The 1969 British Columbia election was held on August 27, 1969, 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 seventh consecutive term in office.
The election saw the Social Credit Party win 38 of the 55 seats in the legislature, compared to 12 seats for the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Tom Berger, and five seats for the Liberal Party. The Social Credit Party's victory was a surprise to many observers, as the party had been in power in British Columbia since 1952 and had faced increasing criticism and opposition in the years leading up to the election.
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. Premier W.A.C. 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. However, the party also faced criticism for its handling of social and environmental issues, such as the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the impact of resource development on the environment.
The NDP won 12 seats in the election, an increase from their previous performance in the province, but still fell short of their goal of forming the government. The NDP campaign was led by Tom Berger, and focused on issues such as social justice, environmental protection, and public ownership of resources.
The Liberal Party, led by Patrick Lucey McGeer, won five seats in the election, making them the third largest party in the legislature. The party's campaign focused on issues such as environmental protection, healthcare, and education.
Despite the NDP's relatively low seat count, the 1969 election was still a significant moment in the party's history in British Columbia, as it marked the beginning of a shift in the province's political landscape. The NDP would go on to win the 1972 election, forming the government under Dave Barrett, and would continue to be a major force in British Columbia politics in the years to come.
| 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 |
| 1969 | 55 | SC | 0% | 0 | 19% | 5 | 34% | 12 | 47% | 38 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 |
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Reference: Article by Greg Scott (Staff Historian), 2023
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