Though Bowell nominally remained Prime Minister until the election was called, leadership of the Conservative Party had been functionally taken over by Sir Charles Tupper, a Father of Confederation and former Premier of Nova Scotia.

Earlier, in February 1896, Tupper introduced remedial legislation to settle the Manitoba dispute, but it was filibustered by the McCarthyites, an alliance of extreme Protestants led by Dalton McCarthy, and the Liberals.

However, the Conservatives were so bitterly divided over the Manitoba Schools Question that wherever he spoke, he was faced with a barrage of criticism, most notably at a two-hour address he gave at Massey Hall in Toronto, which was constantly interrupted by the crowd.

While the Liberals had traditionally been the party for radical change and free trade, in the 1896 election, they embraced a much more conservative platform.

Tupper's inability to persuade Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau to return to active politics as his Quebec lieutenant ended any chances of the Conservatives winning the most seats that province.

Tupper initially refused to resign as Prime Minister, insisting that Laurier would be unable to form a government.