List of Canadian conservative leaders

Last updated

This is a list of federal leaders after Confederation who were members of federal conservative parties.

Contents

Tory leaders since Confederation

This is a list of leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada (historical) (1867–1942), Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–2003), and Conservative Party of Canada (2003–present) ("the Tory parties"), and of prime ministers of Canada after Confederation who were members of those parties.

Conservative (1867–1942)

NameFromToRiding as leaderNotes
JaMAC.jpg Sir John A. Macdonald July 1, 1867June 6, 1891 Kingston, ON (1867–18, 1887–91);
Victoria, BC (1878–82);
Carleton, ON (1882–88)		1st Prime Minister
SirJohnAbbott1.jpg Sir John Abbott June 16, 1891November 24, 1892Senator for Inkerman, QC3rd Prime Minister
Sir John SD Thompson.jpg Sir John Sparrow David Thompson December 5, 1892December 12, 1894 Antigonish, NS 4th Prime Minister
SirMackenzieBowell.jpg Sir Mackenzie Bowell December 21, 1894April 27, 1896Senator for Hastings, ON5th Prime Minister
Chas Tupper - GG Bain.jpg Sir Charles Tupper May 1, 1896February 6, 1901 Cape Breton, NS 6th Prime Minister
RobertLairdBorden.jpg Sir Robert Laird Borden February 6, 1901July 10, 1920 Halifax, NS (1900–04, 1908–17);
Carleton, ON (1905–08);
Kings, NS (1917–21)		8th Prime Minister
Arthurmeighen.jpeg Arthur Meighen July 10, 1920September 24, 1926 Portage la Prairie, MB (1908–21, 1925–26);
Grenville, ON (1922–25)		9th Prime Minister
Hugh Guthrie.png Hugh Guthrie (interim leader)October 11, 1926October 12, 1927 Wellington South
Richard Bedford Bennett.jpg R. B. Bennett October 12, 1927July 7, 1938 Calgary West, AB 11th Prime Minister
Robert Manion.jpg Robert Manion July 7, 1938May 14, 1940 London, ON Resigned after lost seat in 1940 election
Richard Hanson 1940.jpg Richard Hanson (interim leader)May 14, 1940November 12, 1941 York—Sunbury, NB
Arthurmeighen.jpeg Arthur Meighen November 12, 1941December 9, 1942Senator for St. Marys, OntarioResigned after defeat in attempt to enter House of Commons via York South by-election

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–2003)

PictureNameTerm startTerm endRiding as leaderNotes
John Bracken circa 1941.jpg John Bracken December 11, 1942July 20, 1948 Neepawa Former Premier of Manitoba
George Drew.jpg George Drew October 2, 1948November 29, 1956 Carleton Former Premier of Ontario
William Earl Rowe November 29, 1956 (Interim)December 14, 1956 Dufferin—Simcoe Interim leader until 1956 leadership convention
John G. Diefenbaker.jpg John Diefenbaker December 14, 1956September 9, 1967 Prince Albert 13th Prime Minister of Canada
Robert Stanfield 1968 press photo.jpg Robert Stanfield September 9, 1967February 22, 1976 Halifax Former Premier of Nova Scotia
JoeClark.jpg Joe Clark February 22, 1976February 19, 1983 Rocky Mountain, Yellowhead 16th Prime Minister of Canada
Erik Nielsen February 19, 1983 (Interim)June 11, 1983 Yukon Interim leader until 1983 leadership convention
Brian Mulroney 2011.jpg Brian Mulroney June 11, 1983June 13, 1993 Central Nova, Manicouagan, Charlevoix 18th Prime Minister of Canada
KimCampbell.jpg Kim Campbell June 13, 1993December 14, 1993 Vancouver Centre 19th Prime Minister of Canada
Jean Charest.jpg Jean Charest December 14, 1993April 2, 1998 Sherbrooke Former Premier of Quebec
Elsie Wayne cropped.jpg Elsie Wayne April 2, 1998 (Interim)November 14, 1998 Saint John Interim until 1998 leadership election
Joe Clark November 14, 1998May 31, 2003 Kings—Hants, Calgary Centre His second tenure as leader
Peter MacKay crop.JPG Peter MacKay May 31, 2003December 7, 2003 Central Nova Final leader of the Progressive Conservative Party; merged the PC Party with Stephen Harper's Canadian Alliance in 2003, cofounding the new Conservative Party of Canada.

Conservative Party of Canada (2003–present)

LeaderTerm startTerm endConstituencyNotes
— No image.svg John Lynch-Staunton 8 December 200320 March 2004Senator for Grandville, Quebec Interim leader, served concurrently as Senate Opposition Leader.
1st Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2005.jpg Stephen Harper 20 March 200419 October 2015
Acting: 19 October 2015 – 4 November 2015		 Calgary Southwest, AlbertaFirst official leader of the modern Conservative Party of Canada;

Served as Leader of the Official Opposition from 2004–2006, and Prime Minister from 2006–2015.

— Rona Ambrose at the 67th World Health Assembly - 2014 (second crop).png Rona Ambrose 5 November 201527 May 2017 Sturgeon River—Parkland, AlbertaInterim leader, served concurrently as Leader of the Official Opposition.
2nd Andrew Scheer 2019 (3x4 cropped).jpg Andrew Scheer 27 May 201724 August 2020 Regina—Qu'Appelle, SaskatchewanServed concurrently as Leader of the Official Opposition 2017–2020;

(resigned 12 December 2019, remained leader until his successor was chosen on 24 August 2020). [1]

3rd ErinO'Toole (cropped).jpg Erin O'Toole 24 August 20202 February 2022 Durham, OntarioServed concurrently as Leader of the Official Opposition 2020–2022;

(removed 2 February 2022 by the Conservative caucus).

— Candice Bergen - 2017 (cropped2).jpg Candice Bergen 2 February 202210 September 2022 Portage—Lisgar, ManitobaInterim leader, served concurrently as Leader of the Official Opposition 2022.
4th Pierre Poilievre.jpg Pierre Poilievre 10 September 2022Incumbent Carleton, OntarioServes concurrently as Leader of the Official Opposition.

Tory prime ministers of Canada

This is a list of prime ministers of Canada after Confederation who were members of the "Tory parties": the Conservative Party of Canada (historical) (1867–1942), Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–2003), and Conservative Party of Canada (2003–present).

Conservative (1867–1942)

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–2003)

Conservative Party of Canada (2003–present)

Electoral performance of Tory leaders

Conservative (historical; 1867–1942)

ElectionLeaderParty name# of candidates nominated# of seats won+/–Election Outcome# of total votes % of popular votePosition
1867 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives 112
100 / 180
Increase2.svg100Increase2.svg1st92,65634.53%Majority
1872 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives, one Conservative Labour 140
100 / 200
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 1st123,10038.66%Minority
1874 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives, one Conservative Labour 104
65 / 206
Decrease2.svg 35Decrease2.svg 2nd99,44030.58%Opposition
1878 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives161
129 / 206
Increase2.svg 64Increase2.svg 1st229,19142.06%Majority
1882 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives168
136 / 215
Increase2.svg 7Steady2.svg 1st208,54440.39%Majority
1887 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives203
111 / 215
Decrease2.svg 25Steady2.svg 1st343,80547.41%Majority
1891 John A. Macdonald Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives212
117 / 215
Increase2.svg 6Steady2.svg 1st376,51848.58%Majority
1896 Charles Tupper Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives207
98 / 213
Decrease2.svg 19Decrease2.svg 2nd467,41548.17%Opposition
1900 Charles Tupper Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives204
79 / 213
Decrease2.svg 9Steady2.svg 2nd438,33046.1%Opposition
1904 Robert Borden Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives205
75 / 214
Decrease2.svg 4Steady2.svg 2nd470,43045.94%Opposition
1908 Robert Borden Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives211
85 / 221
Increase2.svg 10Steady2.svg 2nd539,37446.21%Opposition
1911 Robert Borden Conservatives, Liberal-Conservatives and Nationalist Conservatives 212
132 / 221
Increase2.svg 48Increase2.svg 1st636,93848.90%Majority
1917 Robert Borden Unionist Party 211
152 / 235
Increase2.svg 20Steady2.svg 1st1,070,69456.93%Majority
1921 Arthur Meighen National Liberal and Conservative Party 204
49 / 235
Decrease2.svg 103Decrease2.svg 3rd935,65129.95%Third Party
1925 Arthur Meighen Conservatives232
114 / 245
Increase2.svg 65Increase2.svg 1st1,454,25346.13%Minority - initially formed Opposition; became government upon invitation of Governor-General following non-confidence vote
1926 Arthur Meighen Conservatives232
91 / 245
Decrease2.svg 23Decrease2.svg 2nd1,476,83445.34%Opposition
1930 R. B. Bennett Conservatives229
135 / 245
Increase2.svg 44Increase2.svg 1st1,836,11547.79%Majority
1935 R. B. Bennett Conservatives228
39 / 245
Decrease2.svg 94Decrease2.svg 2nd1,290,67129.84%Opposition
1940 Robert James Manion National Government 207
39 / 245
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 2nd1,402,05930.41%Opposition

Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–2003)

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–PositionRoleGovernment
1945 John Bracken 1,448,74427.62%
64 / 245
Increase2.svg 27Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal minority
1949 George A. Drew 1,734,26129.62%
41 / 262
Decrease2.svg 23Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal majority
1953 George A. Drew 1,749,57931.01%
50 / 265
Increase2.svg 9Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal majority
1957 John Diefenbaker 2,564,73238.81%
109 / 265
Increase2.svg 59Increase2.svg 1stMinorityPC minority
1958 John Diefenbaker 3,908,63353.56%
208 / 265
Increase2.svg 99Steady2.svg 1stMajorityPC majority
1962 John Diefenbaker 2,865,54237.22%
114 / 265
Decrease2.svg 94Steady2.svg 1stMinorityPC minority
1963 John Diefenbaker 2,591,61332.80%
93 / 265
Decrease2.svg 21Decrease2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal minority
1965 John Diefenbaker 2,500,11332.41%
95 / 265
Increase2.svg 2Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal minority
1968 Robert Stanfield 2,554,39731.43%
72 / 264
Decrease2.svg 23Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal majority
1972 Robert Stanfield 3,388,98035.02%
107 / 264
Increase2.svg 35Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal minority
1974 Robert Stanfield 3,371,31935.46%
95 / 264
Decrease2.svg 22Steady2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal majority
1979 Joe Clark 4,111,60635.89%
136 / 282
Increase2.svg 51Increase2.svg 1stMinorityPC minority
1980 Joe Clark 3,552,99432.49%
103 / 282
Decrease2.svg 33Decrease2.svg 2ndOppositionLiberal majority
1984 Brian Mulroney 6,278,81850.03%
211 / 282
Increase2.svg 108Increase2.svg 1stMajorityPC majority
1988 Brian Mulroney 5,667,54343.02%
169 / 295
Decrease2.svg 42Steady2.svg 1stMajorityPC majority
1993 Kim Campbell 2,178,30316.04%
2 / 295
Decrease2.svg 167Decrease2.svg 5thNo statusLiberal majority
1997 Jean Charest 2,446,70518.84%
20 / 301
Increase2.svg 18Steady2.svg 5thFifth partyLiberal majority
2000 Joe Clark 1,566,99412.19%
12 / 301
Decrease2.svg 8Steady2.svg 5thFifth partyLiberal majority

Conservative Party of Canada (2003–present)

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–PositionGovernment
2004 Stephen Harper 4,019,49829.63%
99 / 308
Increase2.svg 21Steady2.svg 2ndOpposition
2006 5,374,07136.37%
124 / 308
Increase2.svg 25Increase2.svg 1stMinority
2008 5,209,06937.65%
143 / 308
Increase2.svg 19Steady2.svg 1stMinority
2011 5,832,40139.62%
166 / 308
Increase2.svg 23Steady2.svg 1stMajority
2015 5,613,63331.91%
99 / 338
Decrease2.svg 67Decrease2.svg 2ndOpposition
2019 Andrew Scheer 6,239,22734.34%
121 / 338
Increase2.svg 22Steady2.svg 2ndOpposition
2021 Erin O'Toole 5,747,41033.74%
119 / 338
Decrease2.svg 2Steady2.svg 2ndOpposition

Other conservative parties' leaders

Parties that have had representation in the House of Commons

"Reform-Alliance"

Leaders of the Reform Party of Canada
Leaders of the Canadian Alliance

Leaders of the Reconstruction Party of Canada

Leaders of the Social Credit Party of Canada

Parties that have had no representation in the House of Commons

Leaders of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada

Leaders of the Libertarian Party of Canada

  • Sieg Pedde (1973–1974)
  • Charles 'Chuck' Lyall (1974–1976)
  • Ron Bailey (1976–1978)
  • Alex Eaglesham (1978–1979)
  • Linda Cain (1980–1982)
  • Neil Reynolds (May 1982 – 1983)
  • Victor Levis (1983–1987)
  • Dennis Corrigan (1987–1990)
  • Stanislaw Tyminski (1990–1991)
  • George Dance (1991–1993)
  • Hilliard Cox (May 1993 – 1995)
  • George Dance (1995–1996)
  • Vincent Pouliot (May 12, 1996 – April 5, 1997)
  • Robert Morse (1997)
  • Jean-Serge Brisson (1997 - May 18, 2008) [f] [2]
  • Dennis Young (May 18, 2008 - May 2011)
  • Katrina Chowne (May 2011 – May 2014)
  • Tim Moen (May 2014 – 2021)
  • Jacques Boudreau (2021 – present)

Leaders of the Progressive Canadian Party

Leaders of the Western Block Party

  • Doug Christie (November 30, 2005 – March 11, 2013)
  • Paul St. Laurent (March 11, 2013 – January 31, 2014)

Leader of the Alliance of the North

  • François Bélanger (September 11, 2013 — present)

Leader of the People's Party of Canada

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References

  1. ↑ Tunney, Catharine; Harris, Kathleen (12 Dec 2019). "Conservative caucus backs Scheer as interim leader amid private school backlash". CBC News. Retrieved 1 Feb 2019.
  2. ↑ Agenda Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine

Notes

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