Electoral history of Joe Clark

Last updated

Joe Clark in 1979. JoeClark.jpg
Joe Clark in 1979.

This article is the Electoral history of Joe Clark , the sixteenth Prime Minister of Canada.

Contents

A conservative, he served one term as prime minister (1979-1980). He led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in three general elections, winning one (1979) and losing two (1980 and 2000).

Clark defeated Pierre Trudeau in the 1979 election, but did not win a majority in the House of Commons of Canada. He formed a minority government, but it proved to be short-lived. The Clark government fell on a budget vote in December, 1979, triggering the 1980 election. Trudeau won that election and returned to office with a majority government. Clark became the Leader of the Opposition, but in 1983 he lost a leadership challenge to Brian Mulroney, who took over as leader of the Progressive Conservatives.

Clark again became leader of the party in 1998, and led the Progressive Conservatives in the 2000 election. The party lost seats in the House of Commons, remaining in fifth place. Clark led the party in the House for three years, until he announced his resignation in 2002. Peter Mackay succeeded him as leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 2003.

Clark stood for election to the House of Commons of Canada eight times. He was elected each time, often by substantial majorities. He also stood once for election to the Alberta Legislative Assembly but was not elected.

Summary

Canada had ten provinces and two territories throughout Clark's time as Prime Minister. Canada provinces 1949-1999.png
Canada had ten provinces and two territories throughout Clark's time as Prime Minister.

Clark ranks twentieth out of twenty-three prime ministers for time in office, serving one term of 273 days. [1]

He was the second of three prime ministers from Alberta, the others being R. B. Bennett and Stephen Harper.

Clark was active in the Progressive Conservative Party from a young age. [2] In 1976, he entered the leadership convention called to replace the outgoing leader, Robert Stanfield. Clark won the leadership against a crowded field, including Brian Mulroney.

In the 1979 election, Clark defeated Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberals, but did not win a majority in the House of Commons. He formed a minority government but it proved to be short-lived. The Liberals and the New Democratic Party voted together to defeat the proposed budget in December, 1979, with the Social Credit members abstaining. The defeat on a budget measure triggered an immediate election, which Trudeau won, returning to power with a majority government. [3]

Clark returned to the position as Leader of the Official Opposition, but also faced criticism from within his own party. In 1983, there was a leadership review at the Progressive Conservative party convention. Although Clark won an approval of 66.9%, he determined that he needed a stronger mandate from the party. He resigned as leader, while announcing that he would again run for the leadership and seek the party's approval. At the leadership convention held in the summer of 1983, Clark was defeated by Mulroney. [2]

Although defeated for the leadership, Clark continued to sit in the Commons. When Mulroney led the Progressive Conservatives to a majority government in the general election of 1984, he appointed Clark to his Cabinet, first as Minister of External Affairs (1984-1991), and then as President of the Privy Council (1991-1993), with responsibility for constitutional affairs. [2] Clark announced his retirement before the 1993 general election, when the Progressive Conservatives were reduced from a majority government to only two seats in the Commons.

In 1998, Clark was again elected as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, which had never recovered from the 1993 defeat. He led the party in the 2000 election. The party lost seats in the House of Commons, remaining in fifth place. He led the party in the Commons until announcing his second retirement, in 2003.

Clark stood for election to the House of Commons for four different ridings. Three were in Alberta and one was in Nova Scotia, in a by-election after he was elected party leader in 2000. He was elected each time, often by substantial majorities. He served a total of 24 years, 9 months, and 11 days in the House of Commons. [4]

Prior to his first election to the House of Commons, Clark stood for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1967, but was defeated.

Federal general elections: 1979, 1980, and 2000

Clark led the Progressive Conservatives in three general elections. He won a minority government in the general election of 1979, but was defeated in the 1980 election. In the 2000 election, the Progressive Conservatives remained in fifth place in the Commons after the election.

Federal election, 1979

In his first election as leader, Clark led the Progressive Conservatives to a minority government, defeating Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals.

Canadian Federal Election, 1979 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
PartyLeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
  Progressive Conservative Joe Clark 113635.9%
Liberal Pierre Trudeau 211440.1%
  New Democratic Party Ed Broadbent 2617.9%
Social Credit Fabien Roy 64.6%
Total28298.5%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 1980

Clark's government fell on a budget vote in December, 1979, triggering the general election of 1980. Trudeau led the Liberals in the resulting election and was returned to power with a majority. Clark became the Leader of the Opposition.

Canadian Federal Election, 1980 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
PartyLeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Pierre Trudeau 114744.3%
  Progressive Conservative Joe Clark 210332.5%
  New Democratic Party Ed Broadbent 3219.8%
Total28296.6%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 2000

Clark became leader of the Progressive Conservatives for a second time in 1998 and led them in the general election of 2000. The party lost seats and remained in fifth place in the Commons.

Canadian Federal Election, 2000 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
PartyLeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Jean Chrétien 117240.9%
Alliance Stockwell Day 26625.5%
Bloc Québécois Gilles Duceppe 3810.7%
  New Democratic Party Alexa McDonough 138.5%
  Progressive Conservative Joe Clark 1212.2%
Total30197.8%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal constituency elections, 1972 to 1988; 2000

Clark stood for election to the House of Commons eight times, starting with the general election of 1972. He was elected all eight times, from three different ridings in Alberta and one Nova Scotia riding.

1972 Federal Election: Rocky Mountain

Federal Election, 1972: Rocky Mountain, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg Joe Clark 12,98451.6%
Liberal X Allen B. Sulatycky 7,97331.7%
  New Democratic Party Al Cheney3,11212.4%
Social Credit Brian Ganske1,0804.3%
Total25,149100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Rocky Mountain

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.

1974 Federal Election: Rocky Mountain

Federal Election, 1974: Rocky Mountain, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg X Joe Clark 16,04261.1%
Liberal Arthur Yates6,23623.7%
  New Democratic Party Bob Wrigley2,75010.5%
Social Credit C. J. Speirs1,2304.7%
Total26,258100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Rocky Mountain

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.

1979 Federal Election: Yellowhead

Federal Election, 1979: Yellowhead, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg X Joe Clark 28,84970.0%
Liberal Laurie Switzer7,08317.2%
  New Democratic Party Bob Ritchie3,6008.7%
 Non-affiliatedLex Miller1,5353.7%
  Independent Ronnie B. Plaunt1430.3%
Total41,21099.9%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Yellowhead

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1980 Federal Election: Yellowhead

Federal Election, 1980: Yellowhead, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg X Joe Clark 27,95369.5%
Liberal Laurie Switzer7,30218.1%
  New Democratic Party Laird Mitchell4,56211.3%
  Independent Robert L. T. Brower2490.6%
  Independent Brian K. Fallis1700.4%
Total40,23699.9%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Yellowhead

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1984 Federal Election: Yellowhead

Federal Election, 1984: Yellowhead, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg X Joe Clark 37,46274.0%
  New Democratic Party Rick Hardy6,90613.6%
Liberal Louis H. Joy4,0978.1%
Confederation of Regions G. R. Snow8291.6%
Rhinoceros Douglas Alan Bush7731.5%
Social Credit Audrey Sweigard5531.1%
Total50,62099.9%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Yellowhead

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1988 Federal Election: Yellowhead

Federal Election, 1988: Yellowhead, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg X Joe Clark 17,84744.5%
Reform Preston Manning 11,20727.9%
  New Democratic Party Muriel Stanley Venne6,17215.4%
Liberal John Higgerty3,9879.9%
Christian Heritage John M. Torringa7081.8%
Confederation of Regions Peter E. Hope900.2%
 Non-affiliatedPat Geo. A. O'Hara860.2%
Total40,09799.9%1
Source: Library of Parliament History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Yellowhead

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

This was the only time when a former prime minister and leader of the opposition (Clark) and a future leader of the opposition (Manning) were candidates in the same riding election.

2000 Federal By-Election: Kings–Hants

The 2000 by-election was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Scott Brison, on July 24, 2000, to open a seat for Clark to re-enter the Commons.

Federal By-Election, September 11, 2000: Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg Joe Clark 14,52553.4%
  New Democratic Party Kaye Johnson7,37527.1%
Alliance Gerry Fulton4,38516.1%
 Non-affiliatedAlex Neron6702.5%
  Independent John C. Turmel2210.8%
Total27,17699.9%1
Source: History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Kings—Hants

Yes check.svg Elected.
1 Rounding error.

2000 Federal Election: Calgary Centre

Federal Election, 2000: Calgary Centre, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
  Progressive Conservative Yes check.svg Joe Clark 26,35846.0%
Alliance X Eric Lowther 22,05438.5%
Liberal Joanne Levy5,6309.8%
  New Democratic Party Don Lepan1,6042.8%
Green Michael Alvarez-Toye1,1702.0%
  Independent Beverley Smith2930.5%
Marxist–Leninist Margaret Peggy Askin1330.2%
Total57,24299.8%1
Source: History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Calgary Centre

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

Alberta constituency election: 1967

1967 Alberta Election: Calgary South, Alberta
PartyCandidatePopular Vote %
Social Credit Yes check.svg X Arthur J. Dixon 5,40141.9%
Progressive Conservative Joe Clark 4,94038.4%
  New Democratic Party Jack Peters1,38810.8%
Liberal Willis O'Leary1,1468.9%
Total12,878100.0%

Yes check.svg Elected.
X Incumbent.

Progressive Conservative Party Leadership Conventions and Reviews: 1976 to 1983, 1997

Clark ran in three leadership conventions and two leadership reviews. He was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party twice (1976, 1997), and defeated once (1983). After his victory in 1976, he succeeded Robert L. Stanfield as party leader. At the 1983 leadership convention, Clark was defeated by Brian Mulroney, who became leader. In 1998, he succeeded Jean Charest as party leader. Upon his retirement from politics in 2003, he was succeeded by Peter MacKay.

Clark also passed two leadership reviews after the 1980 general election, at the conventions of 1981 and 1983.

1976 Leadership Convention

When Robert Stanfield announced his resignation as party leader in 1976, Clark was one of a crowded field of candidates in the leadership convention. He won the leadership on the fourth ballot.

Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention, February 22, 1976
Voting results by ballot
CandidateFirst BallotSecond BallotThird BallotFourth Ballot
Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %
Claude Wagner 53122.5%66728.5%1,00342.8%1,12248.6%
Mulroney.jpg Brian Mulroney 35715.1%41917.9%


369
Eliminated after third ballot.
15.8%
JoeClark.jpg Joe Clark 27711.7%53222.8%96941.4%1,18751.4%
Jack Horner 23510.0%


286
Withdrew after second ballot.
12.2%
Paul Hellyer portrait.jpg Paul Hellyer 2319.8%


118
Withdrew after second ballot.
5.0%
Flora Macdonald 2149.1%


239
Withdrew after second ballot.
10.2%
Sinclair Stevens photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg Sinclair Stevens


182
Withdrew after first ballot.
7.7%
John Allen Fraser 1275.4%


34
Eliminated after second ballot.
1.5%
James Gillies


87
Withdrew after first ballot.
3.7%
Pat Nowlan 863.6%


42
Withdrew after second ballot.
1.8%
Heward Grafftey


33
Eliminated after first ballot.
1.4%
Total2,360100.0%2,33799.9%12,341100.0%2,309100.0%
Source: CPAC – 1976 Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention

1 Rounding error.

Leadership Reviews: 1981, 1983

The Progressive Conservative party held leadership reviews of Clark's leadership at the conventions of 1981 and 1983. At the 1981 convention, 66.5% of the delegates voted in favour of Clark, with 33.5% voting against him. Clark continued on as leader, but at the 1983 convention, a similar review was held. Clark won 66.9% of the delegates, with 33.1% voting against him. He concluded that this level of support was not sufficient, and announced his resignation as leader, triggering an election convention, while also announcing that he planned to contest the leadership again at the convention.

1983 Leadership Convention

Clark at the 1983 leadership convention. Joe Clark PC LeadershipConvention 1983.jpg
Clark at the 1983 leadership convention.
Mulroney at the 1983 leadership convention (photo by Alasdair Roberts). Mulroney 1983.jpg
Mulroney at the 1983 leadership convention (photo by Alasdair Roberts).

The party held the leadership convention in the early summer of 1983. Clark was defeated on the fourth ballot by Brian Mulroney, who succeeded him as party leader.

Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention, June 11, 1983
Voting results by ballot
CandidateFirst BallotSecond BallotThird BallotFourth Ballot
Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %Votes cast %
JoeClark.jpg Joe Clark 1,09136.5%1,08536.7%1,05835.81,32545.6
Mulroney.jpg Brian Mulroney 87429.3%1,02134.61,03635.11,58454.4
Crosbie 1983-2 crop.jpg John Crosbie 63921.4%78126.4%


858
Eliminated after third ballot.
29.1%
Diplomat Michael Wilson.png Michael Wilson


144
Withdrew after first ballot.
4.8%
Crombie1983.jpg David Crombie 1163.9%


67
Eliminated after second ballot.
2.3%
Peter Pocklington


102
Withdrew after first ballot.
3.4%
John A. Gamble


17
Withdrew after first ballot.
0.6%
Neil Fraser


5
Eliminated after first ballot.
0.2%
Total2,988100.1%12,954100.02,952100.0%2,910100.0%
Source: CPAC – 1983 Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention

1 Rounding error.

1998 Leadership Election

In 1998, the Progressive Conservative Party held its leadership election under a new system. Instead of a convention with delegates, each Progressive Conservative constituency association had 100 points in the leadership election. Every member of the party could vote at the constituency level, to determine the allocation of the points for each constituency. A candidate had to win a majority of points (not necessarily votes) to win the leadership. Clark came out of retirement and won the leadership on the second round of ballots.

Points by ballot
CandidateFirst Ballot
October 24
Second Ballot
November 14
Points %Points %
JoeClark.jpg Joe Clark 14,59248.5%23,32177.5%
Hugh Segal (cropped).jpg Hugh Segal
5,689
Withdrew after first ballot.
18.9%
David Orchard 4,91616.3%6,77922.5%
Brian Pallister 2014.jpg Brian Pallister
3,676
Withdrew after first ballot.
12.2%
Michael Fortier.jpg Michael Fortier
1,227
Eliminated after first ballot.
4.1%
Total30,100100.0%30,100100.0%
Source: CPAC – 1998 Progressive Conservative Leadership Convention

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Clark</span> Prime minister of Canada from 1979 to 1980

Charles Joseph Clark is a Canadian businessman, writer, and politician who served as the 16th prime minister of Canada from 1979 to 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Conservative Party of Canada</span> Canadian centre-right political party from 1942 to 2003

The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a centre to centre-right federal political party in Canada that existed from 1942 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dufferin Roblin</span> Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967

Dufferin "Duff" Roblin was a Canadian businessman and politician. He served as the 14th premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as government leader in the Senate. He was the grandson of Sir Rodmond Roblin, who also served as Manitoba Premier. His ancestor John Roblin served in the Upper Canada assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allan MacEachen</span> Canadian politician

Allan Joseph MacEachen was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as a senator and several times as a Cabinet minister. He was the first deputy prime minister of Canada and served from 1977 to 1979 and 1980 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Canadian federal election</span>

The 1984 Canadian federal election was held on September 4, 1984, to elect members to the House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada.

Claude Wagner was a Canadian judge and politician in the province of Quebec, Canada. Throughout his career, he was a Crown prosecutor, professor of criminal law and judge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Canadian federal election</span>

The 1980 Canadian federal election was held on February 18, 1980, to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 32nd Parliament of Canada. It was called when the minority Progressive Conservative government led by Prime Minister Joe Clark was defeated in the Commons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal minority governments in Canada</span> Canadian political history

During the history of Canadian politics, thirteen minority governments have been elected at the federal level. There have also been two minority governments resulting from governments being replaced between elections, for a total of fifteen federal minority governments in thirteen separate minority parliaments. There have been historical cases where the governing party had fewer than half of the seats but had the support of independents who called themselves members of the party; these cases are not included, as there was never any serious chance of the government falling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Progressive Conservative leadership election</span>

The 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership election was held on June 11, 1983, in Ottawa, Ontario to elect a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. At the convention, Montreal businessman and lawyer Brian Mulroney was elected leader on the fourth ballot, defeating former prime minister and party leader Joe Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of R. B. Bennett</span> List of elections featuring R. B. Bennett as a candidate

This article is the electoral history of R. B. Bennett, the eleventh Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Louis St. Laurent</span> List of elections featuring Louis St. Laurent as a candidate

This article is the electoral history of Louis St. Laurent, the twelfth prime minister of Canada (1948–1957).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of John Diefenbaker</span> Electoral history of John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada

This article is the Electoral history of John Diefenbaker, the thirteenth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Pierre Trudeau</span> Political career

This article is the Electoral history of Pierre Trudeau, the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of John Turner</span> Seventeenth prime minister of Canada

This article is the Electoral history of John Turner, the seventeenth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Brian Mulroney</span>

This article is the Electoral history of Brian Mulroney, the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Kim Campbell</span> List of elections featuring Kim Campbell as a candidate

This article is the Electoral history of Kim Campbell, the nineteenth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Jean Chrétien</span> List of elections featuring Jean Chrétien as a candidate

This article is the Electoral history of Jean Chrétien, the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Paul Martin</span> List of elections featuring Paul Martin as a candidate

This article is the Electoral history of Paul Martin, the twenty-first prime minister of Canada.

This article is the Electoral history of Stephen Harper, the twenty-second prime minister of Canada. Harper served as prime minister from February 6, 2006 to November 4, 2015, having won three general elections.

This article is the Electoral history of Justin Trudeau, the twenty-third and current Prime Minister of Canada. Trudeau has served as prime minister since November 5, 2015, having won three general elections.

References