Canadian federal election, 1962

Canadian federal election, 1962

← 1958 June 18, 1962 1963 →
← outgoing members
265 seats in the 25th Canadian Parliament 133 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	79.0% (0.4pp)
First party Second party   Leader John Diefenbaker Lester B. Pearson Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since December 14, 1956 January 16, 1958 Leader's seat Prince Albert Algoma East Last election 208 seats, 53.66% 48 seats, 33.40% Seats won 116 99 Seat change 92 51 Popular vote 2,865,542 2,846,589 Percentage 37.22% 36.97% Swing 16.35pp 3.57pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Robert N. Thompson Tommy Douglas Party Social Credit New Democratic Leader since July 7, 1961 August 3, 1961 Leader's seat Red Deer ran in Regina City (lost) Last election 0 seats, 2.59% 8 seats, 9.51% Seats won 30 19 Seat change 30 11 Popular vote 893,479 1,044,754 Percentage 11.61% 13.57% Swing 9.02pp 4.06pp
Prime Minister before election John Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative Prime Minister-designate John Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative

John Diefenbaker
Progressive Conservative

John Diefenbaker
Progressive Conservative

The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada. When the election was called, Progressive Conservative (PC) Prime Minister John Diefenbaker had governed for four years with the then-largest majority in the House of Commons in Canadian history.

This election reduced the PCs to a tenuous minority government as a result of economic difficulties such as high unemployment and a slumping Canadian dollar, as well as unpopular decisions such as the cancellation of the Avro Arrow. Despite the Diefenbaker government's difficulties, the Liberal Party, led by Lester Pearson, was unable to make up enough ground in the election to defeat the government. For Social Credit, routed from the Commons just four years earlier, this election proved to be their most successful ever - they would never better the 30 seats won, losing seats in 1963 despite gaining a slightly better share of the vote.

During its term of office, the Diefenbaker government had introduced reforms to social programs, a Canadian Bill of Rights, and other changes. The Tories tried to defend the decline in the Canadian dollar by pointing out the benefits to the tourism industry, exports, manufacturing and farming, and employment. They denied that the devaluation affected the price of bread, beef, gasoline and fruit and vegetables, saying that these prices were either set in Canada or were influenced by other factors.

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