Canadian federal election, 1957

Canadian federal election, 1957

1953 ← June 10, 1957 → 1958

outgoing members ←

265 seats in the 23rd Canadian Parliament 133 seats needed for a majority Turnout 74.1%   First party Second party   Leader John Diefenbaker Louis St. Laurent Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since December 14, 1956 August 7, 1948 Leader's seat Prince Albert Quebec East Last election 51 169 Seats won 112 105 Seat change 61 64 Popular vote 2,572,926 2,702,573 Percentage 38.5% 40.5% Swing 7.8pp 7.8pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Major James Coldwell Solon Earl Low Party Co-operative Commonwealth Social Credit Leader since March 22, 1942 April 6, 1944 Leader's seat Rosetown—Biggar Peace River Last election 23 15 Seats won 25 19 Seat change 2 4 Popular vote 707,659 437,049 Percentage 10.6% 6.6% Swing 0.6pp 1.1pp

Prime Minister before election Louis St. Laurent Liberal Prime Minister-designate John Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative

Louis St. Laurent
Liberal

John Diefenbaker
Progressive Conservative

The Canadian federal election of 1957 was held June 10, 1957, to select the 265 members of the House of Commons of Canada. In one of the great upsets in Canadian political history, the Progressive Conservative Party (also known as "PCs" or "Tories"), led by John Diefenbaker, brought an end to 22 years of Liberal rule, as the Tories were able to form a minority government.

The Liberal Party had governed Canada since 1935, winning five consecutive elections. Under Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent, the government gradually built a welfare state. During the Liberals's fifth term in office, the opposition parties depicted them as arrogant and unresponsive to Canadians' needs. Controversial events, such as the 1956 "Pipeline Debate" over the construction of the Trans-Canada Pipeline, had hurt the government. St. Laurent, nicknamed 'Uncle Louis', remained popular, but exercised little supervision over his cabinet ministers.

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