1956 Quebec general election
1956 Quebec general election
The 1956 Quebec general election was held on June 20, 1956, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec , Canada. The incumbent Union Nationale , led by Maurice Duplessis , won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party , led by Georges-Émile Lapalme .[1]
This was the fifth and final time (and the fourth in a row) that Duplessis led his party to a general election victory. No party has since been able to win more than three elections in a row. Duplessis died in office in 1959.[citation needed ]
It was Lapalme's second (and final) loss in a row as Liberal leader. The Liberals did not manage to improve on their performance in the previous 1952 election .[citation needed ]
Expansion of the Legislative Assembly
An Act passed in 1954 provided for the creation of the new electoral district of Jonquière-Kénogami for the next election, which was carved out from Chicoutimi and Lac-Saint-Jean .[2]
Campaign
The Liberals and the Union des électeurs pooled their resources to conduct a joint campaign against the UN in at least 50 ridings.[4] They collaborated to such a degree that in February 1956 the Liberal MPP René Hamel had proposed a motion espousing social credit theory in the Assembly, and a joint rally was held in May 1956 in Shawinigan to mark that event.[5] While the strategy was viewed within the parties as a means to maximize their strength in opposing the UN, the electorate tended to view it as being confusing, while the Montreal Gazette called it "an irresponsible alliance".[6] There were also Liberals in the old guard that wanted the UN to win.
The Liberals supported four UdE and two Nationalist candidates,[8] respectively running as Liberals and Independents, of which none won:[9]
One observer noted, "The Union Nationale’s strongly entrenched position could not be seriously challenged unless a united front was formed of all opposing groups." The UN chose to campaign on Quebec's right to fiscal autonomy, the party's accomplishments and the future of Ungava , while the Liberals' chances were restrained by their alliance with the UdE (while shutting out the Parti social démocratique ), the choice of Chaloult and Laporte not to identify themselves as Liberal candidates, and the party's tendency to side with Ottawa's centralizing policies. The UN correctly assumed that Quebec voters, when given a choice, would prefer a nationalist policy over a social one.
Riding contests, by number of candidates (1956)[13]
Candidates
UN
Lib
PSD
Lab-Pr
Ind
I-Lib
I-UN
Lab
UN-Lab
CF
Total
2
50
49
1
100
3
20
20
7
10
1
1
1
60
4
13
12
10
12
1
2
1
1
52
5
5
5
4
5
1
1
3
1
25
6
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
12
7
1
1
1
1
3
7
8
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
16
Total
93
91
26
32
7
8
10
3
1
1
272
Results
Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1956)[13]
Political party
Party leader
MPPs
Votes
Candidates
1952
1956
±
#
±
%
± (pp)
Union Nationale
Maurice Duplessis
93
68
72
4
956,082
108,099
51.80%
1.30
Liberal
Georges-Émile Lapalme
92
23
20
3
828,264
59,725
44.87%
0.90
Social Democratic
Thérèse Casgrain
26
–
–
–
11,232
4,807
0.61%
0.35
Labor–Progressive
Gui Caron
32
–
–
–
6,517
2,585
0.35%
0.12
Other candidates
█ Independent
7
1
1
33,205
19,359
1.80%
0.98
█ Independent-Liberal
7
–
–
–
4,438
528
0.24%
0.06
█ Independent-Unionist
10
–
–
–
4,108
9,089
0.22%
0.57
█ Labour
3
–
–
–
1,274
247
0.07%
0.01
█ Union Nationale-Labour
1
–
–
–
516
New
0.03%
New
█ Capital familial
1
–
–
–
93
New
0.01%
New
Total
272
92
93
1,845,729
100%
Rejected ballots
28,781
3,133
Voter turnout
1,874,510
169,599
78.32
2.44
Registered electors
2,393,360
146,362
Popular vote
UN
51.80%
PLQ
44.87%
Others
3.33%
Seats summary
UN
77.42%
PLQ
21.51%
Others
1.08%
Synopsis of results
Results by riding - 1956 Quebec general election[13] [14]
Riding
Winning party
Turnout[a 1]
Votes
Name
1952
Party
Votes
Share
Margin #
Margin %
UN
Lib
PSD
Lab-Pr
Ind
I-Lib
I-UN
Lab
Other
Total
Abitibi-Est
UN
UN
13,967
53.94%
2,200
8.50%
81.31%
13,967
11,767
–
–
–
–
–
160
–
25,894
Abitibi-Ouest
UN
Lib
6,207
50.66%
161
1.31%
89.27%
6,046
6,207
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,253
Argenteuil
UN
UN
7,153
55.54%
1,427
11.08%
86.07%
7,153
5,726
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,879
Arthabaska
UN
UN
10,189
54.74%
1,765
9.48%
92.72%
10,189
8,424
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
18,613
Bagot
UN
UN
5,696
61.46%
2,124
22.92%
90.76%
5,696
3,572
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,268
Beauce
UN
UN
13,432
56.66%
3,158
13.32%
88.52%
13,432
10,274
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
23,706
Beauharnois
UN
UN
11,928
58.31%
3,450
16.87%
87.96%
11,928
8,478
–
50
–
–
–
–
–
20,456
Bellechasse
UN
UN
6,243
57.89%
1,702
15.78%
82.86%
6,243
4,541
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
10,784
Berthier
UN
UN
7,123
56.17%
1,565
12.34%
90.30%
7,123
5,558
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,681
Bonaventure
UN
Lib
8,551
52.68%
869
5.35%
84.06%
7,682
8,551
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
16,233
Brome
UN
Lib
3,274
51.66%
245
3.87%
83.36%
3,029
3,274
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,338
Chambly
UN
Lib
20,031
49.43%
767
1.89%
76.45%
19,264
20,031
877
150
–
205
–
–
–
40,527
Champlain
UN
UN
12,579
58.93%
3,814
17.87%
90.32%
12,579
8,765
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
21,344
Charlevoix
UN
UN
7,729
60.37%
2,655
20.74%
87.17%
7,729
5,074
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,803
Châteauguay
UN
UN
5,936
57.10%
1,477
14.21%
85.59%
5,936
4,459
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
10,395
Chicoutimi
UN
UN
19,103
67.22%
9,788
34.44%
87.25%
19,103
9,315
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
28,418
Compton
UN
Lib
5,542
51.41%
401
3.72%
85.72%
5,141
5,542
98
–
–
–
–
–
–
10,781
Deux-Montagnes
UN
UN
8,133
72.31%
5,162
45.90%
83.43%
8,133
2,971
143
–
–
–
–
–
–
11,247
Dorchester
UN
UN
9,569
60.74%
3,385
21.49%
85.40%
9,569
6,184
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15,753
Drummond
Lib
UN
13,211
53.83%
1,928
7.86%
91.52%
13,211
11,283
–
47
–
–
–
–
–
24,541
Frontenac
Lib
UN
6,451
52.12%
524
4.23%
89.65%
6,451
5,927
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,378
Gaspé-Nord
UN
UN
4,574
50.40%
135
1.49%
84.26%
4,574
4,439
–
–
62
–
–
–
–
9,075
Gaspé-Sud
UN
UN
8,016
56.03%
1,726
12.06%
85.67%
8,016
6,290
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
14,306
Gatineau
UN
UN
8,206
55.96%
1,748
11.92%
76.32%
8,206
6,458
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
14,664
Hull
UN
Lib
10,564
45.70%
143
0.62%
83.05%
10,421
10,564
157
79
–
–
1,895
–
–
23,116
Huntingdon
UN
UN
3,273
52.33%
291
4.65%
84.69%
3,273
2,982
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,255
Iberville
UN
UN
3,903
57.22%
985
14.44%
88.13%
3,903
2,918
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,821
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
UN
UN
2,591
56.72%
614
13.44%
89.09%
2,591
1,977
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
4,568
Jacques-Cartier
Lib
Lib
31,385
55.39%
9,094
16.05%
70.68%
22,291
31,385
2,322
668
–
–
–
–
–
56,666
Joliette
UN
UN
11,500
64.88%
5,275
29.76%
86.06%
11,500
6,225
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
17,725
Jonquière-Kénogami
New
UN
11,946
50.68%
320
1.36%
88.00%
11,946
–
–
–
11,626
–
–
–
–
23,572
Kamouraska
UN
UN
6,489
58.30%
1,847
16.59%
81.48%
6,489
4,642
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
11,131
L'Assomption
UN
UN
7,260
55.53%
1,445
11.05%
87.97%
7,260
5,815
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
13,075
L'Islet
UN
UN
5,322
53.25%
649
6.49%
86.54%
5,322
4,673
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,995
Labelle
UN
UN
6,717
62.07%
2,658
24.56%
87.41%
6,717
4,059
–
46
–
–
–
–
–
10,822
Lac-Saint-Jean
UN
UN
8,544
54.49%
1,408
8.98%
92.66%
8,544
7,136
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15,680
Laval
UN
UN
50,417
53.91%
9,203
9.84%
70.51%
50,417
41,214
1,129
763
–
–
–
–
–
93,523
Laviolette
UN
UN
11,848
59.46%
3,769
18.91%
82.94%
11,848
8,079
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
19,927
Lévis
Lib
UN
12,220
54.30%
2,114
9.39%
90.04%
12,220
10,106
–
18
–
–
161
–
–
22,505
Lotbinière
UN
UN
7,052
57.23%
1,781
14.45%
89.41%
7,052
5,271
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,323
Maisonneuve
Lib
UN
20,668
50.93%
2,469
6.08%
68.96%
20,668
18,199
227
176
249
119
941
–
–
40,579
Maskinongé
UN
UN
5,588
57.26%
1,417
14.52%
93.04%
5,588
4,171
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,759
Matane
UN
UN
10,109
57.93%
2,769
15.87%
84.28%
10,109
7,340
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
17,449
Matapédia
UN
UN
7,205
54.66%
1,229
9.32%
86.00%
7,205
5,976
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
13,181
Mégantic
UN
UN
12,123
52.50%
1,155
5.00%
92.22%
12,123
10,968
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
23,091
Missisquoi
UN
UN
7,001
56.72%
1,658
13.43%
86.03%
7,001
5,343
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
12,344
Montcalm
UN
UN
4,585
56.67%
1,079
13.34%
89.26%
4,585
3,506
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8,091
Montmagny
UN
UN
6,403
55.92%
1,355
11.83%
87.37%
6,403
5,048
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
11,451
Montmorency
UN
UN
6,628
59.53%
2,165
19.44%
90.72%
6,628
4,463
–
43
–
–
–
–
–
11,134
Montréal–Jeanne-Mance
Lib
UN
29,076
49.76%
3,439
5.88%
66.38%
29,076
25,637
334
239
238
1,798
91
1,025
–
58,438
Montréal-Laurier
UN
UN
17,154
60.26%
7,491
26.31%
70.86%
17,154
–
–
–
9,663
1,652
–
–
–
28,469
Montréal-Mercier
UN
UN
18,165
60.03%
6,705
22.16%
65.79%
18,165
11,460
162
383
–
–
–
89
–
30,259
Montréal–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Lib
Lib
28,175
77.44%
21,106
58.01%
55.29%
7,069
28,175
629
510
–
–
–
–
–
36,383
Montréal-Outremont
Lib
Lib
24,348
67.83%
14,331
39.93%
55.80%
10,017
24,348
726
802
–
–
–
–
–
35,893
Montréal–Saint-Henri
Lib
Lib
17,344
51.30%
1,960
5.80%
70.57%
15,384
17,344
234
156
–
–
172
–
516
33,806
Montréal–Saint-Jacques
UN
UN
11,206
62.36%
4,922
27.39%
63.90%
11,206
6,284
279
200
–
–
–
–
–
17,969
Montréal–Saint-Louis
Lib
Lib
12,276
49.47%
2,461
9.92%
52.88%
9,815
12,276
425
649
–
1,650
–
–
–
24,815
Montréal–Sainte-Anne
Ind
Ind
10,520
66.01%
6,432
40.36%
60.75%
587
4,088
145
167
10,520
–
429
–
–
15,936
Montréal–Sainte-Marie
Lib
UN
15,051
54.80%
3,853
14.03%
67.93%
15,051
11,198
195
172
847
–
–
–
–
27,463
Montréal-Verdun
Lib
Lib
20,175
70.12%
13,361
46.43%
64.50%
6,814
20,175
1,785
–
–
–
–
–
–
28,774
Napierville-Laprairie
UN
UN
7,861
53.81%
1,166
7.98%
89.28%
7,861
6,695
–
52
–
–
–
–
–
14,608
Nicolet
UN
UN
8,498
59.33%
2,673
18.66%
86.53%
8,498
5,825
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
14,323
Papineau
UN
UN
11,164
56.21%
2,467
12.42%
87.78%
11,164
8,697
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
19,861
Pontiac
UN
UN
6,201
71.83%
3,769
43.66%
79.30%
6,201
2,432
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8,633
Portneuf
UN
UN
12,810
60.72%
4,523
21.44%
87.52%
12,810
8,287
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
21,097
Québec-Centre
UN
UN
10,983
60.18%
3,715
20.36%
81.48%
10,983
7,268
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
18,251
Québec-Comté
Lib
UN
21,272
56.22%
5,047
13.34%
85.59%
21,272
16,225
–
63
–
–
280
–
–
37,840
Québec-Est
Lib
UN
20,173
55.47%
4,090
11.25%
85.85%
20,173
16,083
–
112
–
–
–
–
–
36,368
Québec-Ouest
Lib
Lib
10,073
50.40%
158
0.79%
82.76%
9,915
10,073
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
19,988
Richelieu
Lib
UN
9,552
54.28%
1,590
9.03%
89.78%
9,552
7,962
66
19
–
–
–
–
–
17,599
Richmond
Lib
Lib
9,470
51.49%
742
4.03%
90.47%
8,728
9,470
–
194
–
–
–
–
–
18,392
Rimouski
UN
Lib
9,911
51.05%
408
2.10%
85.03%
9,503
9,911
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
19,414
Rivière-du-Loup
UN
Lib
8,623
51.24%
556
3.30%
87.88%
8,067
8,623
–
–
–
–
139
–
–
16,829
Roberval
UN
UN
10,903
52.50%
1,038
5.00%
88.94%
10,903
9,865
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
20,768
Rouville
UN
UN
5,277
52.84%
567
5.68%
87.54%
5,277
4,710
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,987
Rouyn-Noranda
UN
Lib
7,561
51.16%
1,007
6.81%
84.35%
6,554
7,561
665
–
–
–
–
–
–
14,780
Saguenay
UN
UN
10,899
58.60%
3,198
17.19%
75.91%
10,899
7,701
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
18,600
Saint-Hyacinthe
UN
Lib
9,965
51.67%
669
3.47%
83.85%
9,296
9,965
–
24
–
–
–
–
–
19,285
Saint-Jean
UN
UN
8,279
56.17%
1,901
12.90%
85.62%
8,279
6,378
55
27
–
–
–
–
–
14,739
Saint-Maurice
Lib
Lib
13,851
51.37%
741
2.75%
90.44%
13,110
13,851
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
26,961
Saint-Sauveur
UN
UN
16,117
68.77%
8,862
37.81%
87.43%
16,117
7,255
–
64
–
–
–
–
–
23,436
Shefford
Lib
UN
11,534
53.59%
1,627
7.56%
85.31%
11,534
9,907
–
82
–
–
–
–
–
21,523
Sherbrooke
UN
UN
16,588
55.30%
3,438
11.46%
78.62%
16,588
13,150
73
185
–
–
–
–
–
29,996
Stanstead
UN
UN
7,815
50.26%
81
0.52%
82.63%
7,815
7,734
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15,549
Témiscamingue
Lib
UN
4,078
50.83%
133
1.66%
86.26%
4,078
3,945
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8,023
Témiscouata
UN
UN
6,299
59.35%
1,985
18.70%
85.36%
6,299
4,314
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
10,613
Terrebonne
UN
UN
20,984
57.57%
5,704
15.65%
85.34%
20,984
15,280
107
77
–
–
–
–
–
36,448
Trois-Rivières
UN
UN
16,263
61.73%
6,327
24.02%
88.23%
16,263
9,936
–
52
–
–
–
–
93
26,344
Vaudreuil-Soulanges
UN
UN
7,681
51.00%
370
2.46%
85.94%
7,681
7,311
70
–
–
–
–
–
–
15,062
Verchères
Lib
UN
5,104
53.06%
627
6.52%
89.67%
5,104
4,477
39
–
–
–
–
–
–
9,620
Westmount–Saint-Georges
Lib
Lib
13,808
80.05%
10,870
63.02%
51.26%
2,938
13,808
255
248
–
–
–
–
–
17,249
Wolfe
Lib
UN
4,058
50.31%
50
0.62%
93.33%
4,058
4,008
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
8,066
Yamaska
UN
UN
4,736
66.22%
2,320
32.44%
85.90%
4,736
2,416
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
7,152
^ including spoilt ballots
= open seat
= turnout is above provincial average
= winning candidate was in previous Legislature
= incumbent had switched allegiance
= not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
= incumbency arose from byelection gain
= previously incumbent in another riding
= other incumbents renominated
= UdE candidates under the Liberal banner
= Nationalist candidates supported by the Liberals
= multiple candidates
Analysis
Resulting composition of the 23rd Quebec Legislative Assembly[14]
Source
Party
UN
Lib
Ind
Total
Seats retained
Incumbents returned
55
9
1
65
Open seats held
3
1
4
Seats changing hands
Incumbents defeated
9
6
15
Incumbents defeated - previous incumbents returned
3
3
Open seats gained
1
4
5
New ridings
New MPP elected
1
1
Total
72
20
1
93
See also
Further reading
References
^ Leslie Roberts (1963). The Chief: A Political Biography of Maurice Duplessis . Clarke, Irwin.
^ An Act to constitute the electoral district of Jonquière-Kénogami , S.Q. 1953-54, c. 42
^ "Relations entre Libéraux et Créditistes" [Liberal-Créditiste Relations]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. June 15, 1956. p. 2.
^ a b "La manifestation du 6 mai à Shawinigan" [The May 6 rally in Shawinigan]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. June 1, 1956. pp. 6–7.
^ "An irresponsible alliance" . Montreal Gazette . June 18, 1956. p. 8.
^ a b Arkison, Wilbur (June 21, 1956). "Liberals Gain 9 Seats - But Lose 13" . Montreal Gazette . p. 1.
^ a b c "The extremists were repudiated" . Montreal Gazette . June 21, 1956. p. 8.
^ "Les candidats créditistes tous défaits" [The Créditiste candidates are all defeated]. La Presse (in French). Montreal. June 21, 1956. p. 24. See p. 25 for candidate listings.
^ "La campagne électorale aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine" [The electoral campaign in the Magdalen Islands]. Vers Demain (in French). Montreal. July 15, 1956. p. 6.
^ a b c d e Drouilly, Pierre (December 4, 2017). "Élections québécoises de 1956" . donneesquebec.ca . Atlas des élections au Québec.
^ a b "Les membres de l'Assemblée nationale par circonscription" [National Assembly members by riding] (in French). National Assembly of Quebec . Retrieved September 13, 2023 .