The 1940 federal election in Canada, held on March 26, occurred during a time of global upheaval, as the Second World War was raging in Europe. It was a critical moment for Canada, as the country was navigating its role in the conflict while grappling with economic challenges still lingering from the Great Depression. The election would determine the country's political leadership during one of its most challenging periods. The result was a decisive victory for the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who had been in power since 1935. The election set the stage for Canada's wartime policies and its emerging role on the world stage.
Political Situation Before the Election
By 1940, Canada had been under Liberal rule for five years, following the 1935 election in which Mackenzie King's government took over from the Conservative-led government of R.B. Bennett. Bennett's Conservative Party had been blamed for mishandling the Great Depression, and Mackenzie King's Liberals had won decisively by promising a more compassionate approach to economic recovery. However, five years later, the global situation had dramatically shifted with the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.
Mackenzie King had pledged to support Britain in the war while ensuring that Canada would not introduce conscription, which was a deeply divisive issue, particularly in Quebec. King was cautious about involving Canada too heavily in the war effort, trying to strike a balance between the country's military commitments and avoiding the internal divisions that conscription had caused during the First World War.
The Conservative Party, rebranded as the National Government Party and led by Robert Manion, was struggling. Manion was a physician and veteran of the First World War who had served in various ministerial roles. Despite his impressive resume, he faced an uphill battle in the 1940 election due to the public's lingering distrust of the Conservative Party, which was still associated with the economic hardships of the Depression era. The party also struggled with internal divisions and a lack of a clear, cohesive platform on the pressing issue of the war.
Other parties, including the newly formed Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), led by J.S. Woodsworth, and the Social Credit Party, led by John Horne Blackmore, represented smaller but growing political forces. The CCF, a socialist party, was pushing for more progressive social and economic reforms, including social welfare programs and the nationalization of certain industries. The Social Credit Party, originating from Alberta, was focused on monetary reform and was critical of both the Liberal and Conservative parties.
Leaders of the Contending Parties
William Lyon Mackenzie King (Liberal Party): Mackenzie King was an experienced political leader who had already served multiple terms as Prime Minister. Known for his cautious, pragmatic style, he was deeply focused on maintaining Canadian unity, especially as the war escalated. He campaigned on the need for stable leadership during wartime and promised to avoid conscription unless it became absolutely necessary, appealing to both English and French Canadians.
Robert Manion (National Government Party): Manion, the leader of the rebranded Conservative Party, was a well-respected veteran and a medical doctor. However, his leadership was hampered by divisions within his party and the Conservative Party's poor reputation from the Bennett years. Manion's campaign emphasized stronger support for the war effort, but he struggled to distance himself from his party's past.
J.S. Woodsworth (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation): Woodsworth, a socialist and pacifist, led the CCF and focused on social and economic reform. He was opposed to Canada's involvement in the war, making his party's stance controversial, particularly as public support for the war effort grew.
John Horne Blackmore (Social Credit Party): Blackmore led the Social Credit Party, which advocated for monetary reform and a more populist approach to politics. The party's base was in Alberta, and it had limited appeal outside the western provinces.
Key Issues of the Election
The 1940 election was dominated by two major issues: the war and the economy.
War Effort: The central issue was Canada's role in the Second World War. Mackenzie King’s government had already committed Canada to the war, but the question of how far Canada should go in its support was hotly debated. Mackenzie King was firm in his commitment to avoid conscription, while Manion and the National Government Party argued for a stronger, more direct military contribution. The conscription debate echoed the divisions from the First World War, particularly in Quebec, where anti-conscription sentiment was strong.
Economic Recovery and Social Policy: While the Depression had largely been alleviated by wartime production, economic issues remained relevant. The CCF pushed for expanded social welfare programs, including unemployment insurance and health care, while the Social Credit Party continued its call for monetary reform to address what they saw as the systemic failures of the economy. The Liberals, however, were cautious on these issues, focusing instead on the stability and unity needed during wartime.
Campaign Strategies
Liberal Party (Mackenzie King): The Liberal campaign was built on King's reputation for careful, balanced leadership. The Liberals emphasized the need for experienced and steady governance during the war, avoiding the risks that a shift in leadership could bring. King’s promise not to introduce conscription unless it was absolutely necessary was critical in securing support in Quebec, while his moderate approach to the war reassured voters in English Canada who supported the war effort.
National Government Party (Manion): Manion’s Conservatives struggled to find a unifying message. The party’s rebranding as the "National Government Party" was intended to signal a broad-based, non-partisan approach to leadership, but it failed to resonate with voters. The party emphasized the need for a stronger war effort but was hampered by its association with past failures during the Depression. Manion himself lacked the charisma and political acumen to inspire confidence in the electorate.
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Woodsworth): The CCF focused on a platform of social and economic reform, advocating for expanded social services and public ownership of key industries. However, the party’s pacifist stance, particularly Woodsworth’s opposition to the war, alienated many voters who felt that Canada needed to fully support the fight against fascism.
Social Credit Party (Blackmore): The Social Credit Party continued its focus on monetary reform and criticized both the Liberals and Conservatives for failing to address the root causes of economic instability. However, the party’s appeal was largely limited to its base in Alberta, and it had little national impact.
Election Day and Results
The election, held on March 26, 1940, resulted in a landslide victory for Mackenzie King and the Liberal Party. The Liberals won 179 of the 245 seats in the House of Commons, increasing their majority from the previous election. The National Government Party, under Manion, won only 39 seats, a significant drop from the 1935 election, marking a humiliating defeat for the Conservatives. The CCF won 8 seats, down from the 9 seats it had secured in 1935, while the Social Credit Party won 10 seats, maintaining a presence in western Canada.
Aftermath of the Election
Mackenzie King's overwhelming victory in the 1940 election solidified his position as Canada's wartime leader and gave him the political mandate to guide the country through the Second World War. The result was seen as a public endorsement of his cautious, balanced approach to the war effort, particularly his stance on conscription. King remained committed to avoiding conscription for as long as possible, but by 1942, the pressures of the war would force him to hold a national plebiscite on the issue, leading to the eventual implementation of conscription in 1944, though on a limited scale.
The election also marked the further decline of the Conservative Party. Robert Manion resigned as leader after the defeat, and the party would undergo further struggles before eventually rebuilding under John Diefenbaker in the 1950s.
The CCF, despite its limited success in 1940, continued to build its base of support, particularly in Western Canada. Over time, the party's focus on social welfare and economic reform would influence Canadian politics, leading to the eventual creation of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1961.
The 1940 election was a crucial moment in Canadian history, as it allowed Mackenzie King's government to navigate the country through the war and begin laying the groundwork for the post-war era. It reinforced the central role of the Liberal Party in Canadian politics and marked a pivotal step in Canada’s evolution as a fully independent player on the world stage.
Election Party |
Elected Members | # of Candidates | % of Popular Vote | % of Seats |
---|---|---|---|---|
1940 (March 26) - Turnout: 69.9 % | ||||
Liberal | 178 | 244 | ||
Progressive Conservative | 39 | 213 | ||
Social Credit | 10 | 30 | ||
Other | 10 | 85 | ||
C.C.F. | 8 | 96 | ||
Total | 245 | 668 | ||
Government (Liberal / Liberal-Progressive)--181, Opposition--64, Majority--117 |
Total - 245 | Conser | Liberal | CCF | Social Credit | Other |
Canada | 39 | 178 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
PEI | - | 4 | - | - | - |
Nova Scotia | 1 | 10 | 1 | - | - |
New Brunswick | 5 | 5 | - | - | - |
Quebec | - | 61 | - | - | 4 |
Ontario | 25 | 55 | - | - | 2 |
Manitoba | 1 | 14 | 1 | - | 1 |
Saskatchewan | 2 | 12 | 5 | - | 2 |
Alberta | - | 7 | - | 10 | - |
BC | 4 | 10 | 1 | - | 1 |
Yukon & NWT | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Cite Article : Reference: www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/documents.html
Source: NA