Liberal Party of Canada leadership conventions

The first three leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada were not chosen at a leadership convention. Alexander Mackenzie (March 1873 – April 1880) and Edward Blake (May 1880 – June 1887) were chosen by the party caucus. Wilfrid Laurier (June 1887 – February 1919) was also chosen by caucus members with the party convention of 1893 ratifying his leadership. The most recent leadership convention was held in 2006.

The first Liberal leadership convention was held on August 7, 1919. Balloting continued until one candidate won a majority of votes. After the 1919 convention, a system was adopted where the candidate with the least number of votes on a given ballot is automatically dropped. More recently, any candidate with less than 5% of the vote on the first ballot is also automatically dropped. Since 1919, time has also been given between ballots for candidates to announce if they wish to withdraw and throw their support to another candidate.

1919 leadership convention results

The 1919 leadership convention was held in Ottawa, Ontario on August 7, 1919.

First ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 344
FIELDING, William Stevens 297
GRAHAM, George Perry 153
MCKENZIE, Daniel Duncan 153
"Total votes cast 947"

Second ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 411
FIELDING, William Stevens 344
GRAHAM, George Perry 124
MCKENZIE, Daniel Duncan 60
"Total votes cast 939"

Graham withdrew while voting for the third ballot was underway. McKenzie withdrew while voting for the fourth ballot was in process. Votes were not counted, and the convention proceeded directly to the fifth ballot.

Fifth ballot
KING, William Lyon Mackenzie 476
FIELDING, William Stevens 438
"Total votes cast 914"

1948 leadership convention results

The 1948 leadership convention was held in Ottawa on August 7, 1948.

First ballot
ST. LAURENT, Louis Stephen 848
GARDINER, James Garfield 323
POWER, Charles Gavan 56
"Total votes cast 1,227"

1958 leadership convention results

The 1958 leadership convention was held in Ottawa on January 16, 1958.

First ballot
PEARSON, Lester Bowles 1,074
MARTIN, Paul Joseph James 305
HENDERSON, Harold Lloyd 1
"Total votes cast 1,380"

1968 leadership convention results

The 1968 leadership convention was held in Ottawa Civic Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on April 6, 1968.

First ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 752
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 330
WINTERS, Robert Henry 293
MARTIN, Paul Joseph James277
TURNER, John Napier 277
GREENE, John James 169
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph 163
KIERANS, Eric William 103
HENDERSON, Harold Lloyd 0
Spoiled ballots 24
"Total votes cast 2,390"

Henderson eliminated, he was not himself a registered delegate, although his wife was.
Kierans and Martin withdrew, neither endorse another candidate.

Second ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 964
WINTERS, Robert Henry 473
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 465
TURNER, John Napier 347
GREENE, John James 104
MACEACHEN, Allan Joseph 11
Spoiled ballots 15
"Total votes cast 2,379"

MacEachen announced after the first ballot that he was withdrawing and would support Trudeau, but he missed the deadline to remove his name from the ballot.

Third ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 1,051
WINTERS, Robert Henry 621
HELLYER, Paul Theodore 377
TURNER, John Napier 279
GREENE, John James 29
Spoiled ballots 19
"Total votes cast 2376"

Greene eliminated, endorsed Trudeau; Hellyer withdrew, endorsed Winters.

Fourth ballot
TRUDEAU, Pierre Elliott 1,203
WINTERS, Robert Henry 954

TURNER, John Napier 195
Spoiled ballots 13
"Total votes cast 2,365"

1984 leadership convention results

The 1984 leadership convention was held in Ottawa on June 16, 1984.

First ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,593 (46%)

CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean 1,067 (31%)
JOHNSTON, Donald James 278 (8%)
ROBERTS, John (Moody) 185
MACGUIGAN, Mark R. 135
MUNRO, John Carr 93
WHELAN, Eugene Francis 84
Spoiled ballots 2
"Total votes cast 3,437"

Whelan eliminated, supports Chretien. MacGuigan withdraws and supports Turner. Munro and Roberts withdraw and support Chretien.

Second ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,862 (54%)
CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean 1,398 (40%)
JOHNSTON, Donald James 192 (6%)
Spoiled ballots 1
"Total votes cast 3,453"

1990 leadership convention results

The 1990 leadership convention was held in Calgary, Alberta on June 23, 1990.

First ballot
CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean 2,652 (56.81%)
MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe 1,176 (25.19%)
COPPS, Sheila Maureen 499 (10.69%)
WAPPEL, Thomas (Tom) William 267 (5.72%)
NUNZIATA, John V. 64 (1.37%)
Spoiled ballots 10 (0.21%)
"Total votes cast 4,668"

2003 leadership convention results

The 2003 leadership convention was held in Toronto, Ontario on November 14, 2003.

First ballot
MARTIN, Paul Edgar Philippe 3,242 (93.84%)
COPPS, Sheila Maureen 211 (6.11%)
Spoiled ballots 2 (0.06%)
"Total votes cast 3,455"

"Source: [http://www.parl.gc.ca Parliament of Canada website] "

2006 leadership convention

The 2006 leadership convention was held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec on December 2-3 2006.

Before voting on the first ballot began, Volpe withdrew, endorsed Rae

First Ballot
*Michael Ignatieff - 1,412 (29.3%)
*Bob Rae - 977 (20.3%)
*Stéphane Dion - 856 (17.8%)
*Gerard Kennedy - 854 (17.7%)
*Ken Dryden - 238 (4.9%)
*Scott Brison - 192 (4.0%)
*Joe Volpe - 156 (3.2%)
*Martha Hall Findlay - 130 (2.7%)

Hall Findlay eliminated, endorsed Dion; Brison withdrew, endorsed Rae

Second Ballot
*Michael Ignatieff - 1,481 (31.8%)
*Bob Rae - 1132 (24.1%)
*Stéphane Dion - 974 (20.8%)
*Gerard Kennedy - 884 (18.8%)
*Ken Dryden - 219 (4.7%)

Dryden eliminated, endorsed Rae; Kennedy withdrew, endorsed Dion

Third Ballot
*Stéphane Dion - 1,782 (37.0%)
*Michael Ignatieff - 1,660 (34.5%)
*Bob Rae - 1,375 (28.5%)

Rae eliminated, released delegates

Fourth Ballot (final)
*Stéphane Dion 2,521 (54.7%)
*Michael Ignatieff - 2,084 (45.3%)