1955 Ontario general election

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1955 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1951 June 9, 1955 1959  

98 seats in the 25th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
50 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Leslie Frost Premier of Ontario.jpg Farquhar Oliver.JPG Donald C. Macdonald crop.JPG
Leader Leslie Frost Farquhar Oliver Donald C. MacDonald
Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Co-operative Commonwealth
Leader since April 27, 1949 April 9, 1954 November 21, 1953
Leader's seat Victoria Grey South York South
Last election7982
Seats won83113
Seat changeIncrease2.svg4Increase2.svg3Increase2.svg1
Percentage48.5%33.3%16.5%
Swing±0.0pp Decrease2.svg1.8pp Decrease2.svg2.6pp

Premier before election

Leslie Frost
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Leslie Frost
Progressive Conservative

The 1955 Ontario general election was held on June 9, 1955, to elect the 98 members of the 25th Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the Province of Ontario. [1]

Contents

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by Leslie Frost, won a fifth consecutive term in office, increasing its caucus in the legislature from 79 in the previous election to 83.

The Ontario Liberal Party, again led by Farquhar Oliver, won three additional seats in the enlarged legislature, increasing its caucus from 8 to 11, and continuing in the role of official opposition. Liberal-Labour MPP Albert Wren was re-elected and continued to sit with the Liberal caucus.

The social democratic Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), led by Donald C. MacDonald, won one additional seat, for a total of three.

The Labor-Progressive Party (which was the Communist Party) lost its last remaining seat with the defeat of J.B. Salsberg.

James Shannon Dempsey (Renfrew South) had his endorsement as a PC candidate withdrawn because of controversy over a political gift, [2] but he was reelected as an Independent PC.

Pre-election developments

Franchise reform

The Election Act, 1951 [3] was significantly amended in 1954, [4] providing for the following changes to the right to vote in Ontario:

  • removal of the disqualification from voting for having been paid to act on behalf of a candidate [5]
  • removal of the disqualification from voting for being an inmate maintained in a home for the aged or a house of industry [6]
  • extension of the franchise to all Indians living in the province, whether enfranchised or not under the Indian Act [7]
  • removal from the voters' list for temporary absence because of being a student, a mariner, or a member of the Canadian, Commonwealth or allied forces [8]

Expansion of Legislative Assembly

For the first time since the 1934 election, the number of seats in the Legislature was adjusted, rising from 90 to 98. [9] The following changes were made:

Campaign

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1955) [10]
CandidatesPCLibLLCCFI-PCLab-PrIndI-LibSCS-LabTotal
21716134
34644246111141
4313131274124
5333311115
Total97942811315111314

Results

[10]

Elections to the 25th Parliament of Ontario (1955)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1951 Dissol. 1955±#%± (pp)
Progressive Conservative Leslie Frost 9779834Increase2.svg846,59248.06%0.40Decrease2.svg
Liberal Farquhar Oliver 947103Increase2.svg577,77432.80%1.74Increase2.svg
Co-operative Commonwealth Donald C. MacDonald 81231Increase2.svg291,41016.54%2.56Decrease2.svg
Labor–Progressive Stewart Smith 3111Decrease2.svg20,8751.19%0.52Increase2.svg
Liberal–Labour 211Steady2.svg7,3050.41%0.04Decrease2.svg
Independent PC111Increase2.svg7,0330.40%0.34Increase2.svg
Independent 59,1690.52%0.41Increase2.svg
Independent Liberal16410.04%New
Independent Social Credit16020.03%New
Socialist Labour 11240.01%Decrease2.svg
Independent Labour Did not campaign
Vacant
Total3149090981,761,525100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots22,622
Registered voters / turnout2,905,76061.40%4.17Decrease2.svg
Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
  Progressive Conservative
83 / 98
48.06%
-0.40
 
  Liberal
10 / 98
32.80%
1.741.74
 
  Co-operative Commonwealth
3 / 98
16.54%
-2.56
 
 Other
2 / 98
2.60%
1.221.22
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1955 Ontario general election [10]
RidingWinning partyTurnout
[a 1]
Votes
Name [a 2] 1951 PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
PC/UPCLib/LLCCFLab-PrIndOthTotal
 
Algoma—Manitoulin PCPC5,72544.37%9006.98%69.54%5,7254,8252,35212,902
Brant LibLib8,58252.06%3,25119.72%60.28%5,3318,5822,57116,484
Brantford LibLib7,11039.55%3722.07%71.81%6,7387,1103,92820017,976
Bruce PCLib8,60954.43%1,91812.13%83.40%6,6918,60951815,818
Carleton PCPC5,15363.65%2,21027.30%55.97%5,1532,9438,096
Cochrane North PCPC5,94354.02%3,31030.09%64.55%5,9432,4252,63311,001
Cochrane South CCFPC11,90449.43%6122.54%65.23%11,90411,29288724,083
Dufferin—Simcoe PCPC7,77862.09%3,73129.78%57.70%7,7784,04770212,527
Durham PCPC6,93953.36%2,32717.89%67.15%6,9394,6121,45413,005
Elgin PCPC9,74160.89%5,38733.68%59.40%9,7414,3541,90215,997
Essex North LibLib10,20038.79%6492.47%66.30%9,55110,2006,54626,297
Essex South PCPC8,08056.71%1,91213.42%60.45%8,0806,16814,248
Fort William PCPC8,86846.78%3,95020.84%71.05%8,8684,7884,91838318,957
Frontenac—Addington [a 3] PCPC6,50862.39%3,11429.85%65.67%6,5083,39452910,431
Glengarry PCPC5,63561.48%2,10422.95%74.41%5,6353,5319,166
Grenville—Dundas PCPC7,92163.56%3,37927.11%59.61%7,9214,54212,463
Grey North PCPC8,91052.74%1,87611.10%81.23%8,9107,03495016,894
Grey South LibLib6,80051.58%1,62112.30%81.48%5,1796,8001,20413,183
Haldimand—Norfolk PCPC12,91456.73%4,07417.90%71.41%12,9148,8401,01122,765
Halton PCPC8,37347.31%2,46113.90%54.89%8,3735,9123,41417,699
Hamilton Centre PCPC8,42744.72%2,58013.69%47.08%8,4273,6885,84788218,844
Hamilton East PCPC7,44436.13%8544.14%56.90%7,4445,8986,59067420,606
Hamilton—Wentworth PCPC9,76958.69%5,71334.32%57.75%9,7694,0562,46735416,646
Hastings East PCPC5,99960.47%2,48125.01%66.70%5,9993,5184039,920
Hastings West PCPC11,01760.95%5,21928.88%63.67%11,0175,7981,25918,074
Huron PCPC7,89055.27%1,50510.54%79.31%7,8906,38514,275
Huron—Bruce PCPC7,24455.67%1,47511.33%81.18%7,2445,76913,013
Kenora LLLL5,26642.22%1281.03%65.83%5,1385,266 [a 4] 2,06812,472
Kent East PCLib6,94052.76%7255.51%77.99%6,2156,94013,155
Kent West PCPC10,39954.58%3,27217.17%58.04%10,3997,1271,52619,052
Kingston*PCPC10,61457.09%3,36418.09%65.38%10,6147,25072818,592
Lambton East PCPC6,85556.41%1,55712.81%71.53%6,8555,29812,153
Lambton West PCPC10,76756.45%4,92425.82%59.81%10,7675,8432,46219,072
Lanark PCPC11,20674.85%7,44149.70%68.90%11,2063,76514,971
Leeds PCPC10,63263.34%4,47926.68%68.96%10,6326,15316,785
Lincoln PCPC15,90350.28%5,20416.45%54.94%15,90310,6993,86951964131,631
London North NewPC9,02247.70%1,6488.71%61.21%9,0227,3742,51818,914
London South NewPC8,73545.85%2,50413.14%53.69%8,7356,2313,48959519,050
Middlesex North PCPC5,07751.38%5635.70%74.36%5,0774,5142919,882
Middlesex South PCPC9,43456.72%2,23513.44%67.64%9,4347,19916,633
Muskoka PCPC5,25647.63%5354.85%77.27%5,2564,7211,05811,035
Niagara Falls LibPC10,35448.72%2,0789.78%57.67%10,3548,2762,30531621,251
Nickel Belt NewPC7,08837.98%1,91310.25%71.14%7,0885,1752,0394,35918,661
Nipissing PCPC8,72351.04%3,70821.69%60.56%8,7235,0152,96538917,092
Northumberland PCPC10,20063.20%4,76729.54%75.12%10,2005,43350716,140
Ontario CCFPC7,24849.97%1,88212.97%69.05%7,2485,3661,89214,506
Oshawa NewCCF9,11441.16%2,31310.45%61.80%6,8015,9669,11426122,142
Ottawa East LibPC8,68851.32%1,1026.51%47.03%8,6887,58665416,928
Ottawa South PCPC14,15153.94%3,16712.07%53.21%14,15110,98482627326,234
Ottawa West NewPC8,51357.90%3,46723.58%56.76%8,5135,0461,14414,703
Oxford PCLib11,78148.03%1,0534.29%72.69%10,72811,7812,01724,526
Parry Sound PCPC6,49259.58%3,65033.50%69.78%6,4922,8421,56210,896
Peel PCPC13,29650.56%4,60017.49%60.38%13,2968,6964,30526,297
Perth PCPC12,24753.43%1,5746.87%69.17%12,24710,67322,920
Peterborough PCPC11,56151.63%3,65216.31%58.97%11,5617,9092,92022,390
Port Arthur PCPC9,51742.52%1,7767.94%68.38%9,5174,3477,74177522,380
Prescott PCPC6,38560.26%2,17520.53%65.85%6,3854,21010,595
Prince Edward—Lennox PCPC7,00360.29%2,39020.58%59.15%7,0034,61311,616
Rainy River PCPC4,97760.08%2,93835.47%67.86%4,9772,0391,2688,284
Renfrew North PCPC8,21552.34%2,14713.68%70.34%8,2156,0681,41115,694
Renfrew South PCI-PC7,03350.72%7085.11%77.83%7,033 [a 5] 6,32550913,867
Russell PCPC10,39265.27%4,86230.54%43.05%10,3925,53015,922
Stormont LibLib10,57755.51%2,70214.18%66.60%7,87510,57760219,054
Sault Ste. Marie PCPC7,71641.77%1,93110.45%63.68%7,7164,5175,78545318,471
Simcoe Centre PCPC8,30557.39%2,13914.78%62.45%8,3056,16614,471
Simcoe East PCPC8,43654.69%2,79218.10%66.83%8,4365,6441,34615,426
Sudbury PCPC8,95739.73%9804.35%71.08%8,9577,9771,6573,95422,545
Temiskaming PCPC6,32260.24%2,15020.49%73.63%6,3224,17210,494
Victoria PCPC10,63069.61%7,45548.82%68.59%10,6303,1751,46515,270
Waterloo North PCLib14,43644.65%2,1606.68%62.50%12,27614,4365,62332,335
Waterloo South PCPC8,29039.97%1,7558.46%68.98%8,2905,9156,53520,740
Welland PCPC11,81544.33%2,4099.04%66.90%11,8159,4064,64578726,653
Wellington—Dufferin [a 6] PCPC7,72053.53%1,65111.45%77.71%7,7206,06963414,423
Wellington South PCLib9,92448.38%1,9689.59%76.20%7,9569,9242,63420,514
Wentworth PCPC6,82140.77%1,4378.59%57.81%6,8215,3844,20132416,730
Wentworth East NewCCF6,50541.44%1,94912.42%51.34%4,5564,2946,50534115,696
Windsor—Walkerville PCPC7,28947.22%2,88018.66%61.46%7,2893,1404,40959815,436
Windsor—Sandwich PCPC10,18654.42%5,91131.58%52.50%10,1864,2754,25618,717
York Centre NewPC12,73137.72%1,1053.27%56.94%12,73111,6268,74265633,755
York East PCPC18,93145.86%7,56318.32%52.69%18,93111,36810,98241,281
York—Humber NewPC11,80644.25%4,09815.36%58.03%11,8067,7086,26190826,683
York North PCPC11,30148.74%2,67211.53%55.12%11,3018,6293,25423,184
York—Scarborough NewPC13,80642.22%1,5254.66%53.82%13,80612,2816,28733032,704
York South PCCCF13,87744.03%1,4264.52%50.57%12,4514,16813,8771,01931,515
York West PCPC14,37245.79%4,19713.37%55.04%14,3726,83710,17531,384
Beaches PCPC7,96548.12%1,96611.88%58.07%7,9652,5895,99916,553
Bellwoods PCPC5,33038.43%2331.68%62.97%5,3305,0971,8751,56713,869
Bracondale PCPC4,72740.40%1,33311.39%55.24%4,7272,9913,39458811,700
Dovercourt PCPC6,28836.12%3832.20%55.92%6,2884,6555,90556017,408
Eglinton PCPC15,95455.70%5,99620.93%58.95%15,9549,9582,41731528,644
High Park PCPC7,72342.39%2,05411.27%58.74%7,7234,3925,66943518,219
Parkdale PCPC7,50336.92%7303.59%55.04%7,5036,7735,50354220,321
Riverdale PCPC8,77147.14%3,62319.47%53.44%8,7714,2365,14832912418,608
St. Andrew Lab-PrPC5,01941.50%7436.14%60.93%5,0191,2281,4204,27615212,095
St. David PCPC5,74737.18%5613.63%59.19%5,7474,2995,18622715,459
St. George PCPC7,59354.86%4,11929.76%47.64%7,5933,4742,77313,840
St. Patrick PCPC5,16554.60%2,75429.12%51.56%5,1652,4111,5483359,459
Woodbine PCPC8,75543.65%1,3056.51%56.18%8,7553,3727,45048120,058
  1. including spoilt ballots
  2. order is as given in EO reports
  3. formerly Addington
  4. Albert Wren was already a member of the Legislature
  5. James Shannon Dempsey was a PC MPP in the previous Legislature
  6. formerly Wellington North
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = other incumbents renominated
  = unendorsed PC candidate
  = Liberal-Labour candidate

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place [10]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
PCLibLLCCFLP
Progressive Conservative 63118183
Liberal 1010
Liberal–Labour 11
Co-operative Commonwealth 33
Independent PC11
Total1464118198
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [10]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
  Progressive Conservative 8314
  Liberal 1064191
  Co-operative Commonwealth 318582
  Liberal–Labour 11
 Independent PC1
  Labor–Progressive 11281
  Independent 221
  Social Credit 1
 Independent Liberal1
  Socialist Labour 1
Resulting composition of the 25th Legislative Assembly [10]
SourceParty
PCLibLib-LabCCFInd-PCTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned655171
Open seats held66
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated3519
Open seats gained11
Byelection gains held11
Incumbent changed allegiance11
New ridingsIncumbent returned in new seat213
New MPP elected516
Total831013198

Reorganization of ridings

The reorganized ridings returned the following MLAs:

19511955
RidingPartyRidingParty
Carleton   Progressive Conservative Carleton   Progressive Conservative
Ottawa West   Progressive Conservative
London   Progressive Conservative London North   Progressive Conservative
London South   Progressive Conservative
Ontario   Co-operative Commonwealth Ontario   Progressive Conservative
Oshawa   Co-operative Commonwealth
Sudbury   Progressive Conservative Nickel Belt   Progressive Conservative
Sudbury   Progressive Conservative
Wentworth   Progressive Conservative Wentworth   Progressive Conservative
Wentworth East   Co-operative Commonwealth
York East   Progressive Conservative York East   Progressive Conservative
York—Scarborough   Progressive Conservative
York North   Progressive Conservative York Centre   Progressive Conservative
York North   Progressive Conservative
York West   Progressive Conservative York—Humber   Progressive Conservative
York West   Progressive Conservative

See also

References

  1. "1955 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. O'Hearn, Don (May 19, 1955). "Dempsey Case Rocks Legislation". Daily Times-Gazette. Oshawa. p. 6.
  3. The Election Act, 1951 , S.O. 1951, c. 21
  4. The Election Amendment Act, 1954 , S.O. 1954, c. 25
  5. 1954 Act, s. 2
  6. 1954 Act, s. 3
  7. 1954 Act, ss. 4, 5
  8. 1954 Act, s. 5
  9. The Representation Act, 1954 , S.O. 1954, c. 84
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1955 general election results". Elections Ontario . Retrieved October 9, 2023.