1981 Ontario general election

Last updated

1981 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1977 March 19, 1981 1985  

125 seats in the 32nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario
63 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  William Davis Empire Club (cropped).jpg OLP Michael Cassidy 1981 High Res Crop.jpg
Leader Bill Davis Stuart Smith Michael Cassidy
Party Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic
Leader since February 12, 1971 January 25, 1976 February 5, 1978
Leader's seat Brampton Hamilton West Ottawa Centre
Last election583333
Seats won703321
Seat changeIncrease2.svg12Steady2.svg0Decrease2.svg12
Popular vote1,412,4881,065,569672,824
Percentage44.38%33.48%21.14%
SwingIncrease2.svg4.80pp Increase2.svg2.29pp Decrease2.svg7.02pp

Oleg81.png
Seating in chamber after the election

Premier before election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

The 1981 Ontario general election was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.

Contents

The governing Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by Bill Davis, was re-elected for a twelfth consecutive term in office. The PCs finally won a majority government after winning only minorities in the 1975 and 1977 elections. The Liberal Party, led by Stuart Smith, was able to maintain its standing in the Legislature, while the New Democratic Party, led by Michael Cassidy, lost a significant number of seats, allowing the Tories to win a majority.

Opinion polls

During campaign period

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firmLast day
of survey
Source PCO OLP ONDP OtherMESample
Election 1981March 19, 198144.3833.4821.14
GallupMarch 11, 1981 [1] 513118
GallupFebruary 18, 1981 [2] 5327181831
Election called

During the 31st Parliament of Ontario

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firmLast day
of survey
Source PCO OLP ONDP OtherMESample
Election 1977 June 9, 197739.5831.1928.161.07

Campaign

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1981) [3]
CandidatesPCLibLLNDPIndCommLtnSCUnTotal
38280282246
4313131101083124
5888762140
622241112
722261114
Total125123212527181231436

A number of unregistered parties also fielded candidates in this election.

There were a number of Rhinoceros Party candidates in the Toronto area, and the party may have also fielded candidates elsewhere in the province. The Workers Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) a single candidate, Judy Darcy. Ronald G. Rodgers, founder of the Détente Party of Canada, contested a Toronto constituency.

Social Credit leader Reg Gervais announced prior to the election that he planned to run in Nickel Belt, but could not follow through and resigned at a meeting of nominated candidates where John Turmel was appointed interim leader of the Ontario Social Credit Party during the campaign, though there has never been independent confirmation of this (nor is it clear if the Ottawa-area candidacies of Turmel and Raymond Turmel and Serge Girard and Dale Alkerton and Andrew Dynowski were approved by the remaining few members of the official Social Credit Party of Ontario).

Results

[3]

Elections to the 32nd Parliament of Ontario (1981)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1977 1981±#±%± (pp)
Progressive Conservative Bill Davis 125587012Increase2.svg1,412,48889,765Increase2.svg44.38%4.80Increase2.svg
Liberal Stuart Smith 1233333Steady2.svg1,065,56923,115Increase2.svg33.48%2.29Increase2.svg
Liberal–Labour 211Steady2.svg7,1111,131Decrease2.svg0.22%0.03Decrease2.svg
New Democratic Michael Cassidy 125332112Decrease2.svg672,824268,137Decrease2.svg21.14%7.02Decrease2.svg
Independent 2710,5853,171Increase2.svg0.33%0.11Increase2.svg
Libertarian Scott Bell 127,0872,874Decrease2.svg0.22%0.08Decrease2.svg
Communist Mel Doig 185,3062,831Decrease2.svg0.17%0.07Decrease2.svg
Social Credit Reg Gervais31,054644Decrease2.svg0.03%0.02Decrease2.svg
Unparty 1460460Increase2.svg0.01%New
Total4361251253,182,484100.00%
Rejected ballots20,7971,197Increase2.svg
Voter turnout3,203,281158,152Decrease2.svg58.047.56Decrease2.svg
Registered electors5,519,204395,436Increase2.svg

    Vote and seat summaries


    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
      Progressive Conservative
    70 / 125
    44.38%
    4.80
     
      Liberal/Liberal-Labour
    34 / 125
    33.70%
    2.26
     
      New Democratic
    21 / 125
    21.14%
    -7.02
     
      Independent
    0 / 125
    0.33%
    0.11
     
     Other
    0 / 125
    0.45%
    -0.15
     

    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1981 Ontario general election [3]
    RidingWinning partyTurnout
    [a 1]
    Votes
    Name [a 2] 1977 PartyVotesShareMargin
    #
    Margin
    %
    PCLib/LLNDPIndOtherTotal
     
    Algoma NDPNDP7,09652.83%2,32617.32%69.22%4,7701,5677,09613,433
    Algoma—Manitoulin PCPC7,16057.36%4,17433.44%50.16%7,1602,9862,33612,482
    Brampton PCPC24,97361.23%15,58238.20%50.73%24,9739,3916,03439040,788
    Brantford NDPPC12,84745.35%3,25911.50%59.43%12,8475,8969,58828,331
    Brant—Oxford—Norfolk LibLib13,06759.40%7,03331.97%55.64%6,03413,0672,89922,000
    Brock PCPC10,54748.75%3,66516.94%60.36%10,5476,8824,20421,633
    Burlington South PCPC19,03757.81%10,08430.62%55.69%19,0378,9534,94232,932
    Cambridge NDPPC12,59742.82%8492.89%59.32%12,5974,52711,74854929,421
    Carleton PCPC17,84655.26%9,22528.56%53.22%17,8468,6215,44638332,296
    Carleton East NDPPC15,71438.03%1,6864.08%59.37%15,71414,02811,57941,321
    Carleton-Grenville PCPC15,20265.09%9,43840.41%57.71%15,2025,7642,39123,357
    Chatham—Kent PCPC9,47142.20%2,96313.20%54.47%9,4716,4666,50822,445
    Cochrane North PCPC5,91036.19%1881.15%62.56%5,9105,7224,42627416,332
    Cochrane South PCPC12,54056.25%5,56524.96%61.65%12,5406,9752,77722,292
    Cornwall NDPNDP9,48441.90%1,6677.37%63.65%7,8175,3339,48422,634
    Dufferin—Simcoe PCPC18,10162.83%11,39939.57%56.41%18,1016,7024,00728,810
    Durham East PCPC14,90048.02%6,25220.15%60.46%14,9007,2268,64825331,027
    Durham West PCPC17,02952.77%9,58329.70%55.46%17,0297,4466,5781,21532,268
    Durham—York PCPC14,40457.51%8,07432.23%56.99%14,4046,3304,31425,048
    Elgin PCPC13,11955.41%5,81324.55%58.78%13,1197,3063,25023,675
    Erie LibLib8,79649.83%3,52519.97%54.59%5,2718,7963,58617,653
    Essex North LibLib9,18746.14%3,27616.45%54.47%4,8129,1875,91119,910
    Essex South LibLib10,45452.77%5,44627.49%51.18%5,00810,4544,34919,811
    Fort William PCPC13,03854.32%5,45322.72%59.66%13,0383,3817,58524,004
    Frontenac—Addington LibLib10,55844.21%3401.42%62.89%10,21810,5582,37440932223,881
    Grey LibLib13,33455.47%4,54118.89%64.77%8,79313,3341,62928424,040
    Grey—Bruce LibLib14,00660.30%6,23926.86%64.36%7,76714,0061,45523,228
    Haldimand—Norfolk LibLib16,25456.49%7,47925.99%63.08%8,77516,2543,74428,773
    Halton—Burlington LibLib13,39544.99%5181.74%56.33%12,87713,3953,50029,772
    Hamilton Centre NDPLib9,73447.02%2,80413.54%55.58%4,0399,7346,93020,703
    Hamilton East NDPNDP12,77346.47%4,40816.04%55.02%6,3518,36512,77327,489
    Hamilton Mountain NDPNDP11,00835.77%1970.64%67.02%10,8118,95611,00830,775
    Hamilton West LibLib12,10645.84%2,3188.78%60.46%9,78812,1064,25526026,409
    Hastings—Peterborough PCPC11,52849.61%2,78711.99%66.49%11,5288,7412,96823,237
    Huron—Bruce LibLib12,16446.64%2240.86%70.22%11,94012,1641,97926,083
    Huron—Middlesex LibLib10,70752.24%2,08910.19%66.57%8,61810,7071,17020,495
    Kenora PCPC10,41860.84%6,24836.49%57.94%10,4182,5364,17017,124
    Kent—Elgin LibLib10,11547.08%3371.57%64.40%9,77810,1151,59121,484
    Kingston and the Islands PCPC12,48850.25%4,02316.19%58.10%12,4888,4653,89724,850
    Kitchener LibLib12,59250.98%4,61018.66%50.86%7,98212,5924,12624,700
    Kitchener—Wilmot LibLib11,51548.56%3,00212.66%49.49%8,51311,5153,68623,714
    Lake Nipigon NDPNDP7,84668.90%6,01852.85%55.75%1,8281,7147,84611,388
    Lambton PCPC13,46763.59%7,03233.20%66.04%13,4676,4351,27621,178
    Lanark PCPC10,50261.69%6,63838.99%55.80%10,5023,8642,65917,025
    Leeds PCPC13,72564.41%9,08242.62%58.54%13,7254,6432,94021,308
    Lincoln LibPC10,04446.28%3941.82%65.54%10,0449,6502,00921,703
    London Centre LibLib12,31551.67%3,98616.72%49.65%8,32912,3153,18923,833
    London North LibLib15,44449.61%3,61911.62%54.17%11,82515,4443,86431,133
    London South PCPC19,71454.74%8,59823.87%52.03%19,71411,1165,18736,017
    Middlesex PCPC11,67252.84%3,40815.43%66.01%11,6728,2642,15522,091
    Mississauga East PCPC15,75955.68%8,04328.42%50.21%15,7597,7164,82928,304
    Mississauga North PCPC20,33156.27%11,20131.00%49.45%20,3319,1306,66736,128
    Mississauga South PCPC14,16555.63%6,99327.46%55.59%14,1657,1724,12625,463
    Muskoka PCPC9,02955.09%4,88129.78%64.43%9,0294,1483,21416,391
    Niagara Falls LibLib12,49547.23%3,20012.10%56.32%9,29512,4954,66526,455
    Nickel Belt NDPNDP8,45154.85%3,41022.13%63.38%1,9155,0418,45115,407
    Nipissing LibPC15,79555.43%4,87117.10%64.11%15,79510,9241,77428,493
    Northumberland PCPC14,72751.58%3,61412.66%65.02%14,72711,1132,71128,551
    Oakville PCPC16,36662.43%9,08034.64%56.58%16,3667,2862,56226,214
    Oshawa NDPNDP10,30748.04%2,47111.52%49.70%7,8363,31110,30721,454
    Ottawa Centre NDPNDP9,31636.77%5992.36%54.58%8,7176,9269,31637625,335
    Ottawa East LibLib14,20769.22%9,97248.59%49.03%4,23514,2071,90517720,524
    Ottawa South PCPC15,21849.97%6,38620.97%60.22%15,2188,8326,14625930,455
    Ottawa West PCPC17,41859.30%8,30628.28%55.86%17,4189,1122,34849429,372
    Oxford PCPC15,94849.87%4,08212.76%61.57%15,94811,8663,67349331,980
    Parry Sound PCPC8,95546.27%60.03%66.87%8,9558,9491,44819,352
    Perth LibLib16,28362.51%8,40032.25%58.88%7,88316,2831,88126,047
    Peterborough PCPC17,96245.92%6,69917.13%63.06%17,96211,2638,75634578739,113
    Port Arthur NDPNDP12,25846.10%1,4145.32%61.22%10,8443,24712,25814010326,592
    Prescott and Russell PCLib15,12356.22%5,17219.23%60.83%9,95115,1231,82826,902
    Prince Edward—Lennox PCPC11,13557.53%4,33822.41%61.18%11,1356,7971,42319,355
    Quinte LibLib14,86156.78%5,34420.42%56.08%9,51714,8611,79526,173
    Rainy River LLLL4,57540.99%4263.82%61.50%4,1494,575 [a 3] 2,43811,162
    Renfrew North LibLib9,11352.57%1,97611.40%58.18%7,1379,1131,08617,336
    Renfrew South PCPC14,55255.66%4,13215.80%71.09%14,55210,4201,17426,146
    St. Catharines LibLib16,50951.85%6,23619.58%57.20%10,27316,5094,92713231,841
    Sarnia LibPC13,87146.23%3,02910.09%63.27%13,87110,8425,29230,005
    Sault Ste. Marie PCPC14,71249.99%7,15724.32%54.29%14,7127,5557,16229,429
    Simcoe Centre PCPC16,92649.84%4,42113.02%59.06%16,92612,5054,53233,963
    Simcoe East PCPC12,48742.13%3,40211.48%64.39%12,4877,3209,08574929,641
    Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry PCPC12,01755.38%4,17119.22%65.95%12,0177,8461,836021,699
    Sudbury NDPPC12,04345.95%3,99115.23%62.72%12,0435,9988,05211526,208
    Sudbury East NDPNDP13,88349.21%4,46315.82%58.94%9,4204,90913,88328,212
    Timiskaming PCPC8,37744.71%1,6098.59%65.03%8,3773,5936,76818,738
    Victoria—Haliburton LibLib12,80749.71%2,2988.92%62.92%10,50912,8072,44925,765
    Waterloo North LibLib12,84349.17%3,23712.39%52.30%9,60612,8433,67226,121
    Welland-Thorold NDPNDP13,37949.81%5,46320.34%64.78%5,5647,91613,37926,859
    Wellington—Dufferin—Peel PCPC16,64456.55%8,50828.91%58.51%16,6448,1364,65029,430
    Wellington South LibLib16,23753.57%8,32027.45%56.86%7,91716,2375,93422430,312
    Wentworth NDPPC10,02434.88%1600.56%62.32%10,0248,8479,86428,735
    Wentworth North LibLib16,43349.13%4,12112.32%63.98%12,31216,4334,70233,447
    Windsor—Riverside NDPNDP13,62649.59%4,52416.46%56.31%4,4189,10213,62633327,479
    Windsor—Sandwich NDPLib7,44940.26%1340.72%48.34%3,4797,4497,31525818,501
    Windsor—Walkerville LibLib10,55354.89%5,56528.94%51.29%3,43810,5534,98824819,227
    York Centre LibPC19,09447.54%1,7224.29%56.81%19,09417,3723,70140,167
    York North PCPC18,40555.38%8,18924.64%54.20%18,40510,2164,61433,235
    Armourdale PCPC15,93854.63%6,94123.79%60.64%15,9388,9974,24029,175
    Beaches—Woodbine NDPNDP9,59043.10%3241.46%59.24%9,2663,1409,59025222,248
    Bellwoods NDPNDP5,11140.99%3652.93%58.75%2,1864,7465,11118024612,469
    Don Mills PCPC17,51663.99%12,14844.38%52.55%17,5165,3684,48727,371
    Dovercourt NDPNDP5,49137.81%2942.02%62.62%3,4165,1975,49125816214,524
    Downsview NDPNDP8,64439.10%6532.95%58.54%5,4757,9918,64422,110
    Eglinton PCPC17,38664.92%11,78043.98%57.86%17,3865,6063,32446626,782
    Etobicoke NDPNDP10,37340.63%2,3499.20%55.31%8,0247,13210,37325,529
    High Park—Swansea NDPPC11,47347.01%2,68010.98%64.63%11,4733,6358,79350724,408
    Humber PCPC20,84460.43%10,78031.25%59.93%20,84410,0643,58334,491
    Lakeshore NDPPC10,60740.65%1,2324.72%61.06%10,6075,7389,37537626,096
    Oakwood NDPNDP8,86245.17%2,90114.79%56.22%5,9614,1718,86262419,618
    Oriole PCPC15,64449.68%4,24413.48%57.65%15,64411,4004,44331,487
    Parkdale NDPLib6,94142.26%9215.61%58.59%2,9146,9416,02028925916,423
    Riverdale NDPNDP6,77046.73%2,68218.51%49.62%4,0883,2376,77023315814,486
    St. Andrew—St. Patrick PCPC10,67449.10%3,83517.64%57.09%10,6746,8393,70936814821,738
    St. David PCPC9,62739.36%1,0224.18%64.80%9,6278,6055,98524324,460
    St. George LibPC12,39043.00%4,25114.75%58.69%12,3908,1394,9992,92835928,815
    Scarborough Centre PCPC12,79355.92%7,89534.51%53.07%12,7934,6574,89853122,879
    Scarborough East PCPC16,38656.03%9,08531.06%55.46%16,3867,3014,82617156229,246
    Scarborough—Ellesmere NDPPC11,60844.87%1,8887.30%60.27%11,6084,5459,72025,873
    Scarborough North PCPC29,96160.98%17,29835.20%53.08%29,96112,6636,51249,136
    Scarborough West NDPNDP10,01941.84%3751.57%59.17%9,6443,91410,01936923,946
    Wilson Heights PCPC11,72248.55%2,92512.12%51.83%11,7228,7973,62324,142
    York East PCPC14,56257.34%9,62737.91%57.13%14,5624,8114,9351,08825,396
    York Mills PCPC20,61365.59%14,94647.56%53.61%20,6135,6673,8581,28731,425
    York South NDPNDP9,51837.01%1,4195.52%59.75%7,6288,0999,51847225,717
    York West PCPC18,50157.58%8,27325.75%58.22%18,50110,2282,86553832,132
    Yorkview NDPLib10,16038.62%1,1874.51%55.03%5,32910,1608,9731,34350326,308
    1. including spoilt ballots
    2. order is as given in EO reports
    3. T. Patrick Reid was the incumbent
      = 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 [3]
    Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
    PCLibNDP
    Progressive Conservative 551570
    Liberal 27633
    Liberal–Labour 11
    New Democratic 13821
    Total416321125
    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [3]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
      Progressive Conservative 704114
      Liberal 336327
      New Democratic 212183
      Liberal–Labour 11
      Independent 183
      Communist 126
      Libertarian 102
      Social Credit 3
     Unparty1
    Resulting composition of the 28th Legislative Assembly [3]
    SourceParty
    PCLibLLNDPTotal
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned4727121102
    Open seats held10111
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated11415
    Open seats gained213
    Total7033121125

    Seats changing hands

    Eighteen seats changed allegiance in this election:

    MPPs elected by region and riding

    Party designations are as follows:

      PC
      Liberal
      NDP
      Liberal-Labour

    Constituency results

    Oleg81.png

    Algoma:

    Algoma—Manitoulin:

    Armourdale:

    Beaches—Woodbine:

    Bellwoods:

    Brampton:

    Brantford:

    Brant—Oxford—Haldimand:

    Brock:

    Burlington South:

    Cambridge:

    Carleton:

    Carleton East:

    Carleton-Grenville:

    Chatham—Kent:

    Cochrane North:

    Cochrane South:

    Cornwall:

    Don Mills:

    Dovercourt:

    Downsview:

    Dufferin—Simcoe:

    Durham East:

    Durham West:

    Durham—York:

    Eglinton:

    Elgin:

    Erie:

    Essex North:

    Essex South:

    Etobicoke:

    Fort William:

    Frontenac—Addington:

    Grey:

    Grey—Bruce:

    Haldimand—Norfolk:

    Halton—Burlington:

    Hamilton Centre:

    Hamilton East:

    Hamilton Mountain:

    Hamilton West:

    Hastings—Peterborough:

    High Park—Swansea:

    Humber:

    Huron—Bruce:

    Huron—Middlesex:

    Kenora:

    Kent—Elgin:

    Kingston and the Islands:

    Kitchener:

    Kitchener—Wilmot:

    Lake Nipigon:

    Lambton:

    Lanark—Renfrew:

    Lakeshore:

    Leeds:

    Lincoln:

    London Centre:

    London North:

    London South:

    Middlesex:

    Mississauga East:

    Mississauga North:

    Mississauga South:

    Muskoka:

    Niagara Falls:

    Nickel Belt:

    Nipissing:

    Northumberland:

    Oakville:

    Oakwood:

    Oriole:

    Oshawa:

    Ottawa Centre:

    Ottawa East:

    Ottawa South:

    Ottawa West:

    Oxford:

    Parkdale:

    Parry Sound:

    Perth:

    Peterborough:

    Port Arthur:

    Prescott and Russell:

    Prince Edward—Lennox:

    Quinte:

    Rainy River:

    Renfrew North:

    Renfrew South:

    Riverdale:

    St. Andrew—St. Patrick:

    St. Catharines:

    PartyCandidateVotes%+/-
    Liberal (incumbent) Jim Bradley 16,50951.85
    Progressive Conservative John Larocque10,27332.26
    New Democratic Don Loucks4,92715.47
    Communist Norman J. Newell1320.41
    Total valid votes31,841100.00
    Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots181
    Turnout32,02257.20

    St. David:

    St. George:

    Sarnia:

    Sault Ste. Marie:

    Scarborough Centre:

    Scarborough East:

    Scarborough—Ellesmere:

    Scarborough North:

    Scarborough West:

    Simcoe Centre:

    Simcoe East:

    Stormont—Dundas and Glengarry:

    Sudbury:

    Sudbury East:

    Timiskaming:

    Victoria—Haliburton:

    Waterloo North:

    Welland—Thorold:

    Wellington—Dufferin—Peel:

    Wellington South:

    Wentworth:

    Wentworth North:

    Wilson Heights:

    Windsor—Riverside:

    Windsor—Sandwich:

    Windsor—Walkerville:

    York Centre:

    York East:

    York Mills:

    York North:

    York South:

    Yorkview:

    York West:

    Post-election changes

    Hamilton West: Stuart Smith resigned his legislative seat on January 25, 1982, and a by-election was called for June 17, 1982.

    York South: Donald C. MacDonald resigned his legislative seat in 1982, and a by-election was called for November 4, 1982.

    Stormont—Dundas and Glengarry: Osie Villeneuve died in 1983, and a by-election has called on December 15, 1983:

    Frontenac—Addington: Liberal MPP J. Earl McEwen crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives in 1984.

    Hamilton Centre: Sheila Copps resigned her legislative seat in 1984, and a by-election was held on December 13, 1984:

    Ottawa Centre: Michael Cassidy resigned his legislative seat in 1984, and a by-election was held on December 13, 1984.

    Ottawa East: Albert J. Roy resigned his legislative seat in 1984, and a by-election was held on December 13, 1984:

    Prescott and Russell: Don Boudria resigned his legislative seat in 1984, and a by-election was held on December 13, 1984:

    Wentworth North: Eric Cunningham resigned his legislative seat in 1984, and a by-election was held on December 13, 1984:

    Riverdale: Jim Renwick died in 1984.

    Kitchener: Jim Breithaupt resigned in 1984.

    Rainy River: T. Patrick Reid resigned in 1984.

    Eglinton: Roy McMurtry resigned his seat in 1985 to take a government position in the United Kingdom.

    See also

    Further reading

    References

    1. Oziewicz, Stan (March 16, 1981). "Liberals say voters shifting because of Tory giveaways". The Globe and Mail. p. 32.
    2. Speirs, Rosemary (February 26, 1985). "PC official against release of poll: Tories have a 'solid lead,' but survey called 'one-shot'". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1981 general election results". Elections Ontario . Retrieved November 1, 2023.