1985 Ontario general election

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1985 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1981 May 2, 1985 1987  

125 seats in the 33rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario
63 seats needed for a majority
Turnout61.55% [1]
 First partySecond partyThird party
  3x4.svg David Peterson (2005).jpg Bob Rae, Toronto City Summit Alliance (cropped).jpg
Leader Frank Miller David Peterson Bob Rae
Party Progressive Conservative Liberal New Democratic
Leader since January 26, 1985 February 21, 1982 February 7, 1982
Leader's seat Muskoka London Centre York South
Last election703421
Seats won524825
Seat changeDecrease2.svg18Increase2.svg14Increase2.svg4
Popular vote1,349,1681,377,965857,743
Percentage37.1%37.9%23.6%
SwingDecrease2.svg7.3pp Increase2.svg5.2pp Increase2.svg2.4pp

Premier before election

Frank Miller
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Frank Miller [a]
Progressive Conservative

Diagram of the 1985 election results in the Provincial Legislature Oleg85.png
Diagram of the 1985 election results in the Provincial Legislature

The 1985 Ontario general election was held on May 2, 1985, to elect the members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada. The Progressive Conservatives won a plurality, but came up short of a majority.

Contents

Shortly afterward, the 42 years of PC governance in Ontario came to an end by a confidence vote defeating Premier Frank Miller's minority government. David Peterson's Liberals then formed a minority government with the support of Bob Rae's New Democratic Party.

Prelude

Around Thanksgiving in 1984, Ontario Premier Bill Davis announced that he would be stepping down from his longtime post and as leader of the Ontario PCs in early 1985. In office since 1971, he had a string of electoral victories by pursuing a moderate agenda and by relying on the skill of the Big Blue Machine team of advisors. Davis, who remained generally popular throughout his term in office, would unveil a surprise legacy project: full funding for Ontario's separate Catholic school system, which would become known as Bill 30. That decision was supported by both other parties but was generally unpopular, especially in the PC base.

The subsequent leadership race saw the party divide into two rough camps. The moderate and mainly-urban wing was represented by the second-place finisher, Larry Grossman. The more conservative rural faction backed the eventual victor, Frank Miller. After Miller's victory at the convention, the party's factions failed to reconcile, which was especially important since many moderate members of the Big Blue Machine were pushed aside.

Election

Despite those problems, the PCs remained far ahead in the polls, and when Miller called an election just six weeks after becoming premier, he was about 20% ahead of the Liberals. Over the campaign, however, the PC lead began to shrink as the Liberals waged a highly effective campaign. During the campaign, the separate schools question re-emerged when the Anglican prelate of Toronto, Archbishop Lewis Garnsworthy, held a news conference on the issue in which he compared Davis' methods in pushing through the reform to Adolf Hitler, saying: "This is how Hitler changed education in Germany, by exactly the same process, by decree. I won't take that back." [2] Garnsworthy was much criticized for his remarks, but the issue was revived, which alienated the PC base, some of whom chose to stay home on election day.

The election held May 2, 1985, ended in a stalemate. The PCs emerged with a much-reduced caucus of 52 seats. The Liberals won 48 seats but won slightly more of the popular vote. The NDP held the balance of power, with 25 seats. Despite taking 14 seats from the PCs, the Liberals were somewhat disappointed, as they felt that they had their first realistic chance of winning government in recent memory. The NDP was also disappointed by the election result, as the party had been nearly tied with the Liberals for popular support for several years and had hoped to surpass them.

Aftermath

The incumbent PCs intended to remain in power with a minority government, as they had done on two occasions under Davis' leadership. Rae and the NDP had little interest in supporting a continuation of PC rule, while the Liberals were also more amenable to a partnership compared to in the 1970's. Among other things, the Liberals repeatedly pointed out that (again, unlike in the previous decade) their party had won the popular vote and therefore, in their view, had at least as much of a right to govern the province as the Conservatives. The NDP began negotiations on May 13 to reach an agreement with the Liberals. Rae and Peterson signed an accord on May 29 [3] that would see a number of NDP priorities put into law in exchange for an NDP motion of non-confidence in Miller's government and the NDP's support of the Liberals. The NDP agreed to support a Liberal minority government for two years during which the Liberals agreed not to call an election.

Miller, apprised of negotiations, considered a plan to address the province on television two days before the throne speech, disown funding for Catholic schools, and announce he was meeting with the Lieutenant Governor to request an election before a confidence vote could take place. [4] Believing that the Lieutenant Governor would have to call an election if requested before the confidence vote, Miller refused to do so since he believed the party's finances to be too fragile for a second campaign and that repudiating a key Davis policy would tear the party apart. [5]

In what was by then a foregone conclusion, on June 18, 1985 the PC government was defeated by the passage of a motion of no confidence introduced by Rae. Lieutenant-Governor John Black Aird then asked Peterson to form a government. Privately, Aird's actions suited Miller since even without party infighting and finances to consider, the PC's internal polling had by then clearly indicated the voters did not want another election and that even if the Lieutenant-Governor could have been convinced to call one, the Liberals would have been likely to win in a landslide. The actions of Aird, who was appointed by former Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, therefore allowed Miller to portray his relinquishing of the premiership as a grudging acquiescence that he was forced to undertake by a representative of the sovereign, who the PCs would subsequently claim had breached constitutional convention and inappropriately engaged in partisanship to elevate the second-place party to government. In any case, Miller resigned on June 26 and Peterson's minority government was sworn in on the same day.

Opinion polls

During campaign period

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firmLast day
of survey
Source PCO OLP ONDP OtherMESample
Election 1985May 2, 198537.937.123.61.4
EnvironicsApril 19, 1985 [6] 4133261,015
April 1985 [7] 433521
April 1985 [7] 473221
Election called (March 25, 1985) [8]

During the 32nd Parliament of Ontario

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firmLast day
of survey
Source PCO OLP ONDP OtherMESample
GallupMarch 1985 [9] 50.528.820.3
DecimaFebruary 1985 [10] 552121
CROP IncJune 1984 [11] 50
GallupJune 1983 [12] 51.93017.641,038
Election 1981 March 19, 198144.3833.4821.141

Results

[13]

Elections to the 33rd Parliament of Ontario (1985)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1981 1985±#±%± (pp)
Progressive Conservative Frank Miller 125705218Decrease2.svg1,343,04469,444Decrease2.svg36.94%7.44Decrease2.svg
Liberal [a 1] David Peterson 125344814Increase2.svg1,377,965305,285Increase2.svg37.90%4.20Increase2.svg
New Democratic Bob Rae 12521254Increase2.svg865,507192,683Increase2.svg23.81%2.67Increase2.svg
Independent 2825,72815,143Increase2.svg0.71%0.38Increase2.svg
Libertarian Scott Bell1712,8315,744Increase2.svg0.35%0.13Increase2.svg
Green 95,3455,345Increase2.svg0.15%New
Communist Gordon Massie103,6961,610Decrease2.svg0.10%0.07Decrease2.svg
Freedom [a 2] none [a 3] 31,5831,123Increase2.svg0.04%0.03Increase2.svg
Total4421251253,635,699100.00%
Rejected ballots26,4345,637Increase2.svg
Voter turnout3,662,133458,852Increase2.svg61.553.51Increase2.svg
Registered electors5,950,295431,091Increase2.svg
  1. 1981 results include Liberal-Labour
  2. previously known as the Unparty
  3. Robert Metz was the President
Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
  Progressive Conservative
52 / 125
36.94%
-7.44
 
  Liberal
48 / 125
37.90%
4.204.2
 
  New Democratic
25 / 125
23.81%
2.672.67
 
  Independent
0 / 125
0.71%
0.380.38
 
 Other
0 / 125
0.64%
0.190.19
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding – 1985 Ontario general election [13]
RidingWinning partyTurnout
[a 1]
Votes
Name [a 2] 1981 PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibPCNDPIndOtherTotal
 
Algoma NDPNDP7,57553.11%3,88127.21%70.64%2,9953,6947,57514,264
Algoma—Manitoulin PCPC7,17447.24%2,47016.26%55.49%4,7047,1743,30915,187
Brampton PCLib25,65645.62%4,4177.85%55.84%25,65621,2398,31350053156,239
Brantford PCPC13,44441.65%1,1413.53%64.87%6,53313,44412,30332,280
Brant—Oxford—Norfolk LibLib15,31762.21%9,50038.58%60.36%15,3175,8173,48724,621
Brock PCPC9,74141.55%6602.82%63.11%9,0819,7413,86775523,444
Burlington South PCPC16,47942.12%4,65711.90%63.04%11,82216,47910,82039,121
Cambridge PCPC12,88840.33%9032.83%60.19%7,08312,88811,98531,956
Carleton PCPC17,73244.34%2,6396.60%57.85%15,09317,7327,16539,990
Carleton East PCLib23,22148.14%7,03314.58%57.59%23,22116,1888,82948,238
Carleton-Grenville PCPC15,52457.47%7,50527.78%56.54%8,01915,5243,46827,011
Chatham—Kent PCLib10,34041.23%1,1344.52%58.84%10,3409,2065,53525,081
Cochrane North PCLib8,79347.39%1,91010.29%68.78%8,7936,8832,87818,554
Cochrane South PCPC13,93559.05%8,27335.06%62.63%4,00213,9355,66223,599
Cornwall NDPPC9,43043.57%3,04614.07%59.41%6,3849,4305,82821,642
Dufferin—Simcoe PCPC16,19850.09%4,37613.53%57.94%11,82216,1984,31632,336
Durham East PCPC15,19346.59%5,36116.44%58.14%7,58415,1939,83232,609
Durham West PCPC18,68444.03%4,33610.22%56.38%14,34818,6848,49591142,438
Durham—York PCPC14,34348.55%4,58315.51%58.83%9,76014,3435,44029,543
Elgin PCPC11,81645.29%3,19712.25%62.09%8,61911,8165,31534226,092
Erie LibLib10,92654.57%5,02225.08%60.91%10,9265,9043,19120,021
Essex North LibNDP7,90133.56%1,2865.46%61.39%6,6156,1057,9012,92523,546
Essex South LibLib11,38247.22%6,28426.07%61.08%11,3825,0982,6774,94724,104
Fort William PCPC14,45254.66%7,38127.91%63.83%4,62914,4527,07128926,441
Frontenac—Addington LibLib11,68445.56%2,3879.31%61.14%11,6849,2973,72394125,645
Grey LibLib16,06165.17%10,18641.33%63.49%16,0615,8752,40230624,644
Grey—Bruce LibLib14,88359.97%7,28829.37%65.85%14,8837,5952,34024,818
Haldimand—Norfolk LibLib17,45656.06%7,59324.38%66.48%17,4569,8633,82131,140
Halton—Burlington LibLib14,99142.46%2140.61%58.95%14,99114,7774,87166535,304
Hamilton Centre LibLib9,18444.01%3841.84%56.85%9,1842,8838,80020,867
Hamilton East NDPNDP13,77443.80%1,6005.09%61.03%12,1745,26813,77423431,450
Hamilton Mountain NDPNDP13,87144.24%4,14213.21%69.28%7,7579,72913,87131,357
Hamilton West LibNDP10,18237.42%4501.65%61.95%9,7326,70510,18259327,212
Hastings—Peterborough PCPC12,27254.91%6,68629.91%60.30%5,58612,2724,49222,350
Huron—Bruce LibLib17,15961.94%8,60931.08%71.72%17,1598,5501,99227,701
Huron—Middlesex LibLib13,82061.21%6,43928.52%70.71%13,8207,3811,14822922,578
Kenora PCPC12,57466.69%8,54945.35%60.95%2,25412,5744,02518,853
Kent—Elgin LibLib11,61654.36%3,77817.68%62.81%11,6167,8381,91621,370
Kingston and the Islands PCLib11,92446.33%2,2878.89%56.36%11,9249,6373,89228525,738
Kitchener LibLib14,06646.86%4,38214.60%58.60%14,0669,6845,65461030,014
Kitchener—Wilmot LibLib15,98754.38%7,25024.66%55.24%15,9878,7374,67329,397
Lake Nipigon NDPNDP5,70841.70%1,1768.59%64.45%3,4484,5325,70813,688
Lambton PCLib10,81647.52%8603.78%67.64%10,8169,9561,98722,759
Lanark PCPC10,91656.39%5,77029.81%56.28%5,14610,9163,29719,359
Leeds PCPC11,80951.61%5,06122.12%58.76%6,74811,8093,58374122,881
Lincoln PCPC12,22649.84%3,22213.13%67.82%9,00412,2262,2641,03624,530
London Centre LibLib13,89054.80%7,17628.31%52.81%13,8906,7144,34040325,347
London North LibLib20,53654.43%9,10324.13%60.14%20,53611,4335,19156637,726
London South PCLib24,52251.03%6,68313.91%62.91%24,52217,8395,08061448,055
Middlesex PCLib11,29247.16%8103.38%68.03%11,29210,4822,16923,943
Mississauga East PCPC14,90037.96%2,5666.54%57.52%12,33414,90012,01539,249
Mississauga North PCLib21,36941.69%1,4242.78%54.54%21,36919,9459,94351,257
Mississauga South PCPC13,18644.58%1,5635.28%59.94%11,62313,1864,77029,579
Muskoka PCPC12,72368.42%9,68752.09%67.82%3,03612,7232,83618,595
Niagara Falls LibLib14,65848.78%6,04220.11%61.03%14,6588,6166,77830,052
Nickel Belt NDPNDP8,91252.37%3,06318.00%70.39%2,2555,8498,91217,016
Nipissing PCPC14,90049.86%3,89813.04%64.66%11,00214,9003,98429,886
Northumberland PCPC14,29647.67%1,8506.17%63.87%12,44614,2963,24729,989
Oakville PCPC14,26541.66%6872.01%64.06%13,57814,2654,3902,00834,241
Oshawa NDPNDP12,68650.25%5,15820.43%54.71%5,0347,52812,68625,248
Ottawa Centre NDPNDP11,89043.45%3,88514.20%59.18%7,1038,00511,89036427,362
Ottawa East LibLib14,60168.40%10,63049.80%49.15%14,6012,2573,97151821,347
Ottawa South PCPC12,97139.41%1,3374.06%63.63%11,63412,9718,31132,916
Ottawa West PCPC15,08946.63%2,9489.11%59.43%12,14115,0894,42770132,358
Oxford PCPC15,50746.81%4,85114.64%60.71%10,65615,5075,66057772933,129
Parry Sound PCPC10,90450.53%1,3606.30%69.58%9,54410,9041,13021,578
Perth LibLib20,04069.31%13,96448.30%62.24%20,0406,0762,79628,912
Peterborough PCPC16,87843.03%4,93712.59%60.25%9,73416,87811,94167339,226
Port Arthur NDPNDP13,08444.99%3,25811.20%63.06%6,1699,82613,08429,079
Prescott and Russell LibLib18,83357.95%7,79523.99%60.34%18,83311,0382,62532,496
Prince Edward—Lennox PCPC10,17052.44%3,25216.77%57.55%6,91810,1702,30719,395
Quinte LibLib18,98863.10%9,70132.24%60.73%18,9889,2871,81730,092
Rainy River LLPC5,05339.56%2782.18%67.25%2,9445,0534,77512,772
Renfrew North LibLib12,84966.45%7,10136.72%63.60%12,8495,74874019,337
Renfrew South PCPC14,18251.97%4,49516.47%68.64%9,68714,1823,42027,289
St. Catharines LibLib20,60557.94%11,57632.55%61.65%20,6059,0295,62430535,563
Sarnia PCPC18,65161.25%11,21336.82%59.99%7,43818,6513,57279230,453
Sault Ste. Marie PCNDP16,36244.85%1,0692.93%64.49%4,83015,29316,36236,485
Simcoe Centre PCPC15,37938.04%5341.32%60.78%14,84515,3799,63956640,429
Simcoe East PCPC13,37141.86%2,3697.42%63.52%7,56613,37111,00231,939
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry PCPC13,11960.03%6,08327.83%61.94%7,03613,1191,70021,855
Sudbury PCPC12,59148.61%5,58121.55%60.65%6,30212,5917,01025,903
Sudbury East NDPNDP17,24154.66%7,66524.30%63.21%4,7269,57617,24131,543
Timiskaming PCNDP10,76550.79%2,82413.32%71.10%2,0267,94110,76546421,196
Victoria—Haliburton LibLib15,34050.93%3,77012.52%67.09%15,34011,5703,20930,119
Waterloo North LibLib16,45854.60%7,30924.25%58.80%16,4589,1494,53430,141
Welland-Thorold NDPNDP17,06559.44%11,03838.45%66.73%6,0275,61817,06528,710
Wellington—Dufferin—Peel PCPC14,84546.92%4,44414.05%58.06%10,40114,8456,39531,641
Wellington South LibLib17,99547.83%5,00613.30%65.46%17,99512,9896,64137,625
Wentworth PCPC12,32238.29%1,9856.17%61.14%10,33712,3228,57194732,177
Wentworth North LibLib18,32847.73%5,16813.46%65.33%18,32813,1606,15875138,397
Windsor—Riverside NDPNDP17,88361.62%11,16438.47%57.28%4,4186,71917,88329,020
Windsor—Sandwich LibLib10,73048.35%3,14714.18%56.50%10,7303,6817,58319722,191
Windsor—Walkerville LibLib9,13040.03%2,1509.43%58.56%9,1306,9806,69822,808
York Centre PCPC25,02245.82%5,2469.61%57.11%19,77625,0227,1712,64454,613
York North PCLib21,29146.78%4,0959.00%59.16%21,29117,1967,02645,513
Armourdale PCPC13,39441.26%2120.65%68.43%13,18213,3945,42945632,461
Beaches—Woodbine NDPNDP12,67249.82%5,37121.12%65.11%5,0657,30112,67239625,434
Bellwoods NDPNDP8,08847.49%1,4338.41%67.32%6,6551,9648,08832417,031
Don Mills PCPC15,48150.72%7,97726.14%57.52%7,50415,4816,1531,38230,520
Dovercourt NDPNDP6,67738.96%770.45%67.75%6,6003,5646,67729817,139
Downsview NDPLib11,23443.92%2210.86%65.58%11,2343,32911,01325,576
Eglinton PCPC13,50343.60%9142.95%67.42%12,58913,5034,88030,972
Etobicoke NDPNDP16,79254.33%9,21929.83%58.77%6,5447,57316,79230,909
High Park—Swansea PCPC9,96038.13%3301.26%70.02%5,5789,9609,63024470726,119
Humber PCLib18,05745.92%1,9514.96%66.85%18,05716,1065,16039,323
Lakeshore PCNDP11,53939.89%2,0377.04%67.93%9,5027,88611,53928,927
Oakwood NDPNDP10,40741.63%7763.10%68.62%9,6314,63610,40732725,001
Oriole PCLib17,64149.05%4,08411.36%65.23%17,64113,5573,6601,10635,964
Parkdale LibLib12,06562.67%6,92935.99%66.69%12,0652,0525,13619,253
Riverdale NDPNDP9,86952.16%5,27927.90%61.69%3,9494,5909,86951418,922
St. Andrew—St. Patrick PCPC10,33240.47%1,9597.67%63.95%6,33010,3328,37349625,531
St. David PCLib13,12046.98%3,41812.24%69.43%13,1209,7024,87822827,928
St. George PCPC11,37835.04%8352.57%58.00%9,36111,37810,5431861,00732,475
Scarborough Centre PCPC8,89035.56%3591.44%57.77%8,5318,8907,57724,998
Scarborough East PCLib15,85548.22%4,61014.02%58.27%15,85511,2454,3811,40232,883
Scarborough—Ellesmere PCNDP10,11937.42%2190.81%63.63%6,6749,90010,11934827,041
Scarborough North PCLib30,50447.52%7,86012.24%57.68%30,50422,6449,0721,97464,194
Scarborough West NDPNDP12,88953.19%6,89528.45%60.47%4,8065,99412,88954424,233
Wilson Heights PCLib12,36340.76%2,1887.21%64.26%12,36310,1757,79330,331
York East PCPC11,45940.05%2,2767.96%64.52%6,62911,4599,1831,33928,610
York Mills PCPC17,94348.19%7,86521.12%61.12%10,07817,9436,8722,33937,232
York South NDPNDP16,37354.02%9,56631.56%66.53%6,8075,32116,3731,46534330,309
York West PCPC14,59539.98%7151.96%65.00%13,88014,5956,9301,09936,504
Yorkview LibLib15,98649.84%3,32810.38%60.72%15,9863,43112,65832,075
  1. including spoilt ballots
  2. order is as given in EO reports
  = 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
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

Comparative analysis for ridings (1985 vs 1981)

Summary of riding results by turnout and vote share for winning candidate (vs 1981) [a 1]
Riding and winning partyTurnoutVote share
 %Change (pp) %Change (pp)
 
Algoma NDPHold70.641.411.41
 
53.110.280.28
 
Algoma—Manitoulin PCHold55.495.335.33
 
47.24-10.12
 
Brampton LibGain55.845.125.12
 
45.6222.6022.6
 
Brantford PCHold64.875.445.44
 
41.65-3.70
 
Brant—Oxford—Norfolk LibHold60.364.724.72
 
62.212.822.82
 
Brock PCHold63.112.752.75
 
41.55-7.20
 
Burlington South PCHold63.047.357.35
 
42.12-15.68
 
Cambridge PCHold60.190.860.86
 
40.33-2.49
 
Carleton PCHold57.854.634.63
 
44.34-10.92
 
Carleton East LibGain57.59-1.78
 
48.1414.1914.19
 
Carleton-Grenville PCHold56.54-1.17
 
57.47-7.61
 
Chatham—Kent LibGain58.844.374.37
 
41.2312.4212.42
 
Cochrane North LibGain68.786.226.22
 
47.3912.3612.36
 
Cochrane South PCHold62.630.980.98
 
59.052.802.8
 
Cornwall PCGain59.41-4.25
 
43.579.049.04
 
Dufferin—Simcoe PCHold57.941.531.53
 
50.09-12.74
 
Durham East PCHold58.14-2.32
 
46.59-1.43
 
Durham West PCHold56.380.930.93
 
44.03-8.75
 
Durham—York PCHold58.831.841.84
 
48.55-8.96
 
Elgin PCHold62.093.313.31
 
45.29-10.13
 
Erie LibHold60.916.326.32
 
54.574.754.75
 
Essex North NDPGain61.396.926.92
 
33.563.873.87
 
Essex South LibHold61.089.909.9
 
47.22-5.55
 
Fort William PCHold63.834.184.18
 
54.660.340.34
 
Frontenac—Addington LibHold61.14-1.76
 
45.561.351.35
 
Grey LibHold63.49-1.27
 
65.179.719.71
 
Grey—Bruce LibHold65.851.491.49
 
59.97-0.33
 
Haldimand—Norfolk LibHold66.483.393.39
 
56.06-0.43
 
Halton—Burlington LibHold58.952.632.63
 
42.46-2.53
 
Hamilton Centre LibHold56.851.261.26
 
44.01-3.01
 
Hamilton East NDPHold61.036.016.01
 
43.80-2.67
 
Hamilton Mountain NDPHold69.282.262.26
 
44.248.478.47
 
Hamilton West NDPGain61.951.491.49
 
37.4221.3121.31
 
Hastings—Peterborough PCHold60.30-6.19
 
54.915.305.3
 
Huron—Bruce LibHold71.721.501.5
 
61.9415.3115.31
 
Huron—Middlesex LibHold70.714.144.14
 
61.218.978.97
 
Kenora PCHold60.953.013.01
 
66.695.865.86
 
Kent—Elgin LibHold62.81-1.59
 
54.367.287.28
 
Kingston and the Islands LibGain56.36-1.74
 
46.3312.2612.26
 
Kitchener LibHold58.607.747.74
 
46.86-4.11
 
Kitchener—Wilmot LibHold55.245.755.75
 
54.385.835.83
 
Lake Nipigon NDPHold64.458.708.7
 
41.70-27.20
 
Lambton LibGain67.641.611.61
 
47.5217.1417.14
 
Lanark PCHold56.280.480.48
 
56.39-5.30
 
Leeds PCHold58.760.220.22
 
51.61-12.80
 
Lincoln PCHold67.822.282.28
 
49.843.563.56
 
London Centre LibHold52.813.153.15
 
54.803.133.13
 
London North LibHold60.145.985.98
 
54.434.834.83
 
London South LibGain62.9110.8810.88
 
51.0320.1720.17
 
Middlesex LibGain68.032.022.02
 
47.169.759.75
 
Mississauga East PCHold57.527.307.3
 
37.96-17.71
 
Mississauga North LibGain54.545.095.09
 
41.6916.4216.42
 
Mississauga South PCHold59.944.354.35
 
44.58-11.05
 
Muskoka PCHold67.823.393.39
 
68.4213.3413.34
 
Niagara Falls LibHold61.034.724.72
 
48.781.541.54
 
Nickel Belt NDPHold70.397.007
 
52.37-2.48
 
Nipissing PCHold64.660.560.56
 
49.86-5.58
 
Northumberland PCHold63.87-1.16
 
47.67-3.91
 
Oakville PCHold64.067.487.48
 
41.66-20.77
 
Oshawa NDPHold54.715.025.02
 
50.252.202.2
 
Ottawa Centre NDPHold59.184.604.6
 
43.456.686.68
 
Ottawa East LibHold49.150.120.12
 
68.40-0.82
 
Ottawa South PCHold63.633.413.41
 
39.41-10.56
 
Ottawa West PCHold59.433.563.56
 
46.63-12.67
 
Oxford PCHold60.71-0.86
 
46.81-3.06
 
Parry Sound PCHold69.582.712.71
 
50.534.264.26
 
Perth LibHold62.243.363.36
 
69.316.806.8
 
Peterborough PCHold60.25-2.81
 
43.03-2.90
 
Port Arthur NDPHold63.061.841.84
 
44.99-1.10
 
Prescott and Russell LibHold60.34-0.49
 
57.951.741.74
 
Prince Edward—Lennox PCHold57.55-3.64
 
52.44-5.09
 
Quinte LibHold60.734.654.65
 
63.106.326.32
 
Rainy River PCGain67.255.755.75
 
39.562.392.39
 
Renfrew North LibHold63.605.415.41
 
66.4513.8813.88
 
Renfrew South PCHold68.64-2.45
 
51.97-3.69
 
St. Catharines LibHold61.654.444.44
 
57.946.096.09
 
Sarnia PCHold59.99-3.28
 
61.2515.0215.02
 
Sault Ste. Marie NDPGain64.4910.2010.2
 
44.8520.5120.51
 
Simcoe Centre PCHold60.781.721.72
 
38.04-11.80
 
Simcoe East PCHold63.52-0.87
 
41.86-0.26
 
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry PCHold61.94-4.01
 
60.034.654.65
 
Sudbury PCHold60.65-2.08
 
48.612.662.66
 
Sudbury East NDPHold63.214.274.27
 
54.665.455.45
 
Timiskaming NDPGain71.106.076.07
 
50.7914.6714.67
 
Victoria—Haliburton LibHold67.094.184.18
 
50.931.221.22
 
Waterloo North LibHold58.806.506.5
 
54.605.445.44
 
Welland-Thorold NDPHold66.731.941.94
 
59.449.639.63
 
Wellington—Dufferin—Peel PCHold58.06-0.45
 
46.92-9.64
 
Wellington South LibHold65.468.618.61
 
47.83-5.74
 
Wentworth PCHold61.14-1.19
 
38.293.413.41
 
Wentworth North LibHold65.331.341.34
 
47.73-1.40
 
Windsor—Riverside NDPHold57.280.970.97
 
61.6212.0412.04
 
Windsor—Sandwich LibHold56.508.168.16
 
48.358.098.09
 
Windsor—Walkerville LibHold58.567.277.27
 
40.03-14.86
 
York Centre PCHold57.110.300.3
 
45.82-1.72
 
York North LibGain59.164.954.95
 
46.7816.0416.04
 
Armourdale PCHold68.437.797.79
 
41.26-13.37
 
Beaches—Woodbine NDPHold65.115.875.87
 
49.826.726.72
 
Bellwoods NDPHold67.328.578.57
 
47.496.506.5
 
Don Mills PCHold57.524.984.98
 
50.72-13.27
 
Dovercourt NDPHold67.755.135.13
 
38.961.151.15
 
Downsview LibGain65.587.047.04
 
43.927.787.78
 
Eglinton PCHold67.429.569.56
 
43.60-21.32
 
Etobicoke NDPHold58.773.463.46
 
54.3313.6913.69
 
High Park—Swansea PCHold70.025.395.39
 
38.13-8.87
 
Humber LibGain66.856.926.92
 
45.9216.7416.74
 
Lakeshore NDPGain67.936.876.87
 
39.893.973.97
 
Oakwood NDPHold68.6212.3912.39
 
41.63-3.55
 
Oriole LibGain65.237.587.58
 
49.0512.8512.85
 
Parkdale LibHold66.698.108.1
 
62.6720.4020.4
 
Riverdale NDPHold61.6912.0712.07
 
52.165.425.42
 
St. Andrew—St. Patrick PCHold63.956.866.86
 
40.47-8.63
 
St. David LibGain69.434.634.63
 
46.9811.8011.8
 
St. George PCHold58.00-0.69
 
35.04-7.96
 
Scarborough Centre PCHold57.774.714.71
 
35.56-20.35
 
Scarborough East LibGain58.272.802.8
 
48.2223.2523.25
 
Scarborough—Ellesmere NDPGain63.633.363.36
 
37.42-0.15
 
Scarborough North LibGain57.684.604.6
 
47.5221.7521.75
 
Scarborough West NDPHold60.471.301.3
 
53.1911.3511.35
 
Wilson Heights LibGain64.2612.4312.43
 
40.764.324.32
 
York East PCHold64.527.397.39
 
40.05-17.29
 
York Mills PCHold61.127.517.51
 
48.19-17.40
 
York South NDPHold66.536.786.78
 
54.0217.0117.01
 
York West PCHold65.006.786.78
 
39.98-17.60
 
Yorkview LibHold60.725.695.69
 
49.8411.2211.22
 
  1. Summarized from "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario . Retrieved December 15, 2022.

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place [13]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
PCLibNDP
Progressive Conservative 381452
Liberal 42648
New Democratic 16925
Total584720125
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [13]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
  Progressive Conservative 525815
  Liberal 484730
  New Democratic 2520791
  Independent 1207
  Libertarian 151
  Communist 10
  Green 53
  Freedom 3
Resulting composition of the 28th Legislative Assembly [13]
SourceParty
PCLibNDPTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned43241683
Open seats held75315
Byelection loss reversed11
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance11
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated12416
Open seats gained2518
Byelection gain held11
Total524825125

Significant results among independent and minor party candidates

Those candidates not belonging to a major party, receiving more than 1,000 votes in the election, are listed below: [13]

RidingPartyCandidatesVotesPlaced
Don Mills   Independent Gary Watson1,3824th
Essex North   Independent Raymond Boggs2,9254th
Essex South   Independent Jeffrey Totten4,9473rd
Lincoln   Independent Kenneth Lee1,0364th
Oakville   Green Christopher Kowalchuk2,0084th
Oriole   Libertarian George Graham1,1064th
St. George   Libertarian Michael Beech1,0074th
Scarborough East   Libertarian James McIntosh1,4024th
Scarborough North   Independent Ronald Austin1,9744th
York Centre   Independent Stewart Cole2,6444th
York Mills   Libertarian Scott Bell2,3394th
York South   Independent William Schulze1,0634th
York West   Libertarian Robert Dunk1,0994th

Seats changing hands

Twenty-five seats changed allegiance in this election:

MPPs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  PC
  Liberal
  NDP

Riding results

Algoma:

Algoma—Manitoulin:

Armourdale:

Beaches—Woodbine:

Bellwoods:

Brampton:

Brantford:

Brant-Oxford-Norfolk:

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 20,60557.94
Progressive Conservative Elaine Herzog9,02925.39
New Democratic Michael Cormier5,62415.81
Communist Eric Blair3050.86
Total valid votes35,563100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots201
Turnout35,76461.65

St. David:

St. George:

Sarnia:

Sault Ste. Marie:

Scarborough Centre:

Scarborough East:

Scarborough—Ellesmere:

Scarborough North:

Scarborough West:

Simcoe Centre:

Simcoe East:

Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry and East Grenville:

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:

York West:

Yorkview:

Post-election changes

York East (res. Robert Elgie, September 26, 1985), April 17, 1986:

Cochrane North (res. René Fontaine, 1986), August 14, 1986:

David Ramsay, elected as a New Democrat, joined the Liberal Party on October 6, 1986. Tony Lupusella, also elected as a New Democrat, joined the Liberal Party on December 17, 1986. After Lupusella's defection, the Liberals held as many seats in the legislative assembly as the Progressive Conservatives, at 51, (if the Speaker of the Legislature is included as a Liberal).

Paul Yakabuski, PC MPP for Renfrew South died July 31, 1987

See also

Notes

  1. Replaced as Premier by David Peterson on June 26, 1985
  2. Turmel ran as a "Social Credit Party of Ontario" candidate despite the fact that the party was long since defunct

References

  1. "1985 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  2. Robert Matas, "Davis like Hitler on schools: bishop," Globe and Mail, 25 April 1985, p. 1.
  3. "What happens in a hung Parliament – Macleans.ca". October 19, 2015.
  4. Stevens, Geoffrey (1990), Leaders and Lesser Mortals, Toronto: Key Porter Books, pp.  48–50, ISBN   1550134442
  5. Stevens, Geoffrey (1990), Leaders and Lesser Mortals, Toronto: Key Porter Books, pp.  50, ISBN   1550134442
  6. Adams, Michael; Dasko, Donna; James, Matsui (April 22, 1985). "Support for Tories slides 41%; down 10 points in Metro". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  7. 1 2 Cruickshank, John; Ross, Howard (April 13, 1985). "Tories find support slipping". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  8. Stead, Sylvia; Cruickshank, John (March 26, 1985). "Race is on in Ontario for May vote". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  9. Campbell, Murray (April 27, 1985). "Peterson appeals for NDP votes". The Globe and Mail. p. 12.
  10. Stead, Sylvia; Stephens, Robert (February 22, 1985). "55% in Ontario back the Tories in poll this month". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
  11. Martin, Patrick (October 11, 1984). "Contenders far behind Davis in polls". The Globe and Mail. p. P5.
  12. "Ontario Tories still way out in front of rivals: poll". The Citizen. August 2, 1983. p. 3.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1985 general election results". Elections Ontario . Retrieved December 13, 2023.

Further reading