Canadian federal election, 1988
The 34th Canadian General Election (English 34th Canadian General Election, French 34e élection fédérale canadienne ) took place on 21 November 1988. Were elected 295 Members of the Canadian House of Commons (English House of Commons, French Chambre des Communes ). Although the ruling Progressive Conservative Party of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney lost a seven percent share of the vote, but still reached a comfortable absolute majority of votes. The Liberal Party was able to recover from the severe electoral defeat four years earlier, and their seat number to more than double.
The choice
One topic dominated the election campaign: The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States, which Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had signed in October 1988, but had not yet been ratified. Cited by John Turner Liberal Party spoke out against the Free Trade Agreement, as well as the New Democratic Party of Ed Broadbent. After several scandals, the Progressive Conservative Party seemed weakened and the Liberals made their legitimate hopes to return to power after four years of interruption.
The opinion polls showed a mixed picture, government and the opposition took turns in the lead. The Progressive Conservatives initially led a rather inconspicuous election campaign but then moved on to attack Turner's credibility. This was associated with an expensive advertising campaign for the Free Trade Agreement. The Government managed thereby to settle decisively.
While the Progressive Conservatives lost seven per cent share of the vote in, but they remained still the strongest force clear and able to defend their absolute majority. The Liberals succeeded in more than doubling the number of its mandates and thus the losses from 1980 to offset something; but for the election, it was not enough yet by far. The New Democratic Party achieved the best result in its history, in the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan, she was even the strongest force.
The turnout was 75.3 %.