1975 Ontario general election

Last updated

1975 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1971 September 18, 1975 1977  

125 seats in the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
63 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Bill Davis (cropped).jpg Stephen Lewis (cropped).jpg Robert Nixon-c1971 (3x4).jpg
Leader Bill Davis Stephen Lewis Robert Nixon
Party Progressive Conservative New Democratic Liberal
Leader since February 12, 1971 October 4, 1970 January 6, 1967
Leader's seat Brampton Scarborough West Brant—Oxford—Norfolk
Last election781920
Seats won513836
Seat changeDecrease2.svg27Increase2.svg19Increase2.svg16
Popular vote1,192,592956,9041,125,615
Percentage36.07%28.94%34.04%
SwingDecrease2.svg8.43pp Increase2.svg1.79pp Increase2.svg6.29pp

Oleg75.png

Premier before election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

The 1975 Ontario general election was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the Province of Ontario, Canada.

Contents

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by Bill Davis and campaigning under the slogan, "Your Future. Your choice.", won a tenth consecutive term in office but lost its majority in the legislature for the first time since the 1945 election. The PC party lost 27 seats from its result in the previous election.

The social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Stephen Lewis with the slogan "Tomorrow starts today", doubled its representation in the legislature, and became the Official Opposition on the strength of a campaign which called for rent control in Ontario and highlighted horror stories of individuals victimized by bad landlords who imposed exorbitant rent increases. The campaign forced Davis' Tories to promise to implement rent controls shortly before the election.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Robert Nixon, won 16 additional seats, but lost the role of Official Opposition to the NDP. One member of its caucus was elected as a Liberal-Labour candidate.

Expansion of Legislative Assembly

An Act passed in May 1975 [1] provided for an increase from 117 to 125 MPPs in the next Assembly:

Abolished ridingsNew ridings
Drawn from parts of other ridings
Reorganization of ridings
Division of ridings
Renaming of ridings
Consequential renaming of ridings on the creation of the Regional Municipality of Durham

Campaign

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1976) [2]
CandidatesPCLibLLNDPCommIndLtnSCNALTotal
36664266198
4414141195962164
515151511765175
622223112
71111217
Total1251232125331715133456

Among the independent candidates, there were 12 from the Social Credit League of Ontario who were not officially recognized as such as the party did not qualify for official party status under the Election Finances Reform Act, 1975. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firmLast day
of survey
Source PCO ONDP OLP OtherMESample
Election 1975September 18, 197536.0728.9434.040.95
March 1975 [7] 3042
Election 1971 June 9, 197744.527.127.80.6

Results

Summary

[2]

Elections to the 30th Parliament of Ontario (1975)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1971 1975±#±%± (pp)
Progressive Conservative Bill Davis 125785127Decrease2.svg1,192,592272,721Decrease2.svg36.07%8.43Decrease2.svg
New Democratic Stephen Lewis 125193819Increase2.svg956,90463,025Increase2.svg28.94%1.79Increase2.svg
Liberal Robert Nixon 123203515Increase2.svg1,125,615211,873Increase2.svg34.04%6.29Increase2.svg
Liberal–Labour 211Increase2.svg9,0669,066Increase2.svg0.27%Returned
Communist William Stewart 339,1207,500Increase2.svg0.28%0.23Increase2.svg
Libertarian Terry Coughlin154,4374,437Increase2.svg0.13%New
Social Credit Alcide Hamelin134,1462,942Increase2.svg0.13%0.09Increase2.svg
Independent 174,09312,866Decrease2.svg0.12%0.40Decrease2.svg
North American Labour 3424424Increase2.svg0.01%New
Total4561171253,306,397100.00%
Rejected ballots17,937122Decrease2.svg
Voter turnout3,310,77613,558Increase2.svg67.825.71Decrease2.svg
Registered electors4,503,142398,635Increase2.svg
    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
      Progressive Conservative
    51 / 125
    36.07%
    -8.43
     
      New Democratic
    38 / 125
    28.94%
    1.791.79
     
      Liberal/Liberal-Labour
    36 / 125
    34.31%
    6.566.56
     
      Independent
    0 / 125
    0.12%
    -0.40
     
     Other
    0 / 125
    0.56%
    0.480.48
     

    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1975 Ontario general election [2]
    RidingWinning partyTurnout
    [a 1]
    Votes
    Name [a 2] 1971 PartyVotesShareMargin
    #
    Margin
    %
    PCLib/LLNDPIndOtherTotal
     
    Algoma PCNDP4,92338.57%3983.12%72.02%4,5253,3154,92312,763
    Algoma—Manitoulin PCPC5,45240.79%1,1278.43%72.28%5,4523,5894,32513,366
    Brampton NewPC16,43243.66%5,60814.90%72.11%16,4329,90610,8246541037,637
    Brantford PCNDP12,01239.06%2,4507.97%72.65%9,0639,56212,01211530,752
    Brant—Oxford—Norfolk LibLib14,35855.52%7,93430.68%69.71%6,42414,3584,72135825,861
    Brock NewPC10,97848.31%5,06722.30%65.69%10,9785,9115,83622,725
    Burlington South NewPC17,09345.83%5,75115.42%69.50%17,09311,3428,85937,294
    Cambridge NewNDP11,25538.14%1,5935.40%66.96%8,5959,66211,25529,512
    Carleton PCPC12,65338.87%6762.08%68.68%12,65311,9777,76915732,556
    Carleton East PCNDP11,98236.02%2810.84%66.58%9,57911,70111,98233,262
    Carleton-Grenville NewPC12,75953.80%7,02729.63%68.88%12,7595,2265,73223,717
    Chatham—Kent PCPC10,14643.73%2,81912.15%61.68%10,1467,3275,72823,201
    Cochrane North PCPC9,98761.74%6,22038.45%66.45%9,9872,4233,76716,177
    Cochrane South NDPNDP11,07347.87%1,2925.59%68.42%9,7811,95811,07311420523,131
    Cornwall NewNDP11,95851.05%2,68211.45%70.41%9,2762,19111,95823,425
    Dufferin—Simcoe PCPC14,20145.88%1,6915.46%68.52%14,20112,5103,58565530,951
    Durham East PCNDP12,89342.26%2,2297.31%70.16%10,6646,69612,89325830,511
    Durham North PCPC11,20639.28%1110.39%74.12%11,20611,0956,23028,531
    Durham West PCNDP11,35638.99%1,3144.51%72.71%7,57910,04211,35614929,126
    Elgin PCPC11,88043.98%1,8296.77%71.27%11,88010,0515,08427,015
    Erie LibLib9,55645.27%2,65012.55%69.35%4,6469,5566,90621,108
    Essex North LibLib9,55044.05%1,8728.64%67.73%4,4519,5507,67821,679
    Essex South LibLib9,51741.34%2,1229.22%67.05%7,3959,5176,10823,020
    Fort William PCNDP9,17336.59%9533.80%64.61%8,2207,4449,17323025,067
    Frontenac—Addington PCLib10,37244.63%1,4156.09%70.78%8,95710,3723,36854523,242
    Grey PCLib11,68645.02%2771.07%73.81%11,40911,6862,86325,958
    Grey—Bruce LibLib14,19355.39%5,96423.28%75.71%8,22914,1933,20225,624
    Haldimand—Norfolk PCLib13,97645.36%1,9556.35%71.99%12,02113,9764,81430,811
    Halton—Burlington NewLib10,99839.14%4631.65%72.75%10,53510,9986,56728,100
    Hamilton Centre NDPNDP8,11438.43%5862.78%56.70%5,2567,5288,11421421,112
    Hamilton East NDPNDP14,41547.89%5,73619.06%64.10%6,4078,67914,41560130,102
    Hamilton Mountain PCPC12,76938.80%1,7275.25%72.64%12,7698,92111,04217732,909
    Hamilton West PCLib10,58338.34%5421.96%66.04%10,04110,5836,97827,602
    Hastings—Peterborough PCPC10,91247.89%2,34110.27%71.01%10,9128,5712,96933522,787
    Huron—Bruce LibLib16,27665.70%10,39341.95%73.52%5,88316,2762,61324,772
    Huron—Middlesex NewLib11,89354.04%3,79517.24%76.12%8,09811,8932,01822,009
    Kenora PCPC9,58452.42%4,06022.21%67.40%9,5843,1745,52418,282
    Kent—Elgin LibLib12,79356.57%5,23223.13%70.31%7,56112,7932,26222,616
    Kingston and the Islands PCPC9,44237.82%2030.81%65.01%9,4429,2396,16112424,966
    Kitchener LibLib13,03644.83%4,71016.20%63.50%8,32613,0367,32739229,081
    Kitchener—Wilmot NewLib9,92940.71%1,7457.16%64.38%6,2759,9298,18424,388
    Lake Nipigon NDPNDP7,11459.38%4,01433.51%66.78%1,7663,1007,11411,980
    Lambton PCPC11,04251.53%1,8368.57%73.00%11,0429,2061,18021,428
    Lanark PCPC11,64156.58%5,79928.18%72.17%11,6415,8423,09220,575
    Leeds PCPC13,91358.21%8,19734.29%70.69%13,9134,2745,71623,903
    Lincoln PCLib8,99542.84%1,0945.21%69.87%7,9018,9954,10020,996
    London Centre NewLib11,57240.37%2,5698.96%61.12%9,00311,5727,87821328,666
    London North PCLib13,68944.65%2,2827.44%66.71%11,40713,6895,56030,656
    London South PCLib14,49640.94%5591.58%64.25%13,93714,4966,97135,404
    Middlesex NewPC10,09244.97%8693.87%72.34%10,0929,2233,12522,440
    Mississauga East NewPC9,97339.05%1,3355.23%64.95%9,9738,6386,49943225,542
    Mississauga North NewPC11,00135.55%3851.24%67.33%11,0019,33210,61630,949
    Mississauga South NewPC11,87043.04%3,14411.40%69.04%11,8708,7266,98127,577
    Muskoka PCPC7,06143.97%1,3768.57%68.73%7,0613,2005,68511116,057
    Niagara Falls PCLib10,59437.80%1720.61%65.02%10,42210,5947,01328,029
    Nickel Belt NDPNDP10,24360.09%6,20936.42%72.60%4,0342,77010,24317,047
    Nipissing LibLib15,48354.35%8,24428.94%69.44%7,23915,4835,11065828,490
    Northumberland PCPC13,32844.58%3,00110.04%72.44%13,32810,3276,24129,896
    Oakville NewPC12,93345.84%3,75913.32%74.29%12,9339,1746,0119728,215
    Oshawa PCNDP14,63858.94%7,78731.35%63.27%6,8513,20214,63814624,837
    Ottawa Centre NDPNDP11,65841.07%2,6809.44%62.19%8,9787,50011,65825028,386
    Ottawa East LibLib14,90060.96%9,89940.50%53.08%5,00114,9004,54324,444
    Ottawa South PCPC14,76743.15%3,66810.72%67.88%14,7678,36011,09934,226
    Ottawa West PCPC14,88944.34%5,06315.08%66.10%14,8899,8268,86133,576
    Oxford PCPC17,77650.72%5,18114.78%71.77%17,77612,5954,67635,047
    Parry Sound PCPC8,15444.56%9665.28%66.77%8,1547,1882,95718,299
    Perth LibLib17,86563.36%10,47837.16%65.17%7,38717,8652,94528,197
    Peterborough PCNDP16,15439.53%5051.24%71.23%15,6498,97916,1548340,865
    Port Arthur NDPNDP12,21349.74%4,61818.81%66.36%7,5954,49912,21324724,554
    Prescott and Russell PCPC11,00643.93%2,0458.16%68.85%11,0068,9615,08525,052
    Prince Edward—Lennox PCPC9,62844.32%7333.37%74.37%9,6288,8953,20021,723
    Quinte PCLib12,44043.07%6592.28%67.95%11,78112,4404,66328,884
    Rainy River LibLL5,89251.58%2,65723.26%64.77%3,2355,892 [a 3] 2,29511,422
    Renfrew North PCLib7,05835.41%1830.92%70.90%6,8757,0586,00119,934
    Renfrew South PCPC13,88654.20%5,81922.71%75.49%13,8868,0673,26740125,621
    St. Catharines PCPC10,06434.74%7942.74%59.77%10,0649,2709,21541928,968
    Sarnia LibLib16,27557.69%7,50226.59%63.97%8,77316,2752,95720428,209
    Sault Ste. Marie PCPC14,41542.46%9452.78%70.91%14,4155,83513,47023233,952
    Simcoe Centre PCPC13,55739.52%1,9295.62%69.48%13,5579,11611,62834,301
    Simcoe East PCPC11,62239.48%1,1403.87%69.35%11,6227,33410,48229,438
    Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry NewPC10,83352.54%3,85118.68%68.99%10,8336,9822,80420,619
    Sudbury NDPNDP12,25838.35%2,2787.13%74.53%9,5499,98012,25817531,962
    Sudbury East NDPNDP18,76558.84%9,47629.71%74.04%3,8379,28918,76531,891
    Temiskaming PCNDP8,71344.07%1,5447.81%68.53%7,1693,5468,71317517019,773
    Victoria—Haliburton PCLib10,90743.53%1,0234.08%70.64%9,88410,9073,70755625,054
    Waterloo North LibLib12,40947.49%5,26520.15%64.40%7,14412,4096,57626,129
    Welland PCNDP9,99436.88%1,1154.11%71.26%8,8798,0009,99422327,096
    Wellington—Dufferin—Peel PCPC12,11040.61%7122.39%69.50%12,11011,3986,31329,821
    Wellington South LibLib15,65450.69%7,88625.54%68.36%7,06315,6547,76825214530,882
    Wentworth NDPNDP14,84758.73%9,57737.89%68.32%5,2705,16214,84725,279
    Wentworth North PCLib13,24240.56%1,9776.06%72.56%11,26513,2428,14032,647
    Windsor—Riverside NDPNDP13,27347.85%2,4798.94%61.67%3,67110,79413,27327,738
    Windsor—Sandwich NDPNDP10,62449.73%3,06714.36%58.25%2,7327,55710,62426518421,362
    Windsor—Walkerville LibLib12,51753.28%5,67224.14%63.52%3,97912,5176,84515323,494
    York Centre LibLib14,91340.96%1,8305.03%69.10%13,08314,9138,14027536,411
    York North PCPC12,89139.65%2,5257.77%68.40%12,89110,3669,25632,513
    Armourdale PCLib14,52643.90%2,7028.17%68.91%11,82414,5266,16956733,086
    Beaches—Woodbine PCNDP11,46245.58%2,88611.48%66.65%8,5764,91411,46219525,147
    Bellwoods PCNDP4,93538.38%4943.84%64.90%3,2344,4414,93524712,857
    Don Mills PCPC14,00746.59%5,93319.74%60.68%14,0077,9818,07430,062
    Dovercourt PCNDP6,08342.10%1,46510.14%63.87%4,6183,1746,0839647714,448
    Downsview LibNDP8,09136.90%680.31%65.70%5,8148,0238,09121,928
    Eglinton PCPC16,67950.97%5,89418.01%68.94%16,67910,7854,70655132,721
    Etobicoke LibNDP9,01637.62%1,2565.24%67.04%7,1917,7609,01623,967
    High Park—Swansea NDPNDP10,17239.84%1,8447.22%68.77%8,3286,54010,17249325,533
    Humber PCPC17,73944.51%3,3378.37%71.58%17,73914,4027,71039,851
    Lakeshore NDPNDP14,27151.01%7,62527.26%65.74%6,2816,64614,27117560227,975
    Oakwood NewNDP7,38839.25%1,4187.53%59.66%4,6375,9707,38855827118,824
    Oriole NewPC12,29738.71%2390.75%68.00%12,29712,0587,41331,768
    Parkdale NDPNDP7,15841.71%1,5599.08%63.23%3,8165,5997,15829229817,163
    Riverdale NDPNDP9,13350.27%4,26823.49%59.48%4,8653,7549,1339631918,167
    St. Andrew—St. Patrick PCPC8,05436.66%4291.95%62.57%8,0545,9517,62533921,969
    St. David PCPC10,53640.27%2,4939.53%66.43%10,5367,1418,04344226,162
    St. George PCLib11,04242.10%2,4659.40%60.70%8,57711,0426,02958226,230
    Scarborough Centre PCPC10,39941.15%1,0374.10%64.13%10,3995,0429,36246925,272
    Scarborough East PCPC12,64542.59%3,83612.92%66.94%12,6458,8097,85038329,687
    Scarborough—Ellesmere NewNDP10,57339.00%1,3474.97%67.73%9,2267,01910,57329527,113
    Scarborough North PCPC16,51243.41%2,6777.04%70.03%16,51213,8357,24144738,035
    Scarborough West NDPNDP15,81557.39%8,60331.22%70.20%7,2124,39315,81513527,555
    Wilson Heights NewLib11,37942.26%2,6409.81%61.95%8,73911,3796,44136626,925
    York East PCPC14,48747.42%5,49617.99%66.05%14,4878,9915,9191,15230,549
    York Mills PCPC17,36546.46%4,07510.90%70.81%17,36513,2906,72037,375
    York South NDPNDP13,28248.47%6,21822.69%67.30%7,0646,44513,28260927,400
    York West PCPC13,87138.70%1,3563.78%71.33%13,87112,5159,45435,840
    Yorkview NDPNDP13,40652.40%5,32020.79%63.02%3,4988,08613,40659425,584
    1. including spoilt ballots
    2. order is as given in EO reports
    3. T. Patrick Reid was elected as a Liberal in 1971
      = open seat
      = turnout is above provincial average
      = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
      = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
      = incumbent had switched allegiance
      = incumbency arose from byelection gain
      = previously incumbent in another riding
      = Liberal-Labour candidate
      = other incumbents renominated
      = multiple candidates

    Analysis

    Party candidates in 2nd place [2]
    Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
    PCLibNDP
    Progressive Conservative 173451
    New Democratic 201838
    Liberal 30535
    Liberal–Labour 11
    Total512252125
    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [2]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
      Progressive Conservative 515123
      New Democratic 382265
      Liberal 355236
      Liberal–Labour 11
      Communist 267
      Libertarian 123
      Social Credit 102
      Independent 95
      North American Labour 21
    Resulting composition of the 28th Legislative Assembly [2]
    SourceParty
    PCNDPLibLLTotal
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned34151463
    Open seats held54211
    Held by previous incumbent from other riding11
    Incumbent changed to Liberal-Labour11
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated9716
    Open seats gained5611
    Byelection gain held11
    Ouster of third-party byelection gain11
    New ridingsNew MPPs3339
    Previously incumbent in other riding81211
    Total5138351125

    MPPs elected by region and riding

    Party designations are as follows:

      PC
      Liberal
      NDP
      Liberal-Labour

    See also

    References

    1. The Representation Act, 1975 , S.O. 1975, c. 13
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1975 general election results". Elections Ontario . Retrieved November 1, 2023.
    3. The Election Finances Reform Act, 1975 , S.O. 1975, c. 12
    4. "125 seats in legislature: Record 454 candidates nominated for 125 Ontario seats". The Globe and Mail . September 5, 1975. p. 40.
    5. Williamson, Robert (September 19, 1975). "Elected: PCs, 51; NDP, 38; Lib, 36: AFTER 30 YEARS, TORY MINORITY Lewis will head official Opposition". The Globe and Mail . p. C1.
    6. "Leader didn't know: Socreds don't qualify as a party for election". The Globe and Mail . August 14, 1975. p. 4.
    7. "Ontario budget holds key". The Citizen. March 31, 1975. p. 7.

    Further reading