1878 Canadian Federal Election

September 17, 1878 · Macdonald's Canada · 206 seats, 104 for a majority

Macdonald completed his comeback from the Pacific Scandal, sweeping back to power on the National Policy of protective tariffs against Mackenzie's depression-worn free-trade government.

Prime Minister before

Alexander Mackenzie

Liberal

Prime Minister after

John A. Macdonald

Conservative

Government formed

Conservative

majority government

Turnout

69.1%

The result

Share of House
ConservativeJohn A. Macdonald134+69
229,19142.1%+12.0
LiberalAlexander Mackenzie63-66
180,07433.0%-6.5

9 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.

The result by province & territory

Seats won and vote share in each province and territory. Blank cells mean the party did not contest the province; the results table splits allied labels (Liberal-Conservatives, farmers' candidates, independents) that the headline figures group together.

Conservative1249.6%3725.5%3335.0%15.9%821.7%331.6%8526.3%
Liberal-Conservative239.6%12315.8%1213.2%314.3%622.7%212.0%4915.8%
Liberal22736.3%1721.7%948.2%734.9%137.2%6333.1%
Independent112.2%11.5%11.6%213.1%04.3%52.7%
Independent Conservative150.4%10.7%20.2%
Unknown048.2%019.9%027.4%014.8%014.7%019.3%20.9%
Independent Liberal01.0%13.7%01.7%11.0%
Nationalist Conservative10.3%010.1%
Total seats64886516216206