1908 Canadian federal election

The 1908 Canadian federal election was held on Monday October 26, 1908 to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 11th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal Party of Canada was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in government with a majority government. The Liberals lost four seats and a small share of the popular vote.

Quick facts 221 seats in the House of Commons 111 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1908 Canadian federal election

← 1904 October 26, 1908 1911 â†’
← outgoing members elected members â†’
221 seats in the House of Commons 111 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	70.3%[1] ( 1.3 pp)
First party Second party   Leader Wilfrid Laurier Robert Borden Party Liberal Conservative Leader since June 2, 1887 February 6, 1901 Leader's seat Quebec East[a] Halifax[b] Last election 137 seats, 50.9% 75 seats, 45.9% Seats won 133 85 Seat change 4 10 Popular vote 570,311 539,374 Percentage 48.9% 46.2% Swing 2.0 pp 0.3 pp
The Canadian parliament after the 1908 election
Prime Minister before election Wilfrid Laurier Liberal Prime Minister after election Wilfrid Laurier Liberal

Close

Sir Robert Borden's Conservatives and Liberal-Conservatives won ten additional seats.

This was the first election following the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Following their creation in 1905, the two new provinces continued to be represented by MPs initially elected under the old Northwest Territories riding boundaries, some of which straddled the new provincial border. The remainder of the Northwest Territories that previously had Parliamentary representation lost it, although parts of the NWT would gain or regain representation after being added to Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec in 1912. A seat would not be created for the NWT itself again (which then contained the modern NWT and Nunavut) until 1949.

This election was the last time a prime minister managed to retain power into a fourth consecutive term.