Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 1984

A Liberal Party of Canada leadership election was called for June 16, 1984, to replace retiring Liberal leader and sitting Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The convention elected former Finance Minister John Turner, who at the time was not sitting in the House of Commons, as its leader on the second ballot, defeating another former finance minister, Jean Chrétien.

Candidates

Jean Chrétien

Chrétien, MP for Saint-Maurice, was Minister of State for Social Development and Minister Responsible for constitutional negotiations, playing a significant role in the patriation of the Constitution of Canada, and he had previously served in many other senior portfolios, including a time as Minister of Finance.

• Supporters in caucus (3 MPs): Bud Cullen, Roland de Corneille, Charles Caccia.

Don Johnston

Johnston, MP for Westmount, was President of the Treasury Board, served in several other positions.

• Supporters in caucus (4 MPs, 1 Senator): Jack Burghardt, James Fleming, Bryce Mackasey, Raymond Savard and Sen. Gildas Molgat.

Mark MacGuigan

MacGuigan, long-serving MP from Windsor-Walkerville, was the Minister of Justice and was a former Minister of External Affairs.

John Munro

Munro, a long-serving MP from Hamilton East, was Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

John Roberts

Roberts, MP for St. Paul's, was Minister of Employment and Immigration.

John Turner

Turner, former MP for Ottawa-Orleans, resigned as Minister of Finance and 1975, and was a corporate lawyer on Bay Street until his return to politics in 1984. Turner had run for the leadership previously in 1968, placing third on the final ballot.

• Supporters in caucus (6 MPs): Transport Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Solicitor-General Bob Kaplan, International Trade Minister Gerald Regan, Minister of Regional Economic Expansion Ed Lumley, Minister for External Relations Jean-Luc Pépin, Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs Judy Erola.

Eugene Whelan

Whelan, MP for Essex-Windsor, was Minister of Agriculture.

Results

First ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,593 (46%)
CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean 1,067 (31%)
JOHNSTON, Donald James 278 (8%)
ROBERTS, John (Moody) 185
MACGUIGAN, Mark R. 135
MUNRO, John Carr 93
WHELAN, Eugene Francis 84
Spoiled ballots 2
Total votes cast 3,437

Whelan eliminated, supports Chrétien. MacGuigan withdraws and supports Turner. Munro and Roberts withdraw and support Chrétien.

Second ballot
TURNER, John Napier 1,862 (54%)
CHRÉTIEN, Joseph Jacques Jean 1,398 (40%)
JOHNSTON, Donald James 192 (6%)
Spoiled ballots 1
Total votes cast 3,453

Liberal Party of Canada Provincial wings Affiliated provincial parties New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Formerly affiliated parties Alberta (1905–1976) British Columbia (1903-late 1980s) Manitoba Northwest Territories (1898–1905) Ontario Quebec (1867–1964) Saskatchewan (1905–2009) National leaders Leaders Brown Mackenzie Blake Laurier McKenzie King St. Laurent Pearson P. Trudeau Turner Chrétien Martin Graham Dion Ignatieff Rae J. Trudeau Deputy Leaders Copps Gray Manley McLellan Robillard Ignatieff Goodale Leadership elections 1919 1948 1958 1968 1980 1984 1990 2003 2006 2009 2013 Parliamentary election candidates 1867 1878 1887 1891 1896 1900 1904 1908 1911 1917 1921 1925 1926 1930 1935 1940 1945 1949 1957 1958 1962 1963 1965 1968 1972 1974 1979 1980 1984 1988 1993 1997 2000 2004 2006 2008 2011 2015 Predecessors History Clear Grits (circa 1850–1858) Institut canadien de Montréal (1844–1880) Parti canadien (circa 1800–1838) Parti rouge (1848–1861) Reformers (circa 1830–1854) in Newfoundland Related Parties Liberal Protectionist Liberal-Progressive Liberal-Labour Laurier Liberals Liberal-Unionist Nationalist Liberal National Liberal Progressive