1981 Quebec general election
1981 Quebec general election Turnout 82.52% ( 2.75%)
First party
Second party
Third party
UN
Leader
René Lévesque
Claude Ryan
Roch LaSalle
Party
Parti Québécois
Liberal
Union Nationale
Leader since
October 14, 1968
April 15, 1978
January 9, 1981
Leader's seat
Taillon
Argenteuil
Ran in Berthier (lost)
Last election
71 seats, 41.37%
26 seats, 33.78%
11 seats, 18.20%
Seats won
80
42
0
Seat change
9
16
11
Popular vote
1,773,237
1,658,753
144,070
Percentage
49.26%
46.07%
4.00%
Swing
7.89%
12.29%
14.20%
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. Click the map for more details.
The 1981 Quebec general election was held on April 13, 1981, to elect members of the National Assembly of the Province of Quebec , Canada. The incumbent Parti Québécois , led by Premier René Lévesque , won re-election, defeating the Quebec Liberal Party , led by Claude Ryan .
The PQ won re-election despite having lost the 1980 Quebec referendum on sovereignty-association , the party's proposal for political independence for Quebec in an economic union with the rest of Canada. To some extent, they were helped by Claude Ryan's old-fashioned campaign style: he refused to tailor sound bites for the evening news and ran a campaign generally unsuited for television coverage. Despite finishing only three percent behind the PQ, the Liberals still finished a distant second, with 42 seats to the PQ's 80. Historically, provincial elections in Quebec produce large disparities between the popular vote and the actual seat count.
The Union Nationale , which had won 11 seats in a modest comeback in the 1976 general election , was reduced to five seats at dissolution by numerous floor crossings , retirements and resignations. Among the departures was that of its leader in the 1976 election, Rodrigue Biron , who crossed the floor to the PQ. The once-proud party lost all of its remaining seats, never to return. The party essentially ended at this point, though it lingered in desultory fashion until 1989.
Redistribution of ridings
A 1979 Act[ 1] provided for the creation of the Commission de la représentation électorale , charged with the task of the redistribution of riding boundaries for elections to the National Assembly. For its initial work, it had to create a sufficient number of ridings that would have an average of 34,000 electors.[ 2] In April 1980, the Commission increased the number of electoral districts from 110 to 122, effective with the next election:[ 3]
Abolished ridings
New ridings
Drawn from parts of other ridings
Reorganization of ridings
Division of ridings
Renaming of ridings
Campaign
The Liberals and péquistes fielded full slates, while the Unionists decided not to run a candidate in the new riding of Ungava . The Parti national populaire ceased operations after its co-founder and only MNA Fabien Roy decided to leave the Legislature in 1979 for the federal level to lead the Social Credit Party of Canada .
The Ralliement créditiste dissolved in 1978 when its leader Camil Samson created Les Démocrates , but that party failed to secure enough nominations for the coming election and thus dissolved in 1980. Samson would later join the Liberals, and would run as a candidate for that party in Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue .
Other disaffected créditistes opted to join the United Social Credit which had been revived by Jean-Paul Poulin .
Riding contests, by number of candidates (1981)[ 4]
Candidates
PQ
Lib
UN
Ind
Comm-W
FOC
Ltn
ML
PCSU
Workers
Comm
LSO
Total
2
1
1
2
3
48
48
48
144
4
35
35
35
7
5
2
1
13
5
2
140
5
14
14
14
4
5
5
6
5
2
1
70
6
11
11
11
4
10
3
1
9
1
3
1
1
66
7
6
6
6
3
6
6
3
3
2
1
42
8
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
1
32
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
10
2
2
2
4
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
20
Total
122
122
121
27
33
12
10
40
16
10
10
2
525
Results
All seats were won by either the PQ or the Liberals, and no other party received better than a third-place result. The UN was once more shut out of the National Assembly. The election was notable for a large number of fringe parties, none of which received as much as 0.2% of the popular vote.
Elections to the National Assembly of Quebec (1981)[ 4]
Political party
Party leader
MNAs
Votes
Candidates
1976
1981
±
#
±
%
± (pp)
Parti Québécois
René Lévesque
122
71
80
9
1,773,237
382,886
49.26%
7.89
Liberal
Claude Ryan
122
26
42
16
1,658,753
523,697
46.08%
12.30
Union Nationale
Roch LaSalle
121
11
–
11
144,070
467,596
4.00%
14.20
Independent
27
–
–
–
4,372
8,612
0.12%
0.27
Workers' Communist
Roger Rashi
33
–
–
–
4,956
4,956
0.14%
New
Freedom of Choice
Duncan McDonald
12
–
–
–
4,955
4,955
0.14%
New
Libertarian
Victor Levis
10
–
–
–
3,299
3,299
0.09%
New
Marxist–Leninist
Robert Verrier
40
–
–
–
3,178
3,178
0.09%
New
United Social Credit [ a 1]
Jean-Paul Poulin
16
–
–
–
1,284
154,167
0.04%
4.59
Workers
10
–
–
–
1,027
222
0.03%
0.01
Communist
Sam Walsh
10
–
–
–
768
1,008
0.02%
0.03
Socialist-Workers
2
–
–
–
198
110
0.01%
0.01
Total
525
110
122
3,600,097
100.00%
Rejected ballots
38,523
31,923
Voter turnout
3,638,620
207,668
82.52
2.75
Registered electors
4,409,276
385,533
Synopsis of results
Results by riding - 1981 Quebec general election[ 4] [ 5]
Riding
Winning party
Turnout[ a 1]
Votes
Name
1976
Party
Votes
Share
Margin #
Margin %
PQ
Lib
UN
Ind
Oth
Total
Abitibi-Est
PQ
PQ
13,790
62.57%
7,198
32.66%
74.62%
13,790
6,592
1,658
–
–
22,040
Abitibi-Ouest
PQ
PQ
16,033
65.14%
8,384
34.06%
79.41%
16,033
7,649
932
–
–
24,614
Anjou
PQ
PQ
20,355
56.81%
5,420
15.13%
85.54%
20,355
14,935
543
–
–
35,833
Argenteuil
Lib
Lib
15,895
57.23%
4,996
17.99%
81.92%
10,899
15,895
778
–
200
27,772
Arthabaska
PQ
PQ
18,424
53.64%
5,304
15.44%
85.50%
18,424
13,120
2,623
–
180
34,347
Beauce-Nord
PQ
PQ
18,858
53.39%
4,828
13.67%
85.25%
18,858
14,030
2,433
–
–
35,321
Beauce-Sud
PNP
Lib
13,393
46.89%
97
0.34%
82.95%
13,296
13,393
1,519
357
–
28,565
Beauharnois
PQ
PQ
18,741
54.01%
4,120
11.87%
86.95%
18,741
14,621
970
–
370
34,702
Bellechasse
UN
PQ
9,194
37.58%
364
1.49%
82.56%
9,194
8,830
6,440
–
–
24,464
Berthier
PQ
Lib
10,676
37.34%
1,222
4.27%
85.41%
9,454
10,676
8,461
–
–
28,591
Bertrand
New
PQ
19,091
60.44%
7,405
23.44%
88.74%
19,091
11,686
810
–
–
31,587
Bonaventure
Lib
Lib
11,609
53.95%
2,133
9.91%
79.39%
9,476
11,609
432
–
–
21,517
Bourassa
PQ
PQ
15,597
50.37%
923
2.98%
83.81%
15,597
14,674
571
–
124
30,966
Bourget
PQ
PQ
15,810
56.07%
4,254
15.09%
84.82%
15,810
11,556
588
45
200
28,199
Brome-Missisquoi
UN
Lib
15,832
62.57%
7,827
30.93%
81.32%
8,005
15,832
1,178
–
289
25,304
Chambly
PQ
PQ
15,189
51.39%
1,645
5.57%
87.93%
15,189
13,544
752
–
70
29,555
Champlain
PQ
PQ
17,789
53.57%
4,937
14.87%
84.64%
17,789
12,852
2,462
–
101
33,204
Chapleau
New
Lib
15,364
53.44%
2,484
8.64%
76.41%
12,880
15,364
413
–
95
28,752
Charlesbourg
PQ
PQ
19,884
57.32%
5,998
17.29%
85.98%
19,884
13,886
762
–
155
34,687
Charlevoix
Lib
Lib
12,712
50.65%
799
3.18%
84.32%
11,913
12,712
473
–
–
25,098
Châteauguay
PQ
PQ
18,855
51.45%
1,778
4.85%
86.68%
18,855
17,077
574
140
–
36,646
Chauveau
PQ
PQ
18,991
55.97%
4,918
14.49%
82.93%
18,991
14,073
866
–
–
33,930
Chicoutimi
PQ
PQ
24,456
73.91%
16,632
50.26%
80.13%
24,456
7,824
811
–
–
33,091
Chomedey
New
Lib
20,933
66.24%
10,808
34.20%
83.72%
10,125
20,933
543
–
–
31,601
Crémazie
PQ
PQ
16,938
51.46%
1,583
4.81%
85.85%
16,938
15,355
545
–
80
32,918
D'Arcy-McGee
Lib
Lib
26,064
91.96%
24,532
86.56%
78.53%
1,532
26,064
111
–
635
28,342
Deux-Montagnes
PQ
PQ
16,149
53.00%
2,830
9.29%
85.83%
16,149
13,319
767
104
133
30,472
Dorion
PQ
PQ
14,551
51.54%
1,894
6.71%
82.58%
14,551
12,657
524
74
429
28,235
Drummond
PQ
PQ
19,359
55.31%
5,911
16.89%
84.44%
19,359
13,448
2,099
–
95
35,001
Dubuc
PQ
PQ
16,630
64.64%
8,296
32.25%
82.30%
16,630
8,334
762
–
–
25,726
Duplessis
PQ
PQ
19,962
65.30%
10,041
32.85%
73.70%
19,962
9,921
514
–
173
30,570
Fabre
PQ
PQ
15,361
52.78%
2,265
7.78%
87.25%
15,361
13,096
648
–
–
29,105
Frontenac
PQ
PQ
16,549
53.29%
7,098
22.86%
85.70%
16,549
9,451
4,903
–
152
31,055
Gaspé
UN
PQ
12,136
47.08%
1,232
4.78%
81.08%
12,136
10,904
2,739
–
–
25,779
Gatineau
Lib
Lib
12,244
54.56%
2,416
10.77%
81.71%
9,828
12,244
369
–
–
22,441
Gouin
PQ
PQ
15,563
57.76%
5,209
19.33%
80.64%
15,563
10,354
607
66
352
26,942
Groulx
New
PQ
20,317
57.20%
6,074
17.10%
84.78%
20,317
14,243
861
–
101
35,522
Hull
PQ
Lib
15,572
49.76%
456
1.46%
80.19%
15,116
15,572
263
96
247
31,294
Huntingdon
UN
Lib
13,454
56.91%
5,088
21.52%
81.79%
8,366
13,454
1,821
–
–
23,641
Iberville
PQ
PQ
16,822
49.18%
1,939
5.67%
85.63%
16,822
14,883
2,498
–
–
34,203
Îles-de-la-Madeleine
PQ
PQ
5,278
63.79%
2,427
29.33%
88.30%
5,278
2,851
57
88
–
8,274
Jacques-Cartier
Lib
Lib
25,894
79.52%
20,911
64.22%
83.04%
4,983
25,894
259
1,122
304
32,562
Jean-Talon
Lib
Lib
17,290
52.28%
2,246
6.79%
85.96%
15,044
17,290
526
215
–
33,075
Jeanne-Mance
PQ
Lib
19,652
58.65%
6,180
18.44%
84.46%
13,472
19,652
385
–
–
33,509
Johnson
UN
PQ
13,131
47.90%
806
2.94%
85.31%
13,131
12,325
1,959
–
–
27,415
Joliette
New
PQ
16,343
51.95%
5,200
16.53%
86.46%
16,343
11,143
3,971
–
–
31,457
Jonquière
PQ
PQ
23,562
65.99%
12,235
34.27%
83.63%
23,562
11,327
582
–
235
35,706
Kamouraska-Témiscouata
PQ
PQ
14,702
54.95%
4,189
15.66%
77.88%
14,702
10,513
1,539
–
–
26,754
L'Acadie
Lib
Lib
22,784
68.16%
12,630
37.79%
83.92%
10,154
22,784
369
118
–
33,425
L'Assomption
PQ
PQ
22,605
61.61%
10,455
28.50%
87.04%
22,605
12,150
1,934
–
–
36,689
La Peltrie
New
PQ
17,975
57.31%
5,337
17.02%
86.78%
17,975
12,638
749
–
–
31,362
Labelle [ a 2]
PQ
PQ
17,596
57.70%
5,774
18.93%
79.93%
17,596
11,822
1,079
–
–
30,497
Lac-Saint-Jean
PQ
PQ
19,602
62.32%
8,954
28.47%
86.29%
19,602
10,648
1,205
–
–
31,455
LaFontaine
PQ
PQ
20,028
62.08%
8,534
26.45%
83.85%
20,028
11,494
607
–
131
32,260
Laporte
PQ
Lib
19,316
60.09%
7,097
22.08%
84.02%
12,219
19,316
509
–
103
32,147
La Prairie
PQ
Lib
19,070
49.26%
328
0.85%
85.49%
18,742
19,070
813
–
91
38,716
Laurier
Lib
Lib
16,719
57.99%
6,848
23.75%
80.21%
9,871
16,719
675
336
1,229
28,830
Laval-des-Rapides
New
PQ
18,667
57.93%
5,840
18.12%
85.14%
18,667
12,827
658
–
70
32,222
Laviolette
PQ
PQ
16,403
56.44%
5,067
17.43%
82.81%
16,403
11,336
1,324
–
0
29,063
Lévis
PQ
PQ
24,444
59.42%
8,804
21.40%
85.74%
24,444
15,640
972
–
82
41,138
Limoilou
PQ
PQ
17,317
54.43%
3,881
12.20%
81.01%
17,317
13,436
851
–
213
31,817
Lotbinière
UN
PQ
11,653
48.94%
1,365
5.73%
85.12%
11,653
10,288
1,872
–
–
23,813
Louis-Hébert
PQ
PQ
20,345
61.36%
8,127
24.51%
84.34%
20,345
12,218
473
–
121
33,157
Maisonneuve
PQ
PQ
16,930
57.82%
5,523
18.86%
80.23%
16,930
11,407
513
–
429
29,279
Marguerite-Bourgeoys
Lib
Lib
19,511
67.51%
10,541
36.47%
82.74%
8,970
19,511
355
–
64
28,900
Marie-Victorin
New
PQ
19,472
65.49%
10,264
34.52%
81.83%
19,472
9,208
772
–
282
29,734
Marquette
New
Lib
13,146
50.54%
937
3.60%
82.04%
12,209
13,146
365
–
293
26,013
Maskinongé
Lib
Lib
13,248
46.89%
233
0.82%
85.27%
13,015
13,248
1,993
–
–
28,256
Matane
PQ
PQ
13,980
57.08%
4,367
17.83%
79.98%
13,980
9,613
704
197
–
24,494
Matapédia
PQ
PQ
10,445
52.49%
3,267
16.42%
79.59%
10,445
7,178
2,276
–
–
19,899
Mégantic-Compton
UN
Lib
11,795
51.73%
2,327
10.21%
82.04%
9,468
11,795
1,539
–
–
22,802
Mercier
PQ
PQ
16,252
54.53%
3,919
13.15%
79.92%
16,252
12,333
495
116
608
29,804
Mille-Îles
PQ
PQ
16,825
53.97%
3,196
10.25%
88.37%
16,825
13,629
720
–
–
31,174
Mont-Royal
Lib
Lib
21,875
80.69%
17,500
64.55%
78.60%
4,375
21,875
188
–
671
27,109
Montmagny-L'Islet
Lib
PQ
11,797
45.50%
231
0.89%
80.14%
11,797
11,566
2,566
–
–
25,929
Montmorency
PQ
PQ
21,791
62.48%
9,553
27.39%
83.53%
21,791
12,238
710
–
140
34,879
Nelligan [ a 3]
UN
Lib
23,168
73.85%
16,055
51.18%
82.46%
7,113
23,168
375
–
716
31,372
Nicolet [ a 4]
UN
PQ
9,318
34.86%
362
1.35%
86.13%
9,318
8,956
8,453
–
–
26,727
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Lib
Lib
24,821
81.96%
20,540
67.82%
78.53%
4,281
24,821
174
–
1,008
30,284
Orford
Lib
Lib
15,828
54.40%
3,642
12.52%
82.13%
12,186
15,828
1,083
–
–
29,097
Outremont
Lib
Lib
15,310
55.12%
3,403
12.25%
81.80%
11,907
15,310
215
68
275
27,775
Papineau
PQ
Lib
11,717
53.31%
1,976
8.99%
82.07%
9,741
11,717
412
–
110
21,980
Pontiac
New
Lib
15,157
67.83%
10,466
46.84%
76.80%
4,691
15,157
704
–
1,793
22,345
Portneuf
Lib
Lib
14,120
51.14%
1,513
5.48%
86.96%
12,607
14,120
884
–
–
27,611
Prévost
PQ
PQ
16,137
53.15%
3,054
10.06%
82.10%
16,137
13,083
955
–
189
30,364
Richelieu
PQ
PQ
18,198
56.06%
5,173
15.94%
85.85%
18,198
13,025
1,037
77
122
32,459
Richmond
UN
Lib
10,158
47.43%
253
1.18%
86.14%
9,905
10,158
1,354
–
–
21,417
Rimouski
PQ
PQ
20,106
61.04%
8,963
27.21%
83.89%
20,106
11,143
1,525
–
163
32,937
Rivière-du-Loup
PQ
PQ
12,871
55.32%
3,629
15.60%
80.70%
12,871
9,242
1,154
–
–
23,267
Robert-Baldwin
Lib
Lib
26,865
77.84%
20,214
58.57%
82.49%
6,651
26,865
260
–
735
34,511
Roberval
Lib
PQ
19,301
57.85%
6,541
19.61%
83.58%
19,301
12,760
1,302
–
–
33,363
Rosemont
PQ
PQ
17,137
52.69%
2,703
8.31%
82.69%
17,137
14,434
588
–
365
32,524
Rousseau
New
PQ
14,950
48.50%
2,288
7.42%
80.74%
14,950
12,662
3,107
106
–
30,825
Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue
New
PQ
15,649
54.94%
3,915
13.75%
77.94%
15,649
11,734
629
214
257
28,483
Saguenay
PQ
PQ
17,069
66.56%
8,930
34.82%
75.43%
17,069
8,139
436
–
–
25,644
Saint-François
PQ
PQ
15,990
52.08%
2,124
6.92%
82.77%
15,990
13,866
722
–
124
30,702
Saint-Henri
PQ
Lib
14,490
48.22%
71
0.24%
79.68%
14,419
14,490
778
–
361
30,048
Saint-Hyacinthe
UN
PQ
14,109
43.64%
2,597
8.03%
83.13%
14,109
11,512
6,708
–
–
32,329
Saint-Jacques
PQ
PQ
15,727
63.44%
7,585
30.60%
72.45%
15,727
8,142
443
62
417
24,791
Saint-Jean
PQ
PQ
17,687
50.97%
1,950
5.62%
83.59%
17,687
15,737
1,274
–
–
34,698
Saint-Laurent
Lib
Lib
24,176
72.21%
15,309
45.72%
80.90%
8,867
24,176
439
–
–
33,482
Saint-Louis
Lib
Lib
15,781
69.12%
9,584
41.98%
69.49%
6,197
15,781
234
123
495
22,830
Saint-Maurice
PQ
PQ
15,989
55.64%
4,863
16.92%
84.70%
15,989
11,126
1,505
79
39
28,738
Saint-Anne
PQ
Lib
11,537
50.89%
1,163
5.13%
74.98%
10,374
11,537
486
–
272
22,669
Sainte-Marie
PQ
PQ
13,667
61.35%
6,067
27.24%
75.11%
13,667
7,600
493
135
381
22,276
Sauvé
PQ
PQ
15,420
52.98%
2,377
8.17%
82.50%
15,420
13,043
550
–
94
29,107
Shefford
Lib
PQ
15,632
46.78%
727
2.18%
85.71%
15,632
14,905
2,725
–
156
33,418
Sherbrooke
PQ
PQ
16,194
52.83%
2,309
7.53%
83.00%
16,194
13,885
450
–
125
30,654
Taillon
PQ
PQ
21,535
67.59%
12,035
37.77%
83.58%
21,535
9,500
619
–
209
31,863
Taschereau
PQ
PQ
13,591
56.98%
4,207
17.64%
76.39%
13,591
9,384
566
–
310
23,851
Terrebonne
PQ
PQ
19,344
63.25%
8,981
29.36%
84.00%
19,344
10,363
878
–
–
30,585
Trois-Rivières
PQ
PQ
16,070
51.32%
1,950
6.23%
81.51%
16,070
14,120
926
83
113
31,312
Ungava
New
PQ
9,679
61.53%
3,627
23.06%
53.85%
9,679
6,052
–
–
–
15,731
Vachon
New
PQ
17,671
57.85%
5,699
18.66%
83.59%
17,671
11,972
901
–
–
30,544
Vanier
PQ
PQ
20,490
62.86%
9,217
28.27%
81.84%
20,490
11,273
655
–
180
32,598
Vaudreuil-Soulanges
PQ
Lib
18,992
51.56%
1,955
5.31%
84.92%
17,037
18,992
491
246
66
36,832
Verchères
PQ
PQ
19,272
55.98%
5,045
14.65%
87.34%
19,272
14,227
930
–
–
34,429
Verdun
Lib
Lib
17,406
61.40%
7,214
25.45%
83.49%
10,192
17,406
415
–
336
28,349
Viau
PQ
Lib
16,657
55.19%
4,103
13.60%
81.58%
12,554
16,657
574
–
394
30,179
Viger
New
Lib
18,794
59.37%
6,528
20.62%
84.64%
12,266
18,794
598
–
–
31,658
Vimont
New
PQ
16,725
56.03%
4,260
14.27%
87.90%
16,725
12,465
660
–
–
29,850
Westmount
Lib
Lib
22,636
79.87%
17,864
63.03%
77.57%
4,772
22,636
216
105
613
28,342
= open seat
= turnout is above provincial average
= winning candidate was in previous Legislature
= incumbent had switched allegiance
= previously incumbent in another riding
= not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
= incumbency arose from byelection gain
= other incumbents renominated
= previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
= multiple candidates
Analysis
Resulting composition of the 31st Quebec Legislative Assembly[ 5]
Source
Party
PQ
Lib
Total
Seats retained
Incumbents returned
49
18
67
Open seats held - new MNAs
8
3
11
Open seats held - return of previous member
1
1
Byelection loss reversed
2
2
Seats changing hands
Incumbents defeated - new MNAs
6
6
12
Incumbents defeated - return of previous members
2
2
Open seats gained
1
4
5
Byelection gain held
3
3
Incumbent changed allegiance
1
1
2
Ouster of third-party byelection gain
1
1
New ridings
New MNAs
6
6
Previous incumbent from other riding
5
4
9
Former MNA elected
1
1
Total
80
42
110
See also
References
External links
Further reading