In British Columbia, impetus was created by the anomalous provincial election result in 1996, in which the NDP won reelection as a majority government with 39.5% of the vote and 39 seats, despite gaining 3% fewer votes than the Liberals at 41.8% of the total and 33 seats. The balance of the vote was picked up by the Reform Party, which won 9.3% of the vote (two seats) and the Progressive Democrats with 5.7% of the vote (one seat), representing a perfect example of vote-splitting by conservative and liberal parties leading the NDP to majority status. There followed another lopsided election in 2001, in which the Liberals won 77 out of 79 seats, virtually wiping out the opposition, with 57% of the vote.