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Election Highlights by Party
The following highlights some of the important successes and failures
for each individual party in the 2004 federal election.
Liberal Party
- Winning of Government – Considering
their low standing in the polls just prior to election
day, the fact that the Liberals managed to maintain government
status is an important success for the party.
- Loss of Majority – However, the Liberals
lost the majority government that they had for over 10
years under Prime Minister Jean Chretien. This will make
it increasingly difficult for the Liberal Party to run
an effective and efficient government. Further, overall
support for the party dropped from 41 percent in the 2000
election to 37 percent in 2004 – a very low percentage
of support for a governing party.
- Successes in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, BC and Urban
Centres – The Liberals were very successful
in key of the regions of Canada. In Ontario, the
party was able to maintain the vast majority of the
seats. The Liberals also dominated Atlantic and Northern
Canada. The party made some important gains in British
Columbia, which has been predominately Conservative
and Alliance territory. The Liberals were also very
successful in most urban centres across the country.
- Failures in Quebec and the Prairies – The
Liberals, however, failed to do well in Quebec and the
Prairies. The Liberals dropped 15 seats in Quebec and were
only able to win a total of 6 seats in Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta.
Conservative Party
- Electoral Gains – Considering the
last minute merger of the Progressive Conservatives and
Canadian Alliance into the new Conservative Party, the
winning of 99 seats is an important success for the party.
- Failure to Meet Expectations – However,
as the campaign had progressed, the Conservatives had hoped
to pull onto a more even level with the Liberals in terms
of seats and popular support. The Conservatives ended with
36 seats less that the Liberals and a share of the popular
vote that was less than 30 percent. This failure of meet
expectations may be due in large part to perception by
the electorate that the party is an “unknown element” and
too socially conservative.
- Strong Showing in Prairies and Breakthrough in Ontario – The
Conservatives were very successful in the Prairies (Alberta,
Saskatchewan and Manitoba) were they won 46 seats out of
a possible 56 and a very high percent of the popular vote.
The party was also able to make its largest gains in Ontario
in recent elects, increasing its seat total to 24 from
2 in 2000.
- Losses in BC and Atlantic Canada, Shutout of Quebec,
Failure to Break Liberal Dominance of Ontario – However,
the election results show some important obstacles
as the party attempts to move forward. In British
Columbia and Atlantic Canada, the Conservatives saw
significant drops in their seat totals and percentage
of the popular vote. The party was also completely
shut out of Quebec, an important region if the party
is to attempt to win a majority government in the
future. Even though it was able to make its first
break into Ontario, the results were still less than
expected, with the Liberals still maintaining a dominant
position in that province.
New Democratic Party
- Electoral Gains – The NDP had their
most successful electoral showing in recent elections.
The party increased its seat total to 19 from 13 in 2000.
The NDP also nearly doubled its popular support to 16 percent
from 9 percent in 2000.
- Failure to Meet Expectations – However,
prior to election day, the party had projected having its
best electoral showing ever, matching or beating its 1988
results of over 40 seats. The party did not come near reaching
this total. Further, the party NDP did not win enough seats
to be able to form a formal or informal coalition with
the Liberal minority government, wining only 19 seats,
one short of the necessary 20 seats.
- Stronger Showing in Ontario and BC – The
NDP showed growing support in two key regions of the country.
In Ontario, the party increased its seats to 7 from 1 in
2000, and its popular support from 8 percent to 18 percent.
In BC, the party increased its seats from 2 in 2000 to
5 in 2004, and its popular support from 11 percent to 27
percent.
- Losses in Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan, Shutout
of Quebec – However, the NDP also
showed major weakness in other regions of the country.
In Atlantic Canada the party dropped from 4 to 3
seats. In Saskatchewan, a traditionally NDP region
in provincial politics, the NDP lost both seats it
had won in 2000. The party continued to do be shutout
of Quebec and Alberta.
Bloc Quebecois
- Best Showing in its Electoral History – The
Bloc tied for its best showing in Canadian politics ever,
tie its 1993 total of 54 seats. The Bloc increased its
2000 election total by 16 seats. It also increased its
percentage of the Quebec vote from 40 percent in 2000 to
49 percent in 2004.
- Gain in Parliamentary Influence – The
strong Bloc showing coupled with the Liberal minority government
should allow the Bloc to have a heavy influence on Canadian
public policy. The Liberals will be forced to negotiate
legislation affecting Quebec with the Bloc.
- Unclear Nature of Support – One possible
weakness in the results for the Bloc is the kind of support
it has received. Much of its support is likely a rejection
of the Liberal Party because of the sponsorship scandal
as opposed to support of Quebec sovereignty. As such, it
is unclear whether the Bloc have received a mandate to
pursue sovereignty for Quebec, and whether it will be able
to maintain its level of support and seats in future elections.
Green Party
- Achieve Status for Public Financial Support – While
the Greens did not win any seats in the federal election,
nor did they play a large role in the election discourse,
the party was able to gain enough of the popular vote to
receive public financial support. This will enable the
party to make a stronger showing in future elections.
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