Electoral history of Louis St. Laurent

This article is the Electoral history of Louis St. Laurent, the twelfth Prime Minister of Canada (1948-1957).

For the biography of Louis St. Laurent, see Louis St. Laurent.
St. Laurent in 1950.

A Liberal, he served one term as Prime Minister (1948–1957), succeeding William Lyon Mackenzie King. He won two general elections (1948, 1953) and lost one (1957). John Diefenbaker succeeded him as prime minister, while Lester Pearson became the leader of the Liberal Party.

He stood for election to the House of Commons of Canada five times, all successfully.

Summary
Canada had nine provinces and two territories when St. Laurent became Prime Minister in 1948.
Canada had ten provinces and two territories when St. Laurent left office in 1957.

St. Laurent ranks ninth out of twenty-three prime ministers for time in office, serving one term of eight years and 218 days.[1]

St. Laurent was the third of eight prime ministers from Quebec, the others being Sir John Abbott, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau. He was also the second of five francophone prime ministers, the others being Laurier, Pierre Trudeau, Chrétien, and Justin Trudeau.

A late-comer to politics, St. Laurent was a well-respected lawyer when Prime Minister Mackenzie King recruited him to the federal government, to replace Ernest Lapointe, King's long-time Quebec lieutenant, who had died suddenly.[2] St. Laurent served in King's government as Minister of Justice and Minister of External Affairs, as well as King's political Quebec lieutenant.[3] When King retired after his lengthy time in office, he supported St. Laurent for the leadership of the Liberal Party. St. Laurent won on the first ballot and automatically became prime minister.

St. Laurent led the Liberal Party in two general elections in 1949 and 1953, winning majority governments each time. However, in his third general election, the major issue was the building of a trans-Canada gas pipeline, with financing from the federal government. The financing proposal triggered a controversial debate in the House of Commons, which St. Laurent's government ended by the use of closure to push the measure through the Commons. St. Laurent and the Liberals were defeated in the general election of 1957, with John Diefenbaker forming a minority government. St. Laurent stayed on as Liberal leader and Leader of the Opposition for half a year after the election. He resigned as Liberal leader early in 1958 and retired from politics.[3] He was succeeded as Liberal leader by Lester B. Pearson.

St. Laurent stood for election to the Canadian House of Commons five times, all for the riding of Quebec East. He was elected each time (1942 (by-election), 1945, 1949, 1953 and 1957). He served in the Commons for a total of 16 years, 1 month, 20 days.[3]

Federal general elections, 1949 to 1957

St. Laurent led the Liberal Party in three general elections, winning two majority governments and losing once.

Federal election, 1949
For information about the 21st Parliament, 1949 to 1953, see 21st Canadian Parliament.
For information about St. Laurent and political events during the 21st Parliament, see Louis St. Laurent § Prime Minister .281948.E2.80.931957.29.

St. Laurent won a decisive victory in the 1949 election. George Drew, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, continued as Leader of the Opposition.

Canadian Federal Election, 1949 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Louis St. Laurent119149.2%
  Progressive ConservativeGeorge A. Drew24129.7%
     Co-operative Commonwealth FederationM. J. Coldwell1313.4%
Social Credit Solon Earl Low102.3%
  Independent–42.1%
  Independent Liberal–10.5%
  Liberal-Labour–10.2%
Liberal–Progressive –10.2%
Total 262 97.6%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 1953
For information about the 22nd Parliament, 1953 to 1957, see 22nd Canadian Parliament.
For information about St. Laurent and political events during the 22nd Parliament, see Louis St. Laurent § Prime Minister .281948.E2.80.931957.29.

St. Laurent won a second victory in the 1953 election, though with a reduced majority. George Drew, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, continued as Leader of the Opposition.

Canadian Federal Election, 1953 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
Liberal Louis St. Laurent116948.4%
  Progressive ConservativeGeorge A. Drew25131.0%
     Co-operative Commonwealth FederationM. J. Coldwell2311.3%
Social Credit Solon Earl Low155.4%
  Independent–31.0%
  Independent Liberal–21.2%
Liberal–Progressive –11.1%
  Liberal-Labour–10.2%
Total 265 99.6%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Prime Minister when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal election, 1957
For information about the 23rd Parliament, 1957 to 1958, see 23rd Canadian Parliament.
For information about St. Laurent and political events during the 23rd Parliament, see Louis St. Laurent § Defeat in the 1957 election.

St. Laurent went to the polls a third time in 1957, but the election resulted in a hung parliament, with no party having a majority. Although the Liberals came in first in the popular vote, they came in second in seats in the House of Commons, behind John Diefenbaker and the Progressive Conservatives. St. Laurent resigned and Diefenbaker formed a minority government. St. Laurent became Leader of the Opposition, but resigned as Liberal leader in early 1958 and retired from politics.

Canadian Federal Election, 1957 - Parties, Leaders, Seats Won and Popular Vote
Party LeadersSeats WonPopular Vote
  Progressive ConservativeJohn Diefenbaker111238.5%
Liberal Louis St. Laurent210540.5%
     Co-operative Commonwealth FederationM. J. Coldwell2510.6%
Social Credit Solon Earl Low196.5%
  Others–41.0%
  Spoiled ballots––1.1%
Total 265 98.2%3
Sources: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867

1 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Prime Minister after election.
2 Prime Minister when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after the election.
3 Table does not include parties which received votes but did not elect any members.

Federal constituency elections, 1942 to 1957

1942 Federal By-Election: Quebec East

The 1942 by-election was triggered by the death of Ernest Lapointe, the incumbent Member of Parliament on November 26, 1941. Lapointe had been King's Quebec lieutenant. King encouraged St. Laurent to stand for election in the vacant riding of Quebec East, and also take over Lapointe's political role.

Federal By-election, February 9, 1942: Quebec East, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote%
Liberal Louis St. Laurent16,70856.7%
  Parti canadienPaul Bouchard12,76843.3%
Total29,476100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Quebec East

Elected.

1945 Federal Election: Quebec East
Federal Election, 1945: Quebec East, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote%
Liberal X Louis St. Laurent25,83259.8%
  IndependentNoël Dorion7,19723.9%
Social Credit Gérard Mercier2,8169.4%
  Bloc popular canadienJoseph-Norbert-Jules Therein1,4634.9%
  IndependentPaul-Émile Latouche2800.9%
     Co-operative Commonwealth FederationFrançois-Xavier Perron2310.8%
  Labor-Progressive PartyJoseph-Gaudias De Croiselles1090.4%
Total30,061100.1%1
Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Quebec East

Elected.
X Incumbent.
1 Rounding error.

1949 Federal Election: Quebec East
Federal Election, 1949: Quebec East, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote%
Liberal X Louis St. Laurent25,83273.6%
  Progressive ConservativeMark Robert Drouin7,87622.4%
  Union des électeursAlphonse Tousignant1,3954.0%
Total35,103100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Quebec East

Elected.
X Incumbent.

1953 Federal Election: Quebec East
Federal Election, 1953: Quebec East, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote%
Liberal X Louis St. Laurent25,94578.7%
  Progressive ConservativeRaymond Maher5,84117.7%
  Labor-Progressive PartyGérard Fortin4381.3%
  LocataireLouis Seigneur4171.3%
  Anti-CommunstPatrick Walsh3331.0%
Total32,974100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Quebec East

Elected.
X Incumbent.

1957 Federal Election: Quebec East
Federal Election, 1957: Quebec East, Quebec
Party CandidatePopular Vote%
Liberal X Louis St. Laurent27,36472.0%
  Progressive ConservativeLouis Gagnon9,90026.1%
Social Credit Roland Roy7391.9%
Total38,003100.0%
Source: Library of Parliament – History of Federal Ridings since 1867: Quebec East

Elected.
X Incumbent.

Liberal Party leadership convention, 1948

St. Laurent entered the convention as the favourite, with King's support in opposition to James Gardiner, the long-time Minister of Agriculture from Saskatchewan. St. Laurent won on the first ballot, after most other nominees dropped out as a result of King's manoeuvering behind the scenes.

Liberal Leadership Convention, August 7, 1948
Voting results by ballot
Candidate First Ballot
Votes cast %
Louis St. Laurent 848 69.1%
James Garfield Gardiner 323 26.3%
Charles Gavan Power 56 4.6%
Douglas Abbott* – –
Lionel Chevrier* – –
Brooke Claxton* – –
Stuart Garson* – –
C.D. Howe* – –
Paul Martin Sr.* – –
Total 1,227 100.0%
Source: CPAC – 1948 Liberal Convention
  • Nominated, but withdrew on the floor of the convention prior to the first ballot.

See also

References
  1. PARLINFO: Prime Ministers of Canada.
  2. Canadian Dictionary of Biography: "St-Laurent, Louis-Stephen".
  3. PARLINFO: The Right Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent, P.C., C.C., Q.C.
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