1990 Manitoba general election

The 1990 Manitoba general election was held on September 11, 1990 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, which took 30 out of 57 seats. The New Democratic Party finished second with 20, while the Liberal Party fell from 21 to 7.

1990 Manitoba general election

← 1988 September 11, 1990 1995 →

57 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
29 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  PC LIB
Leader Gary Filmon Gary Doer Sharon Carstairs
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
Leader since December 10, 1983 March 30, 1988 March 4, 1984
Leader's seat Tuxedo Concordia River Heights
Last election 25 12 20
Seats won 30 20 7
Seat change Increase5 Increase8 Decrease13
Popular vote 206,810 141,328 138,146
Percentage 41.99% 28.80% 28.15%
Swing Increase3.62% Increase5.18% Decrease7.37%

Map of Election Results

Premier before election

Gary Filmon
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Gary Filmon
Progressive Conservative

Background

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The 1990 election took place against the backdrop of the failed Meech Lake constitutional accord, which sought to clarify Quebec's position within Canada. The accord, which was signed in 1988, required passage by the federal government and the ten provincial governments before June 23, 1990 to become law. Although Manitoba Premier Howard Pawley had approved the accord in 1987, his government did not bring it before the legislature before their surprise defeat in 1988.

Pawley's replacement, PC leader Gary Filmon, was less inclined to support the deal, and requested that certain aspects be re-negotiated before his government would grant approval. After some reluctance, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney allowed re-negotiations with all provincial Premiers, and convinced Filmon to introduce the accord to the Manitoba legislature shortly before the scheduled deadline. Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs and NDP leader Gary Doer were also willing to support the revised deal.

Some members of Doer's caucus still opposed the accord, however. When it was put before the legislature, NDP MLA Elijah Harper refused to grant unanimous leave for emergency debate, on the grounds that the deal did not recognize the position of aboriginals in Canada's constitutional framework. Harper, the first indigenous member of the Manitoba legislature, was strongly supported by aboriginal leaders such as Phil Fontaine and Ovide Mercredi, and continued his protest in the legislature during the following weeks. With assistance from former parliamentary clerk Gord Mackintosh, Harper was able to delay the legislative process until the accord simply could not be passed on time. Harper became a national celebrity, and polls showed that most English-speaking Canadians supported his stand.

Ironically, Gary Filmon's Tories may have benefitted from Harper's actions. Filmon was a long-time opponent of the accord, and was a fairly tepid supporter even after the renegotiated compromise was reached. Subsequently, Filmon used the accord's failure to highlight differences between himself and Mulroney, who was becoming increasingly unpopular as Prime Minister.

Issues

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Filmon's Progressive Conservatives made the fewest promises of any major party. Their platform called for an end to abuse of the elderly in retirement homes, environmental initiatives, and low-cost economic development. They proposed to cut the size of the Winnipeg City Council, and vowed not to raise taxes.

The Liberals focused on economic issues, promising a major investment in job training, research and development, and business support. They also proposed to cut the Winnipeg Council, create government grants for tourism and adult education, and restore Tory cuts to health and other programs.

The NDP platform focused on workers' concerns, the environment, preventive health programs and housing. They supported an increase in the minimum wage, affirmative action programs, and laws which would make it expensive to shut down plants in Manitoba. They also promised not to raise taxes, and opposed the sale of Manfor Ltd., a Crown corporation owned by the Province of Manitoba.

The campaign

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A poll published in the Winnipeg Free Press indicated that the NDP were the most trusted party on economic issues, followed by the Tories. The NDP were still damaged from their poor showing in the 1988 election, however, and began the campaign in third place. The struggle for government initially appeared to be between the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives.

The Liberals ran a weak campaign, however, and were overtaken by the NDP after a strong performance from Gary Doer in the leaders' debate. Doer further increased the NDP's standing in the last weeks of the campaign by highlighting the connections between Filmon and the Mulroney government on a number of issues. The NDP's return to official opposition status was regarded as a major development after their near-collapse in 1988.

Opinion polls

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Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey
Source PC MLP NDP Other ME Sample
Election 1990 September 11, 1990 41.99 28.80 28.15 1.06
Viewpoints March 1990 [1] 36.8 36.8 26.5
Election 1988 April 26, 1988 38.37 23.62 35.52 2.49


Results

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The Tories continued their dominance in Manitoba's rural south, winning every seat in the region. They also won 13 of 31 seats in Winnipeg and a few ridings to the city's immediate north, enough to provide the party with a majority of two.

The NDP won 11 seats in Winnipeg, and swept the province's north. They also won four seats in the mid-northern region, and retained Brandon East, their lone southern riding outside of Winnipeg.

All seven seats retained by the Liberals were in Winnipeg, mostly in the centre and northwest of the city. With few exceptions, many of the centre-left voters who had voted Liberal in 1988 switched back to the NDP.

Party Party Leader # of
candidates
Seats Popular Vote
Before1 Elected % Change # % Change
  Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon 57 24 30 +25.0% 206,810 41.99% +3.62
  New Democratic Gary Doer 57 12 20 +66.7% 141,328 28.80% +5.18
  Liberal Sharon Carstairs 57 21 7 -66.7% 138,146 28.15% -7.37
Confederation of Regions Irene Armishaw (president) 5 - - - 1,564 0.32% -1.00
  Western Independence Fred Cameron 6 - - - 1,355 0.28% -0.17
Progressive Sidney Green 5 - - - 1,163 0.24% +0.06
Libertarian Clancy Smith 5 - - - 637 0.13% +0.04
Communist Frank Goldspink (organizer) 1 - - - 25 0.00% -0.05
  Independent 5 - - - 450 0.09% -0.30
Total 198 57 57 - 490,690 100%  

1 "Before" refers to standings in the Legislature at dissolution, and not to the results of the previous election. These numbers therefore reflect changes in party standings as a result of by-elections and members crossing the floor.

Popular vote
PC
41.99%
New Democratic
28.80%
Liberal
28.15%
Others
1.06%
Seats summary
PC
52.63%
New Democratic
35.09%
Liberal
12.28%

Constituency results

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Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Other
Arthur-Virden Jim Downey
4,773
Goldwyn Jones
1,197
Glen McKinnon
2,085
Jim Downey
Assiniboia Linda McIntosh
4,054
Joan Johannson
1,348
Ed Mandrake
2,730
Ed Mandrake
Brandon East Ron Arnst
3,216
Len Evans
4,760
Brenda Avlontis
919
Len Evans
Brandon West James McCrae
4,736
Shari Decter Hirst
2,374
Abby Hampton
1,428
James McCrae
Broadway Craig Johnson
1,570
Conrad Santos
2,508
Avis Gray
2,400
Avis Gray
Burrows Chris Aune
1,478
Doug Martindale
4,206
William Chornopyski
2,056
William Chornopyski
Charleswood Jim Ernst
5,419
Toni Vosters
1,084
Ken Brown
2,912
Jim Ernst
Concordia Vic Rubiletz
1,937
Gary Doer
4,588
Gunter Grosskamper
1,059
Fred Cameron (WIP)
168
Guy Beaudry (Lbt)
135
Gary Doer
Crescentwood Tom DeNardi
3,278
Neil Cohen
2,184
Jim Carr
4,588
Jim Carr
Dauphin Martin Bidzinski
3,424
John Plohman
4,802
Peter Rampton
1,608
John Plohman
Elmwood Vic Toews
3,035
Jim Maloway
4,127
Ed Price
1,623
Jim Maloway
Emerson Jack Penner
4,529
Georgine Spooner
1,055
Réal Tétrault
1,739
Jack Penner
Flin Flon Ron Black
1,126
Jerry Storie
4,153
Pascal Bighetty
733
Jerry Storie
Fort Garry Rosemary Vodrey
5,105
Shirley Lord
1,500
Laurie Evans
3,992
Jan Mandseth (WIP)
249
Laurie Evans
Gimli Ed Helwer
5,118
Tom Hughes
2,666
Darlene Skarito
1,978
Ed Helwer
Gladstone Denis Rocan
4,371
Michael Newnan
788
Cordell Barker
1,812
Warren Murray (CoR)
410
Charlotte Oleson
Inkster Raj Mehta
1,416
Ajit Deol
2,637
Kevin Lamoureux
3,602
Gordon Haddad (WIP)
198
Kevin Lamoureux
Interlake Ed Trachuk
2,533
Clif Evans
2,941
Duncan Geisler
1,781
Bill Uruski
Kildonan David Langtry
3,694
Dave Chomiak
3,904
Claudia Sarbit
2,771
Sidney Green (P)
570
Gulzar Singh Cheema
Kirkfield Park Eric Stefanson
5,813
Shirley Manson
1,035
Jasper McKee
3,430
Frank Goldspink (Comm)
25
Gerrie Hammond
Lac du Bonnet Darren Praznik
5,162
Leonard Kolton
3,142
Frank Thibedeau
1,309
Darren Praznik
Lakeside Harry Enns
3,719
Eduard Hiebert
1,248
Delmer Nott
1,936
Irene Armishaw (CoR)
486
Dennis Rice (Lbt)
95
Harry Enns

La Verendrye

Ben Sveinson
3,731
Ronald Fiola
1,938
Clair Noel
2,718
Helmut Pankratz
Minnedosa Harold Gilleshammer
4,294
Sean Espey
1,605
Terry Drebit
2,203
Harold Gilleshammer
Morris Clayton Manness
5,353
Gary Nelson
721
Bill Roth
2,036
Mark Edmondson (CoR)
302
Clayton Manness
Niakwa Jack Reimer
4,950
Michael Simpson
1,394
Linda Asper
4,301
Herold Driedger
Osborne Sondra Braid
2,859
Donald Bailey
2,861
Reg Alcock
3,941
Jim Weidman (Lbt)
139
Reg Alcock
Pembina Donald Orchard
5,497
Bert Siemens
652
Marilyn Skubovius
833
Donald Orchard
Point Douglas Calvin Pompana
575
George Hickes
2,778
Errol Lewis
1,550
William Hawryluk (Ind)
108
Roy Price (Ind)
66
new district
Portage la Prairie Edward Connery
4,276
Arden Campbell
1,092
Darlene Hamm
2,329
Roy Lyall (CoR)
243
Edward Connery
Radisson Mike Thompson
2,692
Marianne Cerilli
4,055
Allan Patterson
1,925
Allan Patterson
Riel Gerry Ducharme
3,756
Bob Agnes
2,041
Ed Benjamin
2,874
Gerry Ducharme
River East Bonnie Mitchelson
4,963
Rob DeGroot
2,489
Edna Mattson
1,960
Bonnie Mitchelson
River Heights Shaun McCaffrey
4,601
Peter Sim
1,190
Sharon Carstairs
5,467
Clancy Smith (Lbt)
138
Sharon Carstairs
Roblin-Russell Len Derkach
4,382
William Nicholson
2,238
Neil Stewart
1,757
Len Derkach
Rossmere Harold Neufeld
3,893
Maxine Hamilton
2,725
Terry Duguid
2,416
Kathrina Cameron (WIP)
163
Harold Neufeld
Rupertsland Hugh Wynne
804
Elijah Harper
3,798
George Kernaghan
307
Elijah Harper
St. Boniface Henri Marcoux
1,921
Robert Gooding
2,046
Neil Gaudry
4,928
Neil Gaudry
St. James Joanne Thibault
2,719
Len Sawatsky
2,586
Paul Edwards
3,014
Charles Lamont (P)
148
Fred Debrecen (CoR)
122
Paul Edwards
St. Johns Lynn Filbert
1,502
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
4,392
Mark Minenko
2,414
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
St. Norbert Marcel Laurendeau
4,502
Andrew Sawatsky
1,011
John Angus
4,385
John Angus
St. Vital Shirley Render
3,361
Kathleen McCallum
2,368
Bob Rose
3,243
Doug Browning (WIP)
288
Bob Rose
Ste. Rose Glen Cummings
3,646
Sam Voisey
1,540
Ivan Traill
1,882
Glen Cummings
Seine River Louise Dacquay
4,465
Keith Kendall
1,792
Herold Driedger
4,418
Lyle Cruickshank (WIP)
289
new district
Selkirk Russ Farrell
3,467
Greg Dewar
3,735
Gwen Charles
3,009
Gwen Charles
Springfield Glen Findlay
5,146
Deborah Barron-McNabb
3,374
Bob Strong
1,958
Glen Findlay
Steinbach Albert Driedger
5,540
Marcel Lagassé
483
Cornelius Goertzen
1,171
Ken McAllister (Lbt)
130
Albert Driedger
Sturgeon Creek Gerry McAlpine
4,676
Andrew Swan
1,471
Iva Yeo
3,907
Iva Yeo
Swan River Park Burrell
3,639
Rosann Wowchuk
3,872
June Connolly-Peyton
963
Park Burrell
The Maples Norman Isler
2,684
Tony Valeri
2,260
Gulzar Singh Cheema
3,273
new district
The Pas Alfred McDonald
3,247
Oscar Lathlin
3,390
David Merasty
1,005
Harry Harapiak
Thompson Loretta Clarke
2,043
Steve Ashton
4,099
Don McIvor
698
Steve Ashton
Transcona Ray Hargreaves
1,732
Daryl Reid
4,363
Richard Kozak
2,554
Thomas Bunn (P)
168
Richard Kozak
Turtle Mountain Bob Rose
4,702
Robert Smith
1,047
Doug Collins
2,091
Rod Stephenson (I)
173
Denis Rocan
Tuxedo Gary Filmon
7,861
Rosemary Ahoff
926
Campbell Wright
3,281
Gary Filmon
Wellington Clyde Perry
1,534
Becky Barrett
3,484
Ernie Gilroy
2,324
Neil Schipper (P)
128
Walter Diawol (I)
68
Stephen Keki (I)
35
new district
Wolseley Fay Campbell
1,503
Jean Friesen
3,265
Harold Taylor
2520
Gordon Pratt (P)
149
Harold Taylor

Post-election changes

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Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
PC NDP Liberal Other
Crescentwood
September 15, 1992
Jenny Hillard
1,995
Tim Sale
2,256
Avis Gray
2,697
Sidney Green (P)
900
Ken Carver (R)
97
Dennis Rice (Lbt)
19
Jim Carr
Portage la Prairie
September 15, 1992
Brian Pallister
3,226
Ralph Jackson
648
Helen Christoffersen
1,995
Fred Debrecen (R)
388
Edward Connery
Rupertsland
September 21, 1993
Eric Kennedy
614
Eric Robinson
1,697
George Munroe
1,023
Elijah Harper
Rossmere
September 21, 1993
Ed Martens
2,159
Harry Schellenberg
2,990
Sherry Wiebe
1,590
Cynthia Cooke (Ind)
186
Harold Neufeld
The Maples
September 21, 1993
David Langtry
1,362
Norma Walker
2,138
Gary Kowalski
3,619
Gulzar Singh Cheema
Osborne
September 21, 1993
Roger Young
1,496
Irene Haigh
2,420
Norma McCormick
2,966
Reg Alcock
St. Johns
September 21, 1993
June Robertson
465
Gord Mackintosh
3,232
Naty Yankech
878
Neil Schipper (P)
241
Judy Wasylycia-Leis

Two further vacancies, in Flin Flon (resignation of Jerry Storie, July 20, 1994) and River Heights (Sharon Carstairs appointed to the Senate of Canada, September 15, 1994), were not filled in by-elections before the 1995 election.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ York, Geoffrey (April 9, 1990). "Spring election seems unlikely in Manitoba No party has strong edge among capricious voters". The Globe and Mail. p. A8.