1911 Canadian federal election

1911 Canadian federal election

September 21, 1911

221 seats in the House of Commons
111 seats needed for a majority
Turnout70.2% ( 0.1 pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Robert Borden Wilfrid Laurier
Party Conservative Liberal
Leader since 1901 1887
Leader's seat Halifax Soulanges
Quebec East
Last election 85 seats, 46.2% 133 seats, 48.9%
Seats won 132 85
Seat change 47 48
Popular vote 632,539 596,871
Percentage 48.56% 45.82%
Swing 2.35 pp 3.05 pp


The Canadian parliament after the 1911 election

Prime Minister before election

Wilfrid Laurier
Liberal

Prime Minister after election

Robert Borden
Conservative

The 1911 Canadian federal election was held on September 21, 1911, to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 12th Parliament of Canada.

The central issue was Liberal support for a proposed agreement with the United States president William Howard Taft to lower tariffs. The Conservative Party denounced it with claims it would weaken ties with Britain, hurt the Canadian economy and Canadian identity, and lead to American annexation of Canada. The idea of a Canadian Navy was also an issue.

The Conservatives won, and Robert Borden became the eighth prime minister. The election ended 15 years of government by the Liberal Party of Wilfrid Laurier.