Manitoba general election, 1988

The Manitoba general election of April 26, 1988 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government. The Progressive Conservative Party won 25 seats, against 20 for the Liberal Party and 12 for the New Democratic Party.

Map of Election Results

Background

The election was called unexpectedly in early 1988, after disgruntled NDP backbencher Jim Walding voted against his government's budget on March 9, 1988. Walding's defection in an almost evenly-divided house resulted in Howard Pawley's NDP government being defeated, 28 votes to 27. As the budget vote was a confidence measure, the Pawley ministry was forced to resign and call new elections two years ahead of schedule.

Popular support for the NDP was at an historically low level when the election was called, due to soaring Autopac rates and a taxpayer-funded bailout of the Manitoba Telephone System. The Pawley government's support for the Meech Lake Accord was also unpopular in some circles. One internal poll had the party at only 6% support, and there were concerns that they could be reduced to only two or three seats in the 57-seat legislature. Pawley resigned as party leader, and Gary Doer narrowly defeated Leonard Harapiak to replace him at a party convention held during the campaign.^[1][2]

Doer's selection did not improve the NDP's chances of forming government, though they managed to stabilize at around 20% in the polls. Many traditional NDP voters, especially in the city of Winnipeg, abandoned the party to support the Liberals in this cycle.

Issues

The Progressive Conservatives, led by Gary Filmon, ran on a platform of saving revenue by selling public corporations, including ManOil and Manfor. Filmon also promised to scrap the province's Public Investment Corporation entirely. The Liberals also promised more prudent fiscal management, but did not propose to sell these crown corporations. Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs was also known as a prominent opponent of the Meech Lake Accord.

The NDP, which retained a support base in the north of the province, promised to create northern training centres in Thompson and The Pas.

The national abortion debate also surfaced in this campaign, although none of the major parties put forward a clear position on the issue. Although Filmon was personally pro-life, the Progressive Conservatives were unwilling to propose specific action on the subject, and withdrew from an early promise to close Henry Morgentaler's private clinic. The Liberals favoured counselling, including a focus on adoption. The NDP emphasized prevention and support services for poorer women who choose to continue their pregnancies.

The small Progressive Party promised balanced budgets, opposed affirmative action, and was against government interference in negotiations between trade unions and management.

The Campaign

The Progressive Conservatives entered the election with a significant lead in the polls, but saw their support undercut by the Liberals in the campaign's final weeks. Before the party leaders' debate, a Winnipeg Free Press poll indicated that 40% of voters considered Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs as the best choice for Premier, with 24% favouring Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon and 19% favouring NDP leader Gary Doer. 17% were undecided.

Carstairs performed well in the leaders' debate, and did much to improve her party's popularity as the campaign reached its end.

Results

The Liberal Party performed well in Winnipeg, winning 19 out of 29 seats in that city and picking up ridings from both the NDP and Tories. The party won only one seat outside Winnipeg, however, in the urban community of Selkirk.

The Progressive Conservatives dominated the rural south of the province, and made some inroads into NDP territory immediately north of Winnipeg. The party also won six seats in Winnipeg, and took the northern seat of Swan River from the NDP.

The New Democrats managed to retain four seats in Winnipeg, five in the north, the mid-northern ridings of Dauphin and Interlake, and Brandon East in the south of the province.

Exit polls later revealed that "new voters" (ie. immigrants and first-time voters) had polled strongly for the Liberals in Winnipeg.

Gary Filmon was named Premier, and the Progressive Conservatives were able to form government through an unofficial arrangement with the NDP. It may be noted that both parties were concerned about a Liberal victory in the next election.

Party		Party Leader	# of candidates	Seats			Popular Vote
				Before1	Elected	% Change	#	%	Change
	Progressive Conservative	Gary Filmon	57	26	25	-3.85%	206,180	38.37%	-2.19
	Liberal	Sharon Carstairs	57	1	20	+1900%	190,913	35.52%	+21.60
	New Democratic	Gary Doer	57	30	12	-60.0%	126,954	23.62%	-17.88
	Confederation of Regions	Dennis Heeney	14	-	-	-	7,100	1.32%	-1.12
	Western Independence	Fred Cameron	16	-	-	-	2,442	0.45%	+0.45
	Progressive	Sidney Green	6	-	-	-	975	0.18%	-0.33
	Libertarian	Clancy Smith	6	-	-	-	501	0.09%	+0.09
	Communist	Lorne Robson	5	-	-	-	261	0.05%	-0.03
	Independent		11	2	-	-100%	2,084	0.39%	-0.46
Total			229	57	57	-	537,410	100%

¹ "Before" refers to standings in the Legislature at dissolution, and not to the results of the previous election. These numbers therefore reflect changes in party standings as a result of by-elections and members crossing the floor.

Preceded by 1986 Manitoba election

List of Manitoba elections

Succeeded by 1990 Manitoba election

See also

• List of Manitoba political parties

Riding results

Party key:

• PC: Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
• L: Manitoba Liberal Party
• NDP: New Democratic Party of Manitoba
• P: Progressive Party of Manitoba
• Comm: Communist Party of Canada - Manitoba
• WIP: Western Independence Party of Manitoba
• CoR: Confederation of Regions Party of Manitoba
• Lbt: Libertarian Party of Manitoba
• Ind: Independent

(x) denotes incumbent.

Arthur:

• (x)Jim Downey (PC) 4359
• Douglas Mosset (L) 2171
• Ross Meggison (CoR) 863
• Goldwyn Jones (NDP) 575

Assiniboia:

• Ed Mandrake (L) 3918
• (x)Ric Nordman (PC) 3731
• Robert Johannson (NDP) 1031
• Linda Cress (WIP) 166

Brandon East:

• (x)Leonard Evans (NDP) 3512
• Jim Armstrong (PC) 2859
• Lois Fjeldsted (L) 2260
• Garth Shurvell (Ind) 208

Brandon West:

• (x)James McCrae (PC) 5039
• John Worley (L) 3618
• Ishbel Solvason (NDP) 2313

1988 Manitoba provincial election : Burrows edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-
	Liberal	William Chornopyski	3,114	42.27
	New Democratic Party	Doug Martindale	3,005	40.79
	Progressive Conservative	Allan Yap	1,040	14.12
	Independent	Michael Kibzey	129	1.75
	Communist	Lorne Robson	79	1.07
Total valid votes			7,367	100.00
Rejected ballots			45
Turnout			7,412	66.05
Electors on lists			11,222

Charleswood:

• (x)Jim Ernst (PC) 6670
• Shari Nelson (L) 5850
• Bruno Zimmer (NDP) 1180
• David Hollins (Ind) 158

Churchill:

• (x)Jay Cowan (NDP) 2396
• Wayne Wittmeier (PC) 1019
• George Kernaghan (L) 714

1988 Manitoba provincial election : Concordia edit
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	+/-
	New Democratic Party	(x)Gary Doer	3,702	37.71	-16.66
	Liberal	Barbara Blomeley	2,948	30.03	+19.11
	Progressive Conservative	Vic Rubiletz	2,634	26.83	-5.42
	Independent	Bill Seman	358	3.65
	Western Independence	Fred Cameron	114	1.16	-1.29
	Progressive	Charles Henry	61	0.62
Total valid votes			9,817	100.00
Rejected votes			10
Turnout			9,827	76.43	-10.21
Electors on the lists			12,857

Dauphin:

• (x)John Plohman (NDP) 3983
• Russell Secord (PC) 3435
• Peter Rampton (L) 2475

Ellice:

• Avis Gray (L) 3081
• (x)Harvey Smith (NDP) 2457
• Alex Arenson (PC) 1538
• Susan Caine (WIP) 109

Elmwood:

• (x)Jim Maloway (NDP) 3012
• Ed Price (L) 2839
• Frank Syms (PC) 1920
• Russ Letkeman (Lbt) 113

Emerson:

• (x)Albert Driedger (PC) 5027
• Martin Stadler (L) 2615
• Kurt Penner (NDP) 1407
• Jake Wall (CoR) 366

Flin Flon:

• (x)Jerry Storie (NDP) 2948
• Gordon Mitchell (PC) 1563
• Brian King (L) 867

Fort Garry:

• Laurie Evans (L) 6055
• (x)Charlie Birt (PC) 5173
• Brian Pannell (NDP) 1553
• Ivan Merritt (WIP) 173
• Millie Lamb (Comm) 45

Fort Rouge:

• Jim Carr (L) 5127
• (x)Roland Penner (NDP) 2912
• Robert Haier (PC) 2303
• Gordon Pratt (P) 75
• Dennis Owens (Lbt) 66
• Nigel Hanrahan (Comm) 46

Gimli:

• Ed Helwer (PC) 4716
• (x)John Bucklaschuk (NDP) 3352
• Morley Murray (L) 2347
• Eugene Klochko (WIP) 261

Gladstone:

• (x)Charlotte Oleson (PC) 3760
• Cordell Barker (L) 2132
• Brian Hildebrandt (CoR) 759
• Fred Tait (NDP) 509

Inkster:

• Kevin Lamoureux (L) 4466
• (x)Don Scott (NDP) 4098
• Resty Taruc (PC) 2151
• Nancy Watkins (Comm) 64

Interlake:

• (x)Bill Uruski (NDP) 3057
• Ed Dandeneau (PC) 2810
• Clyde Sigurdson (L) 1777

Kildonan:

• Gulzar Cheema (L) 5653
• John Baluta (PC) 5068
• (x)Marty Dolin (NDP) 4542
• Sidney Green (P) 445
• Tracy Fuhr (WIP) 133

Kirkfield Park:

• (x)Gerrie Hammond (PC) 5269
• Irene Friesen (L) 5014
• Hamish Gavin (NDP) 868

Lac du Bonnet:

• Darren Praznik (PC) 3773
• (x)Clarence Baker (NDP) 2911
• Peter Raymond (L) 2411

Lakeside:

• (x)Harry Enns (PC) 4475
• Delmer Nott (L) 2828
• Eduard Hiebert (NDP) 972
• Cam Baldwin (CoR) 864

La Verendrye:

• (x)Helmut Pankratz (PC) 4377
• C.E. Goertzen (L) 2948
• Walter McDowell (NDP) 708

Logan:

• (x)Maureen Hemphill (NDP) 2646
• John Dobbin (L) 1660
• Linda Thomson (PC) 1085
• Barry Marchand (Ind) 81
• Frank Goldspink (Comm) 46

Minnedosa:

• Harold Gilleshammer (PC) 3669
• Terry Drebit (L) 2496
• Susan Proven (NDP) 1476
• Dennis Heeney (CoR) 820

Morris:

• (x)Clayton Manness (PC) 4578
• Barbara Plas (L) 1832
• Raymond Switzer (CoR) 597
• Clifford Hodgins (NDP) 449
• Jeffrey Plas (Ind) 57

Niakwa:

• Herold Driedger (L) 8576
• (x)Abe Kovnats (PC) 7222
• Stan Williams (NDP) 2026
• Lyle Cruickshank (WIP) 237

Osborne
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Reg Alcock	4,334	44.90
	New Democratic Party	(x)Muriel Smith	2,753	28.52
	Progressive Conservative	Rosemary Vodrey	2,421	25.08
	Libertarian	Clancy Smith	145	1.50
Total valid votes			9,653	100.00
Rejected ballots			38
Turnout			9,691	78.85

Pembina:

• (x)Don Orchard (PC) 6043
• Marilyn Skubovius (L) 2171
• Abe Giesbrecht (CoR) 499
• Hans Wittich (NDP) 382

Portage La Prairie:

• (x)Ed Connery (PC) 4020
• Darlene Hamm (L) 2812
• Bill Zettler (NDP) 722
• Irene Armishaw (CoR) 603

Radisson:

• Allan Patterson (L) 4918
• (x)Gerard Lecuyer (NDP) 3113
• John Samborski (PC) 3049

Rhineland:

• Jack Penner (PC) 5166
• Walter Hebert (L) 1059
• Reg Loeppky (NDP) 341

Riel:

• (x)Gerry Ducharme (PC) 4289
• Chris Sigurdson (L) 3965
• Bob Ages (NDP) 1834
• John Hiebert (CoR) 121
• Neil Knight (WIP) 75

River East:

• (x)Bonnie Mitchelson (PC) 7563
• Morley Golden (L) 3805
• Michael Dyck (NDP) 3019
• Niel Friesen (WIP) 233

River Heights
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	(x)Sharon Carstairs	6,620	59.69
	Progressive Conservative	Bob Vandewater	3,373	30.41
	New Democratic Party	Harry Daniels	1,036	9.34
	Libertarian	Jim Weidman	62	0.55
Total valid votes			11,091	100.00
Rejected ballots			17
Turnout			11,108	87.07

Roblin-Russell:

• (x)Len Derkach (PC) 4030
• Neil Stewart (L) 2513
• Dennis Trinder (NDP) 1973

Rossmere:

• Harold Neufeld (PC) 3950
• (x)Vic Schroeder (NDP) 3424
• Cecilia Connelly (L) 2834
• Chris Dondo (WIP) 146

Rupertsland:

• (x)Elijah Harper (NDP) 2206
• Joe Guy Wood (PC) 1419
• Maurice Berens (L) 638

St. Boniface:

• Neil Gaudry (L) 5743
• Lorette Beaudry-Ferland (NDP) 2061
• Guy Savoie (PC) 1586

St. James:

• Paul Edwards (L) 3939
• Jae Eadie (PC) 3360
• Allan MacDonald (NDP) 2171
• Fred Debrecen (CoR) 137
• Charles Lamont (P) 74
• Dennis Rice (Lbt) 69
• Merle Hartlin (WIP) 62

St. Johns:

• (x)Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) 3092
• Ruth Oberman (L) 2480
• Lynn Filbert (PC) 1222
• Cyril Fogel (P) 171
• Roy Price (Ind) 68
• Gerald Zucawich (Ind) 35

St. Norbert:

• John Angus (L) 6073
• (x)Gerry Mercier (PC) 5695
• Bennetta Benson (NDP) 1460

St. Vital:

• Bob Rose (L) 4431
• Paul Herriot (PC) 3614
• Gerri Unwin (NDP) 2282
• Katharina Cameron (WIP) 123
• Trevor Wiebe (Lbt) 46

Ste. Rose:

• (x)Glen Cummings (PC) 3723
• Brent Johnson (L) 2631
• Gerald Follows (NDP) 1464
• David Mutch (CoR) 249

Selkirk:

• Gwen Charles (L) 3821
• Terry Sargeant (NDP) 3637
• Eugene Kinaschuk (PC) 3138
• Ruth VanKoeveringe (WIP) 214

Seven Oaks:

• Mark Minenko (L) 3885
• (x)Eugene Kostyra (NDP) 3553
• George Finkle (PC) 1636

Springfield:

• (x)Gilles Roch (PC) 5815
• Lance Laufer (L) 3806
• Andy Anstett (NDP) 3749

Sturgeon Creek:

• Iva Yeo (L) 4833
• (x)Frank Johnston (PC) 4174
• Len Sawatsky (NDP) 903
• Hugh Buskell (CoR) 158
• Nigel Hanrahan (Comm) 27

Swan River:

• Parker Burrell (PC) 4115
• (x)Leonard Harapiak (NDP) 3446
• Don Dennis (L) 653

The Pas:

• (x)Harry Harapiak (NDP) 3221
• Bruce Unfried (PC) 1584
• Scott Gray (L) 1426

Thompson:

• (x)Steve Ashton (NDP) 2992
• Ken Collin (PC) 1989
• Janice Pronteau (L) 1240

Transcona:

• Richard Kozak (L) 3900
• (x)Wilson Parasiuk (NDP) 3191
• Bill Omiucke (PC) 2270
• Ray Hargreaves (Ind) 121

Turtle Mountain:

• (x)Denis Rocan (PC) 3208
• Ross McMillan (L) 2610
• Rod Stephenson (Ind) 767
• Harold Parsonage (CoR) 476
• John Miller (NDP) 446
• Bill Harrison (Ind) 102
• William Comer (WIP) 87

Tuxedo:

• (x)Gary Filmon (PC) 6427
• Jasper McKee (L) 6303
• Catherine Hofman (NDP) 714
• R. EisBrenner (WIP) 149

Virden:

• (x)Glen Findlay (PC) 4459
• Bill Davison (politician) (L) 2043
• Louise Leask (NDP) 967
• Alex Gabrielle (CoR) 588
• Terry Drul (WIP) 160

Wolseley:

• Harold Taylor (L) 3618
• (x)Myrna Phillips (NDP) 3112
• Kirk Stanley (PC) 1579
• Derek Shettler (P) 149

Post-election changes

Gilles Roch (PC) becomes (L) on September 8, 1988.

References

1. ^ Rastin, Sandra; Reshef, Yonatan (2003). Unions in the time of revolution: government restructuring in Alberta and Ontario. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 254–5. ISBN 0-8020-8753-1. http://books.google.ca/books?id=kPuTjMvKYxcC&pg=PA254. 
2. ^ Adams, Christopher P. (2008). Politics in Manitoba: parties, leaders, and voters. [Winnipeg]: University of Manitoba Press. ISBN 0-88755-704-X. http://books.google.ca/books?id=mLQ3Nhdnv5sC&pg=PA126.