1970 Quebec general election

Last updated

1970 Quebec general election
Flag of Quebec.svg
  1966 April 29, 1970 1973  

108 seats in the 29th National Assembly of Quebec
55 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Robert-Bourassa.jpg
Leader Robert Bourassa Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Party Liberal Union Nationale
Leader since January 17, 1970 October 2, 1968
Leader's seat Mercier Missisquoi
Last election50 seats, 47.29%56 seats, 40.82%
Seats won7217
Seat changeIncrease2.svg22Decrease2.svg39
Popular vote1,304,341564,544
Percentage45.40%19.65%
SwingDecrease2.svg1.9%Decrease2.svg21.17%

 Third partyFourth party
 PC Rene Levesque BAnQ P243S1D865 (cropped).jpg
Leader Camil Samson René Lévesque
Party Parti créditiste Parti Québécois
Leader since March 22, 1970 October 14, 1968
Leader's seat Rouyn-Noranda Laurier (lost re-election)
Last electionpre-creationpre-creation
Seats won127
Seat changeIncrease2.svg12Increase2.svg7
Popular vote321,370662,404
Percentage11.19%23.06%
SwingIncrease2.svg11.19%Increase2.svg23.06

Premier before election

Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Union Nationale

Premier after election

Robert Bourassa
Liberal

The 1970 Quebec general election was held on April 29, 1970, to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968, with its members now known in English as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs).

Contents

In the election, the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Union Nationale, led by Premier Jean-Jacques Bertrand.

This election marked the first appearance by a new party, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois, led by former Liberal cabinet minister René Lévesque. The PQ won a modest seven seats and came second in the popular vote, although Lévesque was defeated in his own riding.

Only a few months after the election, Quebec faced a severe test with the October Crisis, in which Liberal cabinet minister Pierre Laporte was kidnapped and assassinated by the Front de libération du Québec, a violent pro-independence group.

The Union Nationale, which had governed Quebec through most of the 1940s and 1950s, would never come close to winning power again. This was partly because a significant number of the Union Nationale's younger supporters had embraced sovereigntism and shifted their support to the PQ.

Campaign

The Liberals, Unionists and péquistes all fielded full slates, and the créditistes also nominated 99 candidates, so most constituencies experienced at least four-way contests:

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1970) [1]
CandidatesLibUNPQRCIndNDPI-PQI-CrCommSoc-WTotal
344412
4767676742304
521212118147111105
644446224
7333362121
Total1081081089926131111466

Results

[1]

Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1970)
Political partyParty leaderMNAsVotes
Candidates 1966 1970±#±%± (pp)
Liberal Robert Bourassa 108507222Increase2.svg1,304,341204,906Increase2.svg45.40%1.89Decrease2.svg
Union Nationale Jean-Jacques Bertrand 108561739Decrease2.svg564,544384,384Decrease2.svg19.65%21.17Decrease2.svg
Ralliement créditiste Camil Samson 991212Increase2.svg321,370321,370Increase2.svg11.19%New
Parti Québécois [a 1] René Lévesque 10877Increase2.svg662,404458,689Increase2.svg23.06%14.30Increase2.svg
Independent 2622Decrease2.svg12,52851,906Decrease2.svg0.44%2.33Decrease2.svg
 Other candidates
  New Democratic Roland Morin 134,3744,374Increase2.svg0.15%New
 Independent PQ12,9982,998Increase2.svg0.10%New
 Independent Créditiste15353Increase2.svgNew
  Communist Sam Walsh 1213289Decrease2.svg0.01%0.01Decrease2.svg
 Socialist Workers1145145Increase2.svg0.01%New
Total4661081082,872,970100.00%
Rejected ballots57,02911,348Increase2.svg
Voter turnout2,929,999559,489Increase2.svg84.2310.66Increase2.svg
Registered electors3,478,578256,276Increase2.svg
  1. 1970 results compared to 1966 combined RIN/RN total

Vote and seat summaries


Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
  Liberal
72 / 108
45.40%
-1.89
 
  Union Nationale
17 / 108
19.65%
-21.17
 
  Ralliement créditiste
12 / 108
11.19%
11.19
 
  Parti Québécois
7 / 108
23.06%
14.30
 
  Independent
0 / 108
0.44%
-2.33
 
 Other
0 / 108
0.36%
-0.10
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1970 Quebec general election [1] [2]
RidingWinning partyTurnout
[a 1]
Votes
Name 1966 PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibPQUNRCIndNDPOtherTotal
 
Abitibi-Est LibRC15,15143.11%4,32012.29%81.95%10,8314,9374,22415,15135,143
Abitibi-Ouest LibRC6,28546.52%1,60211.86%87.66%4,6839171,6266,28513,511
Ahuntsic LibLib17,20845.53%9722.57%87.68%17,20816,2363,76058837,792
Argenteuil LibLib9,62057.98%5,65634.09%86.93%9,6201,5633,9641,3459916,591
Arthabaska UNLib8,71532.13%2630.97%89.88%8,7153,8525,9838,45211927,121
Bagot UNUN4,59137.74%1,25010.27%89.29%3,3419174,5913,2803712,166
Beauce UNRC11,80438.45%2,4447.96%84.37%8,1391,3939,36011,80430,696
Beauharnois LibLib12,38443.00%2,93710.20%89.87%12,3849,4475,5151,45328,799
Bellechasse UNUN6,11150.56%3,04325.18%85.73%3,0683116,1112,59612,086
Berthier UNUN5,38737.72%1641.15%86.29%5,2232,8665,38780714,283
Bonaventure LibLib11,80360.39%6,72934.43%83.93%11,8032,1555,07451319,545
Bourassa LibLib22,19745.59%1,3712.82%80.48%22,19720,8264,2651,40148,689
Bourget UNPQ15,56540.25%5001.29%85.65%15,06515,5656,6891,24610838,673
Brome LibLib4,66663.21%3,03641.13%85.54%4,6662991,6307877,382
Chambly LibLib25,64156.74%11,27324.95%87.41%25,64114,3683,9481,23145,188
Champlain UNLib9,33433.06%2,5348.98%86.96%9,3345,4036,8006,69628,233
Charlevoix LibLib6,60242.59%2,43915.73%85.40%6,6021,6804,1633,05815,503
Châteauguay LibLib14,53659.53%10,01341.00%87.31%14,5364,4934,52386724,419
Chauveau UNLib18,46936.61%5,12110.15%85.94%18,4699,3999,23513,34850,451
Chicoutimi UNUN8,61436.74%1,2835.47%87.80%7,3317,0908,61440923,444
Compton UNLib3,61332.09%2702.40%86.94%3,6131,0303,2743,34311,260
D'Arcy-McGee LibLib36,54390.41%33,31382.42%85.06%36,5433,23064740,420
Deux-Montagnes LibLib12,10654.21%6,94931.12%87.86%12,1064,1995,15787022,332
Dorchester UNRC6,06735.30%1,6849.80%78.84%4,3832,4904,2456,06717,185
Dorion LibLib13,18345.94%3,52512.28%78.67%13,1839,6584,85185914528,696
Drummond LibLib13,26940.16%5,42016.41%87.87%13,2696,8885,0327,84933,038
Dubuc UNUN8,79336.19%4401.81%88.20%8,3536,5058,79364724,298
Duplessis LibLib7,83945.86%2,22713.03%80.70%7,8395,6123,31033117,092
Fabre LibLib20,15841.71%910.19%87.17%20,15820,0676,2131,6139218248,325
Frontenac UNRC5,20438.74%4833.60%84.13%2,6048404,7215,2046513,434
Gaspé-Nord UNUN4,78641.60%1941.69%88.52%4,5921,9904,78613611,504
Gaspé-Sud LibLib8,45549.96%3,37019.91%84.06%8,4553,0625,08532216,924
Gatineau LibLib19,00762.37%13,88645.56%82.58%19,0073,3605,1212,98930,477
Gouin LibPQ14,07040.87%120.03%78.87%14,05814,0705,0531,24234,423
Hull LibLib14,47856.97%10,66441.96%75.63%14,4783,8143,6473,25222125,412
Huntingdon LibLib4,17055.44%1,74223.16%80.39%4,1706112,4283127,521
Iberville UNUN4,11040.17%7687.51%90.07%3,3422,0364,11074310,231
Îles-de-la-Madeleine LibLib3,56056.68%1,27520.30%89.57%3,5603662,285706,281
Jacques-Cartier LibLib25,74367.16%19,42750.68%84.72%25,7436,3163,0279222,32238,330
Jean-Talon LibLib12,56541.63%6,06820.10%82.07%12,5656,4976,3814,62511430,182
Jeanne-Mance LibLib21,51548.48%4,64910.48%83.81%21,51516,8664,7971,19744,375
Joliette UNLib10,92940.32%3,23511.93%88.66%10,9297,3767,6941,10727,106
Jonquière LibLib15,01049.49%3,65612.05%88.64%15,01011,3543,10885630,328
Kamouraska UNLib4,88937.73%1,1368.77%80.89%4,8897623,5553,75312,959
L'Assomption UNLib10,75438.30%1,3824.92%87.16%10,7549,3727,95528,081
L'Islet UNLib4,00035.99%2922.63%82.20%4,0005063,7082,89911,113
Labelle UNUN6,26346.41%3,34124.76%84.83%2,9222,7246,2631,58513,494
Lac-Saint-Jean UNLib9,33939.76%1,4666.24%89.23%9,3397,8735,51576123,488
LaFontaine UNPQ18,11340.69%2,6115.87%83.96%15,50218,1138,9481,7318912844,511
Laurier LibLib17,93450.20%4,33112.12%83.25%17,93413,6033,0731,11335,723
Laval LibLib27,26257.64%14,08629.78%84.28%27,26213,1765,3531,50747,298
Laviolette UNLib6,97428.57%2971.22%85.20%6,9745,3655,3906,67724,406
Lévis UNRC10,26831.14%2090.63%87.54%10,0594,4708,17910,26832,976
Limoilou UNLib12,58232.78%2,8077.31%84.07%12,5827,3819,7758,65038,388
Lotbinière UNRC4,82335.83%3692.74%87.19%4,4545043,6784,82313,459
Louis-Hébert LibLib25,02654.09%13,47129.12%87.49%25,02611,5556,9492,73846,268
Maisonneuve UNPQ16,01245.16%4,60512.99%77.18%11,40716,0126,0071,77725235,455
Marguerite-Bourgeoys LibLib28,69468.85%20,78749.88%84.41%28,6947,9073,58485026237841,675
Maskinongé UNUN5,11343.06%1,29910.94%90.46%3,8147575,1132,19011,874
Matane LibLib8,80041.67%2,92213.84%84.93%8,8005,8785,3381,10321,119
Matapédia LibLib4,31932.69%5143.89%84.84%4,3193,8052,5648711,65513,214
Mégantic UNRC8,20128.79%5011.76%88.09%6,9545,6267,7008,20128,481
Mercier LibLib15,33746.65%3,0619.31%79.82%15,33712,2764,1451,01110632,875
Missisquoi UNUN6,78940.22%5433.22%84.60%6,2462,0426,7891,80416,881
Montcalm UNUN4,95045.27%3383.09%86.66%4,6121,3724,95010,934
Montmagny UNUN5,59642.54%1,93214.69%82.25%3,6646345,5963,26113,155
Montmorency UNLib9,71432.65%410.14%87.35%9,7143,7296,3379,67330029,753
Napierville-Laprairie LibLib14,40848.71%7,39425.00%80.74%14,4087,0146,7391,19422529,580
Nicolet UNUN7,38045.53%1,81911.22%88.21%5,5611,7647,3801,50516,210
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce LibLib31,93087.26%29,14779.65%84.04%31,9302,78368035784336,593
Olier LibLib22,64950.38%5,95813.25%81.52%22,64916,6913,9941,62444,958
Outremont LibLib25,95574.21%18,66053.35%86.42%25,9557,2951,41930734,976
Papineau UNLib12,65143.23%3,64812.47%84.92%12,6512,6349,0034,97429,262
Pontiac UNLib5,15253.46%1,16212.06%81.00%5,1522533,9902429,637
Portneuf UNRC11,08638.14%3,10510.68%83.82%7,9813,6816,31511,08629,063
Richelieu UNLib12,04742.01%2,2287.77%89.02%12,0475,8669,81994728,679
Richmond LibRC7,48536.02%1,1375.47%86.70%6,3483,6553,2907,48520,778
Rimouski LibLib9,98735.89%1,5605.61%85.67%9,9878,4275,2474,16827,829
Rivière-du-Loup UNLib8,58641.40%1,0014.83%86.03%8,5862,0087,5852,55820,737
Robert-Baldwin IndLib46,16987.46%41,31678.26%86.86%46,1694,8531,76952,791
Roberval UNLib9,84537.85%2,60910.03%84.64%9,8455,9777,2362,95626,014
Rouville UNLib6,56440.90%3091.93%88.93%6,5642,3276,25590416,050
Rouyn-Noranda UNRC9,57351.91%5,56030.15%88.37%4,0132,7562,1019,57318,443
Saguenay LibPQ12,39244.77%2,2488.12%82.19%10,14412,3924,0071,13827,681
Saint-Henri UNLib14,09646.88%2,7018.98%79.28%14,09611,3954,03624429530,066
Saint-Hyacinthe UNLib10,62838.24%2,0447.36%86.53%10,6285,6968,5842,8018127,790
Saint-Jacques UNPQ8,55439.01%1,4906.80%71.16%7,0648,5545,3778488421,927
Saint-Jean UNLib8,99338.55%2,1729.31%89.43%8,9936,8216,60590923,328
Saint-Laurent LibLib33,10972.03%23,65051.45%84.81%33,1099,4592,91748345,968
Saint-Louis LibLib12,30364.71%7,70840.54%70.20%12,3034,5951,52637621319,013
Saint-Maurice UNUN11,92136.93%4,04512.53%85.86%7,8577,87611,9214,62532,279
Saint-Sauveur UNRC9,21731.22%5321.80%82.07%8,6854,9126,7129,21729,526
Saint-Anne IndLib8,91448.00%4,03921.75%70.02%8,9143,8098045,045 [a 2] 18,572
Sainte-Marie UNPQ10,70742.57%2,5139.99%73.11%8,19410,7075,1651,08825,154
Shefford UNUN10,48033.21%1,6365.18%87.00%8,8444,11310,4808,12431,561
Sherbrooke UNLib17,31934.26%5,60311.08%84.25%17,31910,78310,42111,71630750,546
Stanstead LibLib8,89749.10%3,97321.92%84.04%8,8972,0002,3004,92418,121
Taillon LibLib16,50142.63%5,36313.86%80.56%16,50111,1384,9972,8262472,99838,707
Témiscamingue LibLib3,74743.88%90210.56%84.17%3,7474991,4482,8458,539
Témiscouata UNUN3,92935.51%5735.18%84.68%3,3568773,9292,90111,063
Terrebonne UNLib30,45245.54%12,46718.64%85.42%30,45217,98513,4065,02866,871
Trois-Rivières UNLib12,89939.84%4,19312.95%81.15%12,8996,9958,7063,77832,378
Vaudreuil-Soulanges LibLib11,84150.12%5,45223.08%84.88%11,8414,1836,3891,1585323,624
Verchères LibLib14,82253.23%6,79624.41%86.65%14,8228,0263,9951,00127,844
Verdun LibLib23,63059.85%14,33236.30%83.53%23,6309,2984,1291,1171,12118639,481
Westmount LibLib32,70385.30%29,05675.78%80.47%32,7033,6471,12633652938,341
Wolfe UNUN3,71244.40%1,63019.50%88.76%2,0827063,7121,8608,360
Yamaska UNLib3,82646.88%4875.97%86.90%3,8265583,3394388,161
  1. including spoilt ballots
  2. Frank Hanley (4,875 votes) was the incumbent
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

Analysis

Elections to the National Assembly of Quebec – seats won/lost by party, 1966-1970
Party1966Gain from (loss to)1970
LibUNRCPQInd
Liberal 5025(3)(2)272
Union Nationale 56(25)(9)(5)17
Ralliement créditiste 3912
Parti Québécois 257
Independent 2(2)
Total1085(27)39(12)(7)2108


Party candidates in 2nd place [1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
LibUNRCPQInd
Liberal 241037172
Union Nationale 16117
Ralliement créditiste 9312
Parti Québécois 77
Total322710381108
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [1]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
  Liberal 72324
  Union Nationale 1727568
  Ralliement créditiste 121014585
  Parti Québécois 7383330
  Independent 1214
  New Democratic 156
 Independent PQ1
 Independent Créditiste1
  Communist 1
 Socialist Workers1
Resulting composition of the 28th Quebec Legislative Assembly [2]
SourceParty
LibUNRCPQTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned341751
Open seats held88
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance11
Byelection loss reversed11
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated247738
Open seats gained358
Incumbent changing allegiance1
Total7217127108

See also

Further reading

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Drouilly, Pierre (November 7, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1970". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.
  2. 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.