The 1912 British Columbia general election was the thirteenth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on February 27, 1912, and held on March 28, 1912. The new legislature met for the first time on January 16, 1913.
Overview of the 1912 British Columbia General Election
The 1912 British Columbia general election marked the thirteenth electoral event for the Province of British Columbia, Canada, aimed at selecting members for the Legislative Assembly. The election was officially called on February 27, 1912, and took place on March 28, 1912. The newly elected legislature convened for the first time on January 16, 1913.
Election Results
The Conservative Party, which was in power, significantly increased its share of the popular vote, achieving nearly 60%. The party won 39 out of 42 seats in the legislature. Among the remaining seats, one was occupied by Harold Ernest Forster in Columbia, who was labeled as an Independent but was actually a Conservative candidate who missed the filing deadline. He fully supported the McBride government.
In contrast, the Liberal Party saw its vote share decline from approximately one-third to one-quarter and consequently lost both of its legislative seats.
The remaining two seats were secured by the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party, both winning in the coal-mining ridings of Nanaimo City and Newcastle.
Results by Riding
The election results by riding produced the following outcomes:
- Open seat
- Winning candidate was a member of the previous legislature
- Incumbent had switched allegiance
- Previously incumbent in another riding
- Not incumbent; previously elected to the legislature
- Incumbency arose from byelection gain
- Other incumbents renominated
- Multiple candidates participated
Further Information
For more context, the following resources may be useful:
- In the Sea of Sterile Mountains: The Chinese in British Columbia by Joseph Morton, J.J. Douglas, Vancouver (1974) – despite its title, this book offers a detailed overview of politicians and electoral politics in early British Columbia.
- The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1912 by J. Castell Hopkins (1913) – published by The Annual Review Publishing Company, Toronto.
- Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871–1986 (PDF) – a publication by Elections BC, 1988, ISBN 0-7718-8677-2.
Overview of the 1912 British Columbia General Election
The 1912 British Columbia general election marked the thirteenth electoral event for the Province of British Columbia, Canada, aimed at selecting members for the Legislative Assembly. The election was officially called on February 27, 1912, and took place on March 28, 1912. The newly elected legislature convened for the first time on January 16, 1913.
Election Results
The Conservative Party, which was in power, significantly increased its share of the popular vote, achieving nearly 60%. The party won 39 out of 42 seats in the legislature. Among the remaining seats, one was occupied by Harold Ernest Forster in Columbia, who was labeled as an Independent but was actually a Conservative candidate who missed the filing deadline. He fully supported the McBride government.
In contrast, the Liberal Party saw its vote share decline from approximately one-third to one-quarter and consequently lost both of its legislative seats.
The remaining two seats were secured by the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party, both winning in the coal-mining ridings of Nanaimo City and Newcastle.
Results by Riding
The election results by riding produced the following outcomes:
- Open seat
- Winning candidate was a member of the previous legislature
- Incumbent had switched allegiance
- Previously incumbent in another riding
- Not incumbent; previously elected to the legislature
- Incumbency arose from byelection gain
- Other incumbents renominated
- Multiple candidates participated
Further Information
For more context, the following resources may be useful:
- In the Sea of Sterile Mountains: The Chinese in British Columbia by Joseph Morton, J.J. Douglas, Vancouver (1974) – despite its title, this book offers a detailed overview of politicians and electoral politics in early British Columbia.
- The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1912 by J. Castell Hopkins (1913) – published by The Annual Review Publishing Company, Toronto.
- Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871–1986 (PDF) – a publication by Elections BC, 1988, ISBN 0-7718-8677-2.
