1966 Quebec general election
1966 Quebec general election
The 1966 Quebec general election was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec , Canada.[ 1] The Union Nationale (UN), led by Daniel Johnson, Sr , defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party , led by Jean Lesage .
In terms of the number of seats won, the election was one of the closest in recent history, with the UN winning 56 seats to the Liberals' 50. Generally, Quebec's first past the post electoral system tends to produce strong disparities in the number of seats won even if the popular vote is fairly close. In this case, the most popular party did not win the most seats in the chamber. The Liberals won 6.5% more votes, but were denied a third term because the rural part of the province, where the Union Nationale did well, were slightly over-represented in the legislature.
The victory of the UN over the popular Lesage government was a surprise to many observers. Johnson's campaign was likely helped by his position that Quebec should get a better deal within the Canadian confederation, or should separate if it is unable to do so. In this sense, the forces of Quebec nationalism unleashed by the Quiet Revolution begun by Lesage may have contributed to his defeat, as many rural voters felt chagrin at the rapid pace of reform under the Liberals.
The pro-independence Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale and Ralliement national (formed from splinter groups out of the RIN and the Ralliement des créditistes ) obtained a combined total of just under 9% of the popular vote (but no seats).
This was the last election for the "Legislative Assembly of Quebec". Legislation was passed to replace the bicameral system of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of Quebec with a single National Assembly of Quebec , effective December 31, 1968.
Daniel Johnson died in office in 1968, and was succeeded by Jean-Jacques Bertrand . Johnson's sons, Pierre-Marc and Daniel Jr , each later served as Premier of Quebec .
Redistribution of ridings
A 1965 Act [ 2] increased the number of MPPs from 95 to 108 through the following changes:
Abolished ridings
New ridings
Drawn from parts of other ridings
Reorganization of ridings
Division of ridings
Renaming of ridings
Campaign
Riding contests, by number of candidates (1966)[ 3]
Candidates
UN
Lib
RN
RIN
Ind
Con
Soc
Comm
DVP
PDE
Total
2
10
10
20
3
28
28
20
8
84
4
42
42
42
37
5
168
5
22
22
22
22
10
2
5
4
1
110
6
6
6
6
6
9
2
1
36
Total
108
108
90
73
24
4
5
4
1
1
418
Results
Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1966)[ 3]
Political party
Party leader
MPPs
Votes
Candidates
1962
1966
±
#
±
%
± (pp)
Union Nationale
Daniel Johnson, Sr.
108
31
56
25
948,928
48,111
40.82%
1.33
Liberal
Jean Lesage
108
63
50
13
1,099,435
105,818
47.29%
9.11
RIN
Pierre Bourgault
73
–
–
–
129,045
129,045
5.55%
New
Ralliement national
Gilles Grégoire
90
–
–
–
74,670
74,670
3.21%
New
Independent
24
1
2
1
64,434
50,853
2.77%
2.13
Other candidates
█ Conservative
4
–
–
–
6,183
1,927
0.27%
0.07
█ Socialist
5
–
–
–
1,090
1,090
0.05%
New
█ Communist
4
–
–
–
502
431
0.02%
0.02
█ Droit vital personnel
1
–
–
–
417
417
0.02%
New
█ Parti du développement économique
1
–
–
–
125
125
0.01%
New
Total
418
95
108
2,324,829
100%
Rejected ballots
45,681
16,172
Voter turnout
2,370,510
204,034
73.57
6.02
Registered electors
3,222,302
500,369
Synopsis of results
Results by riding - 1966 Quebec general election[ 3] [ 4]
Riding
Winning party
Turnout[ a 1]
Votes
Name
1962
Party
Votes
Share
Margin #
Margin %
UN
Lib
RIN
RN
Ind
Con
Other
Total
Abitibi-Est
Lib
Lib
12,390
39.09%
1,664
5.25%
74.55%
10,726
12,390
1,434
7,145
–
–
–
31,695
Abitibi-Ouest
Lib
Lib
5,670
42.51%
1,612
12.08%
86.98%
4,058
5,670
318
3,293
–
–
–
13,339
Ahuntsic
New
Lib
16,282
56.34%
8,355
28.91%
70.61%
7,927
16,282
4,195
266
228
–
–
28,898
Argenteuil
UN
Lib
6,734
44.85%
2,273
15.14%
81.29%
4,461
6,734
245
87
3,488
–
–
15,015
Arthabaska
Lib
UN
10,188
44.81%
104
0.46%
85.86%
10,188
10,084
591
1,871
–
–
–
22,734
Bagot
UN
UN
6,640
57.69%
2,074
18.02%
89.76%
6,640
4,566
163
140
–
–
–
11,509
Beauce
UN
UN
15,743
54.96%
4,558
15.91%
84.77%
15,743
11,185
–
1,715
–
–
–
28,643
Beauharnois
Lib
Lib
10,875
41.29%
2,089
7.93%
86.32%
8,786
10,875
984
93
5,603
–
–
26,341
Bellechasse
UN
UN
6,917
58.80%
2,071
17.61%
83.15%
6,917
4,846
–
–
–
–
–
11,763
Berthier
Lib
UN
7,668
55.49%
1,766
12.78%
85.17%
7,668
5,902
–
249
–
–
–
13,819
Bonaventure
Lib
Lib
10,888
60.41%
3,752
20.82%
78.83%
7,136
10,888
–
–
–
–
–
18,024
Bourassa
New
Lib
14,653
48.79%
5,090
16.95%
64.73%
9,563
14,653
4,420
634
761
–
–
30,031
Bourget
Lib
UN
13,166
46.08%
1,188
4.16%
66.70%
13,166
11,978
2,754
376
–
–
295
28,569
Brome
Lib
Lib
3,294
52.65%
470
7.51%
74.49%
2,824
3,294
–
139
–
–
–
6,257
Chambly
Lib
Lib
19,183
60.51%
10,976
34.62%
68.22%
8,207
19,183
3,895
418
–
–
–
31,703
Champlain
UN
UN
15,102
57.71%
5,240
20.03%
86.54%
15,102
9,862
–
1,203
–
–
–
26,167
Charlevoix
Lib
Lib
8,166
54.00%
1,210
8.00%
85.38%
6,956
8,166
–
–
–
–
–
15,122
Châteauguay
Lib
Lib
6,676
34.72%
1,057
5.50%
78.60%
5,619
6,676
727
92
6,113
–
–
19,227
Chauveau
New
UN
17,462
47.40%
942
2.56%
79.55%
17,462
16,520
1,921
940
–
–
–
36,843
Chicoutimi
UN
UN
9,824
49.70%
1,954
9.88%
81.48%
9,824
7,870
–
2,074
–
–
–
19,768
Compton
UN
UN
5,973
56.89%
1,696
16.15%
83.26%
5,973
4,277
–
249
–
–
–
10,499
D'Arcy-McGee
New
Lib
24,709
90.57%
23,161
84.90%
60.88%
1,548
24,709
895
129
–
–
–
27,281
Deux-Montagnes
Lib
Lib
8,511
47.64%
94
0.53%
84.35%
8,417
8,511
821
117
–
–
–
17,866
Dorchester
UN
UN
9,348
55.02%
2,402
14.14%
82.36%
9,348
6,946
–
695
–
–
–
16,989
Dorion
New
Lib
9,855
43.99%
1,275
5.69%
60.58%
8,580
9,855
2,184
281
1,378
–
125
22,403
Drummond
Lib
Lib
14,470
49.27%
360
1.23%
85.77%
14,110
14,470
–
791
–
–
–
29,371
Dubuc
New
UN
7,829
37.16%
1,567
7.44%
84.30%
7,829
6,262
–
3,400
3,577
–
–
21,068
Duplessis
Lib
Lib
6,673
47.77%
2,281
16.33%
75.46%
2,709
6,673
4,392
195
–
–
–
13,969
Fabre
New
Lib
16,278
47.80%
3,468
10.18%
72.15%
12,810
16,278
4,363
449
–
–
156
34,056
Frontenac
UN
UN
6,902
52.16%
1,601
12.10%
86.13%
6,902
5,301
155
874
–
–
–
13,232
Gaspé-Nord
UN
UN
5,251
51.12%
366
3.56%
86.12%
5,251
4,885
136
–
–
–
–
10,272
Gaspé-Sud
Lib
Lib
8,513
53.48%
1,108
6.96%
86.04%
7,405
8,513
–
–
–
–
–
15,918
Gatineau
Lib
Lib
11,308
51.26%
1,877
8.51%
69.81%
9,431
11,308
1,117
205
–
–
–
22,061
Gouin
New
Lib
12,916
47.32%
2,799
10.26%
61.75%
10,117
12,916
3,507
646
–
–
108
27,294
Hull
Lib
Lib
10,803
50.91%
2,610
12.30%
64.11%
8,193
10,803
2,222
–
–
–
–
21,218
Huntingdon
UN
Lib
3,469
50.33%
45
0.65%
81.51%
3,424
3,469
–
–
–
–
–
6,893
Iberville
Lib
UN
4,470
50.25%
704
7.91%
85.20%
4,470
3,766
431
229
–
–
–
8,896
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Lib
Lib
3,908
66.59%
1,947
33.17%
89.97%
1,961
3,908
–
–
–
–
–
5,869
Jacques-Cartier
Lib
Lib
18,289
68.34%
11,833
44.22%
65.19%
6,456
18,289
1,808
209
–
–
–
26,762
Jean-Talon
New
Lib
14,257
53.23%
3,821
14.26%
70.11%
10,436
14,257
1,384
709
–
–
–
26,786
Jeanne-Mance
Lib
Lib
16,691
51.85%
6,063
18.83%
62.64%
10,628
16,691
4,271
333
–
–
269
32,192
Joliette
UN
UN
11,372
50.96%
2,236
10.02%
81.30%
11,372
9,136
1,423
386
–
–
–
22,317
Jonquière
New
Lib
11,959
46.91%
4,495
17.63%
79.06%
7,464
11,959
916
4,992
–
–
165
25,496
Kamouraska
Lib
UN
6,161
52.35%
1,406
11.95%
77.12%
6,161
4,755
–
175
678
–
–
11,769
L'Assomption
Lib
UN
9,958
46.90%
490
2.31%
80.38%
9,958
9,468
1,443
363
–
–
–
21,232
L'Islet
UN
UN
5,972
55.26%
1,136
10.51%
80.66%
5,972
4,836
–
–
–
–
–
10,808
Labelle
UN
UN
6,827
57.79%
2,502
21.18%
81.78%
6,827
4,325
536
125
–
–
–
11,813
Lac-Saint-Jean
Lib
UN
10,985
52.22%
2,555
12.15%
86.09%
10,985
8,430
–
1,621
–
–
–
21,036
LaFontaine
New
UN
13,592
44.95%
785
2.60%
67.58%
13,592
12,807
3,374
466
–
–
–
30,239
Laurier
Lib
Lib
15,012
56.61%
6,754
25.47%
62.92%
8,258
15,012
2,131
701
–
–
417
26,519
Laval
Lib
Lib
16,910
48.69%
4,704
13.55%
72.67%
12,206
16,910
3,131
324
2,156
–
–
34,727
Laviolette
UN
UN
12,082
54.16%
3,417
15.32%
80.86%
12,082
8,665
1,559
–
–
–
–
22,306
Lévis
Lib
UN
15,141
53.10%
3,121
10.95%
83.04%
15,141
12,020
843
511
–
–
–
28,515
Limoilou
New
UN
16,547
49.67%
1,651
4.96%
76.50%
16,547
14,896
1,234
582
–
–
55
33,314
Lotbinière
UN
UN
6,218
45.75%
87
0.64%
86.82%
6,218
6,131
–
1,243
–
–
–
13,592
Louis-Hébert
New
Lib
22,532
65.70%
14,156
41.28%
77.16%
8,376
22,532
2,991
394
–
–
–
34,293
Maisonneuve
Lib
UN
12,621
44.68%
1,029
3.64%
60.12%
12,621
11,592
3,457
371
–
–
205
28,246
Marguerite-Bourgeoys
New
Lib
14,603
62.14%
9,944
42.31%
62.30%
4,659
14,603
1,297
173
2,769
–
–
23,501
Maskinongé
UN
UN
6,115
52.94%
853
7.38%
90.50%
6,115
5,262
–
174
–
–
–
11,551
Matane
Lib
Lib
9,045
49.76%
299
1.64%
79.72%
8,746
9,045
–
386
–
–
–
18,177
Matapédia
Lib
Lib
6,165
48.64%
22
0.17%
80.50%
6,143
6,165
220
146
–
–
–
12,674
Mégantic
Lib
UN
11,894
46.38%
588
2.29%
84.08%
11,894
11,306
–
2,443
–
–
–
25,643
Mercier
Lib
Lib
11,759
44.27%
518
1.95%
61.41%
11,241
11,759
3,115
335
–
–
112
26,562
Missisquoi
UN
UN
8,788
60.10%
3,469
23.72%
77.05%
8,788
5,319
390
126
–
–
–
14,623
Montcalm
Lib
UN
5,007
51.32%
470
4.82%
87.00%
5,007
4,537
168
44
–
–
–
9,756
Montmagny
UN
UN
6,763
54.63%
1,426
11.52%
82.59%
6,763
5,337
–
279
–
–
–
12,379
Montmorency
UN
UN
14,151
54.25%
4,524
17.34%
82.94%
14,151
9,627
1,423
885
–
–
–
26,086
Napierville-Laprairie
Lib
Lib
9,683
43.06%
762
3.39%
79.60%
8,921
9,683
–
488
3,396
–
–
22,488
Nicolet
Lib
UN
8,140
52.33%
855
5.50%
89.77%
8,140
7,285
–
130
–
–
–
15,555
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Lib
Lib
19,563
76.42%
16,622
64.93%
59.34%
2,068
19,563
949
77
–
2,941
–
25,598
Olier
New
Lib
11,990
47.03%
2,316
9.08%
57.89%
9,674
11,990
3,366
464
–
–
–
25,494
Outremont
Lib
Lib
18,075
71.18%
14,857
58.51%
64.48%
2,744
18,075
3,218
118
–
1,238
–
25,393
Papineau
UN
UN
10,999
45.35%
563
2.32%
78.04%
10,999
10,436
2,504
313
–
–
–
24,252
Pontiac
UN
UN
4,429
51.22%
211
2.44%
72.91%
4,429
4,218
–
–
–
–
–
8,647
Portneuf
Lib
UN
11,265
42.76%
1,287
4.89%
81.37%
11,265
9,978
613
4,407
82
–
–
26,345
Richelieu
Lib
UN
12,257
49.43%
1,080
4.36%
84.76%
12,257
11,177
1,221
141
–
–
–
24,796
Richmond
Lib
Lib
8,258
47.56%
263
1.51%
77.79%
7,995
8,258
–
1,112
–
–
–
17,365
Rimouski
Lib
Lib
11,938
49.84%
428
1.79%
78.86%
11,510
11,938
504
–
–
–
–
23,952
Rivière-du-Loup
Lib
UN
9,691
52.18%
811
4.37%
83.20%
9,691
8,880
–
–
–
–
–
18,571
Robert-Baldwin
New
Ind
19,506
53.32%
7,752
21.19%
73.30%
2,991
11,754
900
144
19,506
1,287
–
36,582
Roberval
UN
UN
11,799
48.35%
1,546
6.34%
82.92%
11,799
10,253
–
2,077
273
–
–
24,402
Rouville
Lib
UN
6,080
46.60%
5
0.04%
81.68%
6,080
6,075
687
206
–
–
–
13,048
Rouyn-Noranda
Lib
UN
6,583
38.62%
1,050
6.16%
81.10%
6,583
5,533
694
4,237
–
–
–
17,047
Saguenay
Lib
Lib
10,737
46.43%
1,232
5.33%
64.33%
9,505
10,737
–
2,444
437
–
–
23,123
Saint-Henri
Lib
UN
10,410
41.42%
1,561
6.21%
63.25%
10,410
8,849
3,034
371
2,470
–
–
25,134
Saint-Hyacinthe
Lib
UN
10,998
46.78%
30
0.13%
78.98%
10,998
10,968
1,544
–
–
–
–
23,510
Saint-Jacques
UN
UN
9,869
49.97%
2,206
11.17%
57.68%
9,869
7,663
1,834
383
–
–
–
19,749
Saint-Jean
Lib
UN
9,226
48.85%
2,586
13.69%
81.48%
9,226
6,640
780
174
2,067
–
–
18,887
Saint-Laurent
New
Lib
21,558
68.63%
14,853
47.28%
65.77%
6,705
21,558
3,151
–
–
–
–
31,414
Saint-Louis
Lib
Lib
8,960
58.45%
4,916
32.07%
55.45%
4,044
8,960
1,646
453
–
–
227
15,330
Saint-Maurice
Lib
UN
14,133
47.42%
1,720
5.77%
81.83%
14,133
12,413
3,256
–
–
–
–
29,802
Saint-Sauveur
UN
UN
14,485
57.73%
5,501
21.92%
73.23%
14,485
8,984
730
893
–
–
–
25,092
Saint-Anne
Ind
Ind
6,609
38.67%
1,638
9.58%
53.52%
4,328
4,971
747
208
6,837[ a 2]
–
–
17,091
Sainte-Marie
UN
UN
11,285
53.10%
3,650
17.17%
57.19%
11,285
7,635
1,930
404
–
–
–
21,254
Shefford
UN
UN
14,549
53.69%
4,172
15.40%
80.21%
14,549
10,377
1,061
1,110
–
–
–
27,097
Sherbrooke
Lib
UN
19,915
50.11%
2,634
6.63%
74.58%
19,915
17,281
1,495
1,051
–
–
–
39,742
Stanstead
Lib
Lib
8,215
49.85%
577
3.50%
77.50%
7,638
8,215
–
627
–
–
–
16,480
Taillon
New
Lib
8,627
38.61%
210
0.94%
59.91%
8,417
8,627
4,097
685
517
–
–
22,343
Témiscamingue
Lib
Lib
4,413
49.15%
2,044
22.77%
83.76%
2,196
4,413
–
2,369
–
–
–
8,978
Témiscouata
UN
UN
5,653
51.97%
869
7.99%
84.02%
5,653
4,784
–
441
–
–
–
10,878
Terrebonne
Lib
UN
24,840
47.71%
2,525
4.85%
76.71%
24,840
22,315
4,227
681
–
–
–
52,063
Trois-Rivières
UN
UN
15,362
48.97%
1,045
3.33%
82.88%
15,362
14,317
1,692
–
–
–
–
31,371
Vaudreuil-Soulanges
Lib
Lib
11,120
53.17%
2,630
12.58%
81.90%
8,490
11,120
494
96
713
–
–
20,913
Verchères
Lib
Lib
11,648
55.73%
3,953
18.91%
75.46%
7,695
11,648
1,348
209
–
–
–
20,900
Verdun
Lib
Lib
19,181
66.26%
10,918
37.72%
62.55%
8,263
19,181
1,198
306
–
–
–
28,948
Westmount
Lib
Lib
20,061
78.21%
17,825
69.49%
55.18%
2,236
20,061
1,141
110
1,385
717
–
25,650
Wolfe
UN
UN
5,189
64.06%
2,528
31.21%
89.06%
5,189
2,661
–
250
–
–
–
8,100
Yamaska
UN
UN
4,093
51.75%
277
3.50%
87.90%
4,093
3,816
–
–
–
–
–
7,909
^ including spoilt ballots
^ Frank Hanley (6,609 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
Resulting composition of the 28th Quebec Legislative Assembly[ 4]
Source
Party
UN
Lib
Ind
Total
Seats retained
Incumbents returned
19
30
1
50
Open seats held
9
5
14
Byelection loss reversed
1
1
Seats changing hands
Incumbents defeated
22
1
23
Open seats gained
1
1
2
New ridings
New MPPs
2
9
1
12
Previously incumbent in another riding
4
4
Previously elected to the Legislature
2
2
Total
56
50
2
108
See also
References
Further reading
External links