1968 leaders' debate (excerpt)
Broadcast Date: June 9, 1968
The leaders of Canada's four national parties spar on their biggest stage yet as CBC hosts Canada's first televised debate. In this segment from the 1968 debate, Tommy Douglas, Pierre Trudeau, Robert Stanfield and Réal Caouette answer a question regarding the effectiveness of a minority government, should they be elected with one.1968 leaders' debate (excerpt)
• Canada had several minority governments between 1962 and 1974.
• In 1962, the Progressive Conservatives were re-elected to a minority government under John Diefenbaker. The party had won the 1958 election with a huge majority of seats in the House of Commons.
• In 1963, the Liberals were elected, seven seats shy of a majority under Lester Pearson. They were subsequently re-elected to another minority in 1965.
• The Social Credit party, led by Robert Thompson, split into a Quebec contingent called the Ralliement creditiste, or Social Credit Rally. They won nine seats in 1965 under the leadership of Réal Caouette.
• In 1972, the Liberals were re-elected to a minority government under Pierre Trudeau. The Progressive Conservatives under Robert Stanfield became the Official Oppositiion, with the NDP and Social Credit parties holding the balance of power.
• Two years later, Canadians voted for a majority government led by the Liberals under Pierre Trudeau.
• Ron Collister, who was the long-time Ottawa correspondent for the CBC, ran as a candidate for the Tories, in the riding of York-Scarborough during the 1974 election. He lost by 8,739 votes.
1968 leaders' debate (excerpt)
Medium: Television
Program: CBC Television News Special
Broadcast Date: June 9, 1968
Guest(s): Réal Caouette, Tommy Douglas, Robert Stanfield, Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Panellist: Ron Collister
Duration: 6:23
Last updated:
Sept. 26, 2008
1968 leaders' debate (excerpt).
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: Sept. 26, 2008.
[Page consulted on Feb. 13, 2012.]