1988 Canadian Federal Election

Canada held a snap election on November 21, 1988. All 295 seats in the House of Commons were up for election, and a party needed at least 148 seats to secure a majority government. After reapportionment in 1987, there were 13 additional ridings in this election compared to the previous election in 1984.

Incumbent Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservative government negotiated a free-trade deal with the United States in the late 1980s. While the agreement had support to pass the House, the Liberal-controlled Senate wouldn't consider the bill until Mulroney called a general election.

Mulroney's party lost 42 seats compared to their landslide election win in 1984, but retained a comfortable majority government. The Liberals gained nearly as many seats as the PCs lost, while the New Democratic Party posted nearly a dozen gains.

This would be the last time a centre-right party would form government until 2006. As of 2025, this is the most recent election in which only three parties were elected to parliament.