Canada: What if the Progressives displaced the Liberals? (Or the Tories!)

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Danny Williams was leader of the opposition for a few years.

And I have to save Ontario as the election there comes with a twist that many wont expect, and I dont want to reveal it all in advance. This is also a reason I stopped in Quebec at 1970 (Also because, at the time I posted it, I had not decided what would happen)

I now have all federal elections worked out to 2009 and know who the Party Leaders for all major federal parties will be to 2009. I know exactly what's going to happen in Ontario, but have chosen to keep it secret until the appointed time. I still have to decide what's going to happen in Quebec.

[Hatman 🍁]

I would've thought Danny Williams would be a Progressive. He is good friends with Jack Harris, and I believe they were room mates in college.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

On hold for the time being. And no, I have not forgotten about this. I have election maps ready to go on my computer, and I just need to write the story to connect it all, which I will be doing in a bit. I have a few games on the go ATM and we are possibly heading into a federal election (I maintain a top notch Canadian Election Projection blog, see the link in my other post) that will consume my time.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

This thread is alive once more.

I've moved the images involved, but I am 99% certain I've not deleted them. I'll look though my photobucket and breathe new life into this old thread.


EDIT - actually the missing images appear to be "result tables" which I'm 99% certain I have deleted. I will try to piece it together, but I may "redo" things following the referendum. Not to change history, but to get new numbers. I just plain don't remember the exact numbers I had, but, I certainly can "ballpark" it.

Edit edit - I've decided NOT to go back and re-calculate past elections. The story explains the basic results. I've size-downed the images, and will continue the story from here without redoing old images.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

TO COME...

Events during the Diefenbaker Government
A Split in Social Credit? Perhaps not?
Liberal-Conservative Leadership Convention 1967
Progressive Party Leadership Convention 1968
The October Crisis in Quebec (1970) and the results
NDP Leadership election of 1976
1976 Liberal-Conservative Leadership
1979 Progressive Leadership
1982 Liberal-Conservative Leadership
1988 NDP Leadership Convention

The story will pick up here.

[Vosem]

I worked out the numbers for you, Teddy.

1921: Liberal (William L.M. King) 107 vs. Progressive (Thomas Crerar) 91 vs. Conservative (Arthur Meighen) 27.

1923: Liberal (William L.M. King) 128 vs. Progressive (Robert Forke) 97 vs. Conservative (Arthur Meighen) 10.

1927: Liberal (William L.M. King) 126 vs. Progressive (Ernest Drury) 91 vs. Conservative (Hugh Guthrie) 28.

1931: Progressive (Ernest Drury) 114 vs. Liberal (William L.M. King) 98 vs. Conservative (Hugh Guthrie) 33.

1935: Liberal (William L.M. King) 176 vs. Progressive (H.H. Stevens) 43 vs. Social Credit (John Blackmore) 17 vs. Conservative (Richard Bennett) 9.

1940: Liberal (William L.M. King) 182 vs. Progressive (H.H. Stevens) 43 vs. Social Credit (John Blackmore) 15 vs. Conservative (Robert Manion) 5.

1945: Liberal (William L.M. King) 127 vs. Progressive (M.J. Coldwell) 77 vs. Social Credit (Solon Low) 33 vs. Conservative (Arthur Meighen) 1 vs. Bloc Populaire (Maxime Raymond) 1.

1949: Liberal (Louis St. Laurent) 192 vs. Progressive (M.J. Coldwell) 46 vs. Social Credit (Solon Low) 24.

1953: Liberal (Louis St. Laurent) 172 vs. Progressive (M.J. Coldwell) 66 vs. Social Credit (Solon Low) 27.

1957: Liberal-Conservative (John Diefenbaker) 93 vs. Progressive (M.J. Coldwell) 90 vs. Social Credit (Solon Low) 53 vs. True Grit (Lester Pearson) 29.

1958: Liberal-Conservative (John Diefenbaker) 208 vs. Progressive (M.J. Coldwell) 48 vs. True Grit (Lester Pearson) 8 vs. Social Credit (Solon Low) 1.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Thank you. This is perfect!!

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Events in the Dief government match the "real" results.

The Progressives are the ones who undergo the most major changes. Coldwell quits. Tommy Douglas is elected leader, and takes a much more "friendly" approach to Pearson.

1962 election:
LC - 129 (Dief)
Pro - 89 (Tommy)
SC-NDP - 28 (Low)
TG - 19 (Pearson)


Following the election, Social Credit nearly split. The two wings of the party, Quebec and West, were each strong enough to survive on their own, but pressure from right-wing activists in Ontario, as well as a last minute turn around and backing from the Western wing; the two wings were able to put aside their differences, at least for the time being. Quebecois Réal Caouette was elected as leader.

This government did not last long. Dief was unable to get stable support and went to the polls again in 1963.



1963 Election
Pro - 107 (Tommy)
LC - 100 (Dief)
NDP - 31 (Caouette)
TG - 27 (Pearson)



Tommy Douglas would lead a weak Minority government with the support of Pearson's true grits. The two parties sat in an official coalition government for two years. This government would go on to be re-elected in 1965

1965 Election
Pro - 121 (Tommy)
LC - 95 (Dief)
NDP - 28 (Caouette)
TG - 21 (Pearson)



The NDP would continue their downward slide in Quebec. Caouette, while popualr within Quebec, was seen as being held to the rest of Canada. Meanwhile, local stars were able to represent the party in English Canada.

In 1967, Diefenbaker would face a challenge from within his own party, and would agree to stand for leader in a new leadership election. Tommy Douglas, far from being the inspiring new leader that many in the Progressive party had hoped, came out as somewhat of a flop. He too would resign to make way for a new leader in 1968.

Meanwhile, Caouette would resign as NDP leader. He, along with 6 other NDP Quebec MP's decided to start their own party, but failing to register within time of the coming election, they had to run as Independents. Jack Horner was elected by the NDP Caucus to lead them though the coming election.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

1967 Liberal-Conservative Leadership.

Contested by 9 people, the leadership race saw a crowded field.

First round results were as follows:

Duff Roblin - 347
Paul Hellyer - 330
Robert Stanfield - 319
Robert Winters - 293
John Turner - 277
John Diefenbaker - 271
George Hees - 255
Alvin Hamilton - 136
John MacLean - 10

MacLean was dropped, and Hamilton withdrew to back Diefenbaker.

Duff Roblin - 377
Paul Hellyer - 340
Robert Stanfield - 321
Robert Winters - 313
John Diefenbaker - 310
John Turner - 299
George Hees - 223

Hees was dropped. He encouraged his delegates to back Winters, but many went to Roblin

Duff Roblin - 478
Robert Winters - 413
Robert Stanfield - 402
Paul Hellyer - 399
John Diefenbaker - 214
John Turner - 209

Diefenbaker stormed out of the convention hall after losing a third of his delegates. He later sent Joe Green on his behalf to accept a Roblin badge. Turner was dropped and backed Winters.

Duff Roblin - 701
Robert Winters - 663
Paul Hellyer - 351
Robert Stanfield - 342

Stanfield was dropped and endorsed Roblin

Duff Roblin - 904
Robert Winters - 789
Paul Hellyer - 298

Hellyer dropped and endorsed Winters.

Robert Winters - 966
Duff Roblin - 959

And with that, Robert Winters was elected as leader of the Liberal-Conservative Party of Canada.  Diefenbaker returned to the convention, introduced by the convention chairperson as “the greatest Canadian of our century”. Diefenbaker welcomed his successor, Winters, and appealed to the party to give Winters their “undivided and unconditional loyalty”

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

1968 Progressive Leadership convention.

First ballot as follows:

Pierre Trudeau - 552
David Lewis - 461
James Laxer - 338
Hazen Argue - 332
Paul Martin - 277
Ed Broadbent - 266
Allan MacEachen - 163
Lloyd Henderson - 0

Henderson was not a delegate, but his Wife was. He was dropped.

Pierre Trudeau - 571
David Lewis - 489
James Laxer - 341
Hazen Argue - 339
Ed Broadbent - 254
Paul Martin - 253
Allan MacEachen - 121

MacEachen dropped and supported Trudeau. Martin withdrew and backed Lewis.

Pierre Trudeau - 692
David Lewis - 611
Hazen Argue - 389
James Laxer - 343
Ed Broadbent - 230

Broadbent dropped and supported Argue

Pierre Trudeau - 730
David Lewis - 649
Hazen Argue - 493
James Laxer - 353

Laxer dropped. He did not endorse, and many of his delegates walked out.

Pierre Trudeau - 799
Hazen Argue - 671
David Lewis - 670

Lewis dropped and did not endorse.

Pierre Trudeau - 1105
Hazen Argue - 990

And with that, Pierre Trudeau was elected as leader of the Progressive Party, and Prime Minister.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

1968 election.

Canadians were enamored by Trudeau. He was seen as "hip" and a symbol of counterculture. His flirtations with marxism in his youth and his legalizing of homosexuality as Justice minister under the Douglas government were both very popular among young voters. A sense of "Trudeaumania" swept the nation and would lead Trudeau to win a massive majority.


Pro - 154 (Trudeau)
L-C - 72 (Winters)
NDP - 20 (Horner)
TG - 6 (Pearson)
Oth - 10 (All Caouette Supporters)

Caouette managed to elect a total of 10 MP's all running as independents, while Pearson's "True Grits" imploded. Pearson lost his own seat and resigned in disgrace. Most of the 6 TG MP's elected were not "True Grits" in terms of policy. Mostly they were elected in rural areas where the party was seen as a "Quebec Party". Caouette took advantage of this, and offered them a Parliamentary coalition so the unified party would reach 12 seats, the minimum needed for official status. Caouette would attempt a take over of the True Grits and would, mostly, succeed, being able to take control over the party legally. 4 of the 6 MP's would quit the coalition to sit as Independents, while the other two remained. Caouette would rename the party the Bloc, taking after the Bloc Populaire movement from decades earlier.

In 1969, Robert Winters would pass away...

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Winters death was poorly timed to say the least. After suffering a blow in the 1968 elections, the party continued to trail in the polls to the popular Trudeau. Three top candidates, Roblin, Stanfield, and Turner, met to discuss the future direction of the party. They would also invite Diefenbaker and Hees to the talks. The 5 of them discussed a number of options. None of them wanted to take over a weak party that they expected to be defeated in the coming 1972/1973 election. Nor did they want to leave the party in the hands of Paul Hellyer, who was seen as a bit eccentric. They eventually cooked up a plan that was designed to neutralize Hellyer. Leslie Frost, the elderly former Premier of Ontario would be approached and encouraged to run to serve as a “caretaker” leader. The plan would see Frost resign as leader a year prior to the next general election when the party’s direction was more clear. Hellyer would be defeated in the coming leadership race, and the campaign would work covertly to discredit him, so he would not be a viable candidate in the following leadership race.
The plan went off without a hitch. In a quickly assembled convention, delegates elected Frost as leader with 1757 votes to Hellyer’s 621. Frost quickly took to his new job, and served as a stark contrast to the young and “hip” Trudeau. As the realities of governing set in on the Progressives, who were now running their first Majority, the polls would reverse direction. Frost would lead Trudeau in some polls, relying on “Experience” and his grandfather like image. Where Trudeau had fire and anger, Frost was seen as calm and cool, and became known as “Frosty, with a heart”. As the coming election approached, no candidate felt they had enough support to attempt to overthrow Frost, and hence, the 1972 election was called with Frost still at the helm of the Liberal-Conservatives.
The election would be hard fought, and election night would have the results seesaw back and forth between the two main parties. When all was said and done, the results were as follows:
Pro – 109 (Trudeau)
L-C – 107 (Frost)
NDP – 34 (Horner)
Bloc – 14 (Caouette)




After the election there was much wrangling for support. Trudeau claimed he had “won” the election, and that as sitting PM he had the first right to form a new government. Trudeau’s negotiations with Horner however did not go well. Horner was eager for a change and hoped for a better deal with Frost, a man he saw he could manipulate in his old age. After two weeks of discussions, Horner decided to back Frost, and Leslie Frost was sworn in as Prime Minister. Frost by now was 75 years old, and not in the best of health. His cabinet quickly became full of members who each looked to be more of a leader than he was. A year later, in 1973, Frost passed away in the early hours of the morning.
Normally, a Prime Minister passing away would not cause a major crisis, but Horner, always looking for a leg up, demanded an outright coalition to continue with the Government. The plan would have seen Horner take over as Prime Minister until the Liberal-Conservatives could elect a new leader, 8 months down the road. Leading Tories balked at the offer, and refused. Horner quickly turned to Trudeau, who threw him some scraps. Horner then declared he would back Trudeau as Prime Minister, something which caused controversy within his own Caucus. With Caouette willing to “Give Trudeau another chance” however, it was clear what would happen, and by the end of the day, Trudeau was invited to form a government.

This new government would not last long. The Liberal-Conservatives held a quick leadership election, with Diefenbaker leading in the interim. With strict rules, and a bar set purposefully high, only three candidates made the cut. The first ballot results were as follows:
Turner – 954
Roblin – 709
Stanfield – 642
Stanfield was dropped and did not endorse anyone.
Turner – 1251
Roblin – 1028
And with that, John Turner was elected as Leader of the Liberal-Conservatives.
Turner would go on to bring down the Trudeau government, in alliance with the Bloc and NDP, causing an election to take place in 1974.



Turner never captured the imagination of the public, and Trudeau cut him to bits in the Leadership Debates of that year. Turner was seen as unsure and unsteady. Trudeau managed to recapture the imagination of voters it seemed with his ideas for a “Just Society” and plans for massive spending. Trudeau would go on to win the election with a majority.
Pro – 141 (Trudeau)
L-C – 95 (Turner)
NDP – 16 (Horner)
Bloc – 12 (Caouette)

The biggest loser was the NDP and Horner. Due to his demands for power, Horner fell out of favour with the Western Populists that he depended on for support. Despite having their best election ever in Ontario, electing two MP’s from that province, the NDP saw its support cut in half in the west. Horner would be forced out in 1976. The NDP would see a full leadership convention in this year…

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Side note. I think it's clear by now that the FLQ crisis' changes are not so radical as to break up Canada. There are changes though. I will start up on Quebec shortly.

1976 NDP leadership.

Contenders were:
James Gillies - MP from Ontario
John Fraser - MP from Vancouver
Neil Fraser - Eccentric, Ontario
Wallace McCutcheon - MP from Ontario, old, anti-socialist
Peter Pocklington - Alberta Businessman
John A. Gamble - Anti-communist, Racist, Ontario
Pat Nowlan - MP from Nova Scotia

Most of the candidates were from outside the West, and there was great pressure on the party to elect a leader from Ontario. Results of the first ballot were unknown until they were announced.

Pocklington - 922
Nowlan - 718
Gamble - 421
Fraser J - 319
McCutcheon - 190
Gillies - 121
Fraser N - 29

Neil Fraser was dropped, and endorsed Gamble. Gilles withdrew and endorsed Gamble as well.
There was some shock among delegates. Pocklington clearly took hold as Candidate for the west. Gamble lead the Ontario field, but was perhaps the most extremist candidate running.

Pocklington - 928
Nowlan - 732
Gamble - 609
Fraser J - 273
McCutcheon - 161

McCutcheon was dropped, and surprised everyone by endorsing Nowlan. Pocklington was caught on camera begging Fraser to support him, to unite the western vote, but Fraser refused.

Pocklington - 929
Nowlan - 849
Gamble - 627
Fraser J - 280

The momentum was with Nowlan, and Fraser sensed that. He endorsed Nowlan.

Nowlan - 1062
Pocklington - 927
Gamble - 680

Gamble dropped and endorsed Nowlan, he would claim to the media that this was to get a non western leader.

Nowlan - 1560
Pocklington - 1094

And with that, Pat Nowlan became leader of the NDP.

For those who don't know him, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Nowlan

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Rewrite


Quebec election, 1970.

Union Nationale premier, Jean-Jacques Bertrand called an election for 1970. It was no secret his party was going to do poorly, just how poorly was shocking to many. The Progressives elected a new leader. A race between Robert Bourassa on the right and Pierre Laporte on the left was close, but Laporte edged Bourassa out. As per a gentlemens agreement between the two, the loser would become the minister of Labour, as well as Deputy Premier. Claude Wagner meanwhile took over the moribund Liberal-Conservatives.

Pro - 72 (Laporte)
UN - 17 (Bertrand)
Bloc - 12 (Samson)
L-C - 7 (Wagner)

Wagner would go on to form a minority government. Only a few months into the new Parliament, the FLQ began a major terrorist campaign.

On October 5th, the "Liberation Cell" of the FLQ kidnapped British trade commissioner James Cross.
October 10th. Deputy Premier, and minister of Labour, Robert Bourassa is kidnapped by the "Chenier cell" of the FLQ.
October 11th. CBC broadcasts a letter from captivity from Bourassa to Laporte.
October 13th. Trudeau makes his famous statement; "Just watch me"
October 14th. Levesque and many Progressives call for an "exchange of the two hostages for the political prisoners" FLQ's lawyer Robert Lemieux urges University of Montreal students to boycott classes in support of FLQ. Progressive leadership remains opposed.
October 15. Quebec City: The Government of Quebec, solely responsible for law and order, formally requisitions the intervention of the Canadian army in "aid of the civil power", as is its right alone under the National Defence Act. All three opposition parties, including the Progressives rise in the National Assembly and agree with the decision. On the same day, separatist groups are permitted to speak at the Université de Montréal and Robert Lemieux organizes 3,000 student rally in Paul Sauve Arena to show support for the FLQ; labour leader Michel Chartrand announces that popular support for FLQ is rising [2] and "We are going to win because there are more boys ready to shoot members of Parliament than there are policemen."[8]. The rally frightens many Canadians, who view it as a possible prelude to outright insurrection in Quebec;
October 16. Premier Laporte formally requests that the government of Canada grant the government of Quebec "emergency powers" that allow them to "apprehend and keep in custody" individuals. This resulted in the implementation of the War Measures Act, which allowed the suspension of habeas corpus, giving wide-reaching powers of arrest to police. The City of Montreal had already made such a request the day before. These measures came into effect at 4:00 a.m. Prime Minister Trudeau made a broadcast announcing the imposition of the War Measures Act.
October 17. Montreal, Quebec: The Chenier cell of the FLQ announces that hostage Robert Bourassa has been executed. He is strangled to death, and his body is stuffed in the trunk of a car and abandoned in the bush near Saint-Hubert Airport, a few miles from Montreal. A communique to police advising that Robert Bourassa had been executed referred to him derisively as the "Minister of unemployment and assimilation". In another communique issued by the "Liberation cell" holding James Cross, his kidnappers declared that they were suspending indefinitely the death sentence against James Cross, that they would not release him until their demands were met, and that he would be executed if the "fascist police" discovered them and tried to intervene.
October 18. While denouncing the acts of “subversion and terrorism – both of which are so tragically contrary to the best interests of our people”, Leader of the Opposition, René Lévesque, criticizes the War Measures Act: “Until we receive proof (about how large the revolutionary army is) to the contrary we will believe that such a minute, numerically unimportant fraction is involved, that rushing into the enforcement of the War Measures Act was a panicky and altogether excessive reaction, especially when you think of the inordinate length of time they want to maintain this regime.” [3]
November 6. Police raid the hiding place of the FLQ's Chenier cell. Although three members escaped the raid, Bernard Lortie was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of Robert Bourassa.
December 3. Montreal, Quebec: After being held hostage for 60 days, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the FLQ Liberation cell terrorists after negotiations with police. Simultaneously, the five known kidnappers, Marc Carbonneau, Yves Langlois, Jacques Lanctôt, Jacques Cossette-Trudel and his wife, Louise Lanctôt, are granted their request for safe passage to Cuba by the government of Canada after approval by Fidel Castro. They are flown to Cuba by a Canadian Forces aircraft. One of them is the same Jacques Lanctôt who earlier that year had been arrested and then released on bail for the attempted kidnapping of the Israeli consul.
December 28. Saint-Luc, Quebec: The three remaining members of the Chenier Cell still at large, Paul Rose, Jacques Rose, and Francis Simard, are arrested after being found hiding in a 6 m tunnel in the rural farming community. They would be charged with the kidnapping and murder of Robert Bourassa.


1973 election (Quebec)

Pro - 102 (Laporte)
L-C - 6 (Wagner)
Bloc - 2 (Samson)

After the crisis, the government became very popular. There remained however a deep divide between federalist Progressives and Nationalist ones. This would come to a head when Levesque challenged Laporte for the leadership in 1976...

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Short note.

After Caouette resigns due to health concerns, Rene Matte takes over as federal leader of the Bloc.

[Vosem]

I'm following this, Teddy.

List of Canadian Prime Ministers ITTL:

1) John Macdonald (Conservative, 1867 - 1873)
2) Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal, 1873 - 1878)
3) John Macdonald (Conservative, 1878 - 1891)
4) John Abbott (Conservative, 1891 - 1892)
5) John Thompson (Conservative, 1892 - 1894)
6) Mackenzie Bowell (Conservative, 1894 - 1896)
7) Charles Tupper (Conservative, 1896)
Wilfrid Laurier (Liberal, 1896 - 1911)
9) Robert Borden (Conservative, 1911 - 1920)
10) Arthur Meighen (Conservative, 1920 - 1921)
11) William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal, 1921 - 1931)
12) J.S. Woodsworth (Progressive, 1931 - 1932)
13) Henry Stevens (Progressive, 1932 - 1935)
14) William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal, 1935 - 1948)
15) Louis St. Laurent (Liberal, 1948 - 1957)
16) John Diefenbaker (Liberal-Conservative, 1957 - 1963)
17) Tommy Douglas (Progressive, 1963 - 1968)
18) Pierre Trudeau (Progressive, 1968 - 1972)
19) Leslie Frost (Liberal-Conservative, 1972 - 1973)
20) Pierre Trudeau (Progressive, 1973 - ??)

And Leaders of the Opposition:

1) Edward Blake (Liberal, 1869 - 1873)
2) Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal, 1873)
3) John Macdonald (Conservative, 1873 - 1878)
4) Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal, 1878 - 1880)
5) Edward Blake (Liberal, 1880 - 1887)
6) Wilfrid Laurier (Liberal, 1887 - 1896)
7) Charles Tupper (Conservative, 1896 - 1901)
Robert Borden (Conservative, 1901 - 1911)
9) Wilfrid Laurier (Liberal, 1911 - 1919)
10) William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal, 1919 - 1921)
11) Thomas Crerar (Progressive, 1921 - 1922)
12) Robert Forke (Progressive, 1922 - 1926)
13) Ernest Drury (Progressive, 1926 - 1931)
14) William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal, 1931 - 1935)
15) Henry Stevens (Progressive, 1935 - 1942)
16) Major Coldwell (Progressive, 1942 - 1961)
17) Tommy Douglas (Progressive, 1961 - 1963)
18) John Diefenbaker (Liberal-Conservative, 1963 - 1967)
19) Robert Winters (Liberal-Conservative, 1967 - 1969)
20) Leslie Frost (Liberal-Conservative, 1969 - 1972)
21) Pierre Trudeau (Progressive, 1972 - 1973)
22) John Turner (Liberal-Conservative, 1973 - ??)

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Thank you, this is very helpful.

On to the story...

With 102 Progressives in the assembly, the race for leader would become, in effect, the race for politics in Quebec. Laporte had the backing of federalists, while Levesque had the backing of sovereigntists. Some of Levesque's supporters wanted outright independence for Quebec, but others wanted something a bit more moderate. The race would be the first to see a new and unique process for Canada. Each member of the party was mailed a ballot, which they then mailed back in to the central office for counting. The end results...
Levesque - 59,320
Laporte - 52,794

Many of the more federalist Progressives were outraged. Laporte tried to prevail for calm, and committed to support Levesque. 6 Progressive MNA's crossed the floor to sit with the Liberal-Conservatives, and 2 to sit with the Bloc. The results would send shockwaves though Canada, but the media would remain Canadians that Levesque would be hamstrung by his own party as to what he could and could not do. They would be right.

Further election results in the provinces were as follows:

1976 Quebec election
Pro - 71 (Levesque)
L-C - 26 (Wagner)
Bloc - 13 (Samson)

1980 Quebec Referendum
NON - 59.56%
OUI - 40.44%

1981 Quebec election
L-C - 62 (Mulroney)
Pro - 48 (Levesque)
Bloc - 12 (Roy)

1985 Quebec election
L-C - 70 (Mulroney)
Bloc - 29 (Roy)
Pro - 23 (Johnson)

1989 Quebec election
L-C - 72 (Mulroney)
Pro - 29 (Parizeau)
Bloc - 24 (Roy)

1994 Quebec election
Pro - 77 (Parizeau)
L-C - 47 (Johnson)
Bloc - 1 (Plamondon)

1995 Quebec Referendum
NON - 60.58%
OUI - 39.42%

1998 Quebec election
L-C - 76 (Dumont)
Pro - 48 (Landry)
Bloc - 1 (Plamondon)

2003 Quebec election
L-C - 76 (Dumont)
Pro - 45 (Marois)
Bloc - 4 (Plamondon)

2007 Quebec election
L-C - 48 (Dumont)
Pro - 41 (Marois)
Bloc - 36 (Taillon)

2008 Quebec election
Pro - 66 (Marois)
L-C - 51 (Dumont)
Bloc - 8 (Taillon)


1995 Referendum Map:



Premiers...
Pierre Laporte (Pro) 1970-1976
Rene Levesque (Pro) 1976-1981
Brian Mulroney (L-C) 1981-1993
Daniel Johnson (L-C) 1993-1994
Jaques Parizeau (Pro) 1994-1995
Bernard Landry (Pro) 1995-1998
Mario Dumont (L-C) 1998-2008
Pauline Marois (Pro) 2008-present

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

In 1976, John Turner would be challenged for the leadership of the Liberal-Conservatives. Obtaining only 66.9% support at the last party convention, Turner would stand for leader in 1977 in a convention to succeed himself.

The first round results

John Turner - 757
Paul Hellyer - 354
Robert Stanfield - 289
Joe Clark - 261
Flora Macdonald - 259
Sinclar Stevens - 212
Don Johnston - 181
Hew Grafftey - 98

Grafftey is dropped, backs Clark.

John Turner - 759
Paul Hellyer - 359
Joe Clark - 299
Robert Stanfield - 298
Flora Macdonald - 264
Sinclar Stevens - 230
Don Johnston - 171

Johnston is dropped. Does not endorse. Stevens withdraws and backs Macdonald

John Turner - 758
Flora Macdonald - 494
Joe Clark - 440
Paul Hellyer - 379
Robert Stanfield - 290

Stanfield is dropped, backs Clark.

John Turner - 770
Joe Clark - 640
Flora Macdonald - 543
Paul Hellyer - 369

Hellyer is dropped, does not endorse.

John Turner - 882
Joe Clark - 794
Flora Macdonald - 634

Macdonald is dropped, backs Clark.

Joe Clark - 1204
John Turner - 1111

Joe Clark is named as the leader of the Liberal-Conservative Party.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

After waiting 5 years, Trudeau called an election for 1979. Most expected Trudeau to win, perhaps just a minority. There was appetite for change, but Canadians by in large did not know Joe Clark, who was sometimes called "Joe Who" The results of the election were surprising, yet, not surprising. Canadians knew who they voted for, but were perhaps pleasantly shocked to find out many others did the same.


L-C - 144 (Clark)
Pro - 106 (Trudeau)
NDP - 26 (Nowlan)
Bloc - 6 (Matte)

Joe Clark had secured a Majority government. The Bloc nearly vanished, and Matte did not win his riding. The NDP managed to elect an MP from Newfoundland named John Crosbie. Trudeau resigned on election night, thus sparking a leadership race...

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Clark was not expected to last for very long especially after Trudeau was gone. The race was a competitive one, with a few main front runners. Ed Broadbent, from the prior leadership election. Jean Chretien, the political strongman from Quebec, and Dave Barrett, former Premier of BC.

Ed Broadbent - 804
Jean Chretien - 756
Dave Barrett - 590
Simon De Jong - 275
Audrey McLaughlin - 91

McLaughlin was dropped, she endorsed Broadbent.

Ed Broadbent - 859
Jean Chretien - 761
Dave Barrett - 603
Simon De Jong - 282

De Jong was dropped. He spoke to Barrett before the balloting, but the media overheard dealing, where De Jong would be made house leader if Barrett won, but De Jong changed his mind and endorsed Broadbent.

Ed Broadbent - 994
Jean Chretien - 839
Dave Barrett - 671

Barrett was dropped, he endorsed Broadbent.

Ed Broadbent - 1438
Jean Chretien - 1050

And with that, Ed Broadbent became the new leader of the Progressives, and Leader of the Opposition.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Joe Clark would surprise everyone as Prime Minister by doing something that no one had expected. Facing the 1980 Quebec referendum, Clark committed that if Quebec voted "no", he would propose a new constitutional agreement. Clark latched on to the "Charter of Rights", but faced some opposition from most provinces in trying to get it passed. Negotiations took years, but eventually Clark was able to convince 9 of the 10 premiers to go along with a proposal. Brian Mulroney, the Premier of Quebec, made it final when he signed the document on behalf of Quebec, brining home Canada's constitution.

(In short the document is very similar to our real-life one, with some differences) Provinces gained the power to opt out of any future federal programs in the area of exclusive provincial jurisdiction. Provinces also gained the power to appoint Senators.





This proved to be very popular with the public, and Clark would lead in the polls right up to the 1984 elections...

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

1984 election.

Joe Clark rode a wave of popularity back into office, electing 162 MPs. The Progressives had their worst election in decades, while the NDP was able to gain seats. The NDP took a right-wing stance in opposition to the new Constitution, arguing that it gave too much to Quebec, and did not go far enough in terms of democratic reforms.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, the Bloc saw a resurgence. Lead by Lucien Bouchard, they argued that the Constitution did not give nearly enough to Quebec. They managed to more than triple their seat count.



L-C - 162 (Clark)
Pro - 74 (Broadbent)
NDP - 25 (Nowlan)
Bloc - 21 (Bouchard)

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

1988

Between the 1984 and 1988 elections, Clark's government saw highs and lows in the polls. Polling at some points in the 20s and at others in the 60s. Clark wanted to bring in Free Trade, but this was a controversial issue, with the Progressives opposing the move.

Bouchard and the Bloc lost some support over this time due to the fact that the "Constitutional Debate" had died down. Meanwhile, the NDP underwent massive changes.

A movement grew within the party called the "Reform Movement". This movement was lead by western populists and felt as though Canada had been stabbed in the back by Quebec. Their leader, Preston Manning, was able to secure a first ballot victory in the 1987 leadership race, and also was able to pass a motion to re-name the party as the Reform Party. While the move was not without controversy, the rest of the NDP decided to continue to back the party, new name or not.


L-C - 151 (Clark)
Pro - 90 (Broadbent)
Ref - 38 (Manning)
Bloc - 16 (Bouchard)

[Hatman 🍁]

love it!

[Vosem]

When's the next update, Ted?