Canadian federal election, 1935

Infobox Election
election_name = Canadian federal election, 1935
country = Canada
type = parliamentary
ongoing =no
party_colour =
previous_election = Canadian federal election, 1930
previous_year = 1930
next_election = Canadian federal election, 1940
next_year = 1940
seats_for_election = 245 seats in the 18th Canadian Parliament
election_date = October 14, 1935
next_mps = 19th Canadian Parliament
previous_mps = 17th Canadian Parliament

colour1 =
leader1 =William Lyon Mackenzie King
leader_since1 =1919
party1 =Liberal Party of Canada
leaders_seat1 =Prince Albert
last_election1 =90
seats1 =173
seat_change1 =+83
popular_vote1 =1,967,839
percentage1 =44.68%
swing1 =+0.65%

colour2 =
leader2 =Richard Bennett
leader_since2 =1927
party2 =Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
leaders_seat2 =Calgary West
last_election2 =134
seats2 =39
seat_change2 =-95
popular_vote2 =1,290,671
percentage2 =29.84%
swing2 =-18.48%

colour4 =
leader4 =John Horne Blackmore
leader_since4 =1935
party4 =Social Credit Party of Canada
leaders_seat4 =Lethbridge
last_election4 =-
seats4 =17
seat_change4 =-
popular_vote4 =180,679
percentage4 =4.10%
swing4 =-

colour5 =
leader5 =J. S. Woodsworth
leader_since5 =1932
party5 =Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
leaders_seat5 =Winnipeg North Centre
last_election5 =-
seats5 =7
seat_change5 =-
popular_vote5 =410,125
percentage5 =9.31%
swing5 =-

map_

map_size =
map_caption =

title = PM
before_election = Richard Bennett
before_party = Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
after_election = William Lyon Mackenzie King
after_party = Liberal Party of Canada

The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.

The central issue was the economy, which was still in the depths of the Great Depression. Bennett, in office since the 1930 election, had done little to stimulate the economy during his first few years, believing that a policy of high tariffs and trade within the British Empire would correct the depression. In the last months of his time in office, he reversed his position, however, copying the popular New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt in the United States. Upset about high unemployment and inaction by the federal government, voters were unwilling to allow the Conservatives to continue to govern, despite their change of policy.

The Conservatives were also suffering severe internal divisions. During his first years in office, Bennett had alienated those in his party who supported intervention in the economy. His last minute conversion to interventionism alienated the rest of the party. Former cabinet minister H.H. Stevens left to form the Reconstruction Party. Senior minister Sir Joseph Flavelle announced he would be supporting the Liberals.

Voters opted for Mackenzie King's promise of mild reforms to restore economic health. The Liberals crushed the Tories, winning 171 seats to the Conservatives' 39, the worst ever performance by the Tories until their collapse in 1993. The Liberal Party would continue to hold power until 1957.

The 1935 election was also important in it saw the final demise of the Progressive Party and the United Farmers of Alberta. Two new movements rose out of the west, however. The new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a social democratic party, first competed in this election and won seven seats, promising social reform. The Social Credit Party of Canada was even more successful, capturing seventeen seats on its platform of monetary reform.

National results

Notes:

* The party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

x - less than 0.005% of the popular vote

Results by province

*xx - less than 0.05% of the popular vote

ee also

*18th Canadian Parliament