Parliament of Canada
PARLIAMENT of CANADA
Site Map | A to Z Index | Contact Us | Français
Home Parliamentary Business Senators and Members About Parliament Visitor Information Employment

PARLINFO

Federal government Section
Prime Ministers of Canada Political Information - Governmental Majorities and Minorities by Prime Minister

The following compilation shows government majorities and minorities by Prime Minister. In most cases, these follow a general election.

The only Prime Minister to not appear in this list is Sir Charles Tupper, who assumed leadership upon the resignation of Sir Mackenzie Bowell in 1896, after dissolution of Parliament; Sir Tupper is the only Prime Minister to serve the entirety of his term during a period of dissolution, and therefore is not associated with party standings in an active Parliament.
 
PhotoPrime MinisterMinistryPolitical AffiliationElection Date (yyyy.mm.dd)Seats Won
Picture of The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
P.C., B.A., M.A. 		28th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 2006.02.06 - 		Conservative Party of Canada 2011.05.02
Government:
166
Opposition:
142
Majority:
24
Conservative Party of Canada 2008.10.14
Government:
143
Opposition:
165
Minority:
22
Conservative Party of Canada 2006.01.23
Government:
124
Opposition:
184
Minority:
60
Picture of The Right Honourable Paul Edgar Philippe Martin
The Right Honourable Paul Edgar Philippe Martin
P.C., C.C., Hon. B.A., LL.B. 		27th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 2003.12.12 - 2006.02.05 		Liberal Party of Canada 2004.06.28
Government:
135
Opposition:
173
Minority:
38
Liberal Party of Canada 2000.11.27
Government:
172
Opposition:
129
Majority:
43
Picture of The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien
The Right Honourable Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien
P.C., C.C., O.M., Q.C., B.A., LL.L., LL.D 		26th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1993.11.04 - 2003.12.11 		Liberal Party of Canada 2000.11.27
Government:
172
Opposition:
129
Majority:
43
Liberal Party of Canada 1997.06.02
Government:
155
Opposition:
146
Majority:
9
Liberal Party of Canada 1993.10.25
Government:
177
Opposition:
118
Majority:
59
Picture of The Right Honourable A. Kim Campbell
The Right Honourable A. Kim Campbell
P.C., C.C., Q.C., B.A., LL.B., LL.D. 		25th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1993.06.25 - 1993.11.03 		Progressive Conservative Party 1988.11.21
Government:
169
Opposition:
126
Majority:
43
Picture of The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney
The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney
P.C., C.C., G.O.Q., B.A., LL.L. 		24th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1984.09.17 - 1993.06.24 		Progressive Conservative Party 1988.11.21
Government:
169
Opposition:
126
Majority:
43
Progressive Conservative Party 1984.09.04
Government:
211
Opposition:
71
Majority:
140
Picture of The Right Honourable John Napier Turner
The Right Honourable John Napier Turner
P.C., C.C., Q.C., M.A., LL.D. 		23rd
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1984.06.30 - 1984.09.16 		Liberal Party of Canada 1980.02.18
Government:
147
Opposition:
135
Majority:
12
Picture of The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
P.C., C.C., C.H., Q.C., M.A., LL.L., LL.D., F.R.S.C. 		22nd
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1980.03.03 - 1984.06.30 		Liberal Party of Canada 1980.02.18
Government:
147
Opposition:
135
Majority:
12
Picture of The Right Honourable Charles Joseph Clark
The Right Honourable Charles Joseph Clark
P.C., C.C., A.O.E., B.A., M.A., LL.D. 		21st
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1979.06.04 - 1980.03.02 		Progressive Conservative Party 1979.05.22
Government:
136
Opposition:
146
Minority:
10
Picture of The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
The Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
P.C., C.C., C.H., Q.C., M.A., LL.L., LL.D., F.R.S.C. 		20th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1968.04.20 - 1979.06.03 		Liberal Party of Canada 1974.07.08
Government:
141
Opposition:
123
Majority:
18
Liberal Party of Canada 1972.10.30
Government:
109
Opposition:
155
Minority:
46
Liberal Party of Canada 1968.06.25
Government:
155
Opposition:
109
Majority:
46
Liberal Party of Canada 1965.11.08
Government:
131
Opposition:
134
Minority:
3
Picture of The Right Honourable Lester Bowles Pearson
The Right Honourable Lester Bowles Pearson
P.C., C.C., O.M., O.B.E., B.A., M.A., LL.D. 		19th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1963.04.22 - 1968.04.19 		Liberal Party of Canada 1965.11.08
Government:
131
Opposition:
134
Minority:
3
Liberal Party of Canada 1963.04.08
Government:
129
Opposition:
136
Minority:
7
Picture of The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker
The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker
C.H., P.C., Q.C., B.A., M.A., LL.B., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S.C., F.R.S.A., D.Litt., D.S.L. 		18th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1957.06.21 - 1963.04.21 		Progressive Conservative Party 1962.06.18
Government:
116
Opposition:
149
Minority:
33
Progressive Conservative Party 1958.03.31
Government:
208
Opposition:
57
Majority:
151
Progressive Conservative Party 1957.06.10
Government:
112
Opposition:
153
Minority:
41
Picture of The Right Honourable Louis Stephen St-Laurent
The Right Honourable Louis Stephen St-Laurent
P.C., C.C., Q.C., B.A., LL.L., LL.D., D.C.L. 		17th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1948.11.15 - 1957.06.20 		Liberal Party of Canada 1953.08.10
Government:
171
Opposition:
94
Majority:
77
Liberal Party of Canada 1949.06.27
Government:
190
Opposition:
72
Majority:
118
Liberal Party of Canada 1945.06.11
Government:
125
Opposition:
120
Majority:
5
Picture of The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
P.C., O.M., C.M.G., B.A., M.A., A.M., LL.B., Ph.D. 		16th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1935.10.23 - 1948.11.14 		Liberal Party of Canada 1945.06.11
Government:
125
Opposition:
120
Majority:
5
Liberal Party of Canada 1940.03.26
Government:
181
Opposition:
64
Majority:
117
Liberal Party of Canada 1935.10.14
Government:
173
Opposition:
72
Majority:
101
Picture of The Right Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett
The Right Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett
P.C., K.C., K.G.St.J., LL.B. 		15th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1930.08.07 - 1935.10.22 		Conservative (1867-1942) 1930.07.28
Government:
137
Opposition:
108
Majority:
29
Picture of The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
P.C., O.M., C.M.G., B.A., M.A., A.M., LL.B., Ph.D. 		14th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1926.09.25 - 1930.08.06 		Liberal Party of Canada 1926.09.14
Government:
125
Opposition:
120
Majority:
5
Picture of The Right Honourable Arthur Meighen
The Right Honourable Arthur Meighen
P.C., Q.C., B.A., LL.D. 		13th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1926.06.29 - 1926.09.24 		Conservative (1867-1942) 1925.10.29
Government:
99
Opposition:
146
Minority:
47
Picture of The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King
P.C., O.M., C.M.G., B.A., M.A., A.M., LL.B., Ph.D. 		12th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1921.12.29 - 1926.06.28 		Liberal Party of Canada 1925.10.29
Government:
99
Opposition:
146
Minority:
47
Liberal Party of Canada 1921.12.06
Government:
116
Opposition:
119
Minority:
3
Picture of The Right Honourable Arthur Meighen
The Right Honourable Arthur Meighen
P.C., Q.C., B.A., LL.D. 		11th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1920.07.10 - 1921.12.28 		Unionist (Conservative and Liberal) 1917.12.17
Government:
153
Opposition:
82
Majority:
71
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir Robert Laird Borden
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Laird Borden
P.C., G.C.M.G., K.C., D.C.L., LL.D. 		10th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1917.10.12 - 1920.07.09 		Unionist (Conservative and Liberal) 1917.12.17
Government:
153
Opposition:
82
Majority:
71
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir Robert Laird Borden
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Laird Borden
P.C., G.C.M.G., K.C., D.C.L., LL.D. 		9th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1911.10.10 - 1917.10.11 		Conservative (1867-1942) 1911.09.21
Government:
133
Opposition:
88
Majority:
45
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier
The Right Honourable Sir Wilfrid Laurier
P.C., G.C.M.G., K.C., B.C.L., D.C.L., LL.D., Litt.D. 		8th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1896.07.11 - 1911.10.06 		Liberal Party of Canada 1908.10.26
Government:
133
Opposition:
88
Majority:
45
Liberal Party of Canada 1904.11.03
Government:
139
Opposition:
75
Majority:
64
Liberal Party of Canada 1900.11.07
Government:
132
Opposition:
81
Majority:
51
Liberal Party of Canada 1896.06.23
Government:
118
Opposition:
95
Majority:
23
Picture of The Honourable Sir Mackenzie Bowell
The Honourable Sir Mackenzie Bowell
P.C., K.C.M.G. 		6th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1894.12.21 - 1896.04.27 		Conservative (1867-1942) 1891.03.05
Government:
123
Opposition:
92
Majority:
31
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir John Sparrow David Thompson
The Right Honourable Sir John Sparrow David Thompson
P.C., K.C.M.G., Q.C. 		5th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1892.12.05 - 1894.12.12 		Liberal-Conservative 1891.03.05
Government:
123
Opposition:
92
Majority:
31
Picture of The Honourable Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott
The Honourable Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott
P.C., Q.C., K.C.M.G., B.C.L., D.C.L. 		4th
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1891.06.16 - 1892.11.24 		Liberal-Conservative 1891.03.05
Government:
123
Opposition:
92
Majority:
31
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald
The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald
P.C., G.C.B., Q.C., D.C.L., LL.D. 		3rd
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1878.10.17 - 1891.06.06 		Liberal-Conservative 1891.03.05
Government:
123
Opposition:
92
Majority:
31
Liberal-Conservative 1887.02.22
Government:
123
Opposition:
92
Majority:
31
Liberal-Conservative 1882.06.20
Government:
139
Opposition:
72
Majority:
67
Liberal-Conservative 1878.09.17
Government:
137
Opposition:
69
Majority:
68
Picture of The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie
The Honourable Alexander Mackenzie
P.C. 		2nd
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1873.11.07 - 1878.10.08 		Liberal Party of Canada 1874.01.22
Government:
133
Opposition:
73
Majority:
60
Liberal Party of Canada 1872.10.12
Government:
103
Opposition:
98
Majority:
5
Picture of The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald
The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald
P.C., G.C.B., Q.C., D.C.L., LL.D. 		1st
Term (yyyy.mm.dd): 1867.07.01 - 1873.11.05 		Liberal-Conservative 1872.10.12
Government:
103
Opposition:
98
Majority:
5
Liberal-Conservative 1867.09.20
Government:
101
Opposition:
79
Majority:
22
^

Updated on: 2012.06.22

Revised on: 2012.06.22

© Library of Parliament
Home | Important Notices