1962 Quebec general election

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1962 Quebec general election
Flag of Quebec.svg
  1960 November 14, 1962 1966  

95 seats in the 27th Legislative Assembly of Quebec
48 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Jean Lesage avocat.jpg Daniel Johnson Sr. at Expo 67.jpg
Leader Jean Lesage Daniel Johnson Sr.
Party Liberal Union Nationale
Leader since May 31, 1958 September 23, 1961
Leader's seat Québec-Ouest Bagot
Last election51 seats, 51.38%43 seats, 46.61%
Seats won6331
Seat changeIncrease2.svg12Decrease2.svg12
Popular vote1,205,253900,817
Percentage56.40%42.15%
SwingIncrease2.svg5.02%Decrease2.svg4.46%

Premier before election

Jean Lesage
Liberal

Premier after election

Jean Lesage
Liberal

The 1962 Quebec general election was held on November 14, 1962, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, was re-elected, defeating the Union Nationale (UN) led by Daniel Johnson, Sr.

Contents

In an unusual move, the election was called just two years after the previous 1960 general election. Lesage sought a mandate for the nationalization of the electrical power industry, using the slogan Maîtres chez nous, 'Masters in our own home', and declaring it to be the single issue on which he was ready to stake his political career.

A few days before the election, the Union Nationale's chief organizer, André Lagarde, was arrested for fraud. The Liberals claimed this was proof of lingering corruption dating from the Maurice Duplessis era, but the UN cried foul. While the courts eventually acquitted Lagarde after the election, the incident may well have contributed to the UN's defeat.

The Liberal Party won an increased number of seats and a higher percentage of the popular vote compared to the previous election. Their majority government allowed them to pursue their campaign promise of electricity nationalization, spearheaded by future Parti Québécois founder René Lévesque, who at the time served as a cabinet minister in the Lesage government.

"Maitres chez nous
" (Masters in Our Own Home) was the electoral slogan of the Liberal Party during the 1962 election. Maitres chez nous 1962.jpg
"Maîtres chez nous" (Masters in Our Own Home) was the electoral slogan of the Liberal Party during the 1962 election.

Action provinciale , a new group founded by Hertel Larocque (a former secretary of Camillien Houde), [1] fielded 11 candidates in the election but failed to gather a significant number of votes. Johnson opted not to have the UN join forces with it, keeping in mind the failure the Liberals had had in attempting the same manoeuvre with the Créditistes in 1956. [1] However, Social Credit was still a force to reckon with even while not campaigning on the provincial scene, [1] and Johnson did not hesitate to use its vocabulary in his speeches while on the campaign trail. [2]

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1960) [3]
CandidatesLibUNIndI-LibI-UNAPConCommTotal
26767134
3242467181172
422228
522311110
Total959591021111224

Results

[3]

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1962)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1960 1962±#±%± (pp)
Liberal Jean Lesage 95526311Increase2.svg1,205,253128,118Increase2.svg56.40%5.02Increase2.svg
Union Nationale Daniel Johnson, Sr. 95423111Decrease2.svg900,81776,490Decrease2.svg42.15%4.46Decrease2.svg
Independent 911Steady2.svg13,5818,606Decrease2.svg0.64%0.42Decrease2.svg
 Other candidates
 Independent-Liberal1011,2093,001Increase2.svg0.52%0.13Increase2.svg
  Conservative 14,2554,255Increase2.svg0.20%New
 Action provinciale111,4451,445Increase2.svg0.07%New
 Independent-Unionist233610,195Decrease2.svg0.02%0.48Decrease2.svg
  Communist 171465Decrease2.svg0.00%0.03Decrease2.svg
Total22495952,136,967100%
Rejected ballots29,5094,012Decrease2.svg
Voter turnout2,166,47636,369Increase2.svg79.592.07Decrease2.svg
Registered electors2,721,933113,494Increase2.svg

    Vote and seat summaries


    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
      Liberal
    63 / 95
    56.40%
    5.02
     
      Union Nationale
    31 / 95
    42.15%
    -4.46
     
      Independent
    1 / 95
    0.64%
    -0.42
     
     Other
    0 / 95
    0.81%
    -0.14
     

    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1962 Quebec general election [3] [4]
    RidingWinning partyTurnout
    [a 1]
    Votes
    Name 1960 PartyVotesShareMargin
    #
    Margin
    %
    LibUNIndI-LibAPOtherTotal
     
    Abitibi-Est LibLib14,89251.93%1,1093.87%85.24%14,89213,78328,675
    Abitibi-Ouest LibLib6,73256.97%1,64813.95%88.52%6,7325,08411,816
    Argenteuil UNUN7,92254.57%2,61017.98%86.22%5,3127,9221,28414,518
    Arthabaska LibLib10,98853.54%1,4537.08%91.70%10,9889,53520,523
    Bagot UNUN5,33655.11%98910.21%92.36%4,3475,3369,683
    Beauce LibUN12,58351.96%9473.91%87.25%11,63612,58324,219
    Beauharnois UNLib11,88451.72%7913.44%90.19%11,88411,09322,977
    Bellechasse LibUN5,17651.35%2732.71%80.81%4,9035,17610,079
    Berthier UNLib5,93850.05%1100.93%85.57%5,9385,8289811,864
    Bonaventure LibLib9,52557.28%2,42114.56%85.26%9,5257,10416,629
    Bourget LibLib42,90658.74%17,72824.27%73.21%42,90625,1784,80715373,044
    Brome LibLib3,41755.82%71311.65%81.43%3,4172,7046,121
    Chambly LibLib36,29063.83%17,09430.07%76.89%36,29019,19677835323556,852
    Champlain UNUN12,34652.74%1,2825.48%90.97%11,06412,34623,410
    Charlevoix UNLib6,94252.23%5944.47%87.21%6,9426,34813,290
    Châteauguay UNLib8,72754.83%1,5389.66%84.04%8,7277,18915,916
    Chicoutimi UNUN16,91050.29%1920.57%88.05%16,71816,91033,628
    Compton UNUN5,56854.45%1,0149.92%87.30%4,5545,56810410,226
    Deux-Montagnes LibLib8,51857.31%2,17414.63%86.94%8,5186,34414,862
    Dorchester UNUN7,81853.64%1,0607.27%83.78%6,7587,81814,576
    Drummond LibLib14,62157.17%3,66814.34%90.97%14,62110,95325,574
    Duplessis LibLib7,34559.84%2,41619.68%79.19%7,3454,92912,274
    Frontenac UNUN6,21752.46%5824.91%87.92%5,6356,21711,852
    Gaspé-Nord LibUN5,18351.75%4444.43%88.07%4,7395,1839310,015
    Gaspé-Sud UNLib7,19750.40%1130.79%89.09%7,1977,08414,281
    Gatineau UNLib10,28954.57%1,7259.15%77.83%10,2898,56418,853
    Hull LibLib14,85463.36%6,26626.73%78.05%14,8548,58823,442
    Huntingdon UNUN3,44954.14%5288.29%85.15%2,9213,4496,370
    Iberville LibLib4,45255.87%93611.75%91.07%4,4523,5167,968
    Îles-de-la-Madeleine UNLib2,67451.86%1923.72%92.10%2,6742,4825,156
    Jacques-Cartier LibLib69,19977.74%49,38855.49%72.46%69,19919,81189,010
    Joliette UNUN10,23652.96%5,03726.06%85.90%5,19910,2363,89119,326
    Jonquière-Kénogami LibLib16,10060.38%5,53620.76%86.48%16,10010,56426,664
    Kamouraska UNLib5,45350.19%410.38%82.02%5,4535,41210,865
    L'Assomption LibLib9,68055.06%1,98411.29%84.49%9,6807,6967013417,580
    L'Islet LibUN5,23953.25%6396.49%83.90%4,6005,2399,839
    Labelle UNUN6,00557.11%1,69516.12%84.51%4,3106,00519910,514
    Lac-Saint-Jean LibLib9,17152.63%9155.25%89.25%9,1718,25617,427
    Laval LibLib67,31666.31%33,80733.30%76.57%67,31633,509461237101,523
    Laviolette UNUN11,31553.63%1,5337.27%85.24%9,78211,31521,097
    Lévis LibLib13,43454.43%2,3469.51%88.47%13,43411,08815824,680
    Lotbinière UNUN6,39353.56%8497.11%88.62%5,5446,39311,937
    Maisonneuve UNLib28,81458.89%8,70217.79%71.75%28,81420,11248,926
    Maskinongé UNUN5,31253.71%7347.42%91.18%4,5785,3129,890
    Matane LibLib8,20450.40%1300.80%83.20%8,2048,07416,278
    Matapédia LibLib6,11151.05%2522.11%84.29%6,1115,85911,970
    Mégantic LibLib13,18255.05%2,42010.11%88.95%13,18210,76223,944
    Missisquoi UNUN7,63057.38%1,96214.75%84.84%5,6687,63013,298
    Montcalm UNLib4,66255.41%91110.83%88.54%4,6623,7518,413
    Montmagny LibUN5,74750.49%1110.98%86.57%5,6365,74711,383
    Montmorency UNUN5,71750.67%3983.53%88.32%5,3195,71724711,283
    Montréal–Jeanne-Mance UNLib40,89959.64%13,74020.04%68.18%40,89927,15951968,577
    Montréal-Laurier LibLib15,83758.16%4,56316.76%76.41%15,83711,27411727,228
    Montréal-Mercier UNLib16,99254.07%3,32210.57%75.56%16,99213,67076431,426
    Montréal–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce LibLib37,10078.55%29,35762.15%59.89%37,1007,7432,38947,232
    Montréal-Outremont LibLib36,07677.63%26,64757.34%60.34%36,0769,42996946,474
    Montréal–Saint-Henri LibLib17,54853.04%2,5407.68%70.28%17,54815,00853133,087
    Montréal–Saint-Jacques UNUN7,85452.10%7054.68%65.65%7,1497,8547115,074
    Montréal–Saint-Louis LibLib14,08258.15%3,94916.31%60.95%14,08210,13324,215
    Montréal–Sainte-Anne IndInd6,05845.84%7465.65%57.89%5,3121,8456,05813,215
    Montréal–Sainte-Marie UNUN12,97752.47%1,3215.34%67.43%11,65612,97710124,734
    Montréal-Verdun LibLib21,20865.98%10,27431.96%72.80%21,20810,93432,142
    Napierville-Laprairie UNLib9,86556.53%2,27813.05%86.33%9,8657,58717,452
    Nicolet UNLib7,20951.74%4843.47%85.96%7,2096,72513,934
    Papineau UNUN12,30455.28%2,35110.56%85.66%9,95312,30422,257
    Pontiac UNUN5,10859.81%1,67519.61%75.86%3,4335,1088,541
    Portneuf LibLib11,05951.34%7023.26%85.36%11,05910,35712421,540
    Québec-Centre UNLib9,75055.13%1,81310.25%84.08%9,7507,93717,687
    Québec-Comté LibLib34,09057.80%9,19615.59%87.07%34,09024,89458,984
    Québec-Est UNLib21,00152.20%1,7674.39%88.59%21,00119,23440,235
    Québec-Ouest LibLib14,58267.91%7,69235.82%88.24%14,5826,89021,472
    Richelieu LibLib10,59855.61%2,13711.21%90.11%10,5988,46119,059
    Richmond LibLib9,93257.88%2,70315.75%85.16%9,9327,22917,161
    Rimouski LibLib10,72052.22%9114.44%82.70%10,7209,80920,529
    Rivière-du-Loup LibLib8,49351.22%4032.43%85.70%8,4938,09016,583
    Roberval LibUN11,17251.23%5372.46%85.07%10,63511,17221,807
    Rouville UNLib6,57556.08%1,42612.16%86.80%6,5755,14911,724
    Rouyn-Noranda LibLib9,38660.06%3,14420.12%85.50%9,3866,24215,628
    Saguenay LibLib12,11657.35%3,10614.70%78.97%12,1169,01021,126
    Saint-Hyacinthe LibLib12,07056.30%2,70112.60%84.85%12,0709,36921,439
    Saint-Jean LibLib8,86950.55%8664.94%89.57%8,8698,00367217,544
    Saint-Maurice LibLib15,68455.73%3,22411.46%88.19%15,68412,46028,144
    Saint-Sauveur UNUN12,64151.43%7022.86%89.13%11,93912,64124,580
    Shefford UNUN12,02650.01%8003.33%85.22%11,22612,02679424,046
    Sherbrooke LibLib18,53952.46%1,8255.16%81.29%18,53916,7148635,339
    Stanstead LibLib8,91856.32%2,10113.27%84.29%8,9186,8179915,834
    Témiscamingue UNLib4,10252.98%4625.97%87.18%4,1023,6407,742
    Témiscouata UNUN5,93160.69%2,08921.38%82.38%3,8425,9319,773
    Terrebonne LibLib26,90158.98%8,18817.95%85.00%26,90118,71345,614
    Trois-Rivières UNUN15,32351.75%1,0363.50%89.96%14,28715,32329,610
    Vaudreuil-Soulanges LibLib10,78057.49%2,80914.98%90.45%10,7807,97118,751
    Verchères LibLib6,82758.51%1,98517.01%87.62%6,8274,84211,669
    Westmount–Saint-Georges LibLib13,11469.03%11,48660.46%59.04%13,1141,6284,25518,997
    Wolfe LibUN3,93952.92%4816.46%90.26%3,4583,939467,443
    Yamaska UNUN4,07860.16%1,37720.31%84.60%2,7014,0786,779
    1. including spoilt ballots
      = open seat
      = turnout is above provincial average
      = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
      = incumbent had switched allegiance
      = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
      = incumbency arose from byelection gain
      = other incumbents renominated
      = multiple candidates

    Analysis

    Party candidates in 2nd place [3]
    Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
    LibUNCon
    Liberal 62163
    Union Nationale 3131
    Independent 11
    Total3262195
    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [3]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
      Liberal 63622
      Union Nationale 31521
      Independent 171
      Conservative 1
     Action provinciale911
     Independent Liberal82
     Independent UN11
      Communist 1
    Resulting composition of the 28th Quebec Legislative Assembly [4]
    SourceParty
    LibUNIndTotal
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned4321165
    Open seats held224
    Byelection loss reversed11
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated17522
    Incumbents defeated - previous incumbents returned11
    Open seats gained11
    Byelection gain held11
    Total6331195

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Lemieux 1969, p. 18.
    2. Lemieux 1969, p. 19.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 Drouilly, Pierre (November 7, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1962". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.
    4. 1 2 "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec . Retrieved September 13, 2023.

    Works cited

    Further reading