1963 British Columbia general election

September 30, 1963
52 seats of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 27 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party   NDP Leader W. A. C. Bennett Robert Strachan Party Social Credit New Democratic Leader since 1952 1956 Leader's seat South Okanagan Cowichan-Newcastle Last election 32 seats, 38.83% 16 seats, 32.73% Seats won 33 14 Seat change 1 2 Popular vote 395,079 269,004 Percentage 40.83% 27.80% Swing 2.00pp 4.93pp   Third party Fourth party   BCLP Leader Ray Perrault Davie Fulton Party Liberal Progressive Conservative Leader since 1959 1960 Leader's seat North Vancouver Ran in Kamloops (lost) Last election 4 seats, 20.90% 0 seats, 6.72% Seats won 5 0 Seat change 1 0 Popular vote 193,363 109,090 Percentage 19.98% 11.27% Swing 0.92pp 4.55pp
Premier before election W. A. C. Bennett Social Credit Premier after election W. A. C. Bennett Social Credit

The 1963 British Columbia general election was the 27th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 22, 1963, and held on September 30, 1963. The new legislature met for the first time on January 23, 1964.

The conservative Social Credit Party of Premier W.A.C. Bennett was re-elected with a majority in the legislature to a fifth term in government. The party increased its share of the popular vote and number of seats in the legislature marginally.

The opposition New Democratic Party (formerly the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation) had small losses both in popular vote and number of seats.

The Liberals won about 20% of the popular vote, and one additional seat, for a total of five.

The Progressive Conservative Party won no seats in the legislature increasing its share of the popular vote by four-and-half percentage points to over 11%.

Results

Note:

* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.

Results by riding

See also

• List of British Columbia political parties

Further reading

• Saywell, John T., ed. (1964). Canadian Annual Review for 1963. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.