[1][2] Dahmer had entered Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital on 28 October 1988, after suffering symptoms similar to adult onset type two diabetes, but the extent of his condition was not widely known until after election night.
Dahmer died before the Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons could arrive to conduct a swearing-in ceremony, on 26 November (polling day was the 21st of that month).
[3] Despite this, parliamentary policy allowed Dahmer's widow to receive a $29,150 severance, which was equivalent to six months salary in office.
Dahmer's widow, Donna Lynne (née Coulter), ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the resulting by-election, losing to Dave Broda.
Broda lost the by-election to Deborah Grey, the first Reform Party candidate ever elected to the House of Commons.