1904 Canadian federal election

The 1904 Canadian federal election was held on November 3, 1904 to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 10th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier led the Liberal Party of Canada to a third term in government, with an increased majority, and over half of the popular vote.

1904 Canadian federal election

← 1900November 3, 19041908 →

214 seats in the House of Commons
108 seats needed for a majority
Turnout71.6%[1] (Decrease5.8pp)
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderWilfrid LaurierRobert Borden
PartyLiberalConservative
Leader since18871901
Leader's seatQuebec East[a]Halifax (lost re-election)
Last election128 seats, 50.3%79 seats, 46.1%
Seats won13775
Seat changeIncrease9Decrease4
Popular vote521,041470,430
Percentage50.9%45.9%
SwingIncrease0.6%Decrease0.2%


The Canadian parliament after the 1904 election

Prime Minister before election

Wilfrid Laurier
Liberal

Prime Minister after election

Wilfrid Laurier
Liberal

Sir Robert Borden's Conservatives and Liberal-Conservatives were unable to challenge the Liberals effectively, and lost a small portion of their popular vote, along with four seats, including his own.[2] Borden re-entered parliament the next year in a by-election.

This was the last election until 1949 in which parts of the Northwest Territories were granted representation. Most of the settled regions of the NWT entered Confederation as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan on 1 September 1905, although its MP's continued to sit as representatives of the old ridings until the 10th Parliament's dissolution.

One of the key issues in the election was Imperial Preference.[2]

National results edit

PartyParty leader# of
candidates
SeatsPopular vote
1900ElectedChange#%Change
 LiberalWilfrid Laurier208128137+7.0%521,04150.88%+0.63pp
 ConservativeRobert Borden1996970+1.4%45469344.40%+1.18pp
 Liberal-Conservative6105-50.0%15,7371.54%-1.34pp
 Independent631-66.7%10,2051.00%-0.40pp
 Independent Conservative211-5,0390.49%-0.57pp
 Unknown13---11,6591.14%+1.14pp
Labour 2---2,1590.21%-0.10pp
Socialist 3*-*1,7940.18%*
 Nationalist 1*-*1,4290.14%*
 Independent Liberal31--100%3090.03%-0.48pp
Total443213214+0.5%1,024,065100% 
Sources: http://www.elections.ca -- History of Federal Ridings since 1867[failed verification]

Note:

* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

Results by province edit

PartyBCNWMBONQCNBNSPEYKTotal
 LiberalSeats:77737537181-137
 Popular Vote (%):49.558.449.747.555.151.052.949.141.450.9
 ConservativeSeats:-2344125-3170
 Vote (%):38.837.841.846.343.042.044.550.958.644.4
 Liberal-ConservativeSeats: 1 3 1   5
 Vote (%): 3.8 2.1 6.8   1.5
 IndependentSeats: --1- -  1
 Vote (%): xx5.80.61.3 1.6  1.0
 Independent ConservativeSeats:   1     1
 Vote (%):   1.2     0.5
Total seats710108665131841214
Parties that won no seats:
 UnknownVote (%):4.6  2.4xx    1.1
LabourVote (%):  2.7  0.7  0.8  0.2
SocialistVote (%):7.1        0.2
 NationalistVote (%):    0.6    0.5
 Independent LiberalVote (%):   xx 0.20.1  xx

xx - indicates less than 0.05% of the popular vote.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Laurier was also elected in Wright; he chose to sit for Quebec East instead, and resigned as the Member of Parliament for Wright.

References edit

  1. ^ "Voter Turnout at Federal Elections and Referendums". Elections Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Garner, J. W. (1904). "Record of Political Events". Political Science Quarterly. 19 (4): 740. doi:10.2307/2140340. ISSN 0032-3195.

Further reading edit