1943 Prince Edward Island general election

September 15, 1943 (1943-09-15)
All 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island 16 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader J. Walter Jones William J. P. MacMillan Party Liberal Progressive Conservative Leader since 1943 1933 Leader's seat 4th Queens 5th Queens Last election 27 seats, 53.0% 3 seats, 47.0% Seats won 20 10 Seat change 7 7 Popular vote 35,396 31,849 Percentage 51.3% 46.1% Swing 1.7pp 0.9pp
Map of PEI's ridings coloured in based on how they voted
Premier before election J. Walter Jones Liberal Premier after election J. Walter Jones Liberal

The 1943 Prince Edward Island general election was held in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island on September 15, 1943.^[1]

The governing Liberals of Premier J. Walter Jones lost seven seats to the Progressive Conservatives led by former Premier William J.P. MacMillan, but were able to retain a strong majority in the Legislature. Jones became Premier in May 1943 following the elevation of his predecessor Thane Campbell to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.

This election featured the first appearance of the democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in provincial Island politics. Though they had formed an association in 1936, they did not run any candidates provincially until this election. The CCF ran nine candidates throughout the Island and earned just over 2% of the popular vote, though no seats.

This election also took place during the Second World War.

Party Standings

Members Elected

The Legislature of Prince Edward Island had two levels of membership from 1893 to 1996 - Assemblymen and Councillors. This was a holdover from when the Island had a bicameral legislature, the General Assembly and the Legislative Council.

In 1893, the Legislative Council was abolished and had its membership merged with the Assembly, though the two titles remained separate and were elected by different electoral franchises. Assembleymen were elected by all eligible voters of within a district, while Councillors were only elected by landowners within a district.^[2]

Sources