The 1963 British Columbia election was held on April 17, 1963, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. The election was won by the Social Credit Party, led by Premier W.A.C. Bennett, who was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term in office.
In the 1963 British Columbia election, the Social Credit Party, led by Premier W.A.C. Bennett, won 33 of the 55 seats in the legislature, the NDP won 14 seats, and the Liberal Party won five seats.
The election was notable for the controversy surrounding W.A.C. Bennett's accusation that the CCF was "Communist dominated," which I mentioned earlier. The CCF, which later became the NDP, was able to increase its seat count from the previous election, but still fell short of forming the government.
The campaign was marked by debates over issues such as economic growth, social and environmental policy, and the role of government in promoting the public good. The Social Credit Party's campaign focused on issues such as economic development and the construction of hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure projects. The NDP's campaign focused on issues such as social justice, environmental protection, and public ownership of resources. The Liberal Party campaigned on issues such as healthcare, education, and social services.
Overall, the 1963 British Columbia election was a significant moment in the province's political history, as it demonstrated the continued dominance of the Social Credit Party and the growing influence of the NDP and the Liberal Party.
The campaign was notable for several events, including a speech by W.A.C. Bennett in which he accused the CCF of being "Communist dominated." The accusation sparked a controversy, with the CCF denying the charge and accusing Bennett of using scare tactics to win the election.
The campaign was also marked by debates over economic and social issues, including the role of government in promoting economic growth, the provision of healthcare and education, and the development of natural resources. The Social Credit Party's campaign focused on issues such as economic growth and development, including the construction of hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure projects. Bennett was a charismatic and controversial figure in British Columbia politics, and his government's policies had helped to create jobs and grow the economy.
The CCF's campaign focused on issues such as social justice, environmental protection, and public ownership of resources. The party criticized the Social Credit government's policies on healthcare and education and argued that the province needed a more balanced approach to economic growth that prioritized social and environmental concerns.
The British Columbia Liberal Party, which was a centrist party, focused its campaign on issues such as healthcare, education, and social services, and positioned itself as a moderate alternative to the more ideologically driven Social Credit and CCF parties.
Overall, the 1963 British Columbia election was significant for its debates over economic and social issues and for the controversy surrounding W.A.C. Bennett's accusation that the CCF was "Communist dominated." The election demonstrated the continued dominance of the Social Credit Party in British Columbia and the growing influence of the Liberal and CCF parties.
| Party | Party leader | Elected |
| Social Credit | W.A.C. Bennett | 38 |
| New Democrats | Tom Berger | 12 |
| Liberal | Patrick Lucey McGeer | 5 |
| Progressive Conservative | John DeWolf | - |
| Independent | - | |
| Communist | - | |
| Social Conservative | - | |
| Total | 55 |
| Conservative | Liberal | NDP | Social Credit | Green | Others | |||||||||
| Year | Seats | Winner | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats |
| 1963 | 52 | SC | 11% | 0 | 20% | 5 | 28% | 14 | 41% | 33 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 |
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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2023
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