1985 Quebec general election

Canadian provincial election From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1985 Quebec general election was held on December 2, 1985, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada.[1] The Quebec Liberal Party, led by former premier Robert Bourassa, defeated the incumbent Parti Québécois, led by Premier Pierre-Marc Johnson.

Quick facts 122 seats in the 33rd National Assembly of Quebec 62 seats were needed for a majority, Turnout ...
1985 Quebec general election

 1981
December 2, 1985
1989 

122 seats in the 33rd National Assembly of Quebec
62 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout75.69% (Decrease6.83%)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Robert Bourassa Pierre-Marc Johnson
Party Liberal Parti Québécois
Leader since October 15, 1983 September 29, 1985
Leader's seat Bertrand (lost re-election) Anjou
Last election 42 seats, 46.07% 80 seats, 49.26%
Seats won 99 23
Seat change Increase57 Decrease57
Popular vote 1,910,307 1,320,008
Percentage 55.99% 38.69%
Swing Increase9.92% Decrease10.57%

Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Click the map for more details.

Premier before election

Pierre-Marc Johnson
Parti Québécois

Premier after election

Robert Bourassa
Liberal

Close

This election marked the comeback of Robert Bourassa, whose political career had been thought to be over after losing the 1976 general election and resigning as Liberal leader. However, Bourassa personally failed to win his own seat in the Bertrand electoral district, and had to run in a by-election one month later in the safe Saint-Laurent electoral district. The 1985 Quebec general election result produced by far the largest majority of any Canadian legislative election (in terms of the number of seats) by a winning party whose leader failed to win his own seat. It was also the only modern election in Quebec history where the leader of the winning party lost their seat.

Johnson, son of former Union Nationale premier Daniel Johnson Sr. was unable to revive the PQ's fortune after he succeeded René Lévesque as party leader and premier. Pierre-Marc's brother, Daniel Johnson Jr., later became leader of the Liberal Party and briefly served as premier.

This election was the last contested by the Union Nationale. It only ran candidates in 19 ridings, none of whom came close to being elected. The party would be wound up by election authorities in 1989. It is also the last Quebec general election to date where the largest party won a majority government while also getting over 50% of the popular vote.

Results

[2]

More information Political party, Party leader ...
Elections to the National Assembly of Quebec (1985)
Political party Party leader MNAs Votes
Candidates 1981 1985 ± # ± % ± (pp)
Liberal Robert Bourassa 122429957Increase1,910,307251,554Increase55.99%9.91Increase
Parti Québécois Pierre-Marc Johnson 122802357Decrease1,320,008453,229Decrease38.69%10.57Decrease
New Democratic Jean-Paul Harney 9082,58882,588Increase2.42%New
Progressive Conservative André Asselin 4835,21035,210Increase1.03%New
Parti indépendantiste Denis Monière 3915,42315,423Increase0.45%New
Christian Socialist Jacques Paquette 10311,71211,712Increase0.34%New
Independent 287,8553,483Increase0.23%0.11Increase
Union Nationale André Léveillé 197,759136,311Decrease0.23%3.77Decrease
Green 104,6134,613Increase0.14%New
Independent Liberal 14,0014,001Increase0.12%New
Humanist 173,0503,050Increase0.09%New
Commonwealth of Canada 282,2402,240Increase0.07%New
Regroupement autonome des jeunes 32,1612,161Increase0.06%New
Socialist Movement Roger Deslauriers 101,8091,809Increase0.05%New
United Social Credit Jean-Paul Poulin 121,650366Increase0.05%0.01Increase
Communist Sam Walsh 1083466Increase0.02%
Workers 4387640Decrease0.01%0.02Decrease
Total 666122 122 3,411,607 100.00%
Rejected ballots 52,625 14,102Increase
Voter turnout 3,464,232 174,388Decrease 75.69 6.83Decrease
Registered electors 4,576,600 170,324Increase
Close

Vote and seat summaries


More information Party, Seats ...
Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
 Liberal
99 / 122
55.99%
9.91
 
 Parti Québécois
23 / 122
38.69%
-10.57
 
 New Democratic
0 / 122
2.42%
2.42
 
 Progressive Conservative
0 / 122
1.03%
1.03
 
 Union Nationale
0 / 122
0.23%
-3.77
 
 Independent
0 / 122
0.23%
0.11
 
 Other
0 / 122
1.41%
0.87
 
Close


Synopsis of results

More information Riding, Winning party ...
Results by riding - 1985 Quebec general election[2][3]
Riding Winning party Turnout
[a 1]
Votes
Name 1981 Party Votes Share Margin
#
Margin
%
Lib PQ NDP PC PI CS UN I-Lib Ind Oth Total
 
Abitibi-Est PQ Lib 9,20251.85%1,7429.82%62.85%9,2027,4603726635117,748
Abitibi-Ouest PQ PQ 10,85954.64%2,34511.80%62.49%8,51410,8594267319,872
Anjou PQ PQ 16,25848.60%3541.06%77.15%15,90416,25897731733,456
Argenteuil Lib Lib 17,22065.65%9,47636.13%74.35%17,2207,7441781,08826,230
Arthabaska PQ Lib 16,60849.83%2,0386.11%79.79%16,60814,5708018581745033,331
Beauce-Nord PQ Lib 19,41854.06%4,85513.52%79.73%19,41814,5635191671,25035,917
Beauce-Sud Lib Lib 19,59266.12%9,97433.66%78.80%19,5929,61842229,632
Beauharnois PQ Lib 16,62150.51%2,6197.96%82.61%16,62114,002879921,20532,907
Bellechasse PQ Lib 12,75454.82%2,51610.81%79.02%12,75410,23827523,267
Berthier Lib Lib 17,56163.00%8,23229.53%78.48%17,5619,32937312448927,876
Bertrand PQ PQ 17,18148.89%2290.65%87.50%16,95217,1815864637435,139
Bonaventure Lib Lib 13,70165.92%6,87733.09%74.85%13,7016,82425920,784
Bourassa PQ Lib 15,72759.09%6,46924.30%74.41%15,7279,258651533286659626,616
Bourget PQ Lib 13,27252.29%2,68710.59%76.41%13,27210,5855542482725339925,383
Brome-Missisquoi Lib Lib 16,50068.83%10,04441.90%74.47%16,5006,45688013623,972
Chambly PQ Lib 16,33054.61%4,00513.39%81.61%16,33012,3251,09615129,902
Champlain PQ Lib 16,65251.80%2,4287.55%80.29%16,65214,2241,26932,145
Chapleau Lib Lib 16,51460.49%6,70124.55%66.23%16,5149,8136861889927,300
Charlesbourg PQ Lib 22,18162.82%13,26137.56%81.67%22,1818,9201,7402,0763345935,310
Charlevoix Lib Lib 14,84761.13%6,03924.86%80.03%14,8478,80863424,289
Châteauguay PQ Lib 20,20954.25%4,26311.44%79.16%20,20915,94694815137,254
Chauveau PQ Lib 19,85058.23%8,51324.97%77.14%19,85011,3371,7201491,03134,087
Chicoutimi PQ PQ 17,47653.11%3,76011.43%76.56%13,71617,4761,42911916732,907
Chomedey Lib Lib 21,62272.66%14,80049.73%72.26%21,6226,8227993367710329,759
Crémazie PQ Lib 16,11549.89%1,5554.81%80.03%16,11514,560765233276622117832,300
D'Arcy-McGee Lib Lib 22,79991.45%21,67286.93%68.58%22,7991,1279376724,930
Deux-Montagnes PQ Lib 15,89251.95%4,45514.56%77.51%15,89211,4374903942,27410330,590
Dorion PQ Lib 12,72451.71%2,49810.15%74.58%12,72410,226653290268553635324,605
Drummond PQ Lib 16,58447.93%1020.29%79.85%16,58416,48258594734,598
Dubuc PQ PQ 14,14755.32%4,17116.31%78.73%9,97614,1479504208125,574
Duplessis PQ PQ 12,37749.81%2741.10%69.02%12,10312,37722314524,848
Fabre PQ Lib 15,13051.38%1,9316.56%80.19%15,13013,1996683718129,449
Frontenac PQ Lib 14,60651.85%3,22211.44%80.08%14,60611,3842,02715128,168
Gaspé PQ Lib 13,88057.71%4,00016.63%74.47%13,8809,88029024,050
Gatineau Lib Lib 13,57165.23%7,61936.62%69.19%13,5715,9525326737820,806
Gouin PQ PQ 11,21248.46%7223.12%73.79%10,49011,2126651813415119823,138
Groulx PQ Lib 17,69249.07%6211.72%78.25%17,69217,07149945933536,056
Hull Lib Lib 16,37561.09%7,43427.73%65.51%16,3758,9411,0166540726,804
Huntingdon Lib Lib 13,40560.90%6,29928.62%74.66%13,4057,1061,22227922,012
Iberville PQ Lib 18,35355.02%4,68514.04%80.36%18,35313,66849570713633,359
Îles-de-la-Madeleine PQ Lib 5,04856.02%1,18413.14%86.61%5,0483,864999,011
Jacques-Cartier Lib Lib 24,24580.36%20,40467.63%77.41%24,2453,8411,0256246736930,171
Jean-Talon Lib Lib 18,39658.39%7,65624.30%82.79%18,39610,7401,7272569429131,504
Jeanne-Mance Lib Lib 20,77270.24%13,28344.92%74.13%20,7727,4894116094015010029,571
Johnson PQ PQ 13,64451.58%1,6726.32%79.57%11,97213,6449947626226,453
Joliette PQ PQ 15,28850.53%2,1757.19%79.62%13,11315,288659581,14030,258
Jonquière PQ PQ 17,74152.51%3,61110.69%79.86%14,13017,7411,78413233,787
Kamouraska-Témiscouata PQ Lib 14,04357.39%5,19021.21%70.15%14,0438,8537818870424,469
L'Acadie Lib Lib 22,57274.03%15,95652.33%75.38%22,5726,61694619016530,489
L'Assomption PQ Lib 15,62741.93%2160.58%77.06%15,62715,4115,429[a 2]42227310337,265
La Peltrie PQ Lib 19,81955.93%6,35717.94%82.83%19,81913,4621,96818935,438
Labelle PQ Lib 15,19750.36%2,5078.31%73.89%15,19712,6901,54660314330,179
Lac-Saint-Jean PQ PQ 17,02854.82%4,26313.72%83.30%12,76517,0281,07219931,064
LaFontaine PQ Lib 19,57750.46%1,8554.78%76.47%19,57717,7226084608334838,798
Laporte Lib Lib 18,92563.87%9,95933.61%77.26%18,9258,9661,1373876814929,632
La Prairie Lib Lib 24,63360.05%9,96824.30%79.55%24,63314,6651,088484847041,024
Laurier Lib Lib 16,04465.80%10,07841.33%68.86%16,0445,96683039342572424,382
Laval-des-Rapides PQ Lib 15,22352.06%2,1117.22%76.21%15,22313,1127048312229,244
Laviolette PQ PQ 15,13456.33%3,40112.66%77.70%11,73315,13426,867
Lévis PQ PQ 20,52049.09%1,4743.53%79.95%19,04620,5201,1544373238024041,800
Limoilou PQ Lib 16,82260.54%8,48330.53%74.54%16,8228,33994978310379227,788
Lotbinière PQ Lib 12,38253.52%1,9458.41%81.09%12,38210,43731723,136
Louis-Hébert PQ Lib 16,91351.90%4,63414.22%79.64%16,91312,2792,7982872525832,587
Maisonneuve PQ PQ 12,37351.75%2,0888.73%69.53%10,28512,373495138763224916923,907
Marguerite-Bourgeoys Lib Lib 19,46973.44%13,35050.36%74.03%19,4696,11979512826,511
Marie-Victorin PQ PQ 12,56847.75%3351.27%72.56%12,23312,5688843468320526,319
Marquette Lib Lib 13,35660.51%5,52125.01%72.28%13,3567,835419150551589822,071
Maskinongé Lib Lib 17,59961.51%7,75527.11%80.63%17,5999,8441,16728,610
Matane PQ Lib 11,83053.40%2,0559.28%77.09%11,8309,77538116922,155
Matapédia PQ Lib 11,47353.19%2,0969.72%78.86%11,4739,37759912221,571
Mégantic-Compton Lib Lib 12,86559.48%4,78722.13%77.39%12,8658,0785949121,628
Mercier PQ PQ 12,06247.11%1,1024.30%71.12%10,96012,0621,20031912893325,602
Mille-Îles PQ Lib 16,18954.20%3,54711.88%80.86%16,18912,6425733739129,868
Mont-Royal Lib Lib 17,86579.17%14,63864.87%69.74%17,8653,227675231126943531222,565
Montmagny-L'Islet PQ Lib 14,49260.52%6,34926.51%74.18%14,4928,1435641994750023,945
Montmorency PQ Lib 21,11559.37%9,94227.95%77.75%21,11511,1731,2001,35110162535,565
Nelligan Lib Lib 24,11275.42%18,17356.84%75.75%24,1125,9391,12379831,972
Nicolet< PQ Lib 15,81659.01%5,39520.13%84.93%15,81610,42142513926,801
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Lib Lib 21,02477.83%17,72665.62%73.02%21,0243,2982,3338227527,012
Orford Lib Lib 16,67259.43%6,76524.12%74.74%16,6729,90763272911128,051
Outremont Lib Lib 12,72053.43%3,70215.55%72.11%12,7209,0181,2944613128223,806
Papineau Lib Lib 12,45258.59%4,38220.62%74.03%12,4528,07073221,254
Pontiac Lib Lib 13,88872.08%10,26553.28%62.80%13,8883,6238967837719,267
Portneuf Lib Lib 18,40669.10%11,21942.12%81.34%18,4067,1877265226426,635
Prévost PQ Lib 15,61853.09%2,6599.04%74.95%15,61812,95970114129,419
Richelieu PQ Lib 16,37353.14%3,0479.89%81.90%16,37313,3265871053477230,810
Richmond Lib Lib 12,35663.81%5,53228.57%80.96%12,3566,82418419,364
Rimouski PQ Lib 15,11648.78%2840.92%75.06%15,11614,83218585330,986
Rivière-du-Loup PQ Lib 11,69053.32%2,30410.51%75.10%11,6909,38671113621,923
Robert-Baldwin Lib Lib 27,04180.54%22,36866.62%73.18%27,0414,6731,06846716416133,574
Roberval PQ PQ 16,68452.64%2,0356.42%77.87%14,64916,68436431,697
Rosemont PQ Lib 14,81052.65%3,06510.90%75.11%14,81011,7457423942741328,131
Rousseau PQ Lib 17,31455.14%4,11513.11%73.82%17,31413,19963225531,400
Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue PQ Lib 11,82649.56%1,3855.80%62.53%11,82610,4411,2025733523,861
Saguenay PQ Lib 11,27048.36%1610.69%66.48%11,27011,10951627713423,306
Saint-François PQ Lib 15,57153.85%3,61112.49%74.25%15,57111,9601,22016228,913
Saint-Henri Lib Lib 14,64756.73%4,73618.34%69.85%14,6479,9116024565315125,820
Saint-Hyacinthe PQ Lib 15,38248.74%5231.66%78.16%15,38214,85970950110731,558
Saint-Jacques PQ PQ 10,65948.61%1,8648.50%68.93%8,79510,6591,1154172312978921,927
Saint-Jean PQ Lib 19,58957.68%7,45121.94%78.97%19,58912,1381,0288636627933,963
Saint-Laurent Lib Lib 22,47474.22%16,36754.05%72.41%22,4746,1071,0373905621830,282
Saint-Louis Lib Lib 9,90348.45%5,16225.25%65.68%9,9034,7411,405424,0018226620,440
Saint-Maurice PQ Lib 14,80254.70%3,54013.08%79.91%14,80211,26299427,058
Saint-Anne Lib Lib 12,56560.92%5,66627.47%65.89%12,5656,8996332609817020,625
Sainte-Marie PQ Lib 8,85547.03%4552.42%67.12%8,8558,400711212392137432518,829
Sauvé PQ Lib 15,67761.12%6,75626.34%70.82%15,6778,921462346134654325,648
Shefford PQ PQ 16,46049.54%6111.84%79.73%15,84916,4602842611807012133,225
Sherbrooke PQ Lib 14,16349.31%6482.26%75.67%14,16313,51510494228,724
Taillon PQ PQ 15,15450.48%1,9636.54%72.82%13,19115,154791418912859130,021
Taschereau PQ Lib 11,58453.81%3,48916.21%72.54%11,5848,0951,2172368730921,528
Terrebonne PQ PQ 18,55556.67%5,67817.34%75.37%12,87718,5558107442832,744
Trois-Rivières PQ Lib 17,25859.18%6,36521.82%74.82%17,25810,89361439929,164
Ungava PQ PQ 6,41451.83%9177.41%54.74%5,4976,41446312,374
Vachon PQ Lib 16,01149.47%8422.60%76.30%16,01115,16967351132,364
Vanier PQ Lib 16,66854.89%4,79715.80%77.04%16,66811,8711,67115530,365
Vaudreuil-Soulanges Lib Lib 23,44064.36%11,56631.76%77.43%23,44011,87492418136,419
Verchères PQ PQ 16,67949.06%8462.49%81.32%15,83316,6791,0633616033,996
Verdun Lib Lib 14,86064.27%7,95434.40%73.80%14,8606,9066592161835011413423,122
Viau Lib Lib 17,08666.12%9,65837.38%71.05%17,0867,42886411834425,840
Viger Lib Lib 20,06068.28%12,10641.21%76.92%20,0607,9546172358613129529,378
Vimont PQ Lib 16,16950.07%1,4094.36%79.56%16,16914,7608544298232,294
Westmount Lib Lib 18,45876.55%15,08362.55%69.66%18,4583,3751,9166330124,113
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  1. including spoilt ballots
  2. André Asselin was the PC leader
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

Analysis

More information Parties, 1st ...
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[2]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
 Liberal 9923
 Parti Québécois 2399
 New Democratic 7911
 Progressive Conservative 18228
 Christian Socialist 82428
 Union Nationale 665
 Parti indépendantiste 42211
 Independent 276
 Green 252
 Regroupement autonome des jeunes 11
 Independent Liberal 1
 Humanist 36
 United Social Credit 32
 Socialist Movement 32
 Commonwealth of Canada 5
 Communist 2
 Workers 2
Close
More information Source, Party ...
Resulting composition of the 31st Quebec Legislative Assembly[3]
SourceParty
Lib PQ Total
Seats retainedIncumbents returned 361652
Open seats held 538
Byelection loss reversed 44
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance 11
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated 3737
Open seats gained 1313
Byelection gains held 7
Total 9923122
Close

See also

References

Further reading

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