1986 Manitoba general election

1986 Manitoba general election
March 18, 1986
57 seats of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
29 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Howard Pawley Gary Filmon Sharon Carstairs
Party New Democratic Progressive Conservative Liberal
Leader since November 4, 1979 December 10, 1983 March 4, 1984
Leader's seat Selkirk Tuxedo River Heights
Last election 34 23 0
Seats won 30 26 1
Seat change 4 3 1
Popular vote 198,261 193,728 66,469
Percentage 41.50% 40.56% 13.92%
Swing 5.88pp 3.26pp 7.22pp
Map of Election Results
Premier before election

Howard Pawley
New Democratic

Premier after election

Howard Pawley
New Democratic

The 1986 Manitoba general election was held on March 18, 1986 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the New Democratic Party, which took 30 seats out of 57. The Progressive Conservative Party won 26 seats and formed the official opposition. The Manitoba Liberal Party, which had not been represented in the previous legislature, won one seat.

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey 		Source NDP PC MLP Other ME Sample
Election 1986 March 18, 1986 41.50 40.56 13.92 2.96
Institute of Social and Economic Research February 1986 [1] 44.5 39.5 14.1 N/a N/a 683
Institute of Social and Economic Research April 1984 [2] 26.5 59.5 14 N/a N/a N/a
Election 1981 November 17, 1981 47.38 43.82 6.70 2.10

Results

Party Party Leader # of
candidates 		Seats Popular Vote
Before1 Elected % Change # % Change
  New Democratic Howard Pawley 57 32 30 -6.3% 198,261 41.50% -5.88
  Progressive Conservative Gary Filmon 57 22 26 +18.2% 193,728 40.56% -3.26
  Liberal Sharon Carstairs 57 - 1   66,469 13.92% +7.22
Confederation of Regions Dennis Heeney 14 - - - 11,677 2.44% +2.44
Progressive Sidney Green 12 - - - 2,451 0.51% -1.30
  Western Canada Concept Fred Cameron 5 - - - 672 0.14% +0.14
Communist Paula Fletcher 5 - - - 356 0.08% +0.03
  Independent 9 2 - -100% 4,076 0.85% +0.61
Libertarian Clancy Smith (4) - - -      
Total 216 57 57 - 477,690 100%  

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.

Vote and seat summaries

Ternary plots – shift of electoral support (1981–1986)
  • 1981
  • 1986
Electoral districts identified by colours of winning parties
Popular vote
New Democratic
 
 41.50%
PC
 
 40.56%
Liberal
 
 13.92%
Others
 
 4.02%
Seats summary
New Democratic
 
 52.63%
PC
 
 45.61%
Liberal
 
 1.75%

Synopsis of results

1986 Manitoba general election – synopsis of riding results[3][4]
Electoral
division 		Winning party Votes[a 1]
1981 1st
place 		Votes Share Margin
# 		Margin
% 		2nd
place 		NDP PC Lib CoR Ind Oth Total
 
Arthur PC PC 4,569 61.11% 3,371 45.08% CoR 1,009 4,569 701 1,198 – – 7,477
Assiniboia PC PC 3,813 51.62% 1,618 21.90% NDP 2,195 3,813 1,379 – – – 7,387
Brandon East NDP NDP 4,173 52.88% 989 12.53% PC 4,173 3,184 535 – – – 7,892
Brandon West NDP PC 5,537 53.11% 1,409 13.52% NDP 4,128 5,537 760 – – – 10,425
Burrows NDP NDP 3,547 53.04% 2,110 31.55% Ind 3,547 950 587 – 1,473[a 2] 131 6,688
Charleswood PC PC 6,524 56.43% 3,698 31.99% NDP 2,826 6,524 2,211 – – – 11,561
Churchill NDP NDP 2,940 73.50% 2,083 52.08% PC 2,940 857 203 – – – 4,000
Concordia NDP NDP 4,525 54.37% 1,841 22.12% PC 4,525 2,684 909 – – 204 8,322
Dauphin NDP NDP 4,886 52.27% 1,765 18.88% PC 4,886 3,121 1,341 – – – 9,348
Ellice NDP NDP 3,989 57.67% 2,258 32.64% PC 3,989 1,731 929 – – 268 6,917
Elmwood NDP NDP 3,241 45.84% 1,235 17.47% Ind 3,241 1,435 389 – 2,006[a 3] – 7,071
Emerson PC PC 4,758 51.75% 978 10.64% NDP 3,780 4,758 656 – – – 9,194
Flin Flon NDP NDP 3,316 69.49% 2,244 47.02% PC 3,316 1,072 384 – – – 4,772
Fort Garry PC PC 5,146 48.45% 1,988 18.72% NDP 3,158 5,146 2,114 – – 204 10,622
Fort Rouge NDP NDP 4,223 48.86% 1,633 18.89% PC 4,223 2,590 1,683 – 101 46 8,643
Gimli NDP NDP 4,906 50.83% 951 9.85% PC 4,906 3,955 649 – – 141 9,651
Gladstone PC PC 3,402 49.25% 1,648 23.86% CoR 872 3,402 879 1,754 – – 6,907
Inkster NDP NDP 5,480 64.09% 3,754 43.91% PC 5,480 1,726 938 – 101 305 8,550
Interlake NDP NDP 4,634 61.30% 2,453 32.45% PC 4,634 2,181 455 289 – – 7,559
Kildonan NDP NDP 6,199 51.65% 1,989 16.57% PC 6,199 4,210 1,134 – – 459 12,002
Kirkfield Park PC PC 5,497 57.14% 3,306 34.37% NDP 2,191 5,497 1,932 – – – 9,620
La Vérendrye PC PC 3,618 59.12% 1,850 30.23% NDP 1,768 3,618 734 – – – 6,120
Lac du Bonnet NDP NDP 3,903 46.12% 302 3.57% PC 3,903 3,601 959 – – – 8,463
Lakeside PC PC 4,303 49.38% 1,903 21.84% NDP 2,400 4,303 959 1,052 – – 8,714
Logan NDP NDP 3,765 73.08% 2,974 57.73% PC 3,765 791 502 – 94 – 5,152
Minnedosa PC PC 3,316 41.77% 947 11.93% NDP 2,369 3,316 745 1,508 – – 7,938
Morris PC PC 4,378 68.78% 3,238 50.87% NDP 1,140 4,378 847 – – – 6,365
Niakwa PC PC 6,437 47.44% 1,606 11.84% NDP 4,831 6,437 2,300 – – – 13,568
Osborne NDP NDP 4,747 55.38% 2,399 27.99% PC 4,747 2,348 1,259 – – 217 8,571
Pembina PC PC 5,270 65.19% 4,326 53.51% CoR 913 5,270 849 944 – 108 8,084
Portage la Prairie PC PC 3,693 51.35% 2,236 31.09% NDP 1,457 3,693 968 1,074 – – 7,192
Radisson NDP NDP 4,810 53.71% 2,144 23.94% PC 4,810 2,666 1,239 – – 240 8,955
Rhineland PC PC 3,037 51.34% 1,488 25.16% NDP 1,549 3,037 1,329 – – – 5,915
Riel NDP PC 4,479 47.10% 769 8.09% NDP 3,710 4,479 1,133 187 – – 9,509
River East NDP PC 6,598 48.88% 750 5.56% NDP 5,848 6,598 696 280 – 76 13,498
River Heights PC Liberal 4,620 44.98% 1,485 14.46% PC 2,516 3,135 4,620 – – – 10,271
Roblin-Russell PC PC 3,241 38.09% 38 0.45% NDP 3,203 3,241 2,065 – – – 8,509
Rossmere NDP NDP 4,613 47.04% 527 5.37% PC 4,613 4,086 1,108 – – – 9,807
Rupertsland NDP NDP 2,302 60.42% 1,371 35.98% PC 2,302 931 577 – – – 3,810
Selkirk NDP NDP 5,135 54.93% 2,016 21.56% PC 5,135 3,119 1,023 – – 72 9,349
Seven Oaks NDP NDP 5,158 64.71% 3,317 41.61% PC 5,158 1,841 907 – – 65 7,971
Springfield NDP PC 5,094 44.26% 55 0.48% NDP 5,039 5,094 1,376 – – – 11,509
St. Boniface NDP NDP 4,978 60.77% 3,027 36.95% Lib 4,978 1,114 1,951 – – 149 8,192
St. James NDP NDP 4,120 44.22% 155 1.66% PC 4,120 3,965 922 175 – 136 9,318
St. Johns NDP NDP 3,753 56.39% 1,804 27.10% PC 3,753 1,949 632 – 115 207 6,656
St. Norbert PC PC 5,788 50.72% 2,949 25.84% NDP 2,839 5,788 2,784 – – – 11,411
St. Vital NDP NDP 4,430 45.32% 558 5.71% PC 4,430 3,872 1,472 – – – 9,774
Ste. Rose NDP PC 3,735 45.77% 715 8.76% NDP 3,020 3,735 952 454 – – 8,161
Sturgeon Creek PC PC 4,994 55.17% 2,592 28.63% NDP 2,402 4,994 1,530 – 126 – 9,052
Swan River PC NDP 3,773 47.88% 65 0.82% PC 3,773 3,708 399 – – – 7,880
The Pas NDP NDP 4,051 68.34% 2,963 49.98% PC 4,051 1,088 789 – – – 5,928
Thompson NDP NDP 3,852 66.61% 2,354 40.71% PC 3,852 1,498 433 – – – 5,783
Transcona NDP NDP 4,631 59.39% 2,665 34.18% PC 4,631 1,966 1,200 – – – 7,797
Turtle Mountain PC PC 3,390 47.51% 2,037 28.55% NDP 1,353 3,390 1,242 1,150 – – 7,135
Tuxedo PC PC 5,268 49.09% 1,724 16.06% Lib 1,816 5,268 3,544 – – 104 10,732
Virden PC PC 4,251 52.99% 2,501 31.18% NDP 1,750 4,251 524 1,497 – – 8,022
Wolseley NDP NDP 4,099 51.42% 1,881 23.60% PC 4,099 2,218 1,132 115 60 347 7,971
  1. ^ All parties with more than 1% of the vote are shown individually. Independent candidates and other minor parties are aggregated separately.
  2. ^ William Chornopyski, long-time city councillor in Winnipeg and active NDP supporter, left the NDP and stood as an Independent, winning 1,437 votes and finishing in second place.
  3. ^ Russell Doern, NDP Cabinet minister under Edward Schreyer and Howard Pawley, left the NDP in 1984.
  = open seat
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = other incumbents renominated
  = Libertarian candidate - party not recognized by Elections Manitoba[5]
  = multiple candidates

Turnout, winning shares and swings

Summary of riding results by turnout, vote share for winning candidate, and swing (vs 1981)[3][4]
Riding and winning party Turnout Vote share[a 1] Swing[a 2]
% Change (pp) % Change (pp) To Change (pp)
 
Arthur PC Hold 67.11 1.84
 
 61.11 -14.42
 
 NDP -1.72
 
Assiniboia PC Hold 64.04 -7.29
 
 51.62 1.69
 
 PC 3.57
 
Brandon East NDP Hold 67.02 -3.42
 
 52.88 -8.28
 
 PC -8.06
 
Brandon West PC Gain 70.92 -7.84
 
 53.11 7.90
 
 PC -8.88
 
Burrows NDP Hold 61.59 -6.03
 
 53.04 -9.96
 
 PC -3.17
 
Charleswood PC Hold 69.52 -5.13
 
 56.43 -2.34
 
 PC 1.65
 
Churchill NDP Hold 61.05 -0.06
 
 73.50 8.95
 
 NDP 6.45
 
Concordia NDP Hold 66.22 -3.44
 
 54.37 -6.54
 
 PC -4.63
 
Dauphin NDP Hold 78.70 -5.51
 
 52.27 4.38
 
 NDP 6.19
 
Ellice NDP Hold 66.37 -3.89
 
 57.67 -2.76
 
 PC -1.67
 
Elmwood NDP Hold 64.33 -1.84
 
 45.84 -21.99
 
 PC -8.54
 
Emerson PC Hold 72.99 -1.64
 
 51.75 2.14
 
 PC 3.30
 
Flin Flon NDP Hold 56.38 -9.32
 
 69.49 6.90
 
 NDP 10.92
 
Fort Garry PC Hold 66.23 -6.68
 
 48.45 -7.27
 
 NDP -1.92
 
Fort Rouge NDP Hold 64.33 -7.50
 
 48.86 4.30
 
 NDP 1.75
 
Gimli NDP Hold 75.17 -2.57
 
 50.83 -1.48
 
 NDP 0.43
 
Gladstone PC Hold 62.62 -3.08
 
 49.25 -15.82
 
 NDP -2.15
 
Inkster NDP Hold 60.25 -9.52
 
 64.09 -5.79
 
 PC -4.31
 
Interlake NDP Hold 66.08 -1.81
 
 61.30 -3.00
 
 PC -0.68
 
Kildonan NDP Hold 63.47 -13.20
 
 51.65 -3.47
 
 PC -1.11
 
Kirkfield Park PC Hold 68.62 -7.39
 
 57.14 -7.33
 
 PC 2.71
 
La Vérendrye PC Hold 50.42 -7.84
 
 59.12 -11.33
 
 NDP -10.95
 
Lac du Bonnet NDP Hold 73.94 3.61
 
 46.12 -16.38
 
 PC -10.72
 
Lakeside PC Hold 71.05 -2.49
 
 49.38 -10.91
 
 NDP -3.54
 
Logan NDP Hold 56.00 -5.72
 
 73.08 1.08
 
 N/A[a 3]
Minnedosa PC Hold 69.35 2.03
 
 41.77 -13.27
 
 PC 0.92
 
Morris PC Hold 59.73 -5.09
 
 68.78 -2.76
 
 PC 3.89
 
Niakwa PC Hold 71.57 -4.38
 
 47.44 0.26
 
 PC 2.90
 
Osborne NDP Hold 69.15 -6.71
 
 55.38 -1.01
 
 NDP 0.11
 
Pembina PC Hold 63.89 -3.27
 
 65.19 -12.45
 
 NDP -6.61
 
Portage la Prairie PC Hold 65.03 -6.80
 
 51.35 3.93
 
 PC 7.64
 
Radisson NDP Hold 69.55 -6.62
 
 53.71 -13.78
 
 PC -7.60
 
Rhineland PC Hold 50.50 -0.33
 
 51.34 -21.56
 
 NDP -13.41
 
Riel PC Gain 74.24 -4.36
 
 47.10 4.48
 
 PC -5.30
 
River East PC Gain 73.45 -3.92
 
 48.88 0.84
 
 PC -2.97
 
River Heights Lib Gain 80.66 -3.11
 
 44.98 21.57
 
 NDP -4.81
 
Roblin-Russell PC Hold 78.60 3.35
 
 38.09 -17.01
 
 NDP -4.88
 
Rossmere NDP Hold 77.91 -4.23
 
 47.04 -7.45
 
 PC -4.31
 
Rupertsland NDP Hold 41.96 -11.72
 
 60.42 -9.06
 
 Lib -0.60
 
Selkirk NDP Hold 74.93 -0.10
 
 54.93 -9.17
 
 PC -4.06
 
Seven Oaks NDP Hold 63.36 -8.74
 
 64.71 -2.19
 
 PC -0.75
 
Springfield PC Gain 73.33 -3.03
 
 44.26 -1.44
 
 PC -2.46
 
St. Boniface NDP Hold 69.73 -6.93
 
 60.77 -2.61
 
 Lib -2.78
 
St. James NDP Hold 72.49 -4.98
 
 44.22 -8.73
 
 PC -3.00
 
St. Johns NDP Hold 62.42 -4.76
 
 56.39 -0.60
 
 PC -2.24
 
St. Norbert PC Hold 68.88 -5.01
 
 50.72 -3.18
 
 PC 3.97
 
St. Vital NDP Hold 73.81 -6.80
 
 45.32 -7.48
 
 PC -3.23
 
Ste. Rose PC Gain 72.65 -0.48
 
 45.77 -1.74
 
 PC -5.67
 
Sturgeon Creek PC Hold 67.45 -5.62
 
 55.17 -3.02
 
 PC 2.29
 
Swan River NDP Gain 80.18 2.70
 
 47.88 0.55
 
 NDP -2.17
 
The Pas NDP Hold 68.18 -5.71
 
 68.34 -1.70
 
 NDP 0.74
 
Thompson NDP Hold 71.50 -9.14
 
 66.61 17.17
 
 NDP 19.74
 
Transcona NDP Hold 65.56 -6.43
 
 59.39 -12.17
 
 PC -5.19
 
Turtle Mountain PC Hold 69.23 6.27
 
 47.51 -24.85
 
 NDP -9.33
 
Tuxedo PC Hold 71.84 -2.29
 
 49.09 -15.50
 
 NDP -4.54
 
Virden PC Hold 67.85 -1.12
 
 52.99 -10.90
 
 PC 1.70
 
Wolseley NDP Hold 65.95 -12.01
 
 51.42 3.07
 
 NDP 3.69
 
  1. ^ Share won by winning candidate, with difference noted from share achieved by the same party in 1981.
  2. ^ Positive indicates improvement to standing of party winning in 1981; negative points to 1981's second-place party being swung to.
  3. ^ Stephen Juba, previously an MLA before moving to municipal politics and becoming Mayor of Winnipeg, had campaigned as an Independent in 1981, finishing second. He decided not to campaign again in 1986.

Changes in party shares

Share change analysis by party and riding (1986 vs 1981)[3][4]
Riding Liberal NDP PC
% Change (pp) % Change (pp) % Change (pp)
 
Arthur 9.38 9.38
 
 13.49 -10.98
 
 61.11 -14.42
 
Assiniboia 18.67 8.48
 
 29.71 -5.46
 
 51.62 1.69
 
Brandon East 6.78 0.44
 
 52.88 -8.28
 
 40.34 7.84
 
Brandon West 7.29 1.95
 
 39.60 -9.86
 
 53.11 7.90
 
Burrows 8.78 0.83
 
 53.04 -9.96
 
 14.20 -3.62
 
Charleswood 19.12 10.13
 
 24.44 -5.65
 
 56.43 -2.34
 
Churchill 5.08 -2.57
 
 73.50 8.95
 
 21.43 -3.94
 
Concordia 10.92 7.39
 
 54.37 -6.54
 
 32.25 2.71
 
Dauphin 14.35 3.61
 
 52.27 4.38
 
 33.39 -7.99
 
Ellice 13.43 2.27
 
 57.67 -2.76
 
 25.03 0.59
 
Elmwood 5.50 0.92
 
 45.84 -21.99
 
 20.29 -4.91
 
Emerson 7.14 3.64
 
 41.11 -4.46
 
 51.75 2.14
 
Flin Flon 8.05 8.05
 
 69.49 6.90
 
 22.46 -14.95
 
Fort Garry 19.90 10.58
 
 29.73 -3.42
 
 48.45 -7.27
 
Fort Rouge 19.47 -5.31
 
 48.86 4.30
 
 29.97 0.79
 
Gimli 6.72 3.73
 
 50.83 -1.48
 
 40.98 -2.34
 
Gladstone 12.73 1.94
 
 12.62 -11.52
 
 49.25 -15.82
 
Inkster 10.97 6.92
 
 64.09 -5.79
 
 20.19 2.83
 
Interlake 6.02 0.82
 
 61.30 -3.00
 
 28.85 -1.64
 
Kildonan 9.45 3.32
 
 51.65 -3.47
 
 35.08 -1.25
 
Kirkfield Park 20.08 20.08
 
 22.78 -12.76
 
 57.14 -7.33
 
La Vérendrye 11.99 11.99
 
 28.89 10.57
 
 59.12 -11.33
 
Lac du Bonnet 11.33 11.33
 
 46.12 -16.38
 
 42.55 5.05
 
Lakeside 11.01 3.94
 
 27.54 -3.83
 
 49.38 -10.91
 
Logan 9.74 9.74
 
 73.08 1.08
 
 15.35 2.73
 
Minnedosa 9.39 9.39
 
 29.84 -15.11
 
 41.77 -13.27
 
Morris 13.31 13.31
 
 17.91 -10.54
 
 68.78 -2.76
 
Niakwa 16.95 5.27
 
 35.61 -5.53
 
 47.44 0.26
 
Osborne 14.69 1.44
 
 55.38 -1.01
 
 27.39 -1.23
 
Pembina 10.50 2.01
 
 11.29 0.77
 
 65.19 -12.45
 
Portage la Prairie 13.46 -7.51
 
 20.26 -11.35
 
 51.35 3.93
 
Radisson 13.84 13.84
 
 53.71 -13.78
 
 29.77 1.42
 
Rhineland 22.47 22.47
 
 26.19 5.27
 
 51.34 -21.56
 
Riel 11.92 0.67
 
 39.02 -6.11
 
 47.10 4.48
 
River East 5.16 3.05
 
 43.32 -5.09
 
 48.88 0.84
 
River Heights 44.98 21.57
 
 24.50 -5.32
 
 30.52 -14.94
 
Roblin-Russell 24.27 24.27
 
 37.64 -7.25
 
 38.09 -17.01
 
Rossmere 11.30 7.63
 
 47.04 -7.45
 
 41.66 1.16
 
Rupertsland 15.14 -7.86
 
 60.42 -9.06
 
 24.44 18.20
 
Selkirk 10.94 10.94
 
 54.93 -9.17
 
 33.36 -1.05
 
Seven Oaks 11.38 6.07
 
 64.71 -2.19
 
 23.10 -0.69
 
Springfield 11.96 8.86
 
 43.78 -6.36
 
 44.26 -1.44
 
St. Boniface 23.82 2.94
 
 60.77 -2.61
 
 13.60 -1.00
 
St. James 9.89 9.89
 
 44.22 -8.73
 
 42.55 -2.73
 
St. Johns 9.50 -0.10
 
 56.39 -0.60
 
 29.28 3.88
 
St. Norbert 24.40 16.33
 
 24.88 -11.12
 
 50.72 -3.18
 
St. Vital 15.06 8.50
 
 45.32 -7.48
 
 39.62 -1.02
 
Ste. Rose 11.67 11.67
 
 37.01 -13.08
 
 45.77 -1.74
 
Sturgeon Creek 16.90 9.22
 
 26.54 -7.60
 
 55.17 -3.02
 
Swan River 5.06 5.06
 
 47.88 0.55
 
 47.06 -3.80
 
The Pas 13.31 4.89
 
 68.34 -1.70
 
 18.35 -3.19
 
Thompson 7.49 5.13
 
 66.61 17.17
 
 25.90 -22.30
 
Transcona 15.39 15.39
 
 59.39 -12.17
 
 25.21 -1.79
 
Turtle Mountain 17.41 17.41
 
 18.96 -6.19
 
 47.51 -24.85
 
Tuxedo 33.02 20.96
 
 16.92 -6.43
 
 49.09 -15.50
 
Virden 6.53 6.53
 
 21.82 -14.29
 
 52.99 -10.90
 
Wolseley 14.20 -2.83
 
 51.42 3.07
 
 27.83 -4.31
 
  = did not field a candidate in 1981

Post-election changes

Early in 1988, Laurent Desjardins (St. Boniface) announced his retirement from the legislature. Soon after this, NDP backbencher Jim Walding (St. Vital) voted against his party's budget, causing the government to fall.

See also

References

  1. ^ Tenszen, Michael (February 19, 1986). "Liberals in Manitoba buoyed by prediction of a party comeback". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
  2. ^ Tenszen, Michael (July 6, 1985). "Manitoba voter polls spark speculation". The Globe and Mail. p. A4.
  3. ^ a b c "Thirty-Second General Election held November 17, 1981 - Summary of Results" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Thirty-Third General Election held March 18, 1986 - Summary of Results" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba Provincial Election (1986)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved September 23, 2025.

Further reading

Preceded by
1981 Manitoba election 		List of Manitoba elections Succeeded by
1988 Manitoba election
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