Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox 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.

BackgroundEdit

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.

IssuesEdit

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 campaignEdit

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 pollsEdit

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey
Source PC MLP NDP Other Template:Abbr Sample
style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"| style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|
Election 1990 September 11, 1990 41.99 28.15 28.80 1.06
Viewpoints March 1990 <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 36.8 36.8 26.5 Template:N/A Template:N/A Template:N/A
Election 1988 April 26, 1988 38.37 35.52 23.62 2.49

ResultsEdit

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

Template:Canadian party colour

Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon 57 24 30 +25.0% 206,810 41.99% +3.62

Template:Canadian party colour

New Democratic Gary Doer 57 12 20 +66.7% 141,328 28.80% +5.18

Template:Canadian party colour

Liberal Sharon Carstairs 57 21 7 -66.7% 138,146 28.15% -7.37

Template:Canadian party colour

Irene Armishaw (president) 5 - - - 1,564 0.32% -1.00

Template:Canadian party colour

Western Independence Fred Cameron 6 - - - 1,355 0.28% -0.17

Template:Canadian party colour

Sidney Green 5 - - - 1,163 0.24% +0.06

Template:Canadian party colour

Clancy Smith 5 - - - 637 0.13% +0.04

Template:Canadian party colour

Frank Goldspink (organizer) 1 - - - 25 0.00% -0.05

Template:Canadian party colour

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.Template:Bar boxTemplate:Bar box

Constituency resultsEdit

Template:Canadian politics/candlist header |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Arthur-Virden |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Downey
4,773 | |Goldwyn Jones
1,197 | |Glen McKinnon
2,085 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Downey |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Assiniboia |Template:Canadian party colour| |Linda McIntosh
4,054 | |Joan Johannson
1,348 | |Ed Mandrake
2,730 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ed Mandrake |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Brandon East | |Ron Arnst
3,216 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Len Evans
4,760 | |Brenda Avlontis
919 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Len Evans |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Brandon West |Template:Canadian party colour| |James McCrae
4,736 | |Shari Decter Hirst
2,374 | |Abby Hampton
1,428 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |James McCrae |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Broadway | |Craig Johnson
1,570 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Conrad Santos
2,508 | |Avis Gray
2,400 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Avis Gray |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Burrows | |Chris Aune
1,478 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Doug Martindale
4,206 | |William Chornopyski
2,056 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |William Chornopyski |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Charleswood |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Ernst
5,419 | |Toni Vosters
1,084 | |Ken Brown
2,912 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Ernst |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Concordia | |Vic Rubiletz
1,937 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Doer
4,588 | |Gunter Grosskamper
1,059 | |Fred Cameron (WIP)
168
Guy Beaudry (Lbt)
135 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Doer |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Crescentwood | |Tom DeNardi
3,278 | |Neil Cohen
2,184 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Carr
4,588 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Carr |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Dauphin | |Martin Bidzinski
3,424 |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Plohman
4,802 | |Peter Rampton
1,608 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Plohman |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Elmwood | |Vic Toews
3,035 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Maloway
4,127 | |Ed Price
1,623 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jim Maloway |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Emerson |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jack Penner
4,529 | |Georgine Spooner
1,055 | |Réal Tétrault
1,739 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jack Penner |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Flin Flon | |Ron Black
1,126 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jerry Storie
4,153 | |Pascal Bighetty
733 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jerry Storie |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Fort Garry |Template:Canadian party colour| |Rosemary Vodrey
5,105 | |Shirley Lord
1,500 | |Laurie Evans
3,992 | |Jan Mandseth (WIP)
249 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Laurie Evans |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Gimli |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ed Helwer
5,118 | |Tom Hughes
2,666 | |Darlene Skarito
1,978 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ed Helwer |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Gladstone |Template:Canadian party colour| |Denis Rocan
4,371 | |Michael Newnan
788 | |Cordell Barker
1,812 | |Warren Murray (CoR)
410 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Charlotte Oleson |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Inkster | |Raj Mehta
1,416 | |Ajit Deol
2,637 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kevin Lamoureux
3,602 | |Gordon Haddad (WIP)
198 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Kevin Lamoureux |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Interlake | |Ed Trachuk
2,533 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Clif Evans
2,941 | |Duncan Geisler
1,781 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bill Uruski |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Kildonan | |David Langtry
3,694 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Dave Chomiak
3,904 | |Claudia Sarbit
2,771 | |Sidney Green (P)
570 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gulzar Singh Cheema |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Kirkfield Park |Template:Canadian party colour| |Eric Stefanson
5,813 | |Shirley Manson
1,035 | |Jasper McKee
3,430 | |Frank Goldspink (Comm)
25 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gerrie Hammond |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Lac du Bonnet |Template:Canadian party colour| |Darren Praznik
5,162 | |Leonard Kolton
3,142 | |Frank Thibedeau
1,309 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Darren Praznik |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Lakeside |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harry Enns
3,719 | |Eduard Hiebert
1,248 | |Delmer Nott
1,936 | |Irene Armishaw (CoR)
486
Dennis Rice (Lbt)
95 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harry Enns |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"| La Verendrye |Template:Canadian party colour| |Ben Sveinson
3,731 | |Ronald Fiola
1,938 | |Clair Noel
2,718 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Helmut Pankratz |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Minnedosa |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Gilleshammer
4,294 | |Sean Espey
1,605 | |Terry Drebit
2,203 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Gilleshammer |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Morris |Template:Canadian party colour| |Clayton Manness
5,353 | |Gary Nelson
721 | |Bill Roth
2,036 | |Mark Edmondson (CoR)
302 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Clayton Manness |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Niakwa |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jack Reimer
4,950 | |Michael Simpson
1,394 | |Linda Asper
4,301 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Herold Driedger |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Osborne | |Sondra Braid
2,859 | |Donald Bailey
2,861 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Reg Alcock
3,941 | |Jim Weidman (Lbt)
139 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Reg Alcock |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Pembina |Template:Canadian party colour| |Donald Orchard
5,497 | |Bert Siemens
652 | |Marilyn Skubovius
833 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Donald Orchard |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Point Douglas | |Calvin Pompana
575 |Template:Canadian party colour| |George Hickes
2,778 | |Errol Lewis
1,550 | |William Hawryluk (Ind)
108
Roy Price (Ind)
66 |Template:Canadian party colour| |new district |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Portage la Prairie |Template:Canadian party colour| |Edward Connery
4,276 | |Arden Campbell
1,092 | |Darlene Hamm
2,329 | |Roy Lyall (CoR)
243 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Edward Connery |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Radisson | |Mike Thompson
2,692 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Marianne Cerilli
4,055 | |Allan Patterson
1,925 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Allan Patterson |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Riel |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gerry Ducharme
3,756 | |Bob Agnes
2,041 | |Ed Benjamin
2,874 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gerry Ducharme |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|River East |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bonnie Mitchelson
4,963 | |Rob DeGroot
2,489 | |Edna Mattson
1,960 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bonnie Mitchelson |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|River Heights | |Shaun McCaffrey
4,601 | |Peter Sim
1,190 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Sharon Carstairs
5,467 | |Clancy Smith (Lbt)
138 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Sharon Carstairs |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Roblin-Russell |Template:Canadian party colour| |Len Derkach
4,382 | |William Nicholson
2,238 | |Neil Stewart
1,757 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Len Derkach |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Rossmere |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Neufeld
3,893 | |Maxine Hamilton
2,725 | |Terry Duguid
2,416 | |Kathrina Cameron (WIP)
163 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Neufeld |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Rupertsland | |Hugh Wynne
804 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Elijah Harper
3,798 | |George Kernaghan
307 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Elijah Harper |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|St. Boniface | |Henri Marcoux
1,921 | |Robert Gooding
2,046 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Neil Gaudry
4,928 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Neil Gaudry |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|St. James | |Joanne Thibault
2,719 | |Len Sawatsky
2,586 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Paul Edwards
3,014 | |Charles Lamont (P)
148
Fred Debrecen (CoR)
122 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Paul Edwards |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|St. Johns | |Lynn Filbert
1,502 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Judy Wasylycia-Leis
4,392 | |Mark Minenko
2,414 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Judy Wasylycia-Leis |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|St. Norbert |Template:Canadian party colour| |Marcel Laurendeau
4,502 | |Andrew Sawatsky
1,011 | |John Angus
4,385 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |John Angus |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|St. Vital |Template:Canadian party colour| |Shirley Render
3,361 | |Kathleen McCallum
2,368 | |Bob Rose
3,243 | |Doug Browning (WIP)
288 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bob Rose |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Ste. Rose |Template:Canadian party colour| |Glen Cummings
3,646 | |Sam Voisey
1,540 | |Ivan Traill
1,882 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Glen Cummings |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Seine River |Template:Canadian party colour| |Louise Dacquay
4,465 | |Keith Kendall
1,792 | |Herold Driedger
4,418 | |Lyle Cruickshank (WIP)
289 |Template:Canadian party colour| |new district |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Selkirk | |Russ Farrell
3,467 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Greg Dewar
3,735 | |Gwen Charles
3,009 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gwen Charles |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Springfield |Template:Canadian party colour| |Glen Findlay
5,146 | |Deborah Barron-McNabb
3,374 | |Bob Strong
1,958 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Glen Findlay |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Steinbach |Template:Canadian party colour| |Albert Driedger
5,540 | |Marcel Lagassé
483 | |Cornelius Goertzen
1,171 | |Ken McAllister (Lbt)
130 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Albert Driedger |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Sturgeon Creek |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gerry McAlpine
4,676 | |Andrew Swan
1,471 | |Iva Yeo
3,907 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Iva Yeo |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Swan River | |Park Burrell
3,639 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Rosann Wowchuk
3,872 | |June Connolly-Peyton
963 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Park Burrell |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|The Maples | |Norman Isler
2,684 | |Tony Valeri
2,260 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gulzar Singh Cheema
3,273 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |new district |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|The Pas | |Alfred McDonald
3,247 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Oscar Lathlin
3,390 | |David Merasty
1,005 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harry Harapiak |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Thompson | |Loretta Clarke
2,043 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Steve Ashton
4,099 | |Don McIvor
698 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Steve Ashton |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Transcona | |Ray Hargreaves
1,732 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Daryl Reid
4,363 | |Richard Kozak
2,554 | |Thomas Bunn (P)
168 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Richard Kozak |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Turtle Mountain |Template:Canadian party colour| |Bob Rose
4,702 | |Robert Smith
1,047 | |Doug Collins
2,091 | |Rod Stephenson (I)
173 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Denis Rocan |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Tuxedo |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Filmon
7,861 | |Rosemary Ahoff
926 | |Campbell Wright
3,281 | | |Template:Canadian party colour| |Gary Filmon |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Wellington | |Clyde Perry
1,534 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Becky Barrett
3,484 | |Ernie Gilroy
2,324 | |Neil Schipper (P)
128
Walter Diawol (I)
68
Stephen Keki (I)
35 |Template:Canadian party colour| |new district |- | style="background:whitesmoke;"|Wolseley | |Fay Campbell
1,503 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Jean Friesen
3,265 | |Harold Taylor
2520 | |Gordon Pratt (P)
149 |Template:Canadian party colour| |Harold Taylor |}

Post-election changesEdit

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

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

Template:Manitoba elections