Jean Chrétien in 2008.

This article is the Electoral history of Jean Chrétien, the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada.

A liberal, Chrétien served three terms as prime minister (1993 to 2003), having decisively defeated Prime Minister Kim Campbell in the 1993 general election. He was the first prime minister to win three consecutive majority governments since Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

Chrétien led the Liberal Party of Canada in three general elections (1993, 1997 and 2000). He resigned the party leadership in 2003 and was succeeded by Paul Martin.

Chrétien stood for election to the House of Commons of Canada twelve times and was elected each time (eleven general elections and one by-election). He served continuously in the House from 1963 to 1986, when he resigned over disagreements with Liberal leader John Turner. After winning the Liberal leadership in 1990, he re-entered the Commons by a by-election, and was re-elected three more times, until he retired in 2004.

Chrétien stood for election as leader of the Liberal Party twice. He lost in 1984 to Turner, but he won in 1990, succeeding Turner as Liberal leader.

Summary

Canada had ten provinces and two territories at the beginning of Chrétien's term as Prime Minister.
Canada had ten provinces and three territories at the end of Chrétien's term as Prime Minister.

Chrétien ranks fifth out of twenty-three prime ministers for time in office, serving one term of ten years and thirty-eight days.[1]

Chrétien was the sixth of eight prime ministers from Quebec, the others being Sir John Abbott, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Louis St. Laurent, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau. He was also the fourth of five francophone prime ministers, the others being Laurier, St. Laurent, Pierre Trudeau, and Justin Trudeau.

A lawyer, Chrétien got involved in politics at an early age. He was first elected to the House of Commons at age 30, in the federal election of 1963. He was appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Lester Pearson in 1967 and remained in Cabinet until 1984 under Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and John Turner (except for the short Clark government (1979–80)).[2][3]

Chrétien led the Liberals in three general elections, winning each time. He is the first prime minister since Sir Wilfrid Laurier to win three back-to-back majority governments.

Chrétien stood for election to the House of Commons twelve times, all but once for the riding of Saint-Maurice, which included his home town of Shawinigan. He won more than a majority of the votes in all but two elections, and often had strong majorities. Chrétien was a Member of Parliament from 1963 to 1986, when he resigned over disagreements with Liberal leader John Turner.[3] In 1990, after winning the Liberal leadership, he was elected to the Commons in a by-election for the riding of Beauséjour in New Brunswick. He was re-elected in Saint-Maurice in the next three elections, until he retired in 2004. His total service in Parliament was 35 years, 10 months, and 25 days.

Chrétien stood for election as leader of the Liberal Party twice, in 1984 and 1990. In 1984, he came in second, behind Turner. In 1990, after Turner's resignation, he won the leadership against his principal opponent, Paul Martin. Although Chrétien was successful in leading the party in three general elections, Martin and his supporters gradually undercut Chrétien's leadership, leading to Chrétien's retirement late in 2003. He was succeeded by Martin as prime minister and Liberal leader.[3]

Chrétien remained a Member of Parliament until the 2004 general election, when he retired from politics.

Federal general elections: 1993, 1997, and 2000

Chrétien led the Liberal Party in three general elections: 1993, 1997 and 2000. He won majority governments each time.

Federal election, 1993

In his first general election as leader, Chrétien won a majority government and in the process reduced the Progressive Conservatives from a majority to just two seats in the Commons.

Canadian Federal Election, 1993 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Jean Chrétien117741.2%
Bloc Québécois Lucien Bouchard25413.5%
Reform Preston Manning5218.7%
  New Democratic PartyAudrey McLaughlin96.9%
  Progressive ConservativeKim Campbell3216.0%
  Independent10.7%
Total 295 97.0%4
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of a third party when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Prime Minister when election was called; not a Member of Parliament after the election.
4 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 1997

In his second general election, Chrétien again won a majority government, albeit with a reduced number of seats, against a fractured set of opposition parties.

Canadian Federal Election, 1997 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Jean Chrétien115538.5%
Reform Preston Manning26019.4%
Bloc Québécois Gilles Duceppe34410.7%
  New Democratic PartyAlexa McDonough2111.1%
  Progressive ConservativeJean Charest2018.8%
  Independent10.5%
Total 301 99.0%4
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of a third party when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; leader of a third party after the election.
4 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 2000

In his third general election, Chrétien won another majority government with an increased number of seats, against a number of opposition parties.

Canadian Federal Election, 2000 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Jean Chrétien117240.9%
  Canadian AllianceStockwell Day26625.5%
Bloc Québécois Gilles Duceppe3810.7%
  New Democratic PartyAlexa McDonough138.5%
  Progressive ConservativeJoe Clark1212.2%
Total 301 97.8%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal constituency elections: 1963 to 1984; 1990 to 2000

Chrétien stood for election to the House of Commons twelve times. He was elected each time, often with substantial majorities.

1963 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche

Federal Election, 1963: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes Jean Chrétien16,35845.7%
Social Credit X Gérard Lamy14,41440.3%
  Progressive ConservativeBruno Pellerin3,0188.4%
  New Democratic PartyMartial La Forest1,9835.5%
Total35,77399.9%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1965 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche

Federal Election, 1965: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien14,39544.1%
Ralliement créditiste Alphonse Poulin7,42922.8%
  New Democratic PartyC. Liddle5,66917.4%
  Progressive ConservativeLouis Lizotte5,11515.7%
Total32,608100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice—Laflèche

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

The riding of Saint-Maurice—Laflèche was abolished in the re-distribution of 1966.

1968 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1968: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien13,89544.5%
Ralliement créditiste Alphonse Poulin12,19839.1%
  Progressive ConservativeGuy Germain4,57014.6%
  New Democratic PartyJean-Guy LaLancette5501.8%
Total31,213100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1972 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1972: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien19,84056.7%
Social Credit Guy Germain11,36332.5%
  Progressive ConservativeAntonio Genest2,2276.4%
  New Democratic PartyRobert McLeod1,0322.9%
  Non-affiliatedPierre Drolet5521.6%
Total35,014100.1%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1974 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1974: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien20,46565.3%
Social Credit Antonio Genest5,47117.4%
  Progressive ConservativeRichard Durand3,50111.2%
  New Democratic PartyClaude De Carufel1,4424.6%
  Non-affiliatedPierre Rousseau4821.5%
Total31,361100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1979 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1979: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien27,24371.1%
Social Credit Pierre-André Hamel6,83717.8%
  Progressive ConservativeRoger Armand Charbonneau2,7957.3%
  New Democratic PartyRobert Deschamps9522.5%
Union populaire Pierre Chénard3510.9%
Marxist–Leninist Normand Beaudoin1600.4%
Total38,338100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

1980 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1980: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien27,35676.7%
  Progressive ConservativeRoger Armand Charbonneau2,5167.1%
Social Credit Normand LaFrenière2,3696.6%
  New Democratic PartyEdgar Paquette1,9635.5%
Rhinoceros J. F. le Calife De Vernal1,2063.4%
Union populaire Lionel C. LaPorte1610.5%
Marxist–Leninist Normand Beaudoin950.3%
Total35,666100.1%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1984 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1984: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien24,05058.9%
  Progressive ConservativeRoger Armand Charbonneau14,46835.4%
  New Democratic PartyDanielle Delbeque1,4333.5%
  Parti nationaliste du QuébecAlain Déry8922.2%
Total40,843100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

Note: Chrétien resigned his seat effective February 27, 1986.

1990 Federal By-Election: Beauséjour

The incumbent, Fernand Robichaud, resigned his seat on September 24, 1990, after Chrétien was elected party leader, to allow Chrétien an opportunity to enter the House of Commons.

Federal By-election, December 10, 1990: Beauséjour, New Brunswick
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes Jean Chrétien17,33251.5%
  New Democratic PartyGuy Cormier12,58737.4%
Confederation of Regions Margie Bowes-Legood2,7838.3%
  IndependentAlonzo LeBlanc4501.3%
Christian Heritage May Boudreau-Padersen2860.8%
Rhinoceros Bryan Gold2460.7%
Total33,684100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Beauséjour

Yes Elected.

1993 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1993: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes Jean Chrétien25,20054.1%
Bloc Québécois Claude Rompré18,89640.5%
  Progressive ConservativePauline B. Daneault1,9094.1%
Natural Law Christian Simard3720.8%
  New Democratic PartyRobert Des Champs2360.5%
Total46,613100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.

1997 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 1997: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien22,26647.3%
Bloc Québécois Yves Duhaime20,66443.9%
  Progressive ConservativeDenis Vincent3,6577.8%
  New Democratic PartyEric Hébert4891.0%
Total47,076100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

2000 Federal Election: Saint-Maurice

Federal Election, 2000: Saint-Maurice, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote %
Liberal Yes X Jean Chrétien23,34554.1%
Bloc Québécois François Marchand16,82139.0%
  Canadian AllianceJean-Guy Mercier1,4613.4%
  Progressive ConservativePierre Blais9662.2%
  New Democratic PartyRaymond Chase3590.8%
Communist Sylvain Archambault2230.5%
Total43,175100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Saint-Maurice

Yes Elected.
X Incumbent.

Liberal Party Leadership Conventions: 1984, 1990

Chrétien contested the Liberal leadership twice. He lost in 1984 to Turner, who then led the Liberal party in the next two general elections. Turner retired after the loss in the 1988 general election, and Chrétien won the leadership convention held in 1990.

1984 Leadership Convention

Trudeau announced his retirement early in 1984. Chrétien entered the leadership election but lost on the second ballot to Turner.

Liberal Party Leadership Convention, June 16, 1984
Voting results by ballot
Candidate First Ballot Second Ballot
Votes cast  % Votes cast  %
John Turner 1,593 46.4% 1,862 54.4%
Jean Chrétien 1,067 31.1% 1,368 40.0%
Don Johnston 278 8.1% 192 5.6%
John Roberts
185
Withdrew after first ballot.
5.4%
Mark MacGuigan
135
Withdrew after first ballot.
3.9%
John Munro
93
Withdrew after first ballot.
2.7%
Eugene Whelan
84
Eliminated after first ballot.
2.4%
Total 3,435 100.0% 3,422 100.0%
Source: CPAC – 1984 Liberal Convention

1990 Leadership Convention

Following the Liberal defeat in the 1988 general election, Turner announced his retirement. At the leadership convention held in 1990, Chrétien won on the first ballot, defeating his principal opponent, Paul Martin.

Liberal Leadership Convention, June 23, 1990
Voting results by ballot
Candidate First Ballot
Votes cast  %
Jean Chrétien 2,652 56.9%
Paul Martin 1,176 25.2%
Sheila Copps 499 10.7%
Tom Wappel 267 5.7%
John Nunziata 64 1.4%
Total 4,658 99.9%1
Source: CPAC – 1990 Liberal Leadership Convention

1 Rounding error.

See also

References

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