1977 Ontario general election

Last updated

1977 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1975 June 9, 1977 1981  

125 seats in the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario
63 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Bill Davis (cropped).jpg LIB
Leader Bill Davis Stuart Smith
Party Progressive Conservative Liberal
Leader since February 12, 1971 January 25, 1976
Leader's seat Brampton Hamilton West
Last election5135
Seats won5833
Seat changeIncrease2.svg7Decrease2.svg2
Popular vote1,322,7231,042,474
Percentage39.58%31.19%
SwingIncrease2.svg3.5pp Decrease2.svg3.2pp

 Third partyFourth party
  Stephen Lewis (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Leader Stephen Lewis
Party New Democratic Liberal–Labour
Leader since October 4, 1970
Leader's seat Scarborough West
Last election380
Seats won331
Seat changeDecrease2.svg5Increase2.svg1
Popular vote940,9618,242
Percentage28.16%0.25%
SwingDecrease2.svg0.7pp

Oleg77.png
Seating in chamber after the election

Premier before election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

Premier after election

Bill Davis
Progressive Conservative

The 1977 Ontario general election was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Contents

The Progressive Conservative Party, led by Premier Bill Davis, was re-elected for an eleventh consecutive term in office, again with a minority in the legislature. The PCs won an additional seven seats, but were not able to win a majority. The Liberal Party, led by Dr. Stuart Smith, lost one seat compared to its result in the previous election, but formed the Official Opposition because the NDP lost more seats. The New Democratic Party, led by Stephen Lewis, lost five seats, losing the status of Official Opposition to the Liberals.

Sheila Copps, future federal cabinet minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, made her political debut in this election, finishing second in the riding of Hamilton Centre. This was the first election in which Jim Bradley, the second-longest serving MPP in Ontario history, was elected.

Renaming of ridings

A 1976 Act [1] made changes to the names of two ridings:

Renaming of ridings
OldNew

Campaign

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1976) [2]
CandidatesPCLibLLNDPCommLtnIndSCDTotal
36462264192
4373737161074148
51414148136170
6888778248
7222214114
Total125123212533312571472

A number of unregistered parties also contested this election. The North American Labour Party, consisting of Lyndon LaRouche supporters, ran three candidates in Toronto and three elsewhere in the province. The Revolutionary Marxist Group and League for Socialist Action fielded one candidate apiece; soon after the election, both groups merged into the Revolutionary Workers League.

Some members of the Social Credit Party also ran in the election, although it is not clear if they were formally endorsed by the party.

Results

[2]

Elections to the 31st Parliament of Ontario (1977)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1975 1977±#±%± (pp)
Progressive Conservative Bill Davis 12551587Increase2.svg1,322,723129,771Increase2.svg39.58%3.51Increase2.svg
Liberal Stuart Smith 12335332Decrease2.svg1,042,46483,151Decrease2.svg31.19%2.85Decrease2.svg
Liberal–Labour 211Steady2.svg8,242824Decrease2.svg0.25%0.02Decrease2.svg
New Democratic Stephen Lewis 12538335Decrease2.svg940,96115,943Decrease2.svg28.16%0.78Decrease2.svg
Libertarian Paul Mollon 319,9615,524Increase2.svg0.30%0.17Increase2.svg
Communist William Stewart 338,137983Decrease2.svg0.24%0.04Decrease2.svg
Independent 257,4143,321Increase2.svg0.22%0.10Increase2.svg
Social Credit 71,6982,448Decrease2.svg0.05%0.08Decrease2.svg
Democrat12332330.01%New
Total4721251253,341,833100.00%
Rejected ballots19,6001,663Increase2.svg
Voter turnout3,361,43350,657Increase2.svg65.602.22Decrease2.svg
Registered electors5,123,768620,626Increase2.svg
    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
      Progressive Conservative
    58 / 125
    39.58%
    3.513.51
     
      Liberal/Liberal-Labour
    34 / 125
    31.44%
    -2.87
     
      New Democratic
    33 / 125
    28.16%
    -0.78
     
      Independent
    0 / 125
    0.22%
    0.100.1
     
     Other
    0 / 125
    0.60%
    0.040.04
     

    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1977 Ontario general election [2]
    RidingWinning partyTurnout
    [a 1]
    Votes
    Name [a 2] 1975 PartyVotesShareMargin
    #
    Margin
    %
    PCLib/LLNDPIndOtherTotal
     
    Algoma NDPNDP6,91748.70%1,1668.21%77.64%5,7511,5346,91714,202
    Algoma—Manitoulin PCPC7,38156.64%3,89529.89%64.79%7,3812,1653,48613,032
    Brampton PCPC19,64151.92%9,74425.76%64.25%19,6417,9489,89713021637,832
    Brantford NDPNDP13,37646.79%4,29515.02%64.87%9,0816,13013,37628,587
    Brant—Oxford—Norfolk LibLib14,25657.42%8,44434.01%65.07%5,81214,2564,76024,828
    Brock PCPC11,94451.78%6,03426.16%65.73%11,9445,9105,21523,069
    Burlington South PCPC18,89251.06%8,41822.75%65.74%18,89210,4747,01561536,996
    Cambridge NDPNDP11,12037.31%5541.86%65.02%10,5667,87011,12025229,808
    Carleton PCPC14,84746.51%4,60614.43%62.96%14,84710,2416,83731,925
    Carleton East NDPNDP12,73334.77%6811.86%65.09%12,05211,83712,73336,622
    Carleton-Grenville PCPC14,00259.61%8,50936.22%63.39%14,0025,4933,99523,490
    Chatham—Kent PCPC10,76946.48%4,28718.50%59.34%10,7695,9196,48223,170
    Cochrane North PCPC10,41261.44%6,36537.56%67.02%10,4122,4884,04716,947
    Cochrane South NDPPC12,53351.26%2,2779.31%69.89%12,5331,44210,25621924,450
    Cornwall NDPNDP9,97846.08%4862.24%63.95%9,4922,0899,9789421,653
    Dufferin—Simcoe PCPC15,52848.81%6,04819.01%65.30%15,5289,4806,36943831,815
    Durham East NDPPC12,86241.66%1220.40%65.38%12,8625,12112,74015330,876
    Durham West NDPPC12,68841.30%5931.93%65.89%12,6885,07512,09586530,723
    Durham—York PCPC14,13451.44%7,13425.96%66.17%14,1346,3457,00027,479
    Elgin PCPC12,65547.48%3,48113.06%68.91%12,6559,1744,65417226,655
    Erie LibLib10,00848.71%4,17520.32%65.53%5,83310,0084,70420,545
    Essex North LibLib9,80151.19%4,83725.26%56.75%4,3839,8014,96419,148
    Essex South LibLib11,21545.69%3,22413.13%68.48%7,99111,2155,34024,546
    Fort William NDPPC12,23046.28%2,2568.54%66.03%12,2304,0809,97414226,426
    Frontenac—Addington LibLib10,50544.63%9403.99%67.46%9,56510,5053,15731223,539
    Grey LibLib14,65155.39%7,06226.70%72.77%7,58914,6514,21026,450
    Grey—Bruce LibLib14,82855.47%5,40320.21%75.53%9,42514,8282,47726,730
    Haldimand—Norfolk LibLib15,49649.37%3,86412.31%71.38%11,63215,4964,25731,385
    Halton—Burlington LibLib13,98546.82%3,69812.38%69.13%10,28713,9855,59829,870
    Hamilton Centre NDPNDP8,21637.86%140.06%58.29%5,0928,2028,21618921,699
    Hamilton East NDPNDP14,46147.09%5,19516.92%63.63%6,6059,26614,46137630,708
    Hamilton Mountain PCNDP12,68138.26%3731.13%72.12%12,3087,91012,68124733,146
    Hamilton West LibLib12,23943.05%3,86013.58%69.78%8,37912,2397,66814428,430
    Hastings—Peterborough PCPC11,44247.22%1,8587.67%73.02%11,4429,5842,80824714924,230
    Huron—Bruce LibLib17,35665.17%9,83336.92%74.18%7,52317,3561,75426,633
    Huron—Middlesex LibLib12,74955.35%3,87116.81%76.72%8,87812,7491,40523,032
    Kenora PCPC10,88257.14%5,62629.54%67.29%10,8822,9075,25619,045
    Kent—Elgin LibLib10,03845.72%6412.92%66.86%9,39710,0382,52121,956
    Kingston and the Islands PCPC12,24652.32%5,75624.59%61.57%12,2466,4904,51015823,404
    Kitchener LibLib14,42552.06%7,51527.12%59.47%6,91014,4256,26411127,710
    Kitchener—Wilmot LibLib12,45051.07%5,98024.53%58.08%6,47012,4505,45624,376
    Lake Nipigon NDPNDP7,74767.01%5,33046.10%58.91%2,4171,3977,74711,561
    Lambton PCPC11,60452.63%2,86312.99%70.48%11,6048,7411,70222,047
    Lanark PCPC11,08655.42%6,08930.44%67.67%11,0863,9194,99720,002
    Leeds PCPC14,85367.65%11,15150.79%62.33%14,8533,7023,40021,955
    Lincoln LibLib9,96944.98%5822.63%70.96%9,3879,9692,80622,162
    London Centre LibLib12,80845.42%3,89313.80%59.52%6,27912,8088,91520028,202
    London North LibLib15,03346.99%4,40213.76%66.11%10,63115,0336,13020131,995
    London South LibPC16,01142.39%2,2115.85%63.70%16,01113,8007,96437,775
    Middlesex PCPC10,42742.88%1,5386.33%75.29%10,4278,8894,99824,314
    Mississauga East PCPC11,94545.25%3,48913.22%60.17%11,9458,4565,99426,395
    Mississauga North PCPC16,15146.56%3,75010.81%63.04%16,1515,68412,40145134,687
    Mississauga South PCPC13,62247.91%6,00621.12%67.08%13,6227,6167,19628,434
    Muskoka PCPC8,86549.23%2,49713.87%73.00%8,8652,7746,36818,007
    Niagara Falls LibLib13,28043.42%3,92812.84%68.11%9,35213,2807,95230,584
    Nickel Belt NDPNDP9,41057.45%5,48733.50%67.45%3,9233,0469,41016,379
    Nipissing LibLib12,89843.13%1,6665.57%71.28%11,23212,8985,77729,907
    Northumberland PCPC14,06148.30%3,72712.80%68.07%14,06110,3344,71629,111
    Oakville PCPC14,45650.97%6,50822.95%70.88%14,4567,9485,95528,359
    Oshawa NDPNDP12,22653.23%5,71424.88%56.08%6,5124,03212,22619922,969
    Ottawa Centre NDPNDP10,62641.56%2,4039.40%56.75%8,2236,35810,62636025,567
    Ottawa East LibLib15,86467.44%11,80950.20%52.10%4,05515,8643,60523,524
    Ottawa South PCPC16,66249.37%7,90323.42%66.95%16,6627,7548,75957433,749
    Ottawa West PCPC15,72945.79%5,82316.95%66.08%15,7299,9068,71834,353
    Oxford PCPC17,75850.98%5,10114.64%69.24%17,75812,6574,42034,835
    Parry Sound PCPC9,92949.66%2,41912.10%70.52%9,9297,5102,55319,992
    Perth LibLib18,20168.88%12,14545.96%60.70%6,05618,2012,16726,424
    Peterborough NDPPC16,92340.66%2,6486.36%70.97%16,92310,08314,27534141,622
    Port Arthur NDPNDP9,62940.14%3391.41%61.46%9,2904,8189,62925423,991
    Prescott and Russell PCPC11,86348.74%2,98612.27%62.54%11,8638,8773,59724,337
    Prince Edward—Lennox PCPC11,41155.22%5,65227.35%68.00%11,4115,7593,49420,664
    Quinte LibLib17,26456.34%7,25523.68%68.31%10,00917,2643,37130,644
    Rainy River LLLL5,33545.90%2,06717.79%63.80%3,2685,335 [a 3] 3,01911,622
    Renfrew North LibLib9,54945.80%2,73213.10%73.96%6,8179,5494,48320,849
    Renfrew South PCPC12,66646.56%1,0813.97%77.62%12,66611,5852,95227,203
    St. Catharines PCLib12,39238.89%7232.27%60.91%11,66912,3927,55624731,864
    Sarnia LibLib11,50038.97%2570.87%63.42%11,24311,5006,77029,513
    Sault Ste. Marie PCPC19,20955.28%7,54921.73%69.64%19,2093,71511,66016234,746
    Simcoe Centre PCPC15,87644.25%5,43415.15%68.40%15,8769,55610,44235,874
    Simcoe East PCPC13,79344.74%3,53911.48%69.47%13,7936,78310,25430,830
    Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry PCPC10,53349.15%2,42211.30%68.28%10,5338,1112,78821,432
    Sudbury NDPNDP11,11741.62%2,6329.85%62.39%8,4856,77811,11733026,710
    Sudbury East NDPNDP15,99155.19%8,99031.03%63.84%7,0015,98415,99128,976
    Temiskaming NDPPC9,57847.95%6643.32%69.48%9,5781,4818,91419,973
    Victoria—Haliburton LibLib15,21853.27%4,67916.38%75.15%10,53915,2182,80928,566
    Waterloo North LibLib13,55649.43%5,54020.20%62.16%8,01613,5565,85127,423
    Welland-Thorold NDPNDP12,70446.32%2,3158.44%69.58%10,3894,33512,70427,428
    Wellington—Dufferin—Peel PCPC14,27245.83%4,64114.90%67.42%14,2729,6317,23531,138
    Wellington South LibLib16,21250.52%8,32625.95%67.27%7,66716,2127,88632532,090
    Wentworth NDPNDP15,33259.80%9,82638.33%65.29%5,5064,80015,33225,638
    Wentworth North LibLib18,32253.98%9,85829.04%71.18%8,46418,3227,15733,943
    Windsor—Riverside NDPNDP12,94745.59%2,3758.36%60.71%4,87810,57212,94728,397
    Windsor—Sandwich NDPNDP9,71151.36%3,68719.50%50.98%2,8386,0249,71133418,907
    Windsor—Walkerville LibLib11,23353.09%6,39130.20%57.03%4,84211,2334,56516235721,159
    York Centre LibLib17,73545.53%2,7687.11%66.52%14,96717,7356,24738,949
    York North PCPC15,63948.05%5,97918.37%64.38%15,6397,2479,66032,546
    Armourdale LibPC14,08242.67%2,4337.37%68.16%14,08211,6496,73625828033,005
    Beaches—Woodbine NDPNDP11,49146.51%2,2749.20%64.90%9,2173,57911,49142024,707
    Bellwoods NDPNDP6,17747.77%2,84522.00%62.80%2,9253,3326,17715134612,931
    Don Mills PCPC17,00555.20%8,88028.82%61.14%17,0054,9068,12577230,808
    Dovercourt NDPNDP7,34048.30%3,15720.77%64.62%4,1833,1627,34051315,198
    Downsview NDPNDP10,19445.10%4,04217.88%65.26%6,1525,81410,19419325122,604
    Eglinton PCPC19,21359.60%11,74236.42%68.38%19,2137,4714,85731538232,238
    Etobicoke NDPNDP11,63745.99%4,84819.16%64.36%6,7896,36311,63751725,306
    High Park—Swansea NDPNDP10,40940.86%7793.06%66.53%9,6304,89710,40953725,473
    Humber PCPC19,88850.95%9,31623.87%69.10%19,88810,5727,78179339,034
    Lakeshore NDPNDP13,25249.76%5,29519.88%62.39%7,9574,78113,25264326,633
    Oakwood NDPNDP9,21443.48%2,83513.38%64.98%6,3795,0469,21417038221,191
    Oriole PCPC14,19444.32%4,48714.01%64.42%14,1949,7076,7371,10928232,029
    Parkdale NDPNDP7,57444.12%2,44014.21%61.81%4,1165,1347,57434317,167
    Riverdale NDPNDP9,63955.79%5,35030.97%56.51%4,2892,8219,63911741017,276
    St. Andrew—St. Patrick PCPC11,12849.38%2,97713.21%64.40%11,1282,8958,15136022,534
    St. David PCPC11,89444.14%8363.10%69.76%11,8943,79411,05820226,948
    St. George LibLib10,11636.71%4281.55%60.90%9,68810,1166,28797549427,560
    Scarborough Centre PCPC11,58344.76%2,79910.82%64.00%11,5835,2748,78423825,879
    Scarborough East PCPC14,79250.91%7,52425.89%63.01%14,7926,5087,26848929,057
    Scarborough—Ellesmere NDPNDP10,62540.52%1,5515.92%63.77%9,0746,32010,62520126,220
    Scarborough North PCPC20,98850.11%10,68525.51%64.21%20,98810,3039,86872141,880
    Scarborough West NDPNDP13,35054.03%6,44426.08%63.81%6,9063,83713,35017244224,707
    Wilson Heights LibPC11,43041.97%2,99310.99%62.93%11,4307,1958,43717427,236
    York East PCPC14,13146.72%5,79719.17%67.55%14,1317,1268,33465430,245
    York Mills PCPC21,79558.45%12,18332.67%66.55%21,7959,6125,05146536837,291
    York South NDPNDP14,17850.56%6,51223.22%65.86%7,6665,33214,17886428,040
    York West PCPC16,53846.25%6,08817.03%67.89%16,53810,4508,51026035,758
    Yorkview NDPNDP13,32652.49%6,82326.87%58.59%4,1056,50313,32660884625,388
    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 [2]
    Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
    PCLibNDP
    Progressive Conservative 312758
    Liberal 30333
    Liberal–Labour 11
    New Democratic 26733
    Total573830125
    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [2]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
      Progressive Conservative 585710
      Liberal 333852
      New Democratic 333068
      Liberal–Labour 11
      Communist 238
      Libertarian 199
      Independent 136
      Social Credit 61
     Democrat1
    Resulting composition of the 28th Legislative Assembly [2]
    SourceParty
    PCLibLLNDPTotal
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned4527131104
    Open seats held4419
    Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance11
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated718
    Open seats gained213
    Total5833133125

    Seats changing hands

    Eleven seats changed allegiance in this election:

    MPPs elected by region and riding

    Party designations are as follows:

      PC
      Liberal
      NDP
      Liberal-Labour

    See also

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1914 Ontario general election</span>

    The 1914 Ontario general election was the 14th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1914, to elect the 111 Members of the 14th Legislative Assembly of Ontario (MLAs).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Ontario general election</span> Canadian provincial election

    The 1929 Ontario general election was the 18th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on October 30, 1929, to elect the 112 Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").

    The 1934 Ontario general election was the 19th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect the 19th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").

    The 1937 Ontario general election was held on October 6, 1937, to elect the 90 Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs"). It was the 20th general election held in the Province of Ontario.

    References

    1. The Representation Amendment Act, 1976 , S.O. 1976 (2nd Session), c. 6
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1975 general election results". Elections Ontario . Retrieved November 1, 2023.

    Further reading