1987 New Brunswick general election

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58 seats of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick 30 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   NDP Leader Frank McKenna Richard Hatfield George Little Party Liberal Progressive Conservative New Democratic Leader since 1985 1967 1980 Leader's seat Chatham Carleton Centre (lost re-election) ran in Kings West (lost) Last election 18 39 1 Seats won 58 0 0 Seat change 40 39 1 Popular vote 246,702 116,798 43,033 Percentage 60.39% 28.59% 10.55% Swing 19.09% 18.86% 0.4%
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding.
Premier before election Richard Hatfield Progressive Conservative Premier after election Frank McKenna Liberal

The 1987 New Brunswick general election was held on October 13, 1987, to elect 58 members to the 51st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The Liberal Party won power for the first time since 1967. They did so in a landslide, winning all 58 seats in the legislature. This feat was only accomplished one other time in Canadian history, in the 1935 Prince Edward Island election.

Background

The popularity of Richard Hatfield, who had served as a popular premier from 1970 through the 1982 election, fell due to scandals in his last term. In 1984, during an official visit to New Brunswick by Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers found marijuana in Hatfield's luggage. Hatfield was later acquitted of marijuana possession charges. As reported by the media, Hatfield was also alleged to have hosted parties with young men where illegal drugs were used.^[1] He was criticized by opposition parties and by the media for extravagant use of the government plane, which he used to travel to New York City where he visited night clubs, earning him the nickname "Disco Dick".^[2]

In 1985, three Saint John-area Progressive Conservative members of the legislature (MLAs) challenged Hatfield's leadership and led a brief caucus revolt after the Liberals won two by-elections in previously Tory seats, but Hatfield led the party through a fifth election.

Campaign

Hoping to boost his popularity enough to avoid defeat, Hatfield delayed calling the election as long as possible. It was finally held on October 13, 1987, five years and a day since the last election—the longest allowed by the Constitution of Canada. The Tories lost all of their seats, and Hatfield himself lost his own seat to Liberal challenger Allison DeLong by 19 points. Taking full responsibility for the defeat, he announced his resignation the night of the election while being interviewed by media outside of his Hartland home. Tory supporters had crowded into Hatfield's home, but abandoned him early in the evening as the returns began to come in.

Frank McKenna's Liberals were virtually assured victory from day one, thanks to Hatfield's scandals. However, they ran a very successful campaign that enabled them to garner an unprecedented clean sweep of the legislature. The New Democrats also suffered a moral defeat, losing their one seat—something they had won for the first time in 1982.

Opinion polls

During campaign

Edmundston by-election

Results

Results by riding

North

Consisting of Victoria, Madawaska, Restigouche and Gloucester county ridings.

Central

Consisting of Carleton, York, Sunbury and Northumberland county ridings.

South West

Consisting of Queens, Kings, Saint John and Charlotte county ridings.

South East

Consisting of Kent, Westmorland and Albert county ridings.