The Manitoba general election of November 17, 1981 was held to elect members to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Canada. The New Democratic Party won the election. They won 34 out of 57 seats. The Progressive Conservative Party won the remaining 23 seats. The Manitoba Liberal Party didn't win any seats for the first time in its history. The Progressive Party (which ran for the first time), the Communist Party, and Western Canada Concept Party also ran candidates in the election. None of these parties won any seats.