Provincial Game Changers

In 2011, five provinces and two territories went to the polls, so we took a look at historic provincial and territorial elections. These history-making political leaders, nail-biting elections and landslide victories were "game changers."

Written by Joanna Dawson

 — Posted September 12, 2011

In 2011, residents of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and Saskatchewan were in full election mode. With millions of Canadians focused on electing their provincial or territorial government, we thought we would take a look back at some notable elections in their history.

Tommy Douglas Takes Mouseland

Provincial "game-changer" — the 1944 election when Tommy Douglas led the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation to its historic win.

Controversy and Compromise over the Manitoba Schools Question

Voters may have thought that the Manitoba election of 1888 was a standard affair, but their choice hurled the province into a bitter and historic controversy.

Changing Landscape in the Northwest Territories

While the Northwest Territories now has many of the powers and responsibilities that provinces have, it wasn’t always that way.

Uniting for Change in Postwar Ontario

In Ontario’s 1919 general election, the province's first non-traditional third party was elected to the Legislature — and without having a designated party leader.

Yukon Parties

In 1978, candidates in Yukon were running under political party banners for the first time and vying to become the territory’s first elected leader.

Lea's Landslide

In the midst of the Great Depression, former PEI Premier Walter Lea led the Liberal party to a historic and unprecedented victory in 1935.

Riots on the Rock

Newfoundland has had a tumultuous political history. Perhaps no more dramatic and significant were the riots of 1861.

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