Some Historical Perspective on Canada's Election

The first election I was actively interested in took place on March 31, 1958.  There was lots of excitement in my rural Alberta community about a real Westerner, John Diefenbaker, having a chance to form a majority government and, perhaps, do some things that would help the Western economy, especially we farm families.  Now the May 2, 2011 Canadian election has produced some historic results so, some comparisons:

1958 - Liberals reduced to 48 seats - a then record low - and a popular vote of 33.4%but Lester Pearson, new to the leadership, stayed on and would win Liberal minorities in 1963 and 1965.
2011 - Liberals reduced to 34 seats, a record low - and also a record low popular vote 18.9%. Michael Ignatieff has resigned.

1958 - Conservatives win 208 seats, an increase of 97 seats.  Their 50 seats in Quebec were populated with many who had no experience and few qualifications. John Diefenbaker's inability to integrate most of those 50 into effective members of the Conservative caucus eventually cost him, and, one might argue, the country, dearly.
2011 - New Democrats win 105 seats, an increase of 65 seats.  Their 58 seats in Quebec are populated by many who have no experience and few qualifications. Jack Layton faces a huge challenge in integrating Quebec MPs into effective members of his caucus without alienating support for the NDP in other regions of Canada (where one might notice they only hold 47 seats or about 20% of the total).

1958 - Newfoundland and Labrador - despite national majority, Conservatives win only 2 of 7 seats.
2011 - Newfoundland and Labrador - despite national majority, Conservatives win only 1 of 7 seats.

1958 - Alberta - Conservatives win 17 of 17 seats. A swing from 13 of 17 for Social Credit in the previous election.  There have been few non-conservatives since.
2011 - Alberta - Conservatives win 27 of 28 seats.

1958 - 4 Western provinces combined: Conservatives win 65 of 70 seats.  This was an historic break through for the Conservatives and the legacy of Diefenbaker's victory still energizes the Conservative vote in the West although he has long since failed to get credit for it.
2011 - 4 Western provinces combined: Conservatives win 72 of 91 seats.

1958 - 4 Western provinces combined: Liberals win 0 of 70 seats.
2011 - 4 Western provinces combined: Liberals win 4 of 91 seats.

There were 2 Liberal votes cast at the polling station at our Golden Valley School in 1958 and I remember my parents speculating as to who might be so much out of the norm to have done such a thing.  It helped me to understand that there is never 100% unanimity. 

Now in 2011 there is again an air of expectancy that something good might come out of this result.  It would be suitably humbling if any of our current MP elects knew their history and could so conduct themselves that 53 years from now (2064) Canadians can look back with appreciation for what that generation of 2011 accomplished.