September 9, 1967
Maple Leaf Gardens
Chairs: Edwin A. Goodman and Roger Régimbal (MP for Argenteuil—Deux-Montagnes, Que.)
The party had lost two straight elections to Lester Pearson and the Liberals. Party president Dalton Camp was re-elected in November 1966 and forced a controversial leadership review by the end of 1967. The party gathered in Toronto, leading to one of the most famous conventions in Canadian history.
THE CONTENDERS
Eleven men and women let their name stand.
Nova Scotia Premier Robert Stanfield promised a "broadly-based" party after joining the race on July 19 and spending about $150,000.
Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin also entered the race late and hoped for a strong showing in Quebec would combine with western support. He pledged to switch to federal politics, win or lose.
Diefenbaker himself was a last-minute addition to the ballot, spurred by his opposition to the “Deux Nations” concept adopted by a policy committee.
Several of Diefenbaker's former ministers also entered the race: Davie Fulton, George Hees, Wallace McCutcheon, Alvin Hamilton, Donald Fleming, and Michael Starr.
THE CONVENTION
More than 2,200 delegates descended on Toronto for the “Conservative Centennial Convention.”
The Deux Nations question loomed large. Identifying both English and French as Canada’s “two founding peoples” and calling for more French-language rights, the policy was proposed at an August conference in Montmorency Falls, Que.
The party’s policy committee voted for its adoption in Toronto:
"Canada is composed of the original inhabitants of this land and the two founding peoples (deux nations) with historic rights, who have been, and continue to be joined by people from many lands."
Diefenbaker supporters lost a bid to have the entire convention debate the policy; the Montreal Gazette reported “shouting matches and even fist fights” over Deux Nations.
In the end, the report was considered “tabled” instead of “presented” as party policy, according to the Gazette.
Diefenbaker’s “tribute speech in front of 12,000-plus called on Tories to avoid both extreme right-wing policies and the Deux Nations concept, which he said would “destroy” Confederation and lead him to abandon the party leadership. His second convention speech lasted only five minutes out of a possible 19.
Fulton called for an equal partnership between English and French Canada.
Hees: “My platform? Victory.”
Roblin said: “We must not let words divide us.”
Stanfield delivered a well-received speech to a policy session and was seen to increase his support as the convention went along, replacing Roblin as the man to beat.
THE VOTE
There were 2,256 eligible delegates. For the first time, nominated federal candidates and provincial executive members were given automatic status.
Voting at the 20 machines on the arena floor was delayed by more than two hours because of photocopier issues.
Diefenbaker entered at the last minute, hoping for 800 first-ballot votes. He received barely a third of that number.
Stanfield and Roblin led after the first ballot – a trend that continued to the end.
Nine candidates remained for the next round of voting. Diefenbaker lost 36 per cent of his first-ballot support. McCutcheon pledged himself to Stanfield. Roblin’s made a second-ballot gain, while McCutcheon moved to Stanfield.
Stanfield and Roblin continued to separate from the pack on the third ballot. Diefenbaker and Hees withdrew, with the former prime minister leaving the building and Hees supporting Stanfield. Fleming was eliminated, which was viewed as a boon to Roblin’s delegate count. Stanfield won over many undecided voters on the floor.
Roblin closed the gap to 94 votes on the fourth ballot. Fulton moved to Stanfield after 10 minutes of discussion with aides in a back hallway; Hamilton joined Roblin’s camp.
The 53-year-old Stanfield finally passed the 50-per-cent threshold on the fifth ballot, announced at 10:25 p.m.
Diefenbaker congratulated the victor on-stage. “My course has come to an end,” he said.
MORE
- Starr served as interim leader in the House of Commons until Stanfield won a November by-election in Colchester—Hants, N.S.
- Ted Rogers helped officially nominate Diefenbaker.
- Delegates voted for a renewed continued commitment to NATO and European security. The policy committee eliminated a pledge to allow a $500 deduction in municipal property tax against federal income tax and recommended immediate recognition of the People's Republic of China. Policy decisions, however, were non-binding on the leader and caucus. Future Ontario premier Bill Davis chaired the committee.
- Stanfield had famed musician and TV star Don Messer play at a campaign party.
- More than two million Canadians watched part of the voting on TV on Sept. 9 -- representing 16 per cent of the adult population -- according to political scientist John C. Courtney.
- Registration was $25 for voting delegates, $15 for alternates, and $10 for students, observers, and guests. The party reserved 6,816 beds across Toronto.
