Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald's Conservative Party remained in power, defeating the Liberals.

The support of two independent Conservative MPs functionally gave Macdonald an extremely slim majority that allowed it to survive for two years, until it fell due to scandal.

The party had no formal leader as such until 1873 when Alexander Mackenzie was given the title after Blake declined due to ill health.

By-elections had been held in both provinces to elect Members of Parliament in the newly created ridings, with Manitoba receiving four seats and British Columbia six.

(In 1870 Canada had also expanded to include the current provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Territories, but no MPs were elected there until 1887.)