<P> In Canada's parliamentary system of responsible government, minority governments occur when no party has a majority of seats in the legislature . Typically, but not necessarily, the party with a plurality of seats forms the government . In a minority situation, governments must rely on the support of other parties to stay in power, providing less stability than a majority government . In Canada, political parties rarely form official coalition governments to form a majority . </P> <P> Canada's plurality voting system means that minority governments are relatively rare in comparison with countries that have a proportional representation voting system . There have, however, been several minority governments at the federal level and in nine of Canada's 10 provinces at various times . </P> <P> Canada has had 13 minority governments, most recently experiencing its longest period of minority government with three successive minority governments between 2004 and 2011 . </P> <Ul> <Li> Alexander Mackenzie (1873--1874, Liberal) </Li> <Li> William Lyon Mackenzie King (1921--25, 1925--26, Liberal) </Li> <Li> Arthur Meighen (1926, Conservative) </Li> <Li> John Diefenbaker (1957--58, 1962--63, Progressive Conservative) </Li> <Li> Lester Pearson (1963--65, 1965--68, Liberal) </Li> <Li> Pierre Trudeau (1972--74, Liberal) </Li> <Li> Joe Clark (1979--80, Progressive Conservative) </Li> <Li> Paul Martin (2004--06, Liberal) </Li> <Li> Stephen Harper (2006--08, 2008--11, Conservative) </Li> </Ul>

When was the last minority government in canada