Ontario general election, 1937

Ontario general election, 1937
Ontario
October 6, 1937
90 seats in the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
46 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  CON
Leader Mitchell Hepburn William Earl Rowe John Mitchell
as party president
Party Liberal Conservative Co-operative Commonwealth
Leader since December 17, 1930 May 28, 1936 April 14, 1934
Leader's seat Elgin Ran in Simcoe Centre(Lost) Ran in Waterloo South(Lost)
Last election 65 17 1
Seats won 63 23 0
Seat change -2 +6 -1
Percentage 51.6% 40.0% 5.6%
Swing +1.2 +0.2% -1.4%
Premier before election

Mitchell Hepburn
Liberal

 Premier-designate

Mitchell Hepburn
Liberal

The Ontario general election, 1937 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, Canada.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Mitchell Hepburn, was re-elected for a second term in government, with a slightly reduced majority in the Legislature.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by William Earl Rowe, was able to win six additional seats, and continued to form the official opposition.

Meanwhile, the fledgling democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) ran 37 candidates out of a possible 90, led by party president John Mitchell running in Waterloo South, who also campaigned throughout the province on the party's behalf.[1] The election, however, resulted in a modest decline in popular vote and the loss of the party's sole MLA, Sam Lawrence in Hamilton East.

Incumbent MLA Farquahar Oliver was the last remaining United Farmers of Ontario MLA and ran as the party's sole candidate in the election. In practice, however, he had been a supporter of the Liberal government and would join Hepburn's cabinet in 1940, formally joining the Liberal Party.

In 1938, MLAs voted to adopt the title "Member of Provincial Parliament", and became known as "MPPs".

This Ontario election was the last to date in which the winning party has won an absolute majority of the popular vote.

Results

  Party Leader 1934 Elected % change Popular vote
% change
     Liberal Mitchell Hepburn 65 63 -3.1% 51.6% +1.2%
Liberal–Progressive1 4 2 -50.0%
     Conservative William Earl Rowe 17 23 +35.3% 40.0% 0.2%
United Farmers2 Farquhar Oliver 1 1 -    
     Co-operative Commonwealth John Mitchell
as party president[2]		 1 - -100% 5.6% -1.4%
     Liberal Independent   - 1      
     Labour   1 - -    
     Independent   1 -      
Total 90 90 - 100%  

1Liberal-Progressive MLAs supported the Hepburn government since its election in 1934. Liberal-Progressive MLA Harry Nixon sitting in Hepburn's cabinet from the beginning and formally became a Liberal in 1937.

2United Farmers MLA Farquhar Oliver was a supporter of the Hepburn Liberal government and joined Hepburn's cabinet in 1940.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "266 to contest Ontario seats". Montreal Gazette. 30 September 1937. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Total of 266 Candidates Nominated for Oct. 6 Ontario Election: 86 Liberals in Fight And 89 Conservatives; Others of Varied Hue Nominees in Four Ridings Not Being Contested by Party in Power Regarded as Friendly TWO WOMEN RUNNING". Globe and Mail. 30 September 1937.


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