Could not load that page.

1986 Manitoba general election

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
1986 Manitoba general election
March 18, 1986
57 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
29 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Howard Pawley Gary Filmon Sharon Carstairs
Party New Democratic Progressive Conservative Liberal
Leader since November 4, 1979 December 10, 1983 March 4, 1984
Leader's seat Selkirk Tuxedo River Heights
Last election 34 23 0
Seats won 30 26 1
Seat change Decrease4 Increase3 Increase1
Popular vote 198,261 193,728 66,469
Percentage 41.50% 40.56% 13.92%
Swing Decrease5.88pp Decrease3.26pp Increase7.22pp
Map of Election Results
Premier before election

Howard Pawley
New Democratic

 Premier after election

Howard Pawley
New Democratic

The 1986 Manitoba general election was held on March 18, 1986 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition. The Manitoba Liberal Party, which had not been represented in the previous legislature, won one seat.

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey		 Source NDP PC MLP Other ME Sample
Election 1986 March 18, 1986 41.50 40.56 13.92 2.96
Institute of Social and Economic Research February 1986 [1] 44.5 39.5 14.1 —N/a —N/a 683
Institute of Social and Economic Research April 1984 [2] 26.5 59.5 14 —N/a —N/a —N/a
Election 1981 November 17, 1981 47.38 43.82 6.70 2.10

Results

Party Party Leader # of
candidates		 Seats Popular Vote
Before1 Elected % Change # % Change
  New Democratic Howard Pawley 57 32 30 -6.3% 198,261 41.50% -5.88
  Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon 57 22 26 +18.2% 193,728 40.56% -3.26
  Liberal Sharon Carstairs 57 - 1   66,469 13.92% +7.22
Confederation of Regions Dennis Heeney 14 - - - 11,677 2.44% +2.44
Progressive Sidney Green 12 - - - 2,451 0.51% -1.30
  Western Canada Concept Fred Cameron 5 - - - 672 0.14% +0.14
Communist Paula Fletcher 5 - - - 356 0.08% +0.03
  Independent 9 2 - -100% 4,076 0.85% +0.61
Libertarian Clancy Smith (4) - - -      
Total 216 57 57 - 477,690 100%  

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.

Vote and seat summaries

Popular vote
New Democratic
 
 41.50%
PC
 
 40.56%
Liberal
 
 13.92%
Others
 
 4.02%
Seats summary
New Democratic
 
 52.63%
PC
 
 45.61%
Liberal
 
 1.75%

Synopsis of results

1986 Manitoba general election – synopsis of riding results[3][4]
Electoral
division		 Winning party Votes[a 1]
1981 1st
place		 Votes Share Margin
#		 Margin
%		 2nd
place		 NDP PC Lib CoR Ind Oth Total
 
Arthur PCPC4,56961.11%3,37145.08%CoR1,0094,5697011,198––7,477
Assiniboia PCPC3,81351.62%1,61821.90%NDP2,1953,8131,379–––7,387
Brandon East NDPNDP4,17352.88%98912.53%PC4,1733,184535–––7,892
Brandon West NDPPC5,53753.11%1,40913.52%NDP4,1285,537760–––10,425
Burrows NDPNDP3,54753.04%2,11031.55%Ind3,547950587–1,473[a 2]1316,688
Charleswood PCPC6,52456.43%3,69831.99%NDP2,8266,5242,211–––11,561
Churchill NDPNDP2,94073.50%2,08352.08%PC2,940857203–––4,000
Concordia NDPNDP4,52554.37%1,84122.12%PC4,5252,684909––2048,322
Dauphin NDPNDP4,88652.27%1,76518.88%PC4,8863,1211,341–––9,348
Ellice NDPNDP3,98957.67%2,25832.64%PC3,9891,731929––2686,917
Elmwood NDPNDP3,24145.84%1,23517.47%Ind3,2411,435389–2,006[a 3]–7,071
Emerson PCPC4,75851.75%97810.64%NDP3,7804,758656–––9,194
Flin Flon NDPNDP3,31669.49%2,24447.02%PC3,3161,072384–––4,772
Fort Garry PCPC5,14648.45%1,98818.72%NDP3,1585,1462,114––20410,622
Fort Rouge NDPNDP4,22348.86%1,63318.89%PC4,2232,5901,683–101468,643
Gimli NDPNDP4,90650.83%9519.85%PC4,9063,955649––1419,651
Gladstone PCPC3,40249.25%1,64823.86%CoR8723,4028791,754––6,907
Inkster NDPNDP5,48064.09%3,75443.91%PC5,4801,726938–1013058,550
Interlake NDPNDP4,63461.30%2,45332.45%PC4,6342,181455289––7,559
Kildonan NDPNDP6,19951.65%1,98916.57%PC6,1994,2101,134––45912,002
Kirkfield Park PCPC5,49757.14%3,30634.37%NDP2,1915,4971,932–––9,620
La Vérendrye PCPC3,61859.12%1,85030.23%NDP1,7683,618734–––6,120
Lac du Bonnet NDPNDP3,90346.12%3023.57%PC3,9033,601959–––8,463
Lakeside PCPC4,30349.38%1,90321.84%NDP2,4004,3039591,052––8,714
Logan NDPNDP3,76573.08%2,97457.73%PC3,765791502–94–5,152
Minnedosa PCPC3,31641.77%94711.93%NDP2,3693,3167451,508––7,938
Morris PCPC4,37868.78%3,23850.87%NDP1,1404,378847–––6,365
Niakwa PCPC6,43747.44%1,60611.84%NDP4,8316,4372,300–––13,568
Osborne NDPNDP4,74755.38%2,39927.99%PC4,7472,3481,259––2178,571
Pembina PCPC5,27065.19%4,32653.51%CoR9135,270849944–1088,084
Portage la Prairie PCPC3,69351.35%2,23631.09%NDP1,4573,6939681,074––7,192
Radisson NDPNDP4,81053.71%2,14423.94%PC4,8102,6661,239––2408,955
Rhineland PCPC3,03751.34%1,48825.16%NDP1,5493,0371,329–––5,915
Riel NDPPC4,47947.10%7698.09%NDP3,7104,4791,133187––9,509
River EastNDPPC6,59848.88%7505.56%NDP5,8486,598696280–7613,498
River Heights PCLiberal4,62044.98%1,48514.46%PC2,5163,1354,620–––10,271
Roblin-RussellPCPC3,24138.09%380.45%NDP3,2033,2412,065–––8,509
RossmereNDPNDP4,61347.04%5275.37%PC4,6134,0861,108–––9,807
RupertslandNDPNDP2,30260.42%1,37135.98%PC2,302931577–––3,810
Selkirk NDPNDP5,13554.93%2,01621.56%PC5,1353,1191,023––729,349
Seven Oaks NDPNDP5,15864.71%3,31741.61%PC5,1581,841907––657,971
Springfield NDPPC5,09444.26%550.48%NDP5,0395,0941,376–––11,509
St. Boniface NDPNDP4,97860.77%3,02736.95%Lib4,9781,1141,951––1498,192
St. James NDPNDP4,12044.22%1551.66%PC4,1203,965922175–1369,318
St. Johns NDPNDP3,75356.39%1,80427.10%PC3,7531,949632–1152076,656
St. Norbert PCPC5,78850.72%2,94925.84%NDP2,8395,7882,784–––11,411
St. Vital NDPNDP4,43045.32%5585.71%PC4,4303,8721,472–––9,774
Ste. Rose NDPPC3,73545.77%7158.76%NDP3,0203,735952454––8,161
Sturgeon Creek PCPC4,99455.17%2,59228.63%NDP2,4024,9941,530–126–9,052
Swan River PCNDP3,77347.88%650.82%PC3,7733,708399–––7,880
The Pas NDPNDP4,05168.34%2,96349.98%PC4,0511,088789–––5,928
Thompson NDPNDP3,85266.61%2,35440.71%PC3,8521,498433–––5,783
Transcona NDPNDP4,63159.39%2,66534.18%PC4,6311,9661,200–––7,797
Turtle Mountain PCPC3,39047.51%2,03728.55%NDP1,3533,3901,2421,150––7,135
Tuxedo PCPC5,26849.09%1,72416.06%Lib1,8165,2683,544––10410,732
Virden PCPC4,25152.99%2,50131.18%NDP1,7504,2515241,497––8,022
Wolseley NDPNDP4,09951.42%1,88123.60%PC4,0992,2181,132115603477,971
  1. All parties with more than 1% of the vote are shown individually. Independent candidates and other minor parties are aggregated separately.
  2. William Chornopyski, long-time city councillor in Winnipeg and active NDP supporter, left the NDP and stood as an Independent, winning 1,437 votes and finishing in second place.
  3. Russell Doern, NDP Cabinet minister under Edward Schreyer and Howard Pawley, left the NDP in 1984.
  = open seat
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = other incumbents renominated
  = Libertarian candidate - party not recognized by Elections Manitoba[5]
  = multiple candidates

Turnout, winning shares and swings

Summary of riding results by turnout, vote share for winning candidate, and swing (vs 1981)[3][4]
Riding and winning party Turnout Vote share[a 1] Swing[a 2]
% Change (pp) % Change (pp) To Change (pp)
 
ArthurPCHold67.111.84
 
61.11-14.42
 
NDP-1.72
 
AssiniboiaPCHold64.04-7.29
 
51.621.69
 
PC3.57
 
Brandon EastNDPHold67.02-3.42
 
52.88-8.28
 
PC-8.06
 
Brandon WestPCGain70.92-7.84
 
53.117.90
 
PC-8.88
 
BurrowsNDPHold61.59-6.03
 
53.04-9.96
 
PC-3.17
 
CharleswoodPCHold69.52-5.13
 
56.43-2.34
 
PC1.65
 
ChurchillNDPHold61.05-0.06
 
73.508.95
 
NDP6.45
 
ConcordiaNDPHold66.22-3.44
 
54.37-6.54
 
PC-4.63
 
DauphinNDPHold78.70-5.51
 
52.274.38
 
NDP6.19
 
ElliceNDPHold66.37-3.89
 
57.67-2.76
 
PC-1.67
 
ElmwoodNDPHold64.33-1.84
 
45.84-21.99
 
PC-8.54
 
EmersonPCHold72.99-1.64
 
51.752.14
 
PC3.30
 
Flin FlonNDPHold56.38-9.32
 
69.496.90
 
NDP10.92
 
Fort GarryPCHold66.23-6.68
 
48.45-7.27
 
NDP-1.92
 
Fort RougeNDPHold64.33-7.50
 
48.864.30
 
NDP1.75
 
GimliNDPHold75.17-2.57
 
50.83-1.48
 
NDP0.43
 
GladstonePCHold62.62-3.08
 
49.25-15.82
 
NDP-2.15
 
InksterNDPHold60.25-9.52
 
64.09-5.79
 
PC-4.31
 
InterlakeNDPHold66.08-1.81
 
61.30-3.00
 
PC-0.68
 
KildonanNDPHold63.47-13.20
 
51.65-3.47
 
PC-1.11
 
Kirkfield ParkPCHold68.62-7.39
 
57.14-7.33
 
PC2.71
 
La VérendryePCHold50.42-7.84
 
59.12-11.33
 
NDP-10.95
 
Lac du BonnetNDPHold73.943.61
 
46.12-16.38
 
PC-10.72
 
LakesidePCHold71.05-2.49
 
49.38-10.91
 
NDP-3.54
 
LoganNDPHold56.00-5.72
 
73.081.08
 
N/A[a 3]
MinnedosaPCHold69.352.03
 
41.77-13.27
 
PC0.92
 
MorrisPCHold59.73-5.09
 
68.78-2.76
 
PC3.89
 
NiakwaPCHold71.57-4.38
 
47.440.26
 
PC2.90
 
OsborneNDPHold69.15-6.71
 
55.38-1.01
 
NDP0.11
 
PembinaPCHold63.89-3.27
 
65.19-12.45
 
NDP-6.61
 
Portage la PrairiePCHold65.03-6.80
 
51.353.93
 
PC7.64
 
RadissonNDPHold69.55-6.62
 
53.71-13.78
 
PC-7.60
 
RhinelandPCHold50.50-0.33
 
51.34-21.56
 
NDP-13.41
 
RielPCGain74.24-4.36
 
47.104.48
 
PC-5.30
 
River EastPCGain73.45-3.92
 
48.880.84
 
PC-2.97
 
River HeightsLibGain80.66-3.11
 
44.9821.57
 
NDP-4.81
 
Roblin-RussellPCHold78.603.35
 
38.09-17.01
 
NDP-4.88
 
RossmereNDPHold77.91-4.23
 
47.04-7.45
 
PC-4.31
 
RupertslandNDPHold41.96-11.72
 
60.42-9.06
 
Lib-0.60
 
SelkirkNDPHold74.93-0.10
 
54.93-9.17
 
PC-4.06
 
Seven OaksNDPHold63.36-8.74
 
64.71-2.19
 
PC-0.75
 
SpringfieldPCGain73.33-3.03
 
44.26-1.44
 
PC-2.46
 
St. BonifaceNDPHold69.73-6.93
 
60.77-2.61
 
Lib-2.78
 
St. JamesNDPHold72.49-4.98
 
44.22-8.73
 
PC-3.00
 
St. JohnsNDPHold62.42-4.76
 
56.39-0.60
 
PC-2.24
 
St. NorbertPCHold68.88-5.01
 
50.72-3.18
 
PC3.97
 
St. VitalNDPHold73.81-6.80
 
45.32-7.48
 
PC-3.23
 
Ste. RosePCGain72.65-0.48
 
45.77-1.74
 
PC-5.67
 
Sturgeon CreekPCHold67.45-5.62
 
55.17-3.02
 
PC2.29
 
Swan RiverNDPGain80.182.70
 
47.880.55
 
NDP-2.17
 
The PasNDPHold68.18-5.71
 
68.34-1.70
 
NDP0.74
 
ThompsonNDPHold71.50-9.14
 
66.6117.17
 
NDP19.74
 
TransconaNDPHold65.56-6.43
 
59.39-12.17
 
PC-5.19
 
Turtle MountainPCHold69.236.27
 
47.51-24.85
 
NDP-9.33
 
TuxedoPCHold71.84-2.29
 
49.09-15.50
 
NDP-4.54
 
VirdenPCHold67.85-1.12
 
52.99-10.90
 
PC1.70
 
WolseleyNDPHold65.95-12.01
 
51.423.07
 
NDP3.69
 
  1. Share won by winning candidate, with difference noted from share achieved by the same party in 1981.
  2. Positive indicates improvement to standing of party winning in 1981; negative points to 1981's second-place party being swung to.
  3. Stephen Juba, previously an MLA before moving to municipal politics and becoming Mayor of Winnipeg, had campaigned as an Independent in 1981, finishing second. He decided not to campaign again in 1986.

Changes in party shares

Share change analysis by party and riding (1986 vs 1981)[3][4]
Riding Liberal NDP PC
% Change (pp) % Change (pp) % Change (pp)
 
Arthur9.389.38
 
13.49-10.98
 
61.11-14.42
 
Assiniboia18.678.48
 
29.71-5.46
 
51.621.69
 
Brandon East6.780.44
 
52.88-8.28
 
40.347.84
 
Brandon West7.291.95
 
39.60-9.86
 
53.117.90
 
Burrows8.780.83
 
53.04-9.96
 
14.20-3.62
 
Charleswood19.1210.13
 
24.44-5.65
 
56.43-2.34
 
Churchill5.08-2.57
 
73.508.95
 
21.43-3.94
 
Concordia10.927.39
 
54.37-6.54
 
32.252.71
 
Dauphin14.353.61
 
52.274.38
 
33.39-7.99
 
Ellice13.432.27
 
57.67-2.76
 
25.030.59
 
Elmwood5.500.92
 
45.84-21.99
 
20.29-4.91
 
Emerson7.143.64
 
41.11-4.46
 
51.752.14
 
Flin Flon8.058.05
 
69.496.90
 
22.46-14.95
 
Fort Garry19.9010.58
 
29.73-3.42
 
48.45-7.27
 
Fort Rouge19.47-5.31
 
48.864.30
 
29.970.79
 
Gimli6.723.73
 
50.83-1.48
 
40.98-2.34
 
Gladstone12.731.94
 
12.62-11.52
 
49.25-15.82
 
Inkster10.976.92
 
64.09-5.79
 
20.192.83
 
Interlake6.020.82
 
61.30-3.00
 
28.85-1.64
 
Kildonan9.453.32
 
51.65-3.47
 
35.08-1.25
 
Kirkfield Park20.0820.08
 
22.78-12.76
 
57.14-7.33
 
La Vérendrye11.9911.99
 
28.8910.57
 
59.12-11.33
 
Lac du Bonnet11.3311.33
 
46.12-16.38
 
42.555.05
 
Lakeside11.013.94
 
27.54-3.83
 
49.38-10.91
 
Logan9.749.74
 
73.081.08
 
15.352.73
 
Minnedosa9.399.39
 
29.84-15.11
 
41.77-13.27
 
Morris13.3113.31
 
17.91-10.54
 
68.78-2.76
 
Niakwa16.955.27
 
35.61-5.53
 
47.440.26
 
Osborne14.691.44
 
55.38-1.01
 
27.39-1.23
 
Pembina10.502.01
 
11.290.77
 
65.19-12.45
 
Portage la Prairie13.46-7.51
 
20.26-11.35
 
51.353.93
 
Radisson13.8413.84
 
53.71-13.78
 
29.771.42
 
Rhineland22.4722.47
 
26.195.27
 
51.34-21.56
 
Riel11.920.67
 
39.02-6.11
 
47.104.48
 
River East5.163.05
 
43.32-5.09
 
48.880.84
 
River Heights44.9821.57
 
24.50-5.32
 
30.52-14.94
 
Roblin-Russell24.2724.27
 
37.64-7.25
 
38.09-17.01
 
Rossmere11.307.63
 
47.04-7.45
 
41.661.16
 
Rupertsland15.14-7.86
 
60.42-9.06
 
24.4418.20
 
Selkirk10.9410.94
 
54.93-9.17
 
33.36-1.05
 
Seven Oaks11.386.07
 
64.71-2.19
 
23.10-0.69
 
Springfield11.968.86
 
43.78-6.36
 
44.26-1.44
 
St. Boniface23.822.94
 
60.77-2.61
 
13.60-1.00
 
St. James9.899.89
 
44.22-8.73
 
42.55-2.73
 
St. Johns9.50-0.10
 
56.39-0.60
 
29.283.88
 
St. Norbert24.4016.33
 
24.88-11.12
 
50.72-3.18
 
St. Vital15.068.50
 
45.32-7.48
 
39.62-1.02
 
Ste. Rose11.6711.67
 
37.01-13.08
 
45.77-1.74
 
Sturgeon Creek16.909.22
 
26.54-7.60
 
55.17-3.02
 
Swan River5.065.06
 
47.880.55
 
47.06-3.80
 
The Pas13.314.89
 
68.34-1.70
 
18.35-3.19
 
Thompson7.495.13
 
66.6117.17
 
25.90-22.30
 
Transcona15.3915.39
 
59.39-12.17
 
25.21-1.79
 
Turtle Mountain17.4117.41
 
18.96-6.19
 
47.51-24.85
 
Tuxedo33.0220.96
 
16.92-6.43
 
49.09-15.50
 
Virden6.536.53
 
21.82-14.29
 
52.99-10.90
 
Wolseley14.20-2.83
 
51.423.07
 
27.83-4.31
 
  = did not field a candidate in 1981

Post-election changes

Early in 1988, Laurent Desjardins (St. Boniface) announced his retirement from the legislature. Soon after this, NDP backbencher Jim Walding (St. Vital) voted against his party's budget, causing the government to fall.

See also

References

  1. Tenszen, Michael (February 19, 1986). "Liberals in Manitoba buoyed by prediction of a party comeback". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
  2. Tenszen, Michael (July 6, 1985). "Manitoba voter polls spark speculation". The Globe and Mail. p. A4.
  3. "Thirty-Second General Election held November 17, 1981 - Summary of Results" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. "Thirty-Third General Election held March 18, 1986 - Summary of Results" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  5. "Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Provincial Election (1986)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved September 23, 2025.

Further reading

Preceded by
1981 Manitoba election		 List of Manitoba elections Succeeded by
1988 Manitoba election