1988 Canadian Federal Election

Free trade election

November 21, 1988 · Mulroney & the great collapse · 295 seats, 148 for a majority

The free trade election: John Turner vowed to tear up the Canada–US Free Trade Agreement and Brian Mulroney staked his government on it. Mulroney's 169 seats ratified the deal, though a majority of voters backed parties opposed to it.

Prime Minister before

Brian Mulroney

Progressive Conservative

Prime Minister (continued)

Brian Mulroney

Progressive Conservative

Government formed

Progressive Conservative

majority government

Turnout

75.3%

The result

Share of House
Progressive ConservativeBrian Mulroney169-34
5,667,54343.0%-7.0
LiberalJohn Turner83+45
4,205,07231.9%+3.9
New DemocraticEd Broadbent43+11
2,685,26320.4%+1.6

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.

Progressive Conservative1235.3%2551.8%436.4%736.9%4638.2%6352.7%540.4%540.9%041.5%242.2%026.4%035.3%16943.0%
Liberal120.4%013.7%018.2%536.5%4338.9%1230.3%545.4%646.5%449.9%545.0%241.4%011.3%8331.9%
New Democratic1937.0%117.4%1044.2%221.3%1020.1%014.4%09.3%011.4%07.5%012.4%028.3%151.4%4320.4%
Total seats32261414997510114721295