1956 British Columbia general election

1956 British Columbia general election

← 1953 September 19, 1956 1960 →

52 seats of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
27 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader W. A. C. Bennett Robert Strachan Arthur Laing
Party Social Credit CCF Liberal
Leader since 1952 1956 1953
Leader's seat South Okanagan Cowichan-Newcastle Vancouver-Point Grey (lost re-election)
Last election 28 14 4
Seats won 39 10 2
Seat change Increase 11 Decrease 4 Decrease 2
Popular vote 374,711 231,511 177,922
Percentage 45.84% 28.32% 21.77%
Swing Increase 8.09 Decrease 2.53 Decrease 1.82

Premier before election

W. A. C. Bennett
Social Credit

Premier after election

W. A. C. Bennett
Social Credit

The 1956 British Columbia general election was the 25th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on August 13, 1956, and held on September 19, 1956. The new legislature met for the first time on February 7, 1957.

The conservative Social Credit of Premier W.A.C. Bennett was re-elected with a majority in the legislature to a third term in government with over 45% of the popular vote.

The social democratic CCF formed the official opposition.

The British Columbia Liberal Party lost two of its four seats despite winning over 20% of the popular vote.

The Progressive Conservative Party lost its single seat in the legislature, and would not win a seat again until the 1972 election.

One seat was won by a Labour candidate, Tom Uphill of Fernie.