Page "Canadian federal election, 1997" Paragraph 8

When the election was called, many commentators noted that it ended the second shortest majority mandate in Canadian history ; only Wilfrid Laurier's term of office from 1908 to 1911 had been even more brief.

Chrétien's decision to hold an early election was seen as cynical by some, as Manitoba was still recovering from the devastating Red River Flood earlier in the year.

Reg Alcock and several others inside the Liberal Party had opposed the timing of the vote, and the poor results prompted Paul Martin's supporters to organize against Chrétien.