The 1990 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election was held on 23 June 1990 in Calgary, Alberta. The party chose former Deputy Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as its new leader, replacing the outgoing leader, former Prime Minister John Turner.

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1990 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election

← 1984 23 June 1990 2003 →

Candidate Jean Chrétien Paul Martin Delegate count 2,652 1,176 Percentage 56.8% 25.19%   Candidate Sheila Copps Tom Wappel Delegate count 499 267 Percentage 10.69% 5.72%

Leader before election John Turner Elected Leader Jean Chrétien

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The 1988 Canadian federal election had seen the Liberals recover somewhat from their nadir in 1984, but the ruling Progressive Conservatives were still returned with a strong majority, with the Liberals finishing behind the Tories or New Democratic Party in seat counts everywhere except for Atlantic Canada and the Northwest Territories. While the Liberals had led the polls for much of the campaign, their lead ultimately faltered after the Tories relentlessly attacked Turner's personal credibility in the closing weeks.^[1]

In May 1989, with the Liberals still only about level with the Tories in the polls despite the increasing unpopularity of Brian Mulroney's government, and remaining far behind in their former stronghold of Quebec (where they had lost even further ground at the previous year's election, despite otherwise improving their vote share across the country), Turner announced his intention to stand down as party leader the following year, once a new leadership election had taken place.^[2] He initially refused calls (mostly from Chrétien supporters) to resign immediately and hand over to an interim leader, citing the ongoing national debate over the Meech Lake Accord, but as a compromise he agreed to give up his position as opposition leader in February 1990, with Herb Gray taking over and assuming many of the duties of party leader despite Turner legally remaining in the role.^[3]

• Clifford Lincoln, 61, had been Quebec Minister of the Environment in the provincial Liberal government of Robert Bourassa until resigning due to a dispute over language policy. He announced his candidacy for the federal Liberal leadership but withdrew after he was defeated in his attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons in the February 12, 1990 Chambly by-election.

• Lloyd Axworthy, 50, MP for Winnipeg South Centre (and previously Winnipeg—Fort Garry) since 1979. He had previously served as the Minister of Transport under Trudeau and then Turner. Though he was believed to have some support in the western provinces as one of only six Liberal MPs elected west of Ontario in 1988 (and, along with Turner, one of only two elected to a Western Canada seat in 1984), he declined to put himself forward as a candidate and ultimately supported Chrétien.
• Herb Gray, 59, MP for Windsor West since 1968. He ultimately decided against running, but served as the party's parliamentary leader from February until December 1990, when Chrétien won the Beauséjour by-election and returned to parliament.