Quebec general election, 1966
Encyclopedia
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly
of Quebec
, Canada
. The Union Nationale (UN), led by Daniel Johnson, Sr
, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage
.
In terms of the number of seats won, the election was one of the closest in recent history, with the UN winning 56 seats to the Liberals' 50. Generally, Quebec's first past the post electoral system tends to produce strong disparities in the number of seats won even if the popular vote is fairly close. The Liberals won 6.5% more votes but still won fewer seats because the system favoured rural candidates.
The victory of the UN over the popular Lesage government was a surprise to many observers. Johnson's campaign was likely helped by his position that Quebec should get a better deal within the Canadian confederation, or should separate if it is unable to do so. In this sense, the forces of Quebec nationalism
unleashed by the Quiet Revolution
begun by Lesage may have contributed to his defeat.
The pro-independence Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
and Ralliement national
obtained a combined total of just under 9% of the popular vote (but no seats).
This was the last election for the "Legislative Assembly of Quebec". In 1968, legislation was passed to replace the bicameral
system of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of Quebec
with a single National Assembly of Quebec
.
Daniel Johnson died in office in 1968, and was succeeded by Jean-Jacques Bertrand
. Johnson's sons, Pierre-Marc
and Daniel Jr
each later served as Premier of Quebec
.
Note:
* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Union Nationale (UN), led by Daniel Johnson, Sr
Daniel Johnson, Sr
Francis Daniel Johnson, Sr., PC was a Quebec politician and the 20th Premier of Quebec from 1966 until his death in 1968.-Background:...
, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
.
In terms of the number of seats won, the election was one of the closest in recent history, with the UN winning 56 seats to the Liberals' 50. Generally, Quebec's first past the post electoral system tends to produce strong disparities in the number of seats won even if the popular vote is fairly close. The Liberals won 6.5% more votes but still won fewer seats because the system favoured rural candidates.
The victory of the UN over the popular Lesage government was a surprise to many observers. Johnson's campaign was likely helped by his position that Quebec should get a better deal within the Canadian confederation, or should separate if it is unable to do so. In this sense, the forces of Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
unleashed by the Quiet Revolution
Quiet Revolution
The Quiet Revolution was the 1960s period of intense change in Quebec, Canada, characterized by the rapid and effective secularization of society, the creation of a welfare state and a re-alignment of politics into federalist and separatist factions...
begun by Lesage may have contributed to his defeat.
The pro-independence Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale
The Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale was a political organization dedicated to the promotion of Quebec national independence from Canada.-History:...
and Ralliement national
Ralliement national
Ralliement national was a political party that advocated the political independence of Quebec from Canada in the 1960s.It was led by former créditiste Gilles Grégoire...
obtained a combined total of just under 9% of the popular vote (but no seats).
This was the last election for the "Legislative Assembly of Quebec". In 1968, legislation was passed to replace the bicameral
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
system of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of Quebec
Legislative Council of Quebec
From 1867 until 1968, the Legislative Council of Quebec was the unelected upper house of the bicameral legislature in the Canadian province of Quebec...
with a single National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
.
Daniel Johnson died in office in 1968, and was succeeded by Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Jean-Jacques Bertrand was the 21st Premier of Quebec, Canada, from October 2, 1968 to May 12, 1970. He led the Union Nationale party.-Member of the legislature:...
. Johnson's sons, Pierre-Marc
Pierre-Marc Johnson
Pierre-Marc Johnson, , is a Quebec lawyer, physician and politician. He was the 24th Premier of Quebec from October 3 to December 12, 1985.- Early background :...
and Daniel Jr
Daniel Johnson, Jr
Daniel Johnson, Jr., is a former Quebec politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Quebec and was the 25th Premier of the Province of Quebec, Canada for most of 1994....
each later served as Premier of Quebec
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
.
Results
| Party | Party leader | # of candidates |
Seats | Popular vote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 Quebec general election, 1962 The Quebec general election of 1962 was held on November 14, 1962, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, won re-election, defeating the Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson, Sr..In an unusual move,... |
Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change |
Union Nationale | Daniel Johnson, Sr Daniel Johnson, Sr Francis Daniel Johnson, Sr., PC was a Quebec politician and the 20th Premier of Quebec from 1966 until his death in 1968.-Background:... |
108 | 31 | 56 | +80.6% | 948,928 | 40.82% | -1.3% |
Liberal | Jean Lesage Jean Lesage Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966... |
108 | 63 | 50 | -20.6% | 1,099,435 | 47.29% | -9.1% |
Independent/Other | 39 | 1 | 2 | +100% | 72,751 | 3.13% | +1.7% | |
| RIN Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale The Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale was a political organization dedicated to the promotion of Quebec national independence from Canada.-History:... |
Pierre Bourgault Pierre Bourgault Pierre Bourgault was a French Canadian politician and essayist of Breton origin, as well as an actor and journalist from Quebec, Canada. He is most famous as a public speaker who advocated sovereignty for Quebec from Canada.- Profile :Bourgault was born in East Angus in the Estrie region of Quebec... |
73 | * | - | * | 129,045 | 5.55% | * |
Ralliement national Ralliement national Ralliement national was a political party that advocated the political independence of Quebec from Canada in the 1960s.It was led by former créditiste Gilles Grégoire... |
Gilles Grégoire Gilles Grégoire Gilles Grégoire was a co-founder of the Parti Québécois.Born in Quebec City, the son of Joseph-Ernest Grégoire, he was elected in 1962 to the House of Commons with the Ralliement des créditistes... |
90 | * | - | * | 74,670 | 3.21% | * | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 418 | 95 | 108 | +13.7% | 2,324,829 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note:
See also
- List of Quebec premiers
- Politics of QuebecPolitics of QuebecThe politics of Quebec are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Quebec City, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
- Timeline of Quebec historyTimeline of Quebec historyThis article presents a detailed timeline of Quebec history. Events taking place outside Quebec, for example in English Canada, the United States, Britain or France, may be included when they are considered to have had a significant impact on Quebec's history....
- List of Quebec political parties
- 28th National Assembly of Quebec28th National Assembly of QuebecThe 28th National Assembly of Quebec is the provincial legislature in Quebec, Canada that existed from June 5, 1966 to April 29, 1970. The Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson and Jean-Jacques Bertrand were in power for the last time ever before eventually been dissolved in the 1980s. Bertrand...