Hilda Watson, the first woman ever to lead a political party into an election in Canada, was the leader of the Progressive Conservatives.

Although the party won the election, Watson herself was defeated in Kluane by Liberal candidate Alice McGuire, and thus did not become government leader.

Under Penikett's leadership, an MLA who had been elected as an independent in 1978 joined the NDP, and the party won a by-election.

With its caucus increased to three members, the NDP had thus supplanted the Liberals as the official opposition by the time of the 1982 election.

Art Pearson would later resign as Commissioner after pleading guilty to charges related to improper mining claim transfers and was replaced with Frank Fingland.