New Brunswick general election, 1974

New Brunswick general election, 1974

November 18, 1974

58 seats of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick 30 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader Richard Hatfield Robert Higgins Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since 1967 1971 Leader's seat Carleton Centre Saint John Park Last election 32 26 Seats won 33 25 Seat change +1 -1 Percentage 46.86% 47.52% Swing -1.54% -1.08

Map of New Brunswick's ridings coloured in based on the winning parties

Premier before election Richard Hatfield Progressive Conservative Premier-designate Richard Hatfield Progressive Conservative

The 28th New Brunswick general election was held on November 18, 1974, to elect 58 members to the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It saw Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick win its second majority government with a gain of one seat despite losing the popular vote to Robert Higgins' New Brunswick Liberal Party. It was the second election in a row in which the Conservatives received a majority in the parliament despite receiving fewer votes than the Liberals.

Despite the Hatfield government's involvement in the failed Bricklin SV-1 automobile plant, and a series of kickback schemes, there were few surprises during the campaign. Hatfield had made inroads in the Acadian community since the 1970 election, winning three francophone seats in by-elections. The Acadian support proved key during Hatfield's entire term as premier.

This was the first election which saw candidates contest single member ridings; previous elections had each county as an electoral district electing a varying number of members based on their respective populations.

Results

Rendition of party representation in the 48th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly decided by this election.

  Progressive Conservatives (33)

  Liberals (25)

Summary of the 1974 Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick election results^[1]

Party		Party leader	# of candidates	Seats
				1970	Dissolution	Elected	Change	#	%	% Change
	Progressive Conservative	Richard Hatfield	58	32	32	33	+1	145,304	46.86	-1.54
	Liberal	Robert Higgins	58	26	26	25	-1	147,372	47.53	-1.08
	New Democratic	Albert Richardson	35	0	0	0	0	9,092	2.93	+0.10
	Parti Acadien	Euclide Chaisson	13	0	0	0	0	3,607	1.16
	Independents		11	0	0	0	0	4,723	1.52

References

1. Frank B. Feigert (1989). Canada Votes, 1935-1988. Duke University Press. p. 160.