1990 Ontario general election

1990 Ontario general election

←  1987 September 6, 1990 1995  →
130 seats in the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario 66 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	64.45% [1]
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bob Rae David Peterson Mike Harris Party New Democratic Liberal Progressive Conservative Leader since February 7, 1982 February 21, 1982 May 12, 1990 Leader's seat York South London Centre (lost re-election) Nipissing Last election 19 95 16 Seats won 74 36 20 Seat change 55 59 4 Popular vote 1,509,506 1,302,134 944,564 Percentage 37.6% 32.4% 23.5% Swing 11.9pp 14.9pp 1.2pp
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Click the map for more details.
Premier before election David Peterson Liberal Premier after election Bob Rae New Democratic

The 1990 Ontario general election was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada. The governing Ontario Liberal Party led by Premier David Peterson was unexpectedly defeated. Although the Peterson government, and Peterson himself, were very popular, ^[2] he was accused of opportunism in calling an election just three years into his mandate. In a shocking upset, the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Bob Rae, won a majority government. This marked the first time the NDP had won government east of Manitoba, and to date the only time the NDP formed the government in Ontario.

Not even the NDP expected to come close to winning power. Rae had already made plans to retire from politics after the election; however, the NDP managed to take many seats in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from the Liberals, and Rae himself represented York South, in Metro Toronto. They also did better than ever before, or in some cases since, in many other cities and rural areas. The NDP finished only five points ahead of the Liberals in the popular vote, but due to the nature of the first-past-the-post electoral system, which ignores the popular vote and awards power based on the number of ridings won, the NDP's gains in the GTA decimated the Liberal caucus. The Liberals lost 59 seats, the second-worst defeat for a governing party in Ontario. At the time, it was the Liberals' worst showing in an Ontario election. Peterson himself was heavily defeated in London Centre by NDP challenger Marion Boyd, losing by 8,200 votes, one of the few times a provincial premier has lost their own seat.

Although Mike Harris' Progressive Conservative Party was unable to overcome voter distrust of the federal Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, his party managed to make a net gain of four seats. Although Harris was from northern Ontario, the Tories were particularly weak in that region, placing fourth, behind the Liberals, NDP, and the right-wing Confederation of Regions Party (CoR) in six northern Ontario ridings (Algoma, Cochrane South, Nickel Belt, Sudbury, Sudbury East, and Sault Ste. Marie). The CoR also placed ahead of the Progressive Conservatives in the Renfrew North and Cornwall ridings in eastern Ontario. Although they received only 1.9% of the vote provincewide, they managed 7.8% in the 33 ridings in which they actually fielded a candidate.

The Green Party of Ontario placed third, ahead of the NDP, in Parry Sound riding, where former Liberal leadership candidate Richard Thomas was the party's candidate.

The Ontario Legislature after the 1990 election.

Riding name change

Before the election, an Act was passed, changing the name of Prince Edward—Lennox to Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings. ^[3]

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level

Polling firm	Last day of survey	Source	ONDP	OLP	PCO	Other	ME	Sample
Election 1990	September 6, 1990		37.6	32.4	23.5	6.5
Angus Reid-Southam	August 30, 1990	[4]	38	34	24	4	3.3	804
Environics	August 21, 1990	[5]	34	40	23	—	3.1	1,008
Leader's debate held (August 20, 1990) [6]
Decima	August 13, 1990	[7]	30	40	28	—	—	—
Election called (July 30, 1990) [8]

During the 34th Parliament of Ontario

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level

Polling firm	Last day of survey	Source	ONDP	OLP	PCO	Other	ME	Sample
Gallup	July 1990	[9]	24	43	26	—	—	—
Environics	July 8, 1990	[10]	26	50	22	—	3.2	1,000
Environics	April 1990	[11]	28	47	23	—	—	—
Environics	December 1989	[12]	26	42	30	—	3.2	—
Environics	September 1989	[12]	26	45	28	—	3.2	—
Environics	July 6, 1989	[13]	25	45	29	—	3.2	1,012
Environics	December 13, 1988	[14]	21	43	34	—	—	1,025
Angus Reid	October 1988	[15]	20	53	25	—	—	—
Environics	May 1988	[16]	25	45	28	1	3.2	1,003
Environics	May 1988	[16]	25	45	28	1	3.2	1,003
Gallup	May 14, 1988	[17]	25	50	24	—	5	571
Environics	February 1988	[18]	24	54	21	—	3.2	1,003
Environics	November 22, 1987	[19]	24	52	23	—	3.2	1,008
Election 1987	September 10, 1987		25.7	47.3	23.5	3.5

Results

See also: Results of the 1990 Ontario general election by riding

^[1]

Elections to the 35th Parliament of Ontario (1990)

Political party		Party leader	MPPs					Votes
			Candidates	1987	Dissol.	1990	±	#	%	± (pp)
	New Democratic	Bob Rae	130	19	19	74	55	1,509,506	37.6%	11.9
	Liberal	David Peterson	130	95	93	36	59	1,302,134	32.4%	14.9
	Progressive Conservative	Mike Harris	130	16	17	20	4	944,564	23.5%	1.2
	Family Coalition	Donald Pennell	68	–	–	–	–	110,831	2.8%	1.5
	Confederation of Regions	Dean Wasson	33	–	–	–	–	75,873	1.9%	New
	Green	Katherine Mathewson	40	–	–	–	–	30,097	0.8%	0.7
	Libertarian	James Stock	45	–	–	–	–	24,613	0.6%	0.2
	Freedom	Robert Metz	10	–	–	–	–	6,015	0.1%
	Communist	Elizabeth Rowley	4	–	–	–	–	1,139	–	0.1
	Independent		15	–	–	–	–	13,307	0.3%
	Vacant				1
Total			615	130	130	130		4,018,079	100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots								52,575
Total ballots cast								4,070,654
Registered voters / turnout								6,315,949	64.5%	1.8

Popular vote New Democratic   37.57% Liberal   32.41% PC   23.51% Others   6.51%

Seats summary New Democratic   56.92% Liberal   27.69% PC   15.38%

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1990 Ontario general election ^[1]

Riding	Winning party								Turnout [a 1]	Votes [a 2]
Name [a 3] [a 4]	1987		Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %		NDP	Lib	PC	FCP	CoR	Ind	Other	Total
Algoma		NDP		NDP	8,221	58.65%	4,648	33.16%	65.62%	8,221	3,573	433	–	1,790	–	–	14,017
Algoma—Manitoulin		Lib		Lib	5,961	38.86%	207	1.35%	61.25%	5,754	5,961	2,163	–	1,114	347	–	15,339
Beaches—Woodbine		NDP		NDP	14,381	58.35%	8,052	32.67%	65.95%	14,381	6,329	3,535	–	–	400	–	24,645
Brampton North		Lib		Lib	11,686	34.92%	98	0.29%	58.35%	11,588	11,686	7,619	1,466	–	434	669	33,462
Brampton South		Lib		Lib	12,918	32.31%	424	1.06%	59.36%	12,494	12,918	11,395	2,511	–	–	667	39,985
Brantford		Lib		NDP	17,736	48.63%	4,092	11.22%	66.71%	17,736	13,644	3,087	1,413	–	–	594	36,474
Brant—Haldimand		Lib		Lib	10,751	37.35%	1,469	5.10%	61.18%	9,282	10,751	6,228	1,520	–	–	1,004	28,785
Bruce		Lib		Lib	11,476	37.71%	3,511	11.54%	68.92%	7,965	11,476	7,349	3,639	–	–	–	30,429
Burlington South		PC		PC	17,084	52.53%	8,899	27.36%	69.48%	8,185	5,544	17,084	1,707	–	–	–	32,520
Cambridge		NDP		NDP	21,806	60.28%	14,249	39.39%	64.84%	21,806	7,557	4,449	2,364	–	–	–	36,176
Carleton		PC		PC	17,860	46.91%	7,717	20.27%	65.15%	10,071	10,143	17,860	–	–	–	–	38,074
Carleton East		Lib		Lib	19,059	53.88%	9,083	25.68%	63.52%	9,976	19,059	5,117	1,224	–	–	–	35,376
Chatham—Kent		Lib		NDP	13,930	44.74%	3,967	12.74%	63.01%	13,930	9,963	5,619	1,626	–	–	–	31,138
Cochrane North		Lib		NDP	6,618	40.47%	143	0.87%	62.16%	6,618	6,475	3,261	–	–	–	–	16,354
Cochrane South		PC		NDP	11,460	47.61%	2,099	8.72%	62.95%	11,460	9,361	1,019	–	2,229	–	–	24,069
Cornwall		Lib		Lib	12,725	46.53%	5,681	20.77%	63.79%	7,044	12,725	3,169	–	4,409	–	–	27,347
Don Mills		Lib		NDP	9,740	34.20%	954	3.35%	64.23%	9,740	8,786	7,631	–	–	562	1,764	28,483
Dovercourt		Lib		NDP	10,604	54.25%	3,989	20.41%	66.27%	10,604	6,615	1,239	–	–	–	1,090	19,548
Downsview		Lib		NDP	13,440	56.58%	5,221	21.98%	66.08%	13,440	8,219	1,477	–	–	–	619	23,755
Dufferin—Peel		Lib		PC	10,899	34.66%	572	1.82%	66.56%	8,627	10,327	10,899	–	–	–	1,594	31,447
Durham Centre		Lib		NDP	12,594	35.88%	2,348	6.69%	61.23%	12,594	10,246	9,126	1,186	1,087	–	857	35,096
Durham East		PC		NDP	10,960	32.74%	53	0.16%	63.43%	10,960	7,836	10,907	2,487	1,286	–	–	33,476
Durham West		Lib		NDP	16,366	37.47%	1,982	4.54%	62.36%	16,366	14,384	11,167	1,761	–	–	–	43,678
Durham—York		Lib		NDP	12,297	33.89%	1,230	3.39%	61.90%	12,297	11,067	10,904	2,016	–	–	–	36,284
Eglinton		Lib		Lib	12,032	35.97%	173	0.52%	69.98%	7,772	12,032	11,859	–	–	–	1,788	33,451
Elgin		Lib		NDP	14,189	41.67%	4,466	13.12%	66.51%	14,189	9,723	9,031	–	–	–	1,104	34,047
Essex-Kent		Lib		NDP	15,858	52.66%	5,890	19.56%	67.52%	15,858	9,968	2,739	1,551	–	–	–	30,116
Essex South		Lib		Lib	10,575	36.02%	212	0.72%	59.40%	10,363	10,575	6,335	2,085	–	–	–	29,358
Etobicoke—Humber		Lib		Lib	13,582	38.61%	3,533	10.04%	70.29%	10,049	13,582	9,289	1,292	–	–	966	35,178
Etobicoke—Lakeshore		NDP		NDP	18,118	57.23%	11,112	35.10%	66.15%	18,118	7,006	4,854	1,053	–	–	629	31,660
Etobicoke—Rexdale		NDP		NDP	17,620	67.07%	13,035	49.62%	61.42%	17,620	4,585	3,243	–	–	–	822	26,270
Etobicoke West		Lib		PC	13,713	40.56%	3,631	10.74%	69.86%	7,992	10,082	13,713	1,045	–	304	674	33,810
Fort William		Lib		Lib	11,798	44.44%	1,345	5.07%	62.74%	10,453	11,798	4,300	–	–	–	–	26,551
Fort York		Lib		NDP	11,023	46.30%	1,367	5.74%	63.48%	11,023	9,656	2,258	–	–	330	539	23,806
Frontenac—Addington		Lib		NDP	9,696	33.24%	1,470	5.04%	65.15%	9,696	8,226	8,211	2,020	–	1,021	–	29,174
Grey		Lib		PC	13,742	36.11%	2,462	6.47%	65.20%	11,280	10,257	13,742	2,157	–	–	620	38,056
Guelph		Lib		NDP	15,051	37.91%	3,107	7.83%	69.48%	15,051	11,944	10,184	1,602	–	–	920	39,701
Halton Centre		Lib		Lib	13,494	35.03%	1,215	3.15%	63.12%	10,163	13,494	12,279	1,232	–	–	1,355	38,523
Halton North		Lib		NDP	8,510	30.94%	548	1.99%	64.50%	8,510	7,962	7,499	2,489	–	–	1,043	27,503
Hamilton Centre		Lib		NDP	14,029	55.32%	6,215	24.51%	59.78%	14,029	7,814	2,116	365	–	–	1,034	25,358
Hamilton East		NDP		NDP	20,289	71.60%	14,764	52.10%	61.70%	20,289	5,525	1,676	846	–	–	–	28,336
Hamilton Mountain		NDP		NDP	22,488	59.76%	14,779	39.28%	66.55%	22,488	7,432	7,709	–	–	–	–	37,629
Hamilton West		NDP		NDP	18,550	56.59%	11,314	34.52%	67.90%	18,550	7,236	4,361	2,324	–	–	306	32,777
Hastings—Peterborough		PC		NDP	11,283	39.89%	896	3.17%	68.76%	11,283	4,285	10,387	1,199	1,128	–	–	28,282
High Park—Swansea		Lib		NDP	11,432	45.12%	3,273	12.92%	64.83%	11,432	8,159	4,674	409	–	–	663	25,337
Huron		Lib		NDP	10,020	34.47%	954	3.28%	71.47%	10,020	6,653	9,066	2,931	–	–	400	29,070
Kenora		Lib		Lib	8,152	40.55%	331	1.65%	61.67%	7,821	8,152	1,776	–	–	2,357	–	20,106
Kingston and the Islands		Lib		NDP	10,184	37.99%	2,092	7.80%	57.00%	10,184	8,092	7,079	1,452	–	–	–	26,807
Kitchener		Lib		NDP	15,750	46.82%	6,019	17.89%	62.90%	15,750	9,731	6,157	2,002	–	–	–	33,640
Kitchener—Wilmot		Lib		NDP	16,056	43.94%	5,187	14.20%	60.09%	16,056	10,869	7,342	2,270	–	–	–	36,537
Lake Nipigon		NDP		NDP	8,335	65.19%	5,252	41.08%	59.98%	8,335	3,083	735	632	–	–	–	12,785
Lambton		Lib		NDP	8,691	31.40%	1,026	3.71%	68.17%	8,691	7,291	7,665	3,557	471	–	–	27,675
Lanark—Renfrew		PC		PC	11,063	32.48%	1,398	4.10%	60.37%	8,541	9,665	11,063	1,853	2,938	–	–	34,060
Lawrence		Lib		Lib	11,786	44.70%	1,607	6.10%	65.68%	10,179	11,786	3,557	–	–	–	842	26,364
Leeds—Grenville		PC		PC	16,846	49.07%	7,674	22.35%	66.18%	8,312	9,172	16,846	–	–	–	–	34,330
Lincoln		Lib		NDP	12,117	35.49%	1,062	3.11%	68.07%	12,117	11,055	9,407	–	1,562	–	–	34,141
London Centre		Lib		NDP	17,837	51.31%	8,166	23.49%	66.05%	17,837	9,671	5,348	982	–	345	582	34,765
London North		Lib		PC	18,079	41.30%	4,074	9.31%	67.80%	14,005	9,990	18,079	1,095	–	–	601	43,770
London South		Lib		NDP	17,438	42.41%	5,651	13.74%	65.61%	17,438	11,787	9,828	1,427	–	–	635	41,115
Markham		PC		PC	25,595	49.97%	10,467	20.43%	64.39%	8,459	15,128	25,595	1,086	–	311	642	51,221
Middlesex		Lib		NDP	12,522	32.62%	520	1.35%	68.80%	12,522	12,002	8,957	4,007	–	–	894	38,382
Mississauga East		Lib		Lib	12,448	39.29%	3,271	10.32%	61.61%	9,177	12,448	8,285	–	–	1,363	411	31,684
Mississauga North		Lib		Lib	12,658	37.85%	1,442	4.31%	57.77%	11,216	12,658	7,990	–	–	632	946	33,442
Mississauga South		PC		PC	17,126	52.45%	9,547	29.24%	65.68%	7,579	6,624	17,126	–	–	–	1,323	32,652
Mississauga West		Lib		Lib	20,038	42.11%	6,100	12.82%	59.59%	13,938	20,038	11,945	–	–	771	892	47,584
Muskoka—Georgian Bay		Lib		NDP	13,422	40.63%	2,918	8.83%	67.65%	13,422	9,105	10,504	–	–	–	–	33,031
Nepean		Lib		Lib	13,723	42.45%	3,853	11.92%	62.91%	7,453	13,723	9,870	–	–	–	1,282	32,328
Niagara Falls		Lib		NDP	13,884	46.37%	5,905	19.72%	63.38%	13,884	7,979	3,896	674	3,141	–	365	29,939
Niagara South		Lib		NDP	11,161	46.56%	3,929	16.39%	65.10%	11,161	7,232	4,032	–	1,547	–	–	23,972
Nickel Belt		NDP		NDP	9,925	58.54%	6,658	39.27%	69.07%	9,925	3,267	967	–	2,796	–	–	16,955
Nipissing		PC		PC	15,469	45.85%	4,724	14.00%	70.16%	7,039	10,745	15,469	488	–	–	–	33,741
Norfolk		Lib		NDP	14,850	41.03%	3,879	10.72%	67.95%	14,850	10,971	10,374	–	–	–	–	36,195
Northumberland		Lib		Lib	11,984	33.53%	1,094	3.06%	66.93%	9,581	11,984	10,890	1,213	1,677	–	395	35,740
Oakville South		Lib		PC	10,949	34.98%	108	0.35%	66.73%	6,423	10,841	10,949	996	1,057	–	1,038	31,304
Oakwood		Lib		NDP	10,423	48.74%	2,280	10.66%	67.69%	10,423	8,143	1,671	–	–	–	1,147	21,384
Oriole		Lib		Lib	10,655	41.86%	2,214	8.70%	66.13%	8,441	10,655	5,435	–	–	–	923	25,454
Oshawa		NDP		NDP	16,601	61.09%	11,485	42.27%	51.99%	16,601	5,116	3,871	–	1,585	–	–	27,173
Ottawa Centre		Lib		NDP	14,522	47.70%	2,866	9.41%	67.17%	14,522	11,656	2,723	809	–	160	576	30,446
Ottawa East		Lib		Lib	16,363	62.41%	10,260	39.13%	55.23%	6,103	16,363	2,203	826	–	–	723	26,218
Ottawa—Rideau		Lib		Lib	13,454	45.31%	4,609	15.52%	59.96%	8,845	13,454	5,234	1,049	–	861	252	29,695
Ottawa South		Lib		Lib	13,845	45.87%	6,019	19.94%	68.56%	7,826	13,845	7,399	503	–	–	612	30,185
Ottawa West		Lib		Lib	13,908	41.61%	4,840	14.48%	65.68%	8,391	13,908	9,068	–	1,044	–	1,011	33,422
Oxford		Lib		NDP	12,684	34.75%	2,824	7.74%	67.65%	12,684	9,802	9,860	3,182	–	–	976	36,504
Parkdale		Lib		Lib	8,080	46.39%	523	3.00%	61.22%	7,557	8,080	941	–	–	273	566	17,417
Parry Sound		PC		PC	10,078	43.78%	4,953	21.52%	65.09%	2,993	5,125	10,078	763	–	–	4,061	23,020
Perth		Lib		NDP	11,712	36.83%	2,991	9.41%	66.24%	11,712	8,721	8,600	2,769	–	–	–	31,802
Peterborough		Lib		NDP	13,813	32.98%	185	0.44%	66.65%	13,813	13,628	8,884	3,652	1,586	–	325	41,888
Port Arthur		Lib		NDP	11,919	42.88%	1,034	3.72%	62.22%	11,919	10,885	3,854	1,140	–	–	–	27,798
Prescott and Russell		Lib		Lib	25,879	64.97%	16,510	41.45%	59.27%	9,369	25,879	2,848	1,119	–	–	618	39,833
Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings		Lib		NDP	9,204	33.17%	905	3.26%	61.45%	9,204	8,188	8,299	–	2,061	–	–	27,752
Quinte		Lib		Lib	11,114	37.43%	4,104	13.82%	59.41%	7,010	11,114	5,825	2,331	3,411	–	–	29,691
Rainy River		NDP		NDP	7,838	61.47%	3,960	31.06%	66.34%	7,838	3,878	1,035	–	–	–	–	12,751
Renfrew North		Lib		Lib	13,082	43.32%	7,166	23.73%	65.62%	5,916	13,082	4,586	1,104	5,510	–	–	30,198
Riverdale		NDP		NDP	14,086	61.97%	8,514	37.46%	62.45%	14,086	5,572	1,578	–	–	–	1,493	22,729
St. Andrew—St. Patrick		Lib		NDP	10,321	34.45%	1,080	3.61%	66.89%	10,321	8,938	9,241	–	–	–	1,456	29,956
St. Catharines		Lib		Lib	11,565	38.76%	936	3.14%	66.77%	10,629	11,565	3,926	1,331	2,384	–	–	29,835
St. Catharines—Brock		Lib		NDP	9,538	34.71%	1,159	4.22%	65.85%	9,538	8,379	6,969	873	1,449	–	270	27,478
St. George—St. David		Lib		Lib	10,718	36.08%	72	0.24%	64.63%	10,646	10,718	6,955	932	–	–	455	29,706
Sarnia		PC		NDP	10,860	36.71%	2,320	7.84%	64.84%	10,860	8,540	6,269	2,691	652	–	574	29,586
Sault Ste. Marie		NDP		NDP	14,036	36.26%	697	1.80%	68.26%	14,036	13,339	3,347	–	7,991	–	–	38,713
Scarborough—Agincourt		Lib		Lib	13,347	44.32%	4,707	15.63%	63.54%	6,763	13,347	8,640	–	–	–	1,368	30,118
Scarborough Centre		Lib		NDP	12,324	45.21%	3,068	11.25%	64.45%	12,324	9,256	5,682	–	–	–	–	27,262
Scarborough East		Lib		NDP	11,700	35.55%	1,774	5.39%	63.47%	11,700	9,926	9,890	–	–	368	1,031	32,915
Scarborough—Ellesmere		Lib		NDP	14,036	48.20%	4,619	15.86%	66.79%	14,036	9,417	4,855	–	–	–	811	29,119
Scarborough North		Lib		Lib	13,393	44.56%	3,916	13.03%	57.86%	9,477	13,393	5,367	1,199	–	–	620	30,056
Scarborough West		NDP		NDP	14,340	51.16%	7,819	27.90%	65.21%	14,340	6,521	5,769	996	–	–	401	28,027
Simcoe Centre		Lib		NDP	15,711	37.79%	2,842	6.84%	62.46%	15,711	12,869	10,013	–	2,979	–	–	41,572
Simcoe East		PC		PC	14,828	39.65%	740	1.98%	67.46%	14,088	7,219	14,828	–	–	–	1,263	37,398
Simcoe West		PC		PC	11,710	36.49%	1,840	5.73%	63.84%	9,870	7,765	11,710	2,744	–	–	–	32,089
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry		PC		PC	11,887	40.87%	3,501	12.04%	65.77%	5,357	8,386	11,887	–	3,452	–	–	29,082
Sudbury		Lib		NDP	13,407	41.21%	3,397	10.44%	66.57%	13,407	10,010	3,318	–	5,795	–	–	32,530
Sudbury East		NDP		NDP	17,536	58.00%	10,052	33.25%	70.87%	17,536	7,484	1,458	–	3,754	–	–	30,232
Timiskaming		Lib		Lib	8,364	42.29%	2,173	10.99%	67.57%	6,191	8,364	2,261	–	2,250	–	713	19,779
Victoria—Haliburton		Lib		NDP	15,467	44.33%	6,520	18.69%	69.10%	15,467	7,668	8,947	1,419	–	971	417	34,889
Waterloo North		Lib		PC	14,552	37.43%	3,254	8.37%	62.03%	11,298	9,441	14,552	2,946	–	–	646	38,883
Welland-Thorold		NDP		NDP	20,488	63.62%	12,931	40.16%	69.80%	20,488	7,557	2,893	–	878	–	386	32,202
Wellington		PC		PC	12,141	39.62%	1,304	4.26%	66.44%	10,837	7,668	12,141	–	–	–	–	30,646
Wentworth East		Lib		NDP	15,224	44.63%	3,147	9.23%	66.82%	15,224	12,077	5,609	–	–	533	668	34,111
Wentworth North		Lib		NDP	11,472	34.05%	88	0.26%	69.63%	11,472	11,384	8,740	1,236	860	–	–	33,692
Willowdale		Lib		PC	11,957	35.20%	834	2.46%	63.33%	9,125	11,123	11,957	1,074	–	–	688	33,967
Wilson Heights		Lib		Lib	12,272	44.26%	2,654	9.57%	62.99%	9,618	12,272	4,913	–	–	–	922	27,725
Windsor—Riverside		NDP		NDP	21,144	71.03%	14,504	48.72%	62.16%	21,144	6,640	1,096	889	–	–	–	29,769
Windsor—Sandwich		Lib		NDP	15,952	54.45%	4,145	14.15%	58.96%	15,952	11,807	1,186	–	–	353	–	29,298
Windsor—Walkerville		Lib		NDP	15,899	55.19%	4,318	14.99%	59.74%	15,899	11,581	1,327	–	–	–	–	28,807
York Centre		Lib		Lib	28,056	45.57%	9,206	14.95%	61.85%	18,850	28,056	14,656	–	–	–	–	61,562
York East		Lib		NDP	10,689	35.81%	789	2.64%	68.03%	10,689	9,900	8,021	–	–	380	858	29,848
York Mills		Lib		PC	13,037	44.64%	2,647	9.06%	68.30%	4,830	10,390	13,037	–	–	–	950	29,207
York North		Lib		Lib	11,452	34.25%	148	0.44%	63.14%	10,681	11,452	11,304	–	–	–	–	33,437
York South		NDP		NDP	16,642	66.70%	12,108	48.53%	66.80%	16,642	4,534	2,561	–	–	–	1,212	24,949
Yorkview		Lib		NDP	9,945	49.58%	1,619	8.07%	61.11%	9,945	8,326	1,254	–	–	231	303	20,059

1. including spoilt ballots
2. minor political parties receiving less than 1% of the popular vote are aggregated under "Other"; independent candidates are aggregated separately
3. order is as given in EO reports
4. Names are as specified in 1976 Act plus 1990 amendment - EO file has errors

  = 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

MPPs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal

  NDP

  PC

Two-tone colour boxes indicate ridings that turned over from the 1987 election, eg:

   (Liberal in 1987 and NDP in 1990)

Northern Ontario    Algoma: Bud Wildman    Algoma—Manitoulin: Mike Brown    Cochrane North: Len Wood    Cochrane South: Gilles Bisson    Fort William: Lyn McLeod    Kenora: Frank Miclash    Lake Nipigon: Gilles Pouliot    Nickel Belt: Floyd Laughren    Nipissing: Mike Harris    Port Arthur: Shelley Wark-Martyn    Rainy River: Howard Hampton    Sault Ste. Marie: Tony Martin    Sudbury: Sharon Murdock    Sudbury East: Shelley Martel    Timiskaming: David Ramsay Ottawa Valley    Carleton: Norm Sterling    Carleton East: Gilles Morin    Lanark—Renfrew: Leo Jordan    Nepean: Hans Daigeler    Ottawa Centre: Evelyn Gigantes    Ottawa East: Bernard Grandmaître    Ottawa South: Dalton McGuinty    Ottawa West: Bob Chiarelli    Ottawa—Rideau: Yvonne O'Neill    Prescott and Russell: Jean Poirier    Renfrew North: Sean Conway Saint Lawrence Valley    Cornwall: John Cleary    Kingston and the Islands: Gary Wilson    Leeds—Grenville: Bob Runciman    Stormont—Dundas and Glengarry: Noble Villeneuve Central Ontario    Frontenac—Addington: Fred Wilson    Hastings—Peterborough: Elmer Buchanan    Northumberland: Joan Fawcett    Peterborough: Jenny Carter    Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings: Paul Johnson    Quinte: Hugh O'Neil    Victoria—Haliburton: Dennis Drainville Georgian Bay    Bruce: Murray Elston    Grey—Owen Sound: Bill Murdoch    Muskoka—Georgian Bay: Dan Waters    Parry Sound: Ernie Eves    Simcoe Centre: Paul Wessenger    Simcoe East: Al McLean    Simcoe West: Jim Wilson

Hamilton/Halton/Niagara    Burlington South: Cam Jackson    Halton Centre: Barbara Sullivan    Halton North: Noel Duignan    Hamilton Centre: David Christopherson    Hamilton East: Bob Mackenzie    Hamilton Mountain: Brian Charlton    Hamilton West: Richard Allen    Lincoln: Ron Hansen    Niagara Falls: Margaret Harrington    Niagara South: Shirley Coppen    Oakville South: Gary Carr    St. Catharines: Jim Bradley    St. Catharines—Brock: Christel Haeck    Welland—Thorold: Peter Kormos    Wentworth East: Mark Morrow    Wentworth North: Donald Abel Midwestern Ontario    Brant—Haldimand: Robert Nixon    Brantford: Brad Ward    Cambridge: Mike Farnan    Dufferin—Peel: David Tilson    Guelph: Derek Fletcher    Huron: Paul Klopp    Kitchener: Will Ferguson    Kitchener—Wilmot: Mike Cooper    Norfolk: Norman Jamison    Oxford: Kimble Sutherland    Perth: Karen Haslam    Waterloo North: Elizabeth Witmer    Wellington: Ted Arnott Southwestern Ontario    Chatham—Kent: Randy Hope    Elgin: Peter North    Essex South: Remo Mancini    Essex—Kent: Patrick Hayes    Lambton: Ellen MacKinnon    London Centre: Marion Boyd    London North: Dianne Cunningham    London South: David Winninger    Middlesex: Irene Mathyssen    Sarnia: Bob Huget    Windsor—Riverside: Dave Cooke    Windsor—Sandwich: George Dadamo    Windsor—Walkerville: Wayne Lessard

Peel/York/Durham    Brampton North: Carman McClelland    Brampton South: Bob Callahan    Durham Centre: Drummond White    Durham East: Gord Mills    Durham West: Jim Wiseman    Durham—York: Larry O'Connor    Markham: Don Cousens    Mississauga East: John Sola    Mississauga North: Steven Offer    Mississauga South: Margaret Marland    Mississauga West: Steve Mahoney    Oshawa: Allan Pilkey    York Centre: Greg Sorbara    York North: Charles Beer Metropolitan Toronto    Beaches—Woodbine: Frances Lankin    Don Mills: Margery Ward    Dovercourt: Tony Silipo    Downsview: Anthony Perruzza    Eglinton: Dianne Poole    Etobicoke West: Chris Stockwell    Etobicoke—Humber: Jim Henderson    Etobicoke—Lakeshore: Ruth Grier    Etobicoke—Rexdale: Ed Philip    Fort York: Rosario Marchese    High Park—Swansea: Elaine Ziemba    Lawrence: Joseph Cordiano    Oakwood: Tony Rizzo    Oriole: Elinor Caplan    Parkdale: Tony Ruprecht    Riverdale: Marilyn Churley    Scarborough—Agincourt: Gerry Phillips    Scarborough Centre: Steve Owens    Scarborough East: Bob Frankford    Scarborough—Ellesmere: David Warner    Scarborough North: Alvin Curling    Scarborough West: Anne Swarbrick    St. Andrew—St. Patrick: Zanana Akande    St. George—St. David: Ian Scott    Willowdale: Charles Harnick    Wilson Heights: Monte Kwinter    York East: Gary Malkowski    York Mills: David Turnbull    York South: Bob Rae    Yorkview: George Mammoliti

Summary analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place ^[1]

Party in 1st place		Party in 2nd place			Total
		NDP	Liberal	PC
	New Democratic		64	10	74
	Liberal	29		7	36
	Progressive Conservative	8	12		20
Total		37	76	17	130

Principal races, according to 1st and 2nd-place results ^[1]

Parties		Seats
█  New Democratic	█  Liberal	93
█  New Democratic	█  Progressive Conservative	18
█  Progressive Conservative	█  Liberal	19
Total		130

Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party ^[1]

Parties	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
█  New Democratic	74	37	18	1		130
█  Liberal	36	76	18			130
█  Progressive Conservative	20	17	84	9		130
█  Confederation of Regions			8	17	7	32
█  Green			1	15	21	37
█  Independent			1	4	10	15
█  Family Coalition				57	9	66
█  Libertarian				13	19	32
█  Freedom				1	7	8
█  Communist					1	1

Seats changing hands

Of the 130 seats, 20 were open because of MPPs who chose not to stand for reelection, and voters in 63 seats changed allegiance from the previous election in 1987.

Elections to the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1987–1990

Party		1987	Gain from (loss to)						1990
			NDP		Lib		PC
	New Democratic	19			51		4		74
	Liberal	95		(51)				(8)	36
	Progressive Conservative	16		(4)	8				20
Total		130	–	(55)	59	–	4	(8)	130

The following seats changed allegiance from 1987:

Liberal to NDP Brantford Chatham—Kent Cochrane North Don Mills Dovercourt Downsview Durham Centre Durham West Durham—York Elgin Essex—Kent Fort York Frontenac—Addington Guelph Halton North Hamilton Centre High Park—Swansea Huron Kingston and the Islands Kitchener Kitchener—Wilmot

Lambton Lincoln London Centre London South Middlesex Muskoka—Georgian Bay Niagara Falls Niagara South Norfolk Oakwood Ottawa Centre Oxford Perth Peterborough Port Arthur Prince Edward—Lennox—South—Hastings Scarborough Centre Scarborough East Scarborough—Ellesmere Simcoe Centre St. Andrew—St. Patrick

St. Catharines—Brock Sudbury Victoria—Haliburton Wentworth East Wentworth North Windsor—Sandwich Windsor—Walkerville York East Yorkview Liberal to PC Dufferin—Peel Etobicoke West Grey London North Oakville South Waterloo North Willowdale York Mills PC to NDP Cochrane South Durham East Hastings—Peterborough Sarnia

Resulting composition of the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Source		Party
		NDP	Lib	PC	Total
Seats retained	Incumbents returned	14	35	9	58
	Open seats held	5	1	3	9
Seats changing hands	Incumbents defeated	45		6	51
	Open seats gained	10		1	11
	Byelection gains held			1	1
Total		74	36	20	130

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:

Riding	Party	Candidates	Votes	Placed
Dufferin—Peel	█  Libertarian	Bob Shapton	1,594	4th
Frontenac—Addington	█  Independent	Ross Baker	1,021	5th
Kenora	█  Independent	Henry Wetelainen	2,357	3rd
Mississauga East	█  Independent	Peter Sesek	1,363	4th
Mississauga South	█  Green	Scott McWhinnie	1,323	4th
Oakville South	█  Green	Josef Petriska	1,038	5th
Ottawa West	█  Green	Ian Whyte	1,011	5th
Parry Sound	█  Green	Richard Thomas	4,061	3rd
St. Andrew—St. Patrick	█  Green	James Harris	1,112	4th
Scarborough—Agincourt	█  Libertarian	William Galster	1,368	4th
Simcoe East	█  Libertarian	John McLean	1,263	4th

Post-election changes

Party affiliation switches

Tony Rizzo (NDP) became an independent MPP on October 10, 1990, after questions were raised about labour practices in his bricklaying firms. He would later rejoin the NDP caucus.

Dennis Drainville (NDP) became an independent MPP on April 28, 1993, as a protest against the Rae government's plans to introduce casinos to the province. He later resigned his seat in the legislature, resulting in a by-election.

Will Ferguson (NDP) became an independent MPP on April 30, 1993, following accusations relating to the Grandview scandal. He later rejoined the NDP caucus on June 21, 1994, having been cleared of all charges.

John Sola (L) became an independent MPP on May 11, 1993, after making comments about Canadian Serbs that most regarded as racist.

Peter North (NDP) became an independent MPP on October 27, 1993, claiming he had lost confidence in the Rae government. He tried to join the Progressive Conservatives, but was rebuffed.

Byelections

Due to resignations, five by-elections were held between the 1990 and 1995 elections.

Electoral district	Candidates								Incumbent
	Liberal		PC		NDP		Other
Brant—Haldimand March 5, 1992		Ronald Eddy 9,565		David Timms 4,758		Christopher Stanek 2,895		Donald Pennell (FCP) 2,056 Ella Haley (G) 759 Janice Wilson (Ind) 250		Robert Nixon resigned July 31, 1991
Don Mills April 1, 1993		Murad Velshi 5,583		David Johnson 9,143		Chandran Mylvaganam 1,513		Diane Johnston (Ind Renewal) 498 Denise Mountenay (FCP) 383 Bernadette Michael (Ind) 206 David Pengelly (F) 161 Sat Khalsa (G) 141		Margery Ward died January 22, 1993
St. George—St. David April 1, 1993		Tim Murphy 8,750		Nancy Jackman 6,518		George Lamony 1,451		Louis Di Rocco (FCP) 347 Phil Sarazen (G) 209 Judith Snow (Ind Renewal) 119 Ed Fortune (Ind) 107 Robert Smith (Ind) 72 John Steele (Comm League) 57		Ian Scott resigned September 8, 1992
Essex South December 2, 1993		Bruce Crozier 12,736		Joan Flood 3,295		David Maris 1,100		Joyce Ann Cherry (FCP) 1,060 Michael Green (G) 132 John Turmel (Ind) 84		Remo Mancini resigned May 10, 1993
Victoria—Haliburton March 17, 1994		Sharon McCrae 9,571		Chris Hodgson 11,941		Art Field 1,378		Ron Hawkrigg (Lbt) 252 Bradley Bradamore (Ind) 217 John Turmel (Ind) 123		Dennis Drainville resigned September 27, 1993

Vacancies

In addition, four seats were vacant in the final months of the legislature, as the sitting members resigned and by-elections were not held to replace them before the 1995 election:

• Bruce — Murray Elston (L) resigned October 31, 1994
• Kitchener — Will Ferguson (NDP) resigned October 8, 1994
• Markham — Don Cousens (PC) resigned September 30, 1994
• St. Andrew—St. Patrick — Zanana Akande (NDP) resigned August 31, 1994

See also

• Politics of Ontario
• List of Ontario political parties
• Ontario Libertarian Party candidates, 1990 Ontario provincial election
• Premier of Ontario
• Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)

References

1. "1990 General Election". elections.on.ca. Elections Ontario . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
2. Mackie, Richard (July 14, 1990). "Buoyant Liberals gather in Toronto for election talks". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
3. Representation Amendment Act, 1990 , S.O. 1990, c. 1
4. "Ontario NDP ahead of governing Liberals, poll finds". The Gazette. September 1, 1990. p. A1.
5. "Ontario Liberal support plunges 10 points, poll shows". The Gazette. August 28, 1990. p. B1.
6. Trickey, Mike (August 18, 1990). "TV debate likely to turn election heat up in Ontario". The Vancouver Sun. p. B3.
7. "Leaders hone rhetoric to razor's edge for TV debate; Even smallest gaffes could be politically costly". The Ottawa Citizen. August 20, 1990. p. A4.
8. Hall, Chris (September 1, 1990). "Ontario votes Sept. 6". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 1.
9. "No summer of love for Ontario's NDP". The Globe and Mail. July 26, 1991. p. A12.
10. Mackie, Richard (July 14, 1990). "Buoyant Liberals gather in Toronto for election talks: Meetings, polls fuel speculation about Ontario vote in September". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
11. Wood, Nancy (June 29, 1990). "Ontario party leaders gearing up as signs point to summer election". The Toronto Star. p. A17.
12. Mackie, Richard (January 27, 1990). "Peterson becoming like Wile E. Coyote". The Globe and Mail. p. D1.
13. "Ontario Grits grinning over lead". The Edmonton Journal. July 12, 1989. p. A3.
14. Gooderman, Mary (January 18, 1989). "Ontario Liberals, New Democrats lose ground in post-election poll". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
15. Trickey, Mike (December 17, 1988). "Grit support dips, PCs pick up slack in new opinion poll". The Ottawa Citizen. p. B4.
16. Fox, Brian (June 17, 1988). "Some of premier's lustre gone". The Windsor Star. p. A6.
17. Walker, William (June 4, 1988). "Peterson rated more popular than policies". The Windsor Star. p. A8.
18. French, Orland (March 4, 1999). "For whom the poll tolls". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
19. Sheppard, Robert (December 3, 1987). "Peterson's Liberals gaining popularity, latest figures show". The Globe and Mail. p. A19.