Saskatchewan general election, 1964

Saskatchewan general election, 1964
1960 ←
 April 22, 1964
 → 1967
59 seats in the 15th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
30 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Ross Thatcher Woodrow Lloyd
Party Liberal CCF
Leader since 1959 1961
Leader's seat Morse Biggar
Last election 17 37
Seats won 32 26
Seat change +15 -11
Popular vote 269,402 268,742
Percentage 40.40% 40.30%
Swing +7.73% -0.46%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Martin Pederson Martin Kelln
Party Progressive Conservative Social Credit
Leader since 1958 1955
Leader's seat Arm River Running in Last Mountain
Last election 0 0
Seats won 1 0
Seat change +1 –
Popular vote 126,028 2,621
Percentage 18.90% 0.39%
Swing +4.95% -11.96%
Premier before election

Woodrow Lloyd
CCF

 Elected Premier

Ross Thatcher
Liberal

The Saskatchewan general election of 1964 was the fifteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on April 22, 1964, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) government of Premier Woodrow Lloyd was defeated by the Liberal Party, led by Ross Thatcher. The CCF had governed Saskatchewan since the 1944 election under the leadership (until December 1961) of Tommy Douglas.

While the CCF held on to most of their vote from the previous election, the collapse of the Social Credit party appears to have helped push the Liberals to a majority government – although the Liberals led the CCF by only 0.1% in the popular vote.

The Progressive Conservative Party, led by Martin Pederson, won one seat in the legislature.

Contents

Election campaign

Douglas's government was the first social democratic government in North America, and had introduced the medicare system in Canada. This led to a 23-day strike by the province's physicians. Universal public health care, however, was not an issue in the campaign. In fact, following its successful introduction, the opposition Liberals proposed expanding medicare. The only Saskatchewan party to advocate eliminating medicare was the small Social Credit party.

The Social Credit party nominated only two candidates in the election, and they were hurt by statements by the federal Social Credit party leader, Robert N. Thompson, supporting the Saskatchewan Liberals. The Socreds' leader – Martin Kelln – was unable to spend much time on the campaign because of the recent death of his mother.

The Progressive Conservatives won only one seat in the legislature despite winning almost 19% of the popular vote. The Tories argued that the Liberals were too radical, and that the Saskatchewan government was not doing enough to develop the province's natural resources.

The Liberals were able to capitalize on the collapse of the Social Credit party, and were more effective than the Tories in drawing the "anti-socialist" (ie. anti-CCF) vote. The campaign however was not marked by any major issues.

There was, however, considerable animosity between the Liberals and the CCF. The Liberals employed what were called "Madison Avenue campaign tactics", and spent a lot of money on campaign advertising – especially television advertising. The Liberals tried to characterize the election as being a choice between socialism and private enterprise-oriented reform. The Saskatchewan Liberals positioned themselves as further to the right than the federal Liberal Party. The Liberals also claimed that the CCF government was stagnating.

The CCF, led by former teacher Woodrow Lloyd, campaigned on the CCF record. Lloyd attacked the Liberal campaign – stating that they had resorted to "hucksterism, the kind of sales attempts that one usually associates with useless pills, second hand cars and body deodorants."

Lloyd was faced several challenges: taxes in Saskatchewan were among the highest in Canada; spending on health care, welfare and education were high; and Lloyd lacked the popular support that previous CCF leader and premier Tommy Douglas had enjoyed. However, Saskatchewan at this time had the second highest per capita income in Canada and the lowest unemployment rate in Canada.

Results

Party Party Leader # of
candidates		 Seats Popular Vote
1960 Dissol. Elected % Change # % % Change
     Liberal
Ross Thatcher
 59 17 19 32 +68.4% 269,402 40.40% +7.73%
     Co-operative Commonwealth
Woodrow Lloyd
 59 37 35 25/261 -25.7% 268,742 40.30% -0.46%
     Progressive Conservative
Martin Pederson
 42 – – 1 +1000% 126,028 18.90% +4.95%
     Social Credit
Martin Kelln
 2 – – – – 2,621 0.39% -11.96%
     Communist 1 – – – – 68 0.01% -0.05%
Total 163 54 54 591 +9.3% 666,861 100%  

Note:1 One seat declared void. Source: Elections Saskatchewan

Ranking

Party Seats Second Third
     Liberal 32 26 1
     Co-operative Commonwealth 26 31 2
     Progressive Conservative 1 2 39
     Other parties 0 0 3

Riding results

Names in bold represent cabinet ministers and the Speaker. Party leaders are italicized. The symbol " ** " indicates MLAs who are not running again.

Northwestern Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Athabasca   Allan Ray Guy
1,076		 John M. Stonehocker
684		 Harry J. Houghton
909		   Allan Ray Guy
Cut Knife-Lloydminster Raymond H. Rooney
1,821		   Isidore Charles Nollet
2,927		 Gordon Goodfellow
1,617		   Isidore Charles Nollet
Meadow Lake   Henry Coupland
3,149		 Martin Semchuk
2,113		 Frederick L. Dunbar
1,014		   Martin Semchuk
Redberry Barry L. Korchinski
1,993		   Dick Michayluk
2,200		 Walter John Dolynny
1,238		   Demitro Wasyl Michayluk
Rosthern   David Boldt
2,873		 George Guenther
1,949		 Isaak Elias (Social Credit) 1,239   David Boldt
Shellbrook   John Cuelenaere
2,427		 John Thiessen
2,259		 Norval Horner
1,701		   John Thiessen
The Battlefords Herbert O.M. Sparrow
4,242		   Eiling Kramer
4,645		   Eiling Kramer
Turtleford Frank Foley
2,123		   Bob Wooff
2,221		 William Elmer Armstrong
1,502		   Franklin Edward Foley

Northeastern Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Cumberland Eldon McLachlan
1,630		   Bill Berezowsky
2,135		 Emanuel Sonnenschein
963		   William John Berezowsky
Humboldt   Mathieu Breker
4,226		 Sylvester E. Wiegers
3,030		 Frank J. Martin
1,244		   Mary Batten**
Kelsey William John McHugh
2269		   John Hewgill Brockelbank
5283		 Carsten Johnson
703		   John Hewgill Brockelbank
Kelvington   Bryan Bjarnason
2,888		 Neil Byers
2,398		 Joseph M. Ratch
1,341		   Clifford Benjamin Peterson**
Kinistino Michael A. Hnidy
3,125		   Arthur Thibault
3,334		   Arthur Thibault
Melfort-Tisdale William Ernest Hurd
3,056		   Clarence George Willis
3,471		 Kenneth Aseltine
2,094		   Clarence George Willis
Nipawin   Frank Radloff
2,652		 Bob Perkins
2,440		 John A. Whittome
1,942		   Robert Irvin Perkins
Prince Albert   Davey Steuart
5,024		 Joseph E. Leo Lamontagne
4,946		 Richard E. Spencer
3,828		   David Gordon Steuart

West Central Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Arm River Gustaf Herman Danielson
2,020		 Emanuel Lang
1,550		   Martin Pederson
2,326		   Gustaf Herman Danielson
Biggar Benson McLeod Blacklock
1,992		   Woodrow S. Lloyd
2,875		 George Loucks
1,120		   Woodrow Lloyd
Hanley Herbert C. "Charlie" Pinder
3,938		 Robert Alexander Walker
3,940		 Hans Taal
2,602		   Robert Alexander Walker
Kerrobert-Kindersley   William S. Howes
3,799		 Eldon Johnson
2,937		   Eldon Arthur Johnson
Rosetown   George Loken
2,573		 Allan Stevens
2,367		 Les P. Hickson
1,396		   Allan Leonard Fredrick Stevens
Watrous Neil McArthur
2,602		   Hans Broten
2,725		   Hans Broten
Wilkie   Joseph "Cliff" McIsaac
3,593		 W. Ray Grant
2,162		 Donald Wallace
1,649		   John Whitmore Horsman**

Re-run of voided election

December 16, 1964 By-Election: Hanley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     CCF Robert Walker 4,608 45.14% +7.55
     Liberal Herb Pinder 3,864 37.86% +0.28
     Prog. Conservative W. Hugh Arscott 1,735 17.00% -7.83
Total 10,207 100.00%

East Central Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Canora   Ken Romuld
3,391		 Alex Kuziak
3,348		   Alex Gordon Kuziak
Last Mountain   Donald MacLennan
2,857		 Russell Brown
2,799		 Martin Kelln (Social Credit) 1,382   Russell Brown
Melville   James W. Gardiner
3,485		 William Wiwchar
3,229		 Douglas A. Ellis
1,627		   James Wilfrid Gardiner
Pelly Jim Barrie
2,669		   Leo Larson
2,705		 Bohdan E. Lozinsky
1,212		   James Ross Barrie
Saltcoats   James Snedker
3,260		 Baldur M. Olson
2,275		 David Arthur Keyes
1,537		   James Edward Phipps Snedker
Touchwood   George Trapp
2,692		 Frank Meakes
2,566		 Alice M.L. Turner
1,320		   Frank Meakes
Wadena Elizabeth Mary Paulson
2,580		   Fred Dewhurst
3,295		 H.D. McPhail
1,405		   Frederick Arthur Dewhurst
Yorkton   Barry Gallagher
4,337		 Karl Rokeby Bartelt
3,494		 Lawrence L. Ball
1,841		   Bernard David Gallagher

Southwest Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Elrose   George Leith
3,317		 Alex Turnbull
3,263		   Olaf Alexander Turnbull
Gravelbourg   Leo Coderre
2,999		 Roland Leblanc
2,448		   Lionel Philas Coderre
Maple Creek   Alexander Cameron
2,977		 William Percy Rolick
2,424		 Marlyn K. Clary
1,389		   Alexander C. Cameron
Morse   Ross Thatcher
3,188		 Paul W. Beach
2,952		   Ross Thatcher
Notukeu-
Willow Bunch		   Jim Hooker
2,660		 Hasket Merle Sproule
2,193		 Boyd M. Anderson
946		   Karl Frank Klein**
Shaunavon   Fernand Larochelle
2,955		 Art Kluzak
2,545		 Clifford Boyd Clark
1,225		   Arthur Kluzak
Swift Current T. Lawrence Salloum
4,647		   Everett Irvine Wood
5,238		   Everett Irvine Wood

Southeast Saskatchewan

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Bengough   Sam Asbell
2,613		 Hjalmar Dahlman
2,311		 Roy Bailey
1,192		   Hjalmar Reinhold Dahlman
Cannington   Tom Weatherald
3,852		 Henry George Doty
2,489		 Glenn Brimner
1,917		   Rosscoe Arnold McCarthy**
Lumsden   Darrel Heald
2,469		 Cliff Thurston
2,068		 William Clyde Tufts
1,614		   Clifford Honey Thurston
Milestone   Cyril MacDonald
2,568		 James M. Hubbs
1,972		 Leonard Frederick Westrum
1,023		   Jacob Walter Erb**
Moosomin   Alexander Hamilton McDonald
4,523		 William Francis Goodwin
3,102		   Alex "Hammy" McDonald
Qu'Appelle-Wolseley   Doug McFarlane
3,525		 John Stephen Leier
2,188		 Victor Edward Horsman
2,164		   Douglas Thomas McFarlane
Souris-Estevan   Ian MacDougall
6,220		 Ivar Johann Kristianson
4,040		   Ian Hugh MacDougall
Weyburn Junior Staveley
4,347		   Jim Pepper
4,453		 Jean Benson
1,234		   Junior Herbert Staveley
June 30, 1965 By-Election: Moosomin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Frank Gardner 3,033 36.72% -22.60
     CCF William Francis Goodwin 2,821 34.14% -6.54
     Prog. Conservative Andrew Emerson Bruce 2,407 29.14% -
Total 8,261 100.00%
February 16, 1966 By-Election: Bengough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Alex Mitchell 2,423 42.74% +0.02
     CCF Hjalmar Dahlman 2,285 40.31% +2.52
     Prog. Conservative George W. Spicer 961 16.95% -2.54
Total 5,669 100.00%

Moose Jaw & Saskatoon

Saskatchewan general election, 1964: Moose Jaw City

(2 members elected)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     CCF (x) William Davies 7,749 24.55% -
     CCF (x) Gordon Snyder 7,550 23.92% -
     Prog. Conservative Daniel J. Patterson 7,115 22.54% -
     Liberal E. A. Astell 5,455 17.28% -
     Prog. Conservative Gordon A. Hume 3,697 11.71% -
Total 31,566 100.00%
Saskatchewan general election, 1964: Saskatoon City

(5 members elected)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     CCF (x) Alex M. Nicholson 16,701 7.83% -
     CCF (x) Edward Brockelbank 16,559 7.76% -
     CCF (x) Wes Robbins 16,126 7.56% -
     Liberal (x) Sally Merchant 16,068 7.53% -
     CCF (x) Harry D. Link 16,041 7.52% -
     Liberal Clarence L. Baldwin Estey 15,761 7.39% -
     CCF Gladys Strum 15,741 7.38% -
     Liberal Keith McLean Crocker 15,661 7.34% -
     Liberal Joseph J. Charlebois 15,542 7.28% -
     Liberal Victor C. Hession 14,770 6.92% -
     Prog. Conservative Lewis Brand 11,401 5.34% -
     Prog. Conservative W. Hugh Arscott 11,344 5.32% -
     Prog. Conservative Ray Hnatyshyn 10,874 5.09% -
     Prog. Conservative Henry Clay Rees 10,543 4.94% -
     Prog. Conservative Irving Goldenberg 10,240 4.80% -
Total 213,372 100.00%

Regina

Electoral District Candidates   Incumbent
  Liberal   CCF   PC   Other
Regina East Paul Dojack
8,208

Jacob W. Erb
8,060

   Henry Baker
8,953

Walt Smishek
8,395

 Dick Shelton
2,356

George J. Tkach
2,343

 New District
Regina North Ron Atchison
3,867		   Ed Whelan
4,722		 Norman Brudy (Communist) 68 New District
Regina South   Gordon Grant
7,788		 George R. Bothwell
3,440		 New District
Regina West Alex Cochrane
7,770

Betty Sear
6,981

   Allan Blakeney
9,076

Marjorie Cooper
8,413

 Donald K. MacPherson
4,495		 New District

See also

References

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