1916 British Columbia general election

The 1916 British Columbia general election was the fourteenth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 5, 1916, and held on September 14, 1916. The new legislature met for the first time on March 1, 1917.

1916 British Columbia general election
September 14, 1916
47 seats of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
24 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Harlan Carey Brewster William John Bowser
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader since 1912 1915
Leader's seat Alberni Vancouver City
Last election 0 39
Seats won 36 9
Seat change 36 30
Popular vote 89,892 72,842
Percentage 50.00% 40.52%
Swing 24.63pp 19.13pp
Premier before election

William John Bowser
Conservative

 Premier after election

Harlan Carey Brewster
Liberal

A 1916 Act of the Legislature provided for the life of the Assembly to be extended to five years, and members of the clergy were no longer disqualified from being elected as MLAs.

The Liberal Party defeated the governing Conservative Party, winning 50% of the vote, almost double its share from the previous election. The Liberals won 36 of the 47 seats in the legislature.

The Conservatives' popular vote fell from almost 60% to just over 40%, and took nine seats, forming the Official Opposition.

Two other seats were won by independents.

Soldiers serving overseas were able to vote in the election, and their votes were cast between August 5 and Election Day.

Two referendums were also held on Election Day (concerning Prohibition and women's suffrage), but their results were not announced until later in the year.

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