordon Campbell 2.jpg150x150px]]
colour2
leader2Gordon Campbell
leader_since2September 11, 1993
party2
leaders_seat2Vancouver-Point Grey
last_election217 seats
seats233
seat_change216
popular_vote2661,929
percentage241.82%
swing28.58
image4**Ref**
colour4
leader4Jack Weisgerber
leader_since4January 15, 1995
party4
leaders_seat4Peace River South
last_election40 seats
seats42
seat_change42
popular_vote4146,734
percentage49.27%
swing49.09
image5**PDA**
colour5
leader5Gordon Wilson
leader_since5December 5, 1993
party5
leaders_seat5Powell River-Sunshine Coast
last_election5*pre-creation*
seats51
seat_change51
popular_vote590,797
percentage55.74%
swing55.74
titlePremier
before_electionGlen Clark
before_party
posttitlePremier after election
after_electionGlen Clark
after_party

38 seats were needed for a majority

The 1996 British Columbia general election was the 36th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996. Voter turnout was 59.1 per cent of all eligible voters.

New Democratic Party leader and provincial premier Mike Harcourt had resigned as the result of a fundraising scandal involving one of the members of his caucus. Glen Clark was chosen by the party to replace Harcourt. While polling prior to Harcourt's resignation had shown the NDP to be on-track for a landslide defeat, Clark was able to turn their fortunes around and led the party to a second majority government, defeating the Liberal Party of Gordon Campbell, who had become leader of the Liberal Party after Gordon Wilson had been forced out of the position because of his relationship with another Liberal member of the legislature, Judi Tyabji.

After Wilson was defeated by Campbell in the convention to choose a new leader, he and Tyabji left the Liberal Party to establish the Progressive Democratic Alliance. Wilson was able to win re-election, but Tyabji was not, who went down to defeat with all of the other candidates fielded by the new party.

The once-dominant Social Credit Party collapsed. It elected Grace McCarthy as its leader in 1993, but she was unable to make a bid to get into the legislature until 1994, when she lost a by-election in the longtime Socred stronghold of Matsqui. Soon afterward, four of its remaining six members defected to Reform BC, leaving Social Credit without official status in the legislature. One more seat was lost in a by-election, reducing the party's representation to one MLA, Cliff Serwa. Serwa retired before the election, however, leaving the party with no incumbents. Party leader Larry Gillanders withdrew from the race while the campaign was in progress, saying that all right-wing parties should unite to topple the ruling NDP. The Socreds won only 0.4% of the vote and were completely shut out of the legislature. While the party still nominally existed until 2023 (with a hiatus from 2013 to 2016), it never elected another MLA.

Reform BC held on to two of its four seats.

Although the Liberals won the largest share of the popular vote, most of their votes were wasted in the outer regions of the province, and it won only 8 seats in the Vancouver area. Additionally, they suffered from vote-splitting with Reform, the Progressive Democrats, and what little remained of the Socreds. These factors allowed the NDP to win 6 more seats than the opposition Liberals, eking out a majority government. This was the last election to return an NDP majority until 2020, 24 years later.

This was also the first provincial election held in BC since the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 in 1992.

Opinion polls

Polling firmLast day
of surveySourceBCNDPBCLPRPBCPDABCSCOtherMESampleBCNDP}};" data-sort-type="number"BCLiberal}};" data-sort-type="number"BCReform}};" data-sort-type="number"BCPDA}};" data-sort-type="number"BCSocial Credit}};" data-sort-type="number"CAIndépendant}};" data-sort-type="number"
*Election 1996*May 28, 199639.45**41.82**9.275.740.403.32
McIntyre & MustelMay 23, 1996**43.3**40.99.90
Angus ReidMay 14, 199640**41**12
McIntyre & MustelMay 11, 1996**45**35.414.71.70.5
Angus Reidtitle=B.C. NDP, Liberals in dead heat poll showsdate=May 16, 1996page=A9work=The Gazette}}**45**3317
McIntyre & MustelMay 1, 1996{{cite newslast=McInnesfirst=Craigtitle=NDP climbs into lead in B.C. poll Support for opposition drops as new Premier pulls party past early-favourite Liberalspage=A8work=The Globe and Mail}}**44**36161.61.4
**Election called (April 30, 1996)**
Polling firmLast day
of surveySourceBCNDPBCLPRPBCPDABCSCOtherMESampleBCNDP}};" data-sort-type="number"BCLiberal}};" data-sort-type="number"BCReform}};" data-sort-type="number"BCPDA}};" data-sort-type="number"BCSocial Credit}};" data-sort-type="number"CAIndépendant}};" data-sort-type="number"
MarktrendApril 14, 1996{{cite newslast=Haukafirst=Dontitle=Poll surge heartens NDP: Premier urged to drop writ as voters sour on Liberalspage=A5work=The Province}}**38**3221
Angus ReidMarch 12, 1996**40**381631
McIntyre & MustelMarch 1996last=McInnesfirst=Craigtitle=NDP climbs into lead in B.C. poll: Support for opposition drops as new Premier pulls party past early-favourite Liberalsdate=May 3, 1996page=A8work=The Globe and Mail}}**38****38**2013
MarkTrendFebruary 23, 199629**38**27
ViewpointsJanuary 17, 1996title=New poll shows NDP closing gap on Gritsdate=January 24, 1996work=The Times Colonistpage=A4, 1}}34.9**40.6**20
MarkTrendJanuary 199628**37**27
**Glen Clark becomes leader of the NDP and Premier (February 22, 1996)**
Angus ReidDecember 12, 199535**40**22
**Mike Harcourt announces resignation as Premier and leader of the NDP (November 15, 1995)**
Angus ReidNovember 8, 199524**49**22
McIntyre & MustelMarch 1995{{cite newstitle=Poll rains on hopes of NDP in B.C. Liberals get twice the backing no matter who takes overpage=N4work=The Globe and Mail}}28**47**2123
**Jack Weisgerber becomes leader of the BC Reform Party (January 15, 1995)**
MarkTrendDecember 199425**41**28
McIntyre & MustelDecember 199431**42**20
ViewpointsNovember 199430**42**22
McIntyre & MustelSeptember 199425**41**2653
Angus ReidSeptember 199430**44**197
McIntyre & MustelJune 5, 199421**39**2875
ViewpointsJune 1994title=Two polls put B.C. Liberals on toppage=1work=Times Colonist}}30**39**243
MarktrendJune 199423**38**343
Angus ReidMarch 199425**53**70.4{{cite newslast=Hunterfirst=Justinetitle=Harcourt's popularity on rise, poll says: Liberals still first with voters, Reform party shows gainspage=A3work=The Vancouver Sun}}10
March 1994{{cite newslast=Cernetigfirst=Mirotitle=Socreds' collapse creates a political vacuumpage=A4work=The Globe and Mail}}25**38**2110
Angus ReidDecember 1993{{cite newslast=Leynefirst=Lestitle=B.C. Liberals keep big lead in Reid pollpage=1work=Times Colonist}}21**47**14
McIntyre & MustelDecember 1993last1=McLintockfirst1=Barbaralast2=Colebournfirst2=Johntitle=Campbell's Grits No. 1: NDP, Socreds eat Liberals' dustpage=A6work=The Province}}20**49**18
**PDA founded (December 5, 1993)**
Angus ReidSeptember 1993last=Hunterfirst=Justinetitle=Socred support plummets to only 14%, Reid poll showspage=A6work=The Vancouver Sun}}26**48**14
**Gordon Campbell becomes leader of the BC Liberals (September 11, 1993)**
McIntyre & MustelSeptember 1993{{cite newslast=McLintockfirst=Barbaratitle=We like Gordon Campbell best, for now: Pollpage=A5work=The Province}}27**50**19
Angus ReidJune 199327**42**22
Angus ReidMarch 10, 1993last=Baldreyfirst=Keithtitle=B.C. Liberals dive in poll: Leader thought taking party down with himpage=A1work=The Vancouver Sun}}**42**3217
Angus ReidNovember 199231**47**
Angus Reid-Southam NewsAugust 31, 1992last=O'Neilfirst=Petertitle=Honeymoon over – or blip in pollpage=A4work=The Vancouver Sun}}33**46**16
Angus Reid-Southam NewsJuly 1992**48**3211
*[Election 1991](1991-british-columbia-general-election)*October 17, 1991**40.71**33.250.18-24.271.59

Results

PartyLeaderCandidatesVotesSeats#±%Change (pp)[1991](1991-british-columbia-general-election)1996±1,582,704100.00%
Glen Clark75624,39529,00439.45{{bartable-1.26−21embackground:red}}5112Gordon Campbell75661,929175,721
**Total**513
Rejected ballots9,95120,782
Turnout1,592,65599,45571.50%3.57
Registered voters2,227,424238,370

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary BC1991.svg |1991 |File:Ternary BC1996.svg |1996

MLAs elected

Synopsis of results

Main article: Results of the 1996 British Columbia general election by riding

RidingWinning partyTurnout
including spoilt ballotsVotesparties receiving more than 1% of the popular vote, or fielding candidates in at least half of the constituencies, are listed separately. Family Coalition is also shown separately, as it received more votes than Natural Law while fielding fewer candidates.Name**[1991](1991-british-columbia-general-election)**PartyVotesShareMargin
#Margin
%NDPLibRefPDGrnSCFCPNLPIndOthTotal
AbbotsfordSCLib10,99850.24%5,59325.55%69.25%5,40510,9984,0861,12627421,889
AlberniNDPNDP7,39852.01%2,29916.16%73.32%7,3985,099823578195587214,223
Bulkley Valley-StikineNDPNDP4,77937.02%1,0538.16%71.05%4,7793,7263,47362415115512,908
Burnaby-EdmondsNDPNDP9,91246.45%1,1425.35%70.63%9,9128,7701,0081,0673871207721,341
Burnaby NorthNDPNDP8,92645.47%7663.90%72.70%8,9268,1601,081976395623119,631
Burnaby-WillingdonNDPNDP10,50145.54%8233.57%71.73%10,5019,6789991,1614587419023,061
Cariboo NorthNDPLib5,53340.87%3532.61%70.05%5,1805,5332,5611689713,539
Cariboo SouthNDPNDP6,37241.45%3222.09%70.88%6,3726,0502,68426715,373
ChilliwackLibLib9,27337.90%3,28413.42%68.57%5,9899,2733,2372325,73624,467
Columbia River-RevelstokeNDPNDP6,26442.52%1,0927.41%71.04%6,2645,1722,6872822705814,733
Comox ValleyNDPNDP13,23042.76%2,5098.11%72.86%13,23010,7213,4511,0391,29639880430,939
Coquitlam-MaillardvilleNDPNDP10,81245.91%1,3725.83%72.33%10,8129,4401,4341,28913312332023,551
Cowichan-LadysmithNDPNDP12,24949.85%4,46618.18%73.97%12,2497,7832,4341,45964524,570
Delta NorthNDPLib9,30545.50%6483.17%74.88%8,6579,3057551,38534720,449
Delta SouthLibLib13,41558.78%7,43132.56%74.55%5,98413,4151,3711,21533320030422,822
Esquimalt-MetchosinNDPNDP13,83359.54%7,06330.40%68.16%13,8336,7701,17992137660583523,232
Fort Langley-AldergroveLibLib12,00547.30%4,63618.26%76.09%7,36912,0053,4841,73747231625,383
KamloopsNDPNDP10,13544.30%8623.77%69.56%10,1359,2731,7211,24150822,878
Kamloops-North ThompsonNDPLib7,31343.43%3682.19%72.65%6,9457,3131,71040146816,837
KootenayNDPNDP6,39838.59%5113.08%68.15%6,3985,8873,71836321516,581
LangleyLibLib9,27746.62%3,48217.50%73.19%5,7959,2773,2241,19526214819,901
Malahat-Juan de FucaNDPNDP10,68648.63%3,13014.24%72.91%10,6867,5561,8871,061601988421,973
Maple Ridge-Pitt MeadowsNDPNDP12,94646.07%1,9867.07%73.30%12,94610,9601,4702,0114649015828,099
MatsquiSCLib10,90350.81%5,55425.88%68.41%5,34910,9034,40521638519921,457
Mission-KentNDPNDP8,23244.16%1,1206.01%70.92%8,2327,1121,6181,24332411318,642
NanaimoNDPNDP11,21048.75%3,53815.39%69.79%11,2107,6721,8671,33748631111322,996
Nelson-CrestonNDPNDP9,17944.90%2,74513.43%75.20%9,1796,4342,1142,2823607320,442
New WestminsterNDPNDP10,41846.69%1,8278.19%70.41%10,4188,5911,4461,12148810714222,313
North CoastNDPNDP7,29864.82%4,39939.07%63.33%7,2982,89983023211,259
North IslandNDPNDP8,38545.80%1,6048.76%69.55%8,3856,7811,77688747918,308
North Vancouver-LonsdaleNDPLib9,32546.37%2,17410.81%71.16%7,1519,3251,2411,7364179314920,112
North Vancouver-SeymourLibLib14,16556.35%7,48929.79%76.91%6,67614,1651,7371,713645105445425,139
Oak Bay-Gordon HeadNDPLib12,34046.59%6402.42%79.49%11,70012,34067593756648564711826,487
Okanagan-BoundaryNDPLib7,01138.35%270.15%75.05%6,9847,0112,81077535618316318,282
Okanagan EastLibLib9,38238.37%2,95012.06%70.24%5,1769,3823,1166,43234724,453
Okanagan-PentictonNDPLib10,66143.07%1,5696.34%73.41%9,09210,6612,9761,44446411324,750
Okanagan-VernonSCLib9,77639.06%2,2799.11%71.03%7,4979,7765,3561,83933422725,029
Okanagan WestSCLib15,57546.00%7,29421.54%71.02%8,28115,5754,8584,22551939933,857
Parksville-QualicumNDPLib13,45941.19%4831.48%77.12%12,97613,4593,9551,6694221108132,672
Peace River NorthSCRef5,29948.41%2,16219.75%60.49%1,9753,1375,29916924012510,945
Peace River SouthSCRef3,90131.89%1231.01%62.60%3,7783,7743,90118314545212,233
Port CoquitlamNDPNDP14,76746.37%1,4574.58%73.48%14,76713,3101,3351,78941712410231,844
Port Moody-Burnaby MountainNDPLib10,27244.73%4682.04%73.40%9,80410,2721,0391,40844122,964
Powell River-Sunshine CoastLibPD10,83349.05%4,74521.49%75.37%6,0883,91167710,8335185722,084
Prince George-Mount RobsonNDPNDP4,71340.67%9498.19%63.84%4,7133,7642,07678824711,588
Prince George NorthNDPNDP5,83739.58%9146.20%66.75%5,8374,9232,43089117349514,749
Prince George-OminecaSCLib5,51436.88%3082.06%67.79%5,2065,5142,9981,02320914,950
Richmond CentreLibLib9,92555.52%4,20223.51%68.67%5,7239,925614996235154386512617,876
Richmond EastLibLib10,20555.60%4,44224.20%71.62%5,76310,2057921,093235139438318,353
Richmond-StevestonLibLib9,64356.65%4,60227.04%74.36%5,0419,64355691918888384509917,022
Rossland-TrailNDPNDP8,63550.74%2,71215.94%74.99%8,6355,9231,36666043417,018
Saanich North and the IslandsLibLib13,37447.57%2,82810.06%77.89%10,54613,3741,6271,533898726328,113
Saanich SouthNDPNDP11,39446.11%5272.13%77.16%11,39410,8676761,1983438614424,708
ShuswapNDPLib8,59634.55%7272.92%72.79%7,8698,5965,6171,3252372211,01424,879
SkeenaNDPNDP5,35340.34%6354.79%70.72%5,3534,7182,74420524913,269
Surrey-CloverdaleLibLib14,29748.27%5,46618.46%74.75%8,83114,2972,6902,41736630670929,616
Surrey-Green TimbersNDPNDP10,27850.11%3,34816.32%69.40%10,2786,9301,1831,1502281142553210124120,512
Surrey-NewtonNDPNDP13,96949.54%4,18114.83%71.33%13,9699,7881,2441,8413401745774821728,198
Surrey-WhalleyNDPNDP7,39650.14%2,82019.12%65.38%7,3964,5761,302968243115708214,752
Surrey-White RockLibLib18,03958.04%9,82431.61%75.89%8,21518,0392,5191,11067722629531,081
Vancouver-BurrardNDPNDP10,64649.70%2,67112.47%62.68%10,6467,9756711,0145639345821,420
Vancouver-FraserviewNDPNDP8,77445.97%3801.99%71.94%8,7748,394Gulzar Singh Cheema was previously a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba6438152251775719,085
Vancouver-HastingsNDPNDP9,89454.01%3,54919.37%67.96%9,8946,3455688244861376418,318
Vancouver-KensingtonNDPNDP9,49650.74%1,88810.09%70.25%9,4967,60847253734913511918,716
Vancouver-KingswayNDPNDP10,52555.46%3,52818.59%71.07%10,5256,9973675182647565699818,978
Vancouver-LangaraLibLib11,03860.20%5,52330.12%68.66%5,51511,0385198393378918,337
Vancouver-Little MountainNDPLib12,03650.25%2,64611.05%68.32%9,39012,0364891,06271485829623,954
Vancouver-Mount PleasantNDPNDP11,15564.05%6,91239.69%60.50%11,1554,2433545847598611412117,416
Vancouver-Point GreyNDPLib12,63748.86%1,5636.04%71.03%11,07412,63740685768362767025,865
Vancouver-QuilchenaLibLib15,50968.68%10,53246.64%75.71%4,97715,509495827627915722,583
Victoria-Beacon HillNDPNDP11,96052.51%4,32418.98%68.17%11,9607,6366541,0931,00896647319422,778
Victoria-HillsideNDPNDP11,58553.32%4,72321.74%67.53%11,5856,8629791,2277909718821,728
West Vancouver-CapilanoLibLib16,67571.29%13,18956.38%76.63%3,48616,6751,3261,182461174474023,391
West Vancouver-GaribaldiLibLib12,32657.17%6,03828.00%73.03%6,28812,3261,430693532983615921,562
Yale-LillooetNDPNDP7,08041.06%1,1686.77%72.21%7,0805,9123,41970612417,241

: = 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 by-election gain : = other incumbents renominated : = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada : = Multiple candidates

Summary analysis

Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotalNDPLibPD
3939
32133
112
11
Total3440175
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
39342
33402
244245
1124373
2952
14
42
15
2

Seats changing hands

Of the 75 seats, 23 were open, of which 21 had members who chose not to stand for reelection, and two arose from MLAs campaigning in another riding. Voters in only 20 seats changed allegiance from the previous election in 1991:

; NDP to Liberal (12)

  • Cariboo North
  • Delta North
  • Kamloops-North Thompson
  • North Vancouver-Lonsdale
  • Oak Bay-Gordon Head
  • Okanagan-Boundary
  • Okanagan-Penticton
  • Parksville-Qualicum
  • Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain
  • Shuswap
  • Vancouver-Little Mountain
  • Vancouver-Point Grey

; Social Credit to Liberal (5)

  • Abbotsford
  • Matsqui
  • Okanagan-Vernon
  • Okanagan West
  • Prince George-Omineca

; Social Credit to Reform (2)

  • Peace River North
  • Peace River South

; Liberal to Progressive Democrat (1)

  • Powell River-Sunshine Coast
SourcePartyTotal
align="center"**NDP****Lib**align="center"**Ref**
Seats retainedIncumbents returned28
Open seats held115
Ouster of incumbents changing affiliation3
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated
Open seats gained – new MLAs5
Open seats gained – taken by MLAs previously incumbent in another riding2
Byelection gains held2
Incumbents changing allegiance
**Total**3933

References

References

  1. "B.C. Voter Participation: 1983 to 2013". [[Elections BC]].
  2. Haysom, Ian. (May 1, 1996). "B.C. calls vote after budget". Calgary Herald.
  3. (2008-05-09). "Electoral History of B.C.".
  4. McInnes, Craig. (May 25, 1996). "B.C. vote too close to call, poll finds: Key to outcome may lie in how many Reformers opt for Liberals to block a win by NDP". The Globe and Mail.
  5. McInnes, Craig. (May 13, 1996). "NDP pads lead in B.C. campaign poll: Liberal Leader still slips as voters' pick for premier despite publicity efforts last week B.C. Poll". The Globe and Mail.
  6. (May 16, 1996). "B.C. NDP, Liberals in dead heat poll shows". The Gazette.
  7. Haysom, Ian. (May 6, 1996). "No one is ready to dismiss third-place Reform party". The Ottawa Citizen.
  8. Rowlands, Bob. (May 16, 1996). "NDP, Grits in dead heat". The Times Colonist.
  9. McInnes, Craig. (May 3, 1996). "NDP climbs into lead in B.C. poll: Support for opposition drops as new Premier pulls party past early-favourite Liberals". The Globe and Mail.
  10. (March 2, 1996). "Poll shows NDP stalled". The Vancouver Sun.
  11. (January 24, 1996). "New poll shows NDP closing gap on Grits". The Times Colonist.
  12. Fong, Petti. (December 18, 1995). "New Democrats surge ahead in latest B.C. poll". The Vancouver Sun.
  13. (November 16, 1995). "B.C. premier quits after poll results". Financial Post.
  14. (November 12, 1995). "Grits likely next B.C. government". Times Colonist.
  15. Leyne, Les. (January 15, 1995). "Weisberger elected leader on first ballot". Times Colonist.
  16. Hunter, Justine. (December 15, 1994). "Voters say they still prefer Liberals". The Vancouver Sun.
  17. McLintock, Barbara. (December 14, 1996). "NDP on rise, says survey". The Province.
  18. Baldrey, Keith. (November 25, 1994). "NDP's own poll puts Liberals in lead". The Vancouver Sun.
  19. Kieran, Brian. (January 15, 1995). "NDP facing an uphill election battle". The Province.
  20. (June 10, 1994). "Support grows for B.C. Reform: Gain from Grits: Poll". The Province.
  21. Smyth, Michael. (March 19, 1994). "Poll: Grits leave NDP in distance". Times Colonist.
  22. . ["1996 Voting Results by Voting Area"](https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1996GEResults/1996-Voting-Results-by-Voting-Area.xls). *[[Elections BC]]*.
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