- Ontario general election, 1985
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The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. This election ended 42 years of Progressive Conservative Party rule in Ontario with David Peterson's Liberal's eventually forming a government with the support of Bob Rae's NDP.
Near Thanksgiving of 1984, Premier Bill Davis announced that he would be stepping down. Davis, in office since 1971, had rung up a string of electoral victories by pursuing a moderate agenda and relying on the legendary skill of the Big Blue Machine team of Tory advisors. Davis remained popular when he decided to retire, and the opposition leaders were pleased to see him go.
The subsequent leadership race saw the PC party divide into two rough camps. The moderate and mainly urban wing was represented by second place finisher Larry Grossman. The more strongly conservative rural faction backed eventual victor Frank Miller. These divisions within the party were reinforced by the controversy over the separate schools question. Bill Davis had pushed through full funding for Ontario's Catholic school system. This decision was supported by both other parties, but the Tory base had strong misgivings. After the convention the party factions failed to reconcile; especially important was that a number of the mainly moderate members of the Big Blue Machine were pushed aside.
Despite these problems, the PCs remained far ahead in the polls, and when Miller called an election just six weeks after becoming premier, he was some twenty percentage points ahead of the Liberals in the polls. Over the campaign the Tory lead began to shrink as the Liberals waged a highly effective campaign. The Tory popularity was also hurt by Miller's refusal to participate in a leaders debate. Partway into the campaign, the separate schools question re-emerged when the Anglican prelate of Toronto, Archbishop Lewis Garnsworthy, held a news conference on the issue where he compared Bill Davis to Adolf Hitler. Garnsworthy was much criticized for his remarks, but the issue was revived, alienating the conservative 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, but still held the most seats in the legislature. The Liberals won 48 seats, but won slightly more of the popular vote. The NDP thus held the balance of power with 25 seats. As the party with the most seats the PCs remained as the government. This would not last long, however.
The NDP was also disappointed by the election result. It had been nearly tied with the Liberals for popular support for several years, and had hoped to surpass them. Rae and the NDP had little interest in supporting a continuation of PC rule, and reached an agreement with the Liberals, known as "The Accord". Rae and Peterson signed a deal 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, and the Liberals agreed to not call an election during that same time.
Contents
Results
Party Leader 1981 Elected % change Popular vote % change Progressive Conservative Frank Miller 70 52 -25.7% 37.0% -7.4% Liberal David Peterson 34 48 +41.2% 37.9% +4.2% New Democratic Bob Rae 21 25 +19.0% 23.8% +2.7% Libertarian Scott Bell - 0.4% Green - 0.1% Communist Gordon Massie - 0.1% Freedom none (Robert Metz, President) - 0.1% Others - 0.7% -0.1% Total Seats 125 125 - 100% The Revolutionary Workers League fielded one candidate.
Constituency results
- (x)Bud Wildman (NDP) 7575
- Jim Thibert (PC) 3694
- Bryan McDougall (L) 2995
Algoma—Manitoulin:
- (x)John Lane (PC) 7174
- Tom Farquhar (L) 4704
- Len Hembruf (NDP) 3309
Armourdale:
- (x)Bruce McCaffrey (PC) 13394
- Gino Matrundola (L) 13182
- Bob Hebdon (NDP) 5429
- Simon Srdarev (Lbt) 456
Beaches—Woodbine:
- (x)Marion Bryden (NDP) 12672
- Paul Christie (PC) 7301
- Sally Kelly (L) 5065
- Steve Thistle (Lbt) 396
- (x)Ross McClellan (NDP) 8088
- Walter Bardyn (L) 6655
- Bento de Sao Jose (PC) 1964
- Ronald Rodgers 324
- Bob Callahan (L) 25656
- Jeff Rice (PC) 21239
- Terry Gorman (NDP) 8313
- Jim Bridgewood (Comm) 531
- Dave Duqette 500
- (x)Phil Gillies (PC) 13444
- Jack Tubman (NDP) 12303
- Herb German (L) 6533
Brant—Oxford—Haldimand:
- (x)Robert Nixon (L) 15317
- Ian Birnie (PC) 5817
- Irene Heltner (NDP) 3487
Brock:
- Peter Partington (PC) 9741
- Bill Andres (L) 9081
- Robert Woolston (NDP) 3867
- Brian Dolby (G) 755
- Cam Jackson (PC) 16479
- Doug Redfearn (L) 11822
- Walter Mukewich (NDP) 10820
- (x)Bill Barlow (PC) 12888
- Alec Dufresne (NDP) 11985
- Bob Jeffrey (L) 7083
- (x)Bob Mitchell (PC) 17732
- Hans Daigeler (L) 15093
- Bea Murray (NDP) 7165
- Gilles Morin (L) 23221
- (x)Bob MacQuarrie (PC) 16188
- Joan Gullen (NDP) 8829
Carleton—Grenville:
- (x)Norman Sterling (PC) 15524
- Dan Maxwell (L) 8019
- Alan White (NDP) 3468
- Maurice Bossy (L) 10340
- (x)Andy Watson (PC) 9206
- Ron Franko (NDP) 5535
Cochrane North:
- René Fontaine (L) 8793
- (x)René Piché (PC) 6883
- Andre Philippe (NDP) 2878
- (x)Alan Pope (PC) 13935
- Roger Loiselle (NDP) 5662
- Jim Martin (L) 4002
- Luc Guindon (PC) 9430
- Claude Poirier (L) 6384
- Steve Corrie (NDP) 5828
- (x)Dennis Timbrell (PC) 15481
- John Atkin (L) 7504
- Michael Wyatt (NDP) 6153
- Gary Watson (Ind [RWL]) 1382
- (x)Tony Lupusella (NDP) 6677
- Gil Gillespie (L) 6600
- Joe Palozzi (PC) 3564
- Gordon Massie (Comm) 298
- Joseph Cordiano (L) 11234
- (x)Odoardo Di Santo (NDP) 11013
- Vincent Stabile (PC) 3329
- (x)George McCague (PC) 16198
- Gary Johnson (L) 11822
- Jeff Koechlin (NDP) 4316
- (x)Sam Cureatz (PC) 15193
- Doug Smith (NDP) 9832
- Steve Ryan (L) 7584
- (x)George Ashe (PC) 18684
- Brian Evans (L) 14348
- Don Stewart (NDP) 8495
- Eugene Gmitrowicz (Lbt) 911
- (x)Ross Stevenson (PC) 14343
- Don Hadden (L) 9760
- Margaret Wilbur (NDP) 5440
- David McFadden (PC) 13503
- Dianne Poole (L) 12589
- John Goodfellow (NDP) 4880
- (x)Ron McNeil (PC) 11816
- Peter Charlton (L) 8619
- Gord Campbell (NDP) 5315
Erie:
- (x)Ray Haggerty (L) 10926
- Stan Pettit (PC) 5904
- Shirley Summers (NDP) 3191
- Pat Hayes (NDP) 7901
- Jack Morris (L) 6615
- Jack Menard (PC) 6105
- Ray Boggs 2925
Essex South:
- (x)Remo Mancini (L) 11382
- Paul Setterington (PC) 5098
- Jeff Totten 4947
- Paul Hertel (NDP) 267
- (x)Ed Philip (NDP) 16792
- John Smith (PC) 7573
- John Genser (L) 6544
- (x)Mickey Hennessy (PC) 14452
- Don Smith (NDP) 7071
- Norris Badanai (L) 4629
- John MacLennan (Comm) 289
- Larry South (L) 11684
- (x)J. Earl McEwen (PC) 9297
- Lars Thompson (NDP) 3723
- Ross Baker 941
Grey:
- (x)Bob McKessock (L) 16061
- Case Vanderham (PC) 5875
- Rhonda Green (NDP) 2402
- Eric Biggins (Lbt) 306
- (x)Eddie Sargent (L) 14883
- Arlene Wright (PC) 7595
- Joanne Shaw (NDP) 2340
- (x)Gordon Miller (L) 17456
- Barbara Martindale (PC) 9863
- Wayne Pierce (NDP) 3821
Halton—Burlington:
- Don Knight (L) 14991
- Peter Pomeroy (PC) 14777
- Doug Hamilton (NDP) 4871
- Neil Sivertson 665
- Lily Oddie Munro (L) 9184
- (x)Mike Davison (NDP) 8800
- John Ankers (PC) 2883
Hamilton East:
- (x)Robert W. Mackenzie (NDP) 13774
- Shirley Collins (L) 12174
- Fred Lombardo (PC) 5268
- Kerry Wilson (Comm) 234
- (x)Brian Charlton (NDP) 13871
- Steve Oneschuk (PC) 9729
- Dominic Agostino (L) 7757
Hamilton West:
- (x)Richard Allen (NDP) 10182
- Paul Hanover (L) 9732
- Anne Jones (PC) 6705
- Ron Crawford 496
- Val Hache 97
- (x)Jim Pollock (PC) 12272
- Paul Ockenden (L) 5586
- Elmer Buchanan (NDP) 4492
High Park—Swansea:
- (x)Yuri Shymko (PC) 9960
- Elaine Ziemba (NDP) 9630
- John Rudnicki (L) 5578
- Bob Cumming (Lbt) 498
- Robert Seajkowski 244
- Andrew Scorer (G) 209
Humber:
- Jim Henderson (L) 18057
- (x)Morley Kells (PC) 16106
- Peter Sutherland (NDP) 5160
- (x)Murray Elston (L) 17159
- Mike Snobelen (PC) 8550
- Norma Peterson (NDP) 1992
Huron—Middlesex:
- (x)Jack Riddell (L) 13820
- Bryan Smith (PC) 7381
- Paul Klopp (NDP) 1148
- Carmen Dawson 229
- (x)Leo Bernier (PC) 12574
- Colin Wasacase (NDP) 4025
- Mark Ducharme (L) 2254
Kent—Elgin:
- (x)Jim McGuigan (L) 11616
- Shirley McHardy (PC) 7838
- Donald Alexander (NDP) 1916
- Ken Keyes (L) 11924
- (x)Keith Norton (PC) 9637
- Pamela Cross (NDP) 3892
- Don Irvine (G) 285
- David Cooke (L) 14066
- Don Travers (PC) 9684
- Tim Little (NDP) 5654
- Ed Halbach (Ind [Humanist]) 453
- Albert Norris 157
Kitchener—Wilmot:
- (x)John Sweeney (L) 15987
- Jim Ziegler (PC) 8737
- Mike Cooper (NDP) 4673
Lake Nipigon:
- Gilles Pouliot (NDP) 5708
- Jim Files (PC) 4532
- Michael Power (L) 3448
- David Smith (L) 10816
- Bob Boyd (PC) 9956
- Grant Reynolds (NDP) 1987
Lanark—Renfrew:
- (x)Douglas Wiseman (PC) 10916
- John Carley (L) 5146
- Don Page (NDP) 3297
Lakeshore:
- Ruth Grier (NDP) 11539
- Frank Sgarlata (L) 9502
- (x)Al Kolyn (PC) 7886
- (x)Robert Runciman (PC) 11809
- Dolores Wing (L) 6748
- Bob Smith (NDP) 3583
- Mackie Morrison 741
- (x)Philip Andrewes (PC) 12226
- Gladys Huffman (L) 9004
- Barbara Mersereau (NDP) 2264
- Ken Lee 1036
- (x)David Peterson (L) 13890
- Bill Rudd (PC) 6714
- Peter Cassidy (NDP) 4340
- Michelle McColm (F) 403
- (x)Ron Van Horne (L) 20536
- George Auold (PC) 11433
- Marion Boyd (NDP) 5191
- Robert Smink (F) 566
London South:
- Joan Smith (L) 24522
- (x)Gord Walker (PC) 17839
- David Winninger (NDP) 5080
- Robert Metz (F) 614
- Doug Reycraft (L) 11292
- (x)Bob Eaton (PC) 10482
- Larry Green (NDP) 2169
- (x)Bud Gregory (PC) 14900
- Victor Maida (L) 12334
- Larry Taylor (NDP) 12015
- Steve Offer (L) 21369
- (x)Terry Jones (PC) 19945
- Sylvia Weylie (NDP) 9943
- Margaret Marland (PC) 13186
- Carolynne Siller (L) 11623
- Barry Stevens (NDP) 4770
- (x)Frank Miller (PC) 12723
- Kenneth McClellan (L) 3036
- Bob Maguire (NDP) 2836
- (x)Vince Kerrio (L) 14658
- Ted Salci (PC) 8616
- Deloris Skilton (NDP) 6778
- (x)Floyd Laughren (NDP) 8912
- Evelyn Dutrisac (PC) 5849
- Trudy Bolduc (L) 2255
- (x)Mike Harris (PC) 14900
- Mike Gauthier (L) 11002
- Lynne Bennett (NDP) 3984
- (x)Howard Sheppard (PC) 14296
- Joan Fawcett (L) 12446
- Judi Armstrong (NDP) 3247
- Terry O'Connor (PC) 14265
- Doug Carrothers (L) 13578
- Kevin Flynn (NDP) 4390
- Chris Kowalchuk (G) 2008
- (x)Tony Grande (NDP) 10407
- Joe Ricciuti (L) 9631
- Harriet Wolman (PC) 4636
- Mike Sterling (Comm) 327
Oriole:
- Elinor Caplan (L) 17641
- (x)John Williams (PC) 13557
- Lorne Strachan (NDP) 3660
- George Graham (Lbt) 1106
- (x)Mike Breaugh (NDP) 12686
- Bob Boychyn (PC) 7528
- Joe Neal (L) 5034
- (x)Evelyn Gigantes (NDP) 11890
- Graham Bird (PC) 8005
- Pat Legris (L) 7103
- John C. Turmel 364
Ottawa East:
- (x)Bernard Grandmaitre (L) 14601
- Kathryn Barnard (NDP) 3971
- Paul St. Georges (PC) 2257
- Serge Girard 518
- (x)Claude Bennett (PC) 12971
- Andrew Caddell (L) 11634
- John Smart (NDP) 8311
- (x)Reuben Baetz (PC) 15089
- Alex Cullen (L) 12141
- Greg Ross (NDP) 4427
- Gregory Vezina (G) 701
- (x)Dick Treleaven (PC) 15507
- Charlotte Sutherland (L) 10656
- Wayne Colburn (NDP) 5660
- Kaye Sargent (Lbt) 729
- Rick Spurgeon 577
- (x)Tony Ruprecht (L) 12065
- Richard Gilbert (NDP) 5176
- Tessie Jew (PC) 2052
- (x)Ernie Eves (PC) 10904
- Richard Thomas (L) 9544
- Leo Gagne (NDP) 1130
- (x)Hugh Edighoffer (L) 20040
- Glynn Coghlin (PC) 6076
- Warren Ham (NDP) 2796
- (x)John Turner (PC) 16878
- Linda Slavin (NDP) 11941
- Bill Ayotte (L) 9734
- John Conlin (Lbt) 461
- George K. Kerr (G) 212
- (x)Jim Foulds (NDP) 13084
- Swede Johnson (PC) 9826
- John Ranta (L) 6169
- (x)Jean Poirier (L) 18833
- Guy Genier (PC) 11038
- Maurice Landry (NDP) 2625
- (x)James Taylor (PC) 10170
- Gordon Mylks (L) 6918
- Harry Plummer (NDP) 2307
- (x)Hugh O’Neil (L) 18988
- Neil Robertson (PC) 9287
- Gene Morosan (NDP) 1817
Rainy River:
- Jack Pierce (PC) 5053
- Howard Hampton (NDP) 4775
- Ron King (L) 2944
- (x)Sean Conway (L) 12849
- Bryan Hocking (PC) 5748
- Robert Cottingham (NDP) 740
- (x)Paul Yakabuski (PC) 14182
- Dermott Calver (L) 9687
- Ish Theilheimer (NDP) 3420
Riverdale:
- David Reville (NDP) 9869
- Bret Snider (PC) 4590
- Doug DeMille (L) 3949
- Maggie Bizzell (Comm) 322
- Michael Tegtmeyer (G) 192
- (x)Larry Grossman (PC) 10332
- Meg Griffiths (NDP) 8373
- Jim DaCosta (L) 6330
- Cathy Laurier (Comm) 264
- Judy Hannon (G) 232
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Liberal (x)Jim Bradley 20,605 57.94 Progressive Conservative Elaine Herzog 9,029 25.39 New Democratic Party Michael Cormier 5,624 15.81 Communist Eric Blair 305 0.86 Total valid votes 35,563 100.00 Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 201 Turnout 35,764 61.65 St. David:
- Ian Scott (L) 13120
- Julian Porter (PC) 9702
- Barbara Hall (NDP) 4878
- Earl Epstein (Lbt) 227
- (x)Susan Fish (PC) 11378
- Diana Hunt (NDP) 10543
- Joseph Mifsud (L) 9361
- Michael Beech (Lbt) 1007
- Karol Siroky (Ind [New Tories]) 186
Sarnia:
- (x)Andy Brandt (PC) 18651
- Michael Robb (L) 7438
- Duncan Longwell (NDP) 3572
- Margaret Coe (Lbt) 792
- Karl Morin-Strom (NDP) 16362
- (x)Russ Ramsay (PC) 15293
- Roy Youngson (L) 4830
Scarborough Centre:
- William C. Davis (PC) 8890
- Gerald Lennon (L) 8531
- Barry Christensen (NDP) 7577
- Ed Fulton (L) 15855
- Verla Fiveash (PC) 11245
- Alawi Mohideen (NDP) 4381
- Jim McIntosh (Lbt) 1402
Scarborough—Ellesmere:
- David Warner (NDP) 10119
- (x)Alan Robinson (PC) 9900
- Carole Lidgold (L) 6674
- George Dance (Lbt) 348
Scarborough North:
- Alvin Curling (L) 30504
- Carole Noble (PC) 22644
- Jerry Daca (NDP) 9072
- R.J. Austin 1972
- (x)Richard Johnston (NDP) 12889
- Kurt Christensen (PC) 5994
- Anthony Judd (L) 4806
- John MacMillan 544
- Earl W. Rowe (PC) 15379
- Ross Whiteside (L) 14845
- Paul Wessenger (NDP) 9639
- Steve Kaasgaard 566
- (x)Al McLean (PC) 13371
- Fayne Bullen (NDP) 11002
- George MacDonald (L) 7566
Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry & East Grenville:
- (x)Noble Villeneuve (PC) 13119
- Bill Dillabough (L) 7036
- Rudi Derstroff (NDP) 1700
- (x)Jim Gordon (PC) 12591
- Ernie St-Jean (NDP) 7010
- Chris Nash (L) 6302
- (x)Elie Martel (NDP) 17241
- George McDonald (PC) 9576
- Edelgard Mahant (L) 4726
Timiskaming:
- David Ramsay (NDP) 10765
- (x)Ed Havrot (PC) 7941
- Dale Woods (L) 2026
- George Yeates 464
Victoria—Haliburton:
- (x)John Eakins (L) 15340
- Murray Fearrey (PC) 11570
- Art Field (NDP) 3209
Waterloo North:
- (x)Herbert Epp (L) 16458
- Lynne Woolstencroft (PC) 9149
- Richard Gerson (NDP) 4534
- (x)Mel Swart (NDP) 17065
- Roy Smith (L) 6027
- Ed Minchin (PC) 5618
Wellington—Dufferin—Peel:
- (x)Jack Johnson (PC) 14845
- Bruce Whiteside (L) 10401
- Sandy Young (NDP) 6395
Wellington South:
- Rick Ferraro (L) 17995
- Marilyn Robinson (PC) 12989
- Derek Fletcher (NDP) 6641
- (x)Gordon Dean (PC) 12322
- June Peace (L) 10337
- Sharon Lehnert (NDP) 8571
- Albert Papazian 947
- Chris Ward (L) 18328
- (x)Ann Sloat (PC) 13160
- Lynn Spencer (NDP) 6158
- George Grinnell (G) 751
- Monte Kwinter (L) 12363
- (x)David Rotenberg (PC) 10175
- Howard Moscoe (NDP) 7793
Windsor—Riverside:
- (x)Dave Cooke (NDP) 17883
- Ron Burgoyne (PC) 6719
- Fergie Jenkins (L) 4418
- (x)Bill Wrye (L) 10730
- Paul Forder (NDP) 7583
- Ron Arkell (PC) 3681
- Mike Longmoore (Comm) 197
- (x)Bernard Newman (L) 9130
- Jane Boyd (PC) 6980
- Gay Parent (NDP) 6698
- (x)Don Cousens (PC) 25022
- Ron Maheu (L) 19776
- Diane Meaghan (NDP) 7171
- Stewart Cole 2644
- (x)Robert Elgie (PC) 11459
- Gord Crann (NDP) 9183
- Omar Chaudhery (L) 6629
- Ed McDonald (Comm) 929
- Kathy Sorensen (Lbt) 410
York Mills:
- (x)Bette Stephenson (PC) 17943
- Gunnar Tannis (L) 10078
- Gord Doctorow (NDP) 6872
- Scott Bell (Lbt) 2339
- Greg Sorbara (L) 21291
- (x)William Hodgson (PC) 17196
- Keith Munro (NDP) 7026
- (x)Bob Rae (NDP) 16373
- Horacle Hale (L) 6807
- Toomas Dunapuu (PC) 5321
- Paul Schulze 1063
- Lucille Boikoff 402
- Dusan Kubias (Lbt) 343
- (x)Nick Leluk (PC) 14595
- Leonard Braithwaite (L) 13880
- Phil Jones (NDP) 6980
- Bob Dunk (Lbt) 1099
Yorkview:
- Claudio Polsinelli (L) 15986
- Mike Foster (NDP) 12658
- Leslie Soobrian (PC) 3431
Post-election changes
York East (res. Robert Elgie, September 26, 1985), April 17, 1986:
- Christine Hart (L) 9347
- Gina Brannan (PC) 7956
- Gord Crann (NDP) 7928
- Jim McIntosh (Lbt) 243
- John MacLennan (Comm) 100
- Mark Adair (G) 60
- John Turmel (SC[1])44
- Jack Arshawsky 27
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).
Cochrane North (res. René Fontaine, 1987), August 14, 1987:
- René Fontaine (L) 8463
- Bertrand Proulx 766
- Judy Cole 606
- Graham McCready 185
- Kaye Sargent (Lbt) 99
- John Turmel 75
References
- ^ Turmel ran as a "Social Credit Party of Ontario" candidate despite the fact that the party was long since defunct
See also
- Politics of Ontario
- List of Ontario political parties
- Premier of Ontario
- Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)
Elections and referendums in Ontario General elections Referendums Categories:- 1985 elections in Canada
- General elections in Ontario
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