1956 Quebec general election

The 1956 Quebec general election was held on June 20, 1956, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Union Nationale, led by Maurice Duplessis, won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Georges-Émile Lapalme.[1]

1956 Quebec general election

← 1952June 20, 19561960 →

93 seats in the 24th Legislative Assembly of Quebec
47 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderMaurice DuplessisGeorges-Émile Lapalme
PartyUnion NationaleLiberal
Leader sinceJune 20, 1936May 20, 1950
Leader's seatTrois-RivièresMontréal-Outremont
Last election68 seats, 50.5%23 seats, 45.77%
Seats won7220
Seat changeIncrease4Decrease3
Percentage51.8%44.87%
SwingIncrease1.3ppDecrease0.9pp

Premier before election

Maurice Duplessis
Union Nationale

Premier after election

Maurice Duplessis
Union Nationale

This was the fifth and final time (and the fourth in a row) that Duplessis led his party to a general election victory. No party has since been able to win more than three elections in a row. Duplessis died in office in 1959.[citation needed]

It was Lapalme's second (and final) loss in a row as Liberal leader. The Liberals did not manage to improve on their performance in the previous 1952 election.[citation needed]

Expansion of the Legislative Assembly

edit

An Act passed in 1954 provided for the creation of the new electoral district of Jonquière-Kénogami for the next election, which was carved out from Chicoutimi and Lac-Saint-Jean.[2]

Campaign

edit

The Liberals and the Union des électeurs pooled their resources to conduct a joint campaign against the UN in at least 50 ridings.[3][4] They collaborated to such a degree that in February 1956 the Liberal MPP René Hamel had proposed a motion espousing social credit theory in the Assembly, and a joint rally was held in May 1956 in Shawinigan to mark that event.[5] While the strategy was viewed within the parties as a means to maximize their strength in opposing the UN, the electorate tended to view it as being confusing,[3] while the Montreal Gazette called it "an irresponsible alliance".[6] There were also Liberals in the old guard that wanted the UN to win.[7]

The Liberals supported four UdE and two Nationalist candidates,[8] respectively running as Liberals and Independents, of which none won:[9]

One observer noted, "The Union Nationale’s strongly entrenched position could not be seriously challenged unless a united front was formed of all opposing groups."[12] The UN chose to campaign on Quebec's right to fiscal autonomy, the party's accomplishments and the future of Ungava,[3] while the Liberals' chances were restrained by their alliance with the UdE (while shutting out the Parti social démocratique), the choice of Chaloult and Laporte not to identify themselves as Liberal candidates, and the party's tendency to side with Ottawa's centralizing policies.[12] The UN correctly assumed that Quebec voters, when given a choice, would prefer a nationalist policy over a social one.[12]

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1956)[13]
CandidatesUNLibPSDLab-PrIndI-LibI-UNLabUN-LabCFTotal
250491100
3202071011160
413121012121152
55545113125
6222212112
7111137
82222223116
Total939126327810311272

Results

edit
Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1956)[13]
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates19521956±#±%± (pp)
Union NationaleMaurice Duplessis9368724 956,082108,099 51.80%1.30
LiberalGeorges-Émile Lapalme9223203 828,26459,725 44.87%0.90
Social DemocraticThérèse Casgrain2611,2324,807 0.61%0.35
Labor–ProgressiveGui Caron326,5172,585 0.35%0.12
 Other candidates
 Independent 711 33,20519,359 1.80%0.98
 Independent-Liberal74,438528 0.24%0.06
 Independent-Unionist104,1089,089 0.22%0.57
 Labour31,274247 0.07%0.01
 Union Nationale-Labour1516New0.03%New
 Capital familial193New0.01%New
Total27292931,845,729100%
Rejected ballots28,7813,133
Voter turnout1,874,510169,599 78.322.44
Registered electors2,393,360146,362
Popular vote
UN
51.80%
PLQ
44.87%
Others
3.33%
Seats summary
UN
77.42%
PLQ
21.51%
Others
1.08%

Synopsis of results

edit
Results by riding - 1956 Quebec general election[13][14]
RidingWinning partyTurnout
[a 1]
Votes
Name1952PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
UNLibPSDLab-PrIndI-LibI-UNLabOtherTotal
 
Abitibi-EstUNUN13,96753.94%2,2008.50%81.31%13,96711,76716025,894
Abitibi-OuestUNLib6,20750.66%1611.31%89.27%6,0466,20712,253
ArgenteuilUNUN7,15355.54%1,42711.08%86.07%7,1535,72612,879
ArthabaskaUNUN10,18954.74%1,7659.48%92.72%10,1898,42418,613
BagotUNUN5,69661.46%2,12422.92%90.76%5,6963,5729,268
BeauceUNUN13,43256.66%3,15813.32%88.52%13,43210,27423,706
BeauharnoisUNUN11,92858.31%3,45016.87%87.96%11,9288,4785020,456
BellechasseUNUN6,24357.89%1,70215.78%82.86%6,2434,54110,784
BerthierUNUN7,12356.17%1,56512.34%90.30%7,1235,55812,681
BonaventureUNLib8,55152.68%8695.35%84.06%7,6828,55116,233
BromeUNLib3,27451.66%2453.87%83.36%3,0293,2746,338
ChamblyUNLib20,03149.43%7671.89%76.45%19,26420,03187715020540,527
ChamplainUNUN12,57958.93%3,81417.87%90.32%12,5798,76521,344
CharlevoixUNUN7,72960.37%2,65520.74%87.17%7,7295,07412,803
ChâteauguayUNUN5,93657.10%1,47714.21%85.59%5,9364,45910,395
ChicoutimiUNUN19,10367.22%9,78834.44%87.25%19,1039,31528,418
ComptonUNLib5,54251.41%4013.72%85.72%5,1415,5429810,781
Deux-MontagnesUNUN8,13372.31%5,16245.90%83.43%8,1332,97114311,247
DorchesterUNUN9,56960.74%3,38521.49%85.40%9,5696,18415,753
DrummondLibUN13,21153.83%1,9287.86%91.52%13,21111,2834724,541
FrontenacLibUN6,45152.12%5244.23%89.65%6,4515,92712,378
Gaspé-NordUNUN4,57450.40%1351.49%84.26%4,5744,439629,075
Gaspé-SudUNUN8,01656.03%1,72612.06%85.67%8,0166,29014,306
GatineauUNUN8,20655.96%1,74811.92%76.32%8,2066,45814,664
HullUNLib10,56445.70%1430.62%83.05%10,42110,564157791,89523,116
HuntingdonUNUN3,27352.33%2914.65%84.69%3,2732,9826,255
IbervilleUNUN3,90357.22%98514.44%88.13%3,9032,9186,821
Îles-de-la-MadeleineUNUN2,59156.72%61413.44%89.09%2,5911,9774,568
Jacques-CartierLibLib31,38555.39%9,09416.05%70.68%22,29131,3852,32266856,666
JolietteUNUN11,50064.88%5,27529.76%86.06%11,5006,22517,725
Jonquière-KénogamiNewUN11,94650.68%3201.36%88.00%11,94611,62623,572
KamouraskaUNUN6,48958.30%1,84716.59%81.48%6,4894,64211,131
L'AssomptionUNUN7,26055.53%1,44511.05%87.97%7,2605,81513,075
L'IsletUNUN5,32253.25%6496.49%86.54%5,3224,6739,995
LabelleUNUN6,71762.07%2,65824.56%87.41%6,7174,0594610,822
Lac-Saint-JeanUNUN8,54454.49%1,4088.98%92.66%8,5447,13615,680
LavalUNUN50,41753.91%9,2039.84%70.51%50,41741,2141,12976393,523
LavioletteUNUN11,84859.46%3,76918.91%82.94%11,8488,07919,927
LévisLibUN12,22054.30%2,1149.39%90.04%12,22010,1061816122,505
LotbinièreUNUN7,05257.23%1,78114.45%89.41%7,0525,27112,323
MaisonneuveLibUN20,66850.93%2,4696.08%68.96%20,66818,19922717624911994140,579
MaskinongéUNUN5,58857.26%1,41714.52%93.04%5,5884,1719,759
MataneUNUN10,10957.93%2,76915.87%84.28%10,1097,34017,449
MatapédiaUNUN7,20554.66%1,2299.32%86.00%7,2055,97613,181
MéganticUNUN12,12352.50%1,1555.00%92.22%12,12310,96823,091
MissisquoiUNUN7,00156.72%1,65813.43%86.03%7,0015,34312,344
MontcalmUNUN4,58556.67%1,07913.34%89.26%4,5853,5068,091
MontmagnyUNUN6,40355.92%1,35511.83%87.37%6,4035,04811,451
MontmorencyUNUN6,62859.53%2,16519.44%90.72%6,6284,4634311,134
Montréal–Jeanne-ManceLibUN29,07649.76%3,4395.88%66.38%29,07625,6373342392381,798911,02558,438
Montréal-LaurierUNUN17,15460.26%7,49126.31%70.86%17,1549,6631,65228,469
Montréal-MercierUNUN18,16560.03%6,70522.16%65.79%18,16511,4601623838930,259
Montréal–Notre-Dame-de-GrâceLibLib28,17577.44%21,10658.01%55.29%7,06928,17562951036,383
Montréal-OutremontLibLib24,34867.83%14,33139.93%55.80%10,01724,34872680235,893
Montréal–Saint-HenriLibLib17,34451.30%1,9605.80%70.57%15,38417,34423415617251633,806
Montréal–Saint-JacquesUNUN11,20662.36%4,92227.39%63.90%11,2066,28427920017,969
Montréal–Saint-LouisLibLib12,27649.47%2,4619.92%52.88%9,81512,2764256491,65024,815
Montréal–Sainte-AnneIndInd10,52066.01%6,43240.36%60.75%5874,08814516710,52042915,936
Montréal–Sainte-MarieLibUN15,05154.80%3,85314.03%67.93%15,05111,19819517284727,463
Montréal-VerdunLibLib20,17570.12%13,36146.43%64.50%6,81420,1751,78528,774
Napierville-LaprairieUNUN7,86153.81%1,1667.98%89.28%7,8616,6955214,608
NicoletUNUN8,49859.33%2,67318.66%86.53%8,4985,82514,323
PapineauUNUN11,16456.21%2,46712.42%87.78%11,1648,69719,861
PontiacUNUN6,20171.83%3,76943.66%79.30%6,2012,4328,633
PortneufUNUN12,81060.72%4,52321.44%87.52%12,8108,28721,097
Québec-CentreUNUN10,98360.18%3,71520.36%81.48%10,9837,26818,251
Québec-ComtéLibUN21,27256.22%5,04713.34%85.59%21,27216,2256328037,840
Québec-EstLibUN20,17355.47%4,09011.25%85.85%20,17316,08311236,368
Québec-OuestLibLib10,07350.40%1580.79%82.76%9,91510,07319,988
RichelieuLibUN9,55254.28%1,5909.03%89.78%9,5527,962661917,599
RichmondLibLib9,47051.49%7424.03%90.47%8,7289,47019418,392
RimouskiUNLib9,91151.05%4082.10%85.03%9,5039,91119,414
Rivière-du-LoupUNLib8,62351.24%5563.30%87.88%8,0678,62313916,829
RobervalUNUN10,90352.50%1,0385.00%88.94%10,9039,86520,768
RouvilleUNUN5,27752.84%5675.68%87.54%5,2774,7109,987
Rouyn-NorandaUNLib7,56151.16%1,0076.81%84.35%6,5547,56166514,780
SaguenayUNUN10,89958.60%3,19817.19%75.91%10,8997,70118,600
Saint-HyacintheUNLib9,96551.67%6693.47%83.85%9,2969,9652419,285
Saint-JeanUNUN8,27956.17%1,90112.90%85.62%8,2796,378552714,739
Saint-MauriceLibLib13,85151.37%7412.75%90.44%13,11013,85126,961
Saint-SauveurUNUN16,11768.77%8,86237.81%87.43%16,1177,2556423,436
SheffordLibUN11,53453.59%1,6277.56%85.31%11,5349,9078221,523
SherbrookeUNUN16,58855.30%3,43811.46%78.62%16,58813,1507318529,996
StansteadUNUN7,81550.26%810.52%82.63%7,8157,73415,549
TémiscamingueLibUN4,07850.83%1331.66%86.26%4,0783,9458,023
TémiscouataUNUN6,29959.35%1,98518.70%85.36%6,2994,31410,613
TerrebonneUNUN20,98457.57%5,70415.65%85.34%20,98415,2801077736,448
Trois-RivièresUNUN16,26361.73%6,32724.02%88.23%16,2639,936529326,344
Vaudreuil-SoulangesUNUN7,68151.00%3702.46%85.94%7,6817,3117015,062
VerchèresLibUN5,10453.06%6276.52%89.67%5,1044,477399,620
Westmount–Saint-GeorgesLibLib13,80880.05%10,87063.02%51.26%2,93813,80825524817,249
WolfeLibUN4,05850.31%500.62%93.33%4,0584,0088,066
YamaskaUNUN4,73666.22%2,32032.44%85.90%4,7362,4167,152
  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
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = other incumbents renominated
  = UdE candidates under the Liberal banner
  = Nationalist candidates supported by the Liberals
  = multiple candidates

Analysis

edit
Party candidates in 2nd place[13]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
UNLibInd
Union Nationale70272
Liberal2020
Independent11
Total2071293
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[13]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5thTotal
 Union Nationale7220193
 Liberal207192
 Independent12216
 Social Democratic166224
 Labor–Progressive1311529
 Independent UN5319
 Independent Liberal325
 Labour1113
 UN-Labour11
 Capital familial11
Resulting composition of the 23rd Quebec Legislative Assembly[14]
SourceParty
UNLibIndTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned559165
Open seats held314
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated9615
Incumbents defeated - previous incumbents returned33
Open seats gained145
New ridingsNew MPP elected11
Total7220193

See also

edit

Further reading

edit
  • Lemieux, Vincent, ed. (1969). Quatre élections provinciales au Québec [Four provincial elections in Quebec] (in French). Montreal: Les presses de l'Université Laval.

References

edit
  1. ^ Leslie Roberts (1963). The Chief: A Political Biography of Maurice Duplessis. Clarke, Irwin.
  2. ^ An Act to constitute the electoral district of Jonquière-Kénogami, S.Q. 1953-54, c. 42
  3. ^ a b c Lemieux 1969, p. 9.
  4. ^ "Relations entre Libéraux et Créditistes" [Liberal-Créditiste Relations]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. June 15, 1956. p. 2.
  5. ^ a b "La manifestation du 6 mai à Shawinigan" [The May 6 rally in Shawinigan]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. June 1, 1956. pp. 6–7.
  6. ^ "An irresponsible alliance". Montreal Gazette. June 18, 1956. p. 8.
  7. ^ Lemieux 1969, pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ a b Arkison, Wilbur (June 21, 1956). "Liberals Gain 9 Seats - But Lose 13". Montreal Gazette. p. 1.
  9. ^ a b c "The extremists were repudiated". Montreal Gazette. June 21, 1956. p. 8.
  10. ^ "Les candidats créditistes tous défaits" [The Créditiste candidates are all defeated]. La Presse (in French). Montreal. June 21, 1956. p. 24. See p. 25 for candidate listings.
  11. ^ "La campagne électorale aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine" [The electoral campaign in the Magdalen Islands]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. July 15, 1956. p. 6.
  12. ^ a b c Lemieux 1969, p. 10.
  13. ^ a b c d e Drouilly, Pierre (December 4, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1956". donneesquebec.ca. Atlas des élections au Québec.
  14. ^ a b "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec. Retrieved September 13, 2023.