# 1988 Manitoba general election

The 1988 Manitoba general election was held on April 26, 1988 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a minority government. The Progressive Conservative Party won 25 seats, against 20 for the Liberal Party and 12 for the New Democratic Party.

## Background

The election was called unexpectedly in early 1988, after disgruntled NDP backbencher Jim Walding voted against his government's budget on March 9, 1988. With former cabinet minister Laurent Desjardins having essentially abandoned his seat earlier in the year, the Legislative Assembly was almost evenly divided. Walding's defection thus resulted in Howard Pawley's NDP government being defeated, 28 votes to 27. As the budget vote was a confidence measure, the Pawley ministry was forced to resign and call new elections two years ahead of schedule.
Popular support for the NDP was at an historically low level when the election was called, due to soaring Autopac rates and a taxpayer-funded bailout of the Manitoba Telephone System. The Pawley government's support for the Meech Lake Accord was also unpopular in some circles. One internal poll had the party at only 6% support, and there were concerns that they could be reduced to only two or three seats in the 57-seat legislature. Pawley resigned as party leader on the day after the budget defeat, and Urban Affairs Minister Gary Doer narrowly defeated Agriculture Minister Leonard Harapiak to replace him at a party convention held during the campaign.
Pawley himself announced he would enter federal politics and did not seek re-election in his own seat. In an unusual arrangement, the outgoing premier remained in office until after the election. Even after Doer's selection, the consensus was that the NDP would not be reelected. However, they managed to stabilize at around 20% in the polls. Many traditional NDP voters, especially in the city of Winnipeg, abandoned the party to support the Liberals in this cycle.

## Issues

The Progressive Conservatives, led by Gary Filmon, ran on a platform of saving revenue by selling public corporations, including ManOil and Manfor. Filmon also promised to scrap the province's Public Investment Corporation entirely. The Liberals also promised more prudent fiscal management, but did not propose to sell these crown corporations. Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs was also known as a prominent opponent of the Meech Lake Accord.
The NDP, which retained a support base in the north of the province, promised to create northern training centres in Thompson and The Pas.
The national abortion debate also surfaced in this campaign, although none of the major parties put forward a clear position on the issue. Although Filmon was personally anti-abortion, the Progressive Conservatives were unwilling to propose specific action on the subject, and withdrew from an early promise to close Henry Morgentaler's private clinic. The Liberals favoured counselling, including a focus on adoption. The NDP emphasized prevention and support services for poorer women who choose to continue their pregnancies.

## Campaign

The Progressive Conservatives entered the election with a significant lead in the polls, but saw their support undercut by the Liberals in the campaign's final weeks. Before the party leaders' debate, a Winnipeg Free Press poll indicated that 40% of voters considered Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs as the best choice for Premier, with 24% favouring Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon and 19% favouring NDP leader Gary Doer. 17% were undecided.
Carstairs performed well in the leaders' debate, and did much to improve her party's popularity as the campaign reached its end.

## Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level :
| Polling firm | Last day of survey | PCMB | MLP | MNDP | Other | ME | Sample |
| Election 1988 | April 26, 1988 | 38.37 | 35.52 | 23.62 | 2.49 | | |
| University of Manitoba Research Ltd. | February 1988 | 50.4 | 22.8 | 25.4 | — | — | — |
| University of Manitoba Research Ltd. | October 10, 1987 | 36.7 | 23.3 | 37.3 | — | 3.0 | 1,090 |
| University of Manitoba Research Ltd. | June 1987 | 35.9 | 18.7 | 40.3 | — | 3.0 | 1,005 |
| Western Opinion Research | April 1987 | 36 | 28 | 33 | — | 4.5 | 500 |
| University of Manitoba Research Ltd. | February 1987 | 32.4 | 16.6 | 45.6 | — | 3.0 | 988 |
| Election 1986 | March 18, 1986 | 40.56 | 13.92 | 41.50 | 4.02 | | |

## Results

The Liberal Party performed well in Winnipeg, winning 19 out of 29 seats in that city and picking up ridings from both the NDP and Tories, and nearly managed to oust Filmon in his riding of Tuxedo, in south-central Winnipeg. The party won only one seat outside Winnipeg, however—Pawley's former seat of Selkirk, centred on the community of the same name just north of Winnipeg. It was and still is the party's best showing in an election since the then Liberal-Progressives won their last majority in 1953.
In terms of the popular vote, the Progressive Conservatives actually lost support from the last election, however they dominated the rural southern portion of the province, a traditional Tory stronghold. They made some inroads into traditional NDP territory immediately north of Winnipeg. The party also won six seats in Winnipeg, and took the northern seat of Swan River from the NDP.
The New Democrats managed to retain four seats in Winnipeg, five in the north, the mid-northern ridings of Dauphin and Interlake, and Brandon East in the south of the province. It is still the worst defeat that an NDP government has suffered in Manitoba.
Exit polls later revealed that new voters (i.e., immigrants and first-time voters) had polled strongly for the Liberals in Winnipeg.
Although Pawley had retired from politics and his party was reduced to third place, by constitutional convention he retained the right to remain in office until the NDP was defeated in the legislature, as well as the right to advise whether Lieutenant Governor George Johnson should appoint Filmon or Carstairs as the new premier upon leaving office. Doer also could have attempted to negotiate a coalition with the Liberals. Instead, he informally reached a deal with Filmon in which the NDP would tolerate a Tory minority government. As a result, Pawley finally resigned as Premier of Manitoba on May 9 and advised Johnson to appoint Filmon his successor. Filmon was duly sworn in later that day after advising Johnson that he could form a government.
| Party | Party | Party Leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular Vote | Popular Vote | Popular Vote |
| Party | Party | Party Leader | # of candidates | Before$^1$ | Elected | % Change | # | % | Change |
| | Progressive Conservative | Gary Filmon | 57 | 26 | 25 | -3.85% | 206,180 | 38.37% | -2.19 |
| | Liberal | Sharon Carstairs | 57 | 1 | 20 | +1900% | 190,913 | 35.52% | +21.60 |
| | New Democratic | Gary Doer | 57 | 30 | 12 | -60.0% | 126,954 | 23.62% | -17.88 |
| | Confederation of Regions | Dennis Heeney | 14 | - | - | - | 7,100 | 1.32% | -1.12 |
| | Western Independence | Fred Cameron | 16 | - | - | - | 2,442 | 0.45% | +0.45 |
| | Progressive | Sidney Green | 6 | - | - | - | 975 | 0.18% | -0.33 |
| | Libertarian | Clancy Smith | 6 | - | - | - | 501 | 0.09% | +0.09 |
| | Communist | Lorne Robson | 5 | - | - | - | 261 | 0.05% | -0.03 |
| | Independent | Independent | 11 | 2 | - | -100% | 2,084 | 0.39% | -0.46 |
| Total | Total | Total | 229 | 57 | 57 | - | 537,410 | 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.
Popular vote
PC
38.37%
Liberal
35.52%
New Democratic
23.62%
Others
2.49% :
Seats summary
PC
43.86%
Liberal
35.09%
New Democratic
21.05% :

## Riding results

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Arthur | | Goldwyn Jones 575 | | Jim Downey 4,359 | | Douglas Mosset 2,171 | | Ross Meggison (CoR) 863 | Jim Downey |
| Assiniboia | | Robert Johannson 1,031 | | Ric Nordman 3,731 | | Ed Mandrake 3,918 | | Linda Cress (WIP) 166 | Ric Nordman |
| Brandon East | | Leonard Evans 3,512 | | Jim Armstrong 2,859 | | Lois Fjeldsted 2,260 | | Garth Shurvell (Ind) 208 | Leonard Evans |
| Brandon West | | Ishbel Solvason 2,313 | | James McCrae 5,039 | | John Worley 3,618 | | | James McCrae |
| Burrows | | Doug Martindale 3,005 | | Allan Yap 1,040 | | William Chornopyski 3,114 | | Michael Kibzey (Ind) 129 Lorne Robson (Comm) 79 | Conrad Santos |
| Charleswood | | Bruno Zimmer 1,180 | | Jim Ernst 6,670 | | Shari Nelson 5,850 | | David Hollins (Ind) 158 | Jim Ernst |
| Churchill | | Jay Cowan 2,396 | | Wayne Wittmeier 1,019 | | George Kernaghan 714 | | | Jay Cowan |
| Concordia | | Gary Doer 3,702 | | Vic Rubiletz 2,634 | | Barbara Blomeley 2,948 | | Bill Seman (Ind) 358 Fred Cameron (WIP) 114 Charles Henry (P) 61 | Gary Doer |
| Dauphin | | John Plohman 3,983 | | Russell Secord 3,435 | | Peter Rampton 2,475 | | | John Plohman |
| Ellice | | Harvey Smith 2,457 | | Alex Arenson 1,538 | | Avis Gray 3,081 | | Susan Caine (WIP) 109 | Harvey Smith |
| Elmwood | | Jim Maloway 3,012 | | Frank Syms 1,920 | | Ed Price 2,839 | | Russ Letkeman (Lbt) 113 | Jim Maloway |
| Emerson | | Kurt Penner 1,407 | | Albert Driedger 5,027 | | Martin Stadler 2,615 | | Jake Wall (CoR) 366 | Albert Driedger |
| Flin Flon | | Jerry Storie 2,948 | | Gordon Mitchell 1,563 | | Brian King 867 | | | Jerry Storie |
| Fort Garry | | Brian Pannell 1,553 | | Charlie Birt 5,173 | | Laurie Evans 6,055 | | Ivan Merritt (WIP) 173 Millie Lamb (Comm) 45 | Charlie Birt |
| Fort Rouge | | Roland Penner 2,912 | | Robert Haier 2,303 | | Jim Carr 5,127 | | Gordon Pratt (P) 75 Dennis Owens (Lbt) 66 | Roland Penner |
| Gimli | | John Bucklaschuk 3,352 | | Ed Helwer 4,716 | | Morley Murray 2,347 | | Eugene Klochko (WIP) 261 | John Bucklaschuk |
| Gladstone | | Fred Tait 509 | | Charlotte Oleson 3,760 | | Cordell Barker 2,132 | | Brian Hildebrandt (CoR) 759 | Charlotte Oleson |
| Inkster | | Don Scott 4,098 | | Resty Taruc 2,151 | | Kevin Lamoureux 4,466 | | Nancy Watkins (Comm) 64 | Don Scott |
| Interlake | | Bill Uruski 3,057 | | Ed Dandeneau 2,810 | | Clyde Sigurdson 1,777 | | | Bill Uruski |
| Kildonan | | Marty Dolin 4,542 | | John Baluta 5,068 | | Gulzar Cheema 5,653 | | Sidney Green (P) 445 Tracy Fuhr (WIP) 133 | Marty Dolin |
| Kirkfield Park | | Hamish Gavin 868 | | Gerrie Hammond 5,269 | | Irene Friesen 5,014 | | | Gerrie Hammond |
| Lac du Bonnet | | Clarence Baker 2,911 | | Darren Praznik 3,773 | | Peter Raymond 2,411 | | | Clarence Baker |
| Lakeside | | Eduard Hiebert 972 | | Harry Enns 4,475 | | Delmer Nott 2,828 | | Cam Baldwin (CoR) 864 | Harry Enns |
| La Verendrye | | Walter McDowell 708 | | Helmut Pankratz 4,377 | | Cornelius E. Goertzen 2,948 | | | Helmut Pankratz |
| Logan | | Maureen Hemphill 2,646 | | Linda Thomson 1,085 | | John Dobbin 1,660 | | Barry Marchand (Ind) 81 Frank Goldspink (Comm) 46 | Maureen Hemphill |
| Minnedosa | | Susan Proven 1,476 | | Harold Gilleshammer 3,669 | | Terry Drebit 2,496 | | Dennis Heeney (CoR) 820 | Dave Blake |
| Morris | | Clifford Hodgins 449 | | Clayton Manness 4,578 | | Barbara Plas 1,832 | | Raymond Switzer (CoR) 597 Jeffrey Plas (Ind) 57 | Clayton Manness |
| Niakwa | | Stan Williams 2,026 | | Abe Kovnats 7,222 | | Herold Driedger 8,576 | | Lyle Cruickshank (WIP) 237 | Abe Kovnats |
| Osborne | | Muriel Smith 2,753 | | Rosemary Vodrey 2,421 | | Reg Alcock 4,334 | | Clancy Smith (Lbt) 145 | Muriel Smith |
| Pembina | | Hans Wittich 382 | | Don Orchard 6,043 | | Marilyn Skubovius 2,171 | | Abe Giesbrecht (CoR) 499 | Don Orchard |
| Portage la Prairie | | Bill Zettler 722 | | Ed Connery 4,020 | | Darlene Hamm 2,812 | | Irene Armishaw (CoR) 603 | Ed Connery |
| Radisson | | Gerard Lecuyer 3,113 | | John Samborski 3,049 | | Allan Patterson 4,918 | | | Gerard Lecuyer |
| Rhineland | | Reg Loeppky 341 | | Jack Penner 5,166 | | Walter Hebert 1,059 | | | Arnold Brown |
| Riel | | Bob Ages 1,834 | | Gerry Ducharme 4,289 | | Chris Sigurdson 3,965 | | John Hiebert (CoR) 121 Neil Knight (WIP) 75 | Gerry Ducharme |
| River East | | Michael Dyck 3,019 | | Bonnie Mitchelson 7,563 | | Morley Golden 3,805 | | Niel Friesen (WIP) 233 | Bonnie Mitchelson |
| River Heights | | Harry Daniels 1,036 | | Bob Vandewater 3,373 | | Sharon Carstairs 6,620 | | Jim Weidman (Lbt) 62 | Sharon Carstairs |
| Roblin-Russell | | Dennis Trinder 1,973 | | Len Derkach 4,030 | | Neil Stewart 2,513 | | | Len Derkach |
| Rossmere | | Vic Schroeder 3,424 | | Harold Neufeld 3,950 | | Cecilia Connelly 2,851 | | Chris Dondo (WIP) 146 | Vic Schroeder |
| Rupertsland | | Elijah Harper 2,206 | | Joe Guy Wood 1,419 | | Maurice Berens 638 | | | Elijah Harper |
| St. Boniface | | Lorette Beaudry-Ferland 2,061 | | Guy Savoie 1,586 | | Neil Gaudry 5,743 | | | Laurent Desjardins |
| St. James | | Allan MacDonald 2,171 | | Jae Eadie 3,360 | | Paul Edwards 3,939 | | Fred Debrecen (CoR) 137 Charles Lamont (P) 74 Dennis Rice (Lbt) 69 Merle Hartlin (WIP) 62 | Al Mackling |
| St. Johns | | Judy Wasylycia-Leis 3,092 | | Lynn Filbert 1,222 | | Ruth Oberman 2,480 | | Cyril Fogel (P) 171 Roy Price (Ind) 68 Gerald Zucawich (Ind) 35 | Judy Wasylycia-Leis |
| St. Norbert | | Bennetta Benson 1,460 | | Gerry Mercier 5,695 | | John Angus 6,073 | | | Gerry Mercier |
| St. Vital | | Gerri Unwin 2,282 | | Paul Herriot 3,614 | | Bob Rose 4,431 | | Katharina Cameron (WIP) 123 Trevor Wiebe (Lbt) 46 | Jim Walding |
| Ste. Rose | | Gerald Follows 1,464 | | Glen Cummings 3,723 | | Brent Johnson 2,631 | | David Mutch 249 | Glen Cummings |
| Selkirk | | Terry Sargeant 3,637 | | Eugene Kinaschuk 3,138 | | Gwen Charles 3,821 | | Ruth VanKoeveringe (WIP) 214 | Howard Pawley |
| Seven Oaks | | Eugene Kostyra 3,553 | | George Finkle 1,636 | | Mark Minenko 3,885 | | | Eugene Kostyra |
| Springfield | | Andy Anstett 3,749 | | Gilles Roch 5,815 | | Lance Laufer 3,806 | | | Gilles Roch |
| Sturgeon Creek | | Len Sawatsky 993 | | Frank Johnston 4,174 | | Iva Yeo 4,833 | | Hugh Buskell (CoR) 158 Nigel Hanrahan (Comm) 27 | Frank Johnston |
| Swan River | | Len Harapiak 3,446 | | Parker Burrell 4,115 | | Don Dennis 653 | | | Len Harapiak |
| The Pas | | Harry Harapiak 3,221 | | Bruce Unfried 1,584 | | Scott Gray 1,426 | | | Harry Harapiak |
| Thompson | | Steve Ashton 2,992 | | Ken Collin 1,989 | | Janice Pronteau 1,240 | | | Steve Ashton |
| Transcona | | Wilson Parasiuk 3,191 | | Bill Omiucke 2,270 | | Richard Kozak 3,900 | | Ray Hargreaves (Ind) 121 | Wilson Parasiuk |
| Turtle Mountain | | John Miller 446 | | Denis Rocan 3,208 | | Ross McMillan 2,610 | | Rod Stephenson (Ind) 767 Harold Parsonage (CoR) 476 Bill Harrison (Ind) 102 William Comer (WIP) 87 | Denis Rocan |
| Tuxedo | | Catherine Hofman 714 | | Gary Filmon 6,427 | | Jasper McKee 6,303 | | R. EisBrenner (WIP) 149 | Gary Filmon |
| Virden | | Louise Leask 967 | | Glen Findlay 4,459 | | Bill Davison 2,043 | | Alex Gabrielle (CoR) 588 Terry Drul (WIP) 160 | Glen Findlay |
| Wolseley | | Myrna Phillips 3,112 | | Kirk Stanley 1,579 | | Harold Taylor 3,618 | | Derek Shettler (P) 149 | Myrna Phillips |

### Post-election changes

Gilles Roch (PC) becomes (L) on September 8, 1988.

## Opinion polls

| Polling firm | Last date of polling | PC | Liberal | NDP | Others | Sample size | Margin of error | Polling method |
| Angus Reid | April 12, 1988 | 43 | 34 | 22 | 1 | 818 | 3.5% | Telephone |
| Angus Reid | March 14, 1988 | 48 | 32 | 19 | 1 | 806 | 3.5% | Telephone |
| U of M | October 10, 1987 | 36.7 | 23.3 | 37.3 | 2.7 | 1,090 | 3.0% | Telephone |
| Western Opinion | March 26, 1987 | 36 | 28 | 33 | 3 | 500 | 4.5% | Telephone |