Thursday, April 10, 2014

Federal by-elections by parliament

There have been more by-elections in this parliament than in a long time.  We still have 18 months till the next election but we have already had nine by-elections and are waiting of five more.   It is likely we will see another three to five more vacancies before the next election.

This will be the most by-elections in a parliament we will have had since the 30th parliament from 1974 to 1979.  Minority parliaments tend to have fewer by-elections not only because they are shorter but also because no party wants to lose any MPs when the numbers are close.

Parliament  # of by-elect # by death  Govt
41st 2011-now    14           2       CPC Maj
40th 2008-11      7           0       CPC Min
39th 2006-08      9           1       CPC Min
38th 2004-06      1           1       Lib Min
37th 2000-04     12           0       Lib Maj
36th 1997-00     10           1       Lib Maj
35th 1993-97     10           1       Lib Maj
34th 1988-93      6           2       PC Maj
33rd 1984-88      6           0       PC Maj
32nd 1980-84     12           4       Lib Maj
31st 1979-80      2           1       PC Min
30th 1974-79     25           3       Lib Maj
29th 1972-74      0           0       Lib Min
28th 1968-72     11           5       Lib Maj

Reasons for vacancies
10 run for provincial legislature
9 run for local government
8 death
7 appointed to senate
5 various other political reasons
5 various other personal reasons
4 to take a private sector job
4 retirement
4 illness or family illness
4 appointed ambassador
4 to allow a new leader to run
3 provincial appointment

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