The 1879 Ontario general election was the fourth general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 5, 1879, to elect the 88 members of the 4th Legislative Assembly ("MLAs").[1]
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88 seats in the 4th Legislative Assembly of Ontario 45 seats were needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Oliver Mowat, won a third term in government with a larger majority in the legislature.
The Ontario Conservative Party, led by William Ralph Meredith, continued to lose seats.
Results
editPolitical party | Party leader | MLAs | Votes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | 1875 | 1879 | ± | # | ± | % | ± (pp) | |||
Liberal | Oliver Mowat | 81 | 50 | 57 | 7 | 119,148 | 28,339 | 48.07% | 0.52 | |
Conservative | William Ralph Meredith | 87 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 118,513 | 31,693 | 47.82% | 2.35 | |
Liberal–Conservative | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1,553 | – | 0.81 | ||
Independent Conservative | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2,111 | 18 | 0.85% | 0.26 | |||
Independent Liberal | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 1,125 | – | 0.59 | ||
Independent | 19 | – | – | – | 8,085 | 1,328 | 3.26% | 0.28 | ||
Total | 189 | 88 | 88 | 247,857 | 100.00% | |||||
Voter turnout | 247,857 | 56,891 | 67.95 | 4.06 | ||||||
Registered electors | 392,085 | 108,229 | ||||||||
Acclamations | █ Liberal | 1 | ||||||||
█ Conservative | 1 |
Party | Seats | Votes | Change (pp) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
█ Liberal | 57 / 88 |
0.52 | |||
█ Conservative | 29 / 88 |
2.35 | |||
█ Other | 2 / 88 |
-2.87 |
Synopsis of results
editRiding | Winning party | Turnout | Votes | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name[a 1] | 1875 | Party | Votes | Share | Margin # |
Margin % |
Lib | Con | I-Con | Ind | Total | |||
Addington | Lib | Lib | 1,531 | 50.75% | 45 | 1.49% | 66.76% | 1,531 | 1,486 | – | – | 3,017 | ||
Algoma | Lib | Lib | 1,081 | 53.86% | 155 | 7.72% | 96.58% | 1,081 | 926 | – | – | 2,007 | ||
Brant North | Lib | Lib | 990 | 60.37% | 340 | 20.73% | 66.80% | 990 | 650 | – | – | 1,640 | ||
Brant South | Lib | Lib | 1,622 | 56.87% | 392 | 13.74% | 60.93% | 1,622 | 1,230 | – | – | 2,852 | ||
Brockville | Lib | Lib | 1,379 | 52.14% | 113 | 4.27% | 60.33% | 1,379 | 1,266 | – | – | 2,645 | ||
Bruce North | Lib | Lib | 1,686 | 56.77% | 402 | 13.54% | 63.41% | 1,686 | 1,284 | – | – | 2,970 | ||
Bruce South | Lib | Lib | 2,866 | 50.62% | 70 | 1.24% | 72.67% | 2,866 | 2,796 | – | – | 5,662 | ||
Cardwell | Con | Lib | 1,261 | 50.60% | 30 | 1.20% | 70.94% | 1,261 | 1,231 | – | – | 2,492 | ||
Carleton | Con | Con | 2,074 | 79.74% | 1,547 | 59.48% | 55.47% | 527 | 2,074 | – | – | 2,601 | ||
Cornwall | Con | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Dufferin | Con | Con | 1,357 | 55.32% | 261 | 10.64% | 58.18% | – | 1,357 | – | 1,096 | 2,453 | ||
Dundas | Con | Con | 1,674 | 51.24% | 81 | 2.48% | 77.29% | 1,593 | 1,674 | – | – | 3,267 | ||
Durham East | Con | Con | 1,292 | 52.33% | 200 | 8.10% | 55.58% | – | 1,292 | – | 1,177 | 2,469 | ||
Durham West | Lib | Lib | 1,467 | 52.66% | 148 | 5.31% | 72.89% | 1,467 | 1,319 | – | – | 2,786 | ||
Elgin East | Lib | Lib | 2,275 | 51.49% | 132 | 2.99% | 66.71% | 2,275 | 2,143 | – | – | 4,418 | ||
Elgin West | Con | Lib | 1,257 | 50.22% | 11 | 0.44% | 70.27% | 1,257 | 1,246 | – | – | 2,503 | ||
Essex North | Con | Con | 1,062 | 56.04% | 229 | 12.08% | 42.68% | 833 | 1,062 | – | – | 1,895 | ||
Essex South | Con | Con | 1,418 | 52.93% | 157 | 5.86% | 74.29% | 1,261 | 1,418 | – | – | 2,679 | ||
Frontenac | Con | Con | 710 | 45.57% | 204 | 13.09% | 55.86% | 506 | 710 | – | 342 | 1,558 | ||
Glengarry | I-Lib | Con | 1,331 | 50.78% | 41 | 1.56% | 74.31% | 1,290 | 1,331 | – | – | 2,621 | ||
Grenville South | Lib | Con | 1,205 | 53.01% | 137 | 6.03% | 70.20% | 1,068 | 1,205 | – | – | 2,273 | ||
Grey East | Con | Con | 1,294 | 55.70% | 566 | 24.37% | 49.64% | – | 1,595[a 2] | – | 728 | 2,323 | ||
Grey North | Con | Con | 1,660 | 50.27% | 18 | 0.55% | 60.98% | 1,642 | 1,660 | – | – | 3,302 | ||
Grey South | Lib | Lib | 1,694 | 61.49% | 633 | 22.98% | 73.72% | 1,694 | 1,061 | – | – | 2,755 | ||
Haldimand | Lib | Lib | 1,612 | 51.01% | 64 | 2.03% | 76.44% | 1,612 | 1,548 | – | – | 3,160 | ||
Halton | Lib | Lib | 1,765 | 50.46% | 32 | 0.91% | 66.63% | 1,765 | 1,733 | – | – | 3,498 | ||
Hamilton | Lib | Lib | 2,240 | 50.70% | 62 | 1.40% | 59.07% | 2,240 | 2,178 | – | – | 4,418 | ||
Hastings East | I-Con | I-Con | 1,204 | 51.52% | 71 | 3.04% | 67.82% | – | 1,133 | 1,204 | – | 2,337 | ||
Hastings North | Con | Con | 1,081 | 51.35% | 57 | 2.71% | 63.27% | – | 1,081 | – | 1,024 | 2,105 | ||
Hastings West | Con | Con | 1,402 | 56.60% | 327 | 13.20% | 68.92% | 1,075 | 1,402 | – | – | 2,477 | ||
Huron East | Lib | Lib | 1,924 | 50.74% | 56 | 1.48% | 68.76% | 1,924 | 1,868 | – | – | 3,792 | ||
Huron South | Lib | Lib | 1,893 | 52.21% | 160 | 4.41% | 70.75% | 1,893 | 1,733 | – | – | 3,626 | ||
Huron West | Lib | Lib | 2,064 | 55.57% | 414 | 11.15% | 62.70% | 2,064 | 1,650 | – | – | 3,714 | ||
Kent East | Lib | Lib | 1,774 | 54.91% | 317 | 9.81% | 58.60% | 1,774 | 1,457 | – | – | 3,231 | ||
Kent West | Con | Lib | 1,343 | 52.69% | 137 | 5.37% | 46.87% | 1,343 | 1,206 | – | – | 2,549 | ||
Kingston | Con | Con | 955 | 55.82% | 199 | 11.63% | 59.53% | 756 | 955 | – | – | 1,711 | ||
Lambton East | Lib | Lib | 1,840 | 50.88% | 64 | 1.77% | 73.23% | 1,840 | 1,776 | – | – | 3,616 | ||
Lambton West | Lib | Lib | 1,759 | 53.47% | 228 | 6.93% | 63.24% | 1,759 | 1,531 | – | – | 3,290 | ||
Lanark North | Con | Lib | 1,309 | 56.04% | 282 | 12.07% | 73.44% | 1,309 | 1,027 | – | – | 2,336 | ||
Lanark South | Con | I-Con | 907 | 49.64% | 53 | 2.90% | 56.60% | – | 854 | 907 | 66 | 1,827 | ||
Leeds North and Grenville North | Con | Con | 1,084 | 59.53% | 347 | 19.06% | 64.90% | 737 | 1,084 | – | – | 1,821 | ||
Leeds South | Con | Con | 1,362 | 56.92% | 331 | 13.83% | 57.41% | – | 1,362 | – | 1,031 | 2,393 | ||
Lennox | I-Con | Lib | 1,231 | 50.20% | 10 | 0.41% | 62.71% | 1,231 | 1,221 | – | – | 2,452 | ||
Lincoln | Lib | Lib | 2,222 | 50.79% | 69 | 1.58% | 68.25% | 2,222 | 2,153 | – | – | 4,375 | ||
London | Con | Con | 1,578 | 58.25% | 447 | 16.50% | 55.24% | 1,131 | 1,578 | – | – | 2,709 | ||
Middlesex East | Con | Con | 2,546 | 51.86% | 183 | 3.73% | 66.82% | 2,363 | 2,546 | – | – | 4,909 | ||
Middlesex North | Con | Lib | 1,917 | 53.22% | 232 | 6.44% | 72.87% | 1,917 | 1,685 | – | – | 3,602 | ||
Middlesex West | Lib | Lib | 1,575 | 50.82% | 51 | 1.65% | 69.80% | 1,575 | 1,524 | – | – | 3,099 | ||
Monck | Lib | Lib | 1,486 | 52.64% | 149 | 5.28% | 81.42% | 1,486 | 1,337 | – | – | 2,823 | ||
Muskoka and Parry Sound | Lib | Lib | 1,704 | 57.98% | 469 | 15.96% | 74.90% | 1,704 | 1,235 | – | – | 2,939 | ||
Norfolk North | Lib | Lib | 1,490 | 52.12% | 121 | 4.23% | 71.55% | 1,490 | 1,369 | – | – | 2,859 | ||
Norfolk South | Con | Con | 1,386 | 50.36% | 20 | 0.73% | 76.23% | 1,366 | 1,386 | – | – | 2,752 | ||
Northumberland East | Lib | Lib | 1,887 | 50.64% | 48 | 1.29% | 71.32% | 1,887 | 1,839 | – | – | 3,726 | ||
Northumberland West | Lib | Lib | 1,333 | 50.40% | 21 | 0.79% | 65.54% | 1,333 | 1,312 | – | – | 2,645 | ||
Ontario North | Lib | Lib | 2,244 | 52.21% | 190 | 4.42% | 63.85% | 2,244 | 2,054 | – | – | 4,298 | ||
Ontario South | Con | Lib | 1,721 | 56.24% | 382 | 12.48% | 60.59% | 1,721 | 1,339 | – | – | 3,060 | ||
Ottawa | Lib | Con | 1,064 | 39.72% | 64 | 2.39% | 47.99% | 606 | 1,064 | – | 1,009 | 2,679 | ||
Oxford North | Lib | Lib | 1,731 | 75.10% | 1,157 | 50.20% | 41.71% | 1,731 | 574 | – | – | 2,305 | ||
Oxford South | Lib | Lib | 1,775 | 66.73% | 940 | 35.34% | 48.33% | 1,775 | – | – | 885 | 2,660 | ||
Peel | Lib | Lib | 1,519 | 52.69% | 155 | 5.38% | 76.09% | 1,519 | 1,364 | – | – | 2,883 | ||
Perth North | Lib | Lib | 2,396 | 50.18% | 17 | 0.36% | 67.44% | 2,396 | 2,379 | – | – | 4,775 | ||
Perth South | Lib | Lib | 1,759 | 55.00% | 320 | 10.01% | 65.67% | 1,759 | 1,439 | – | – | 3,198 | ||
Peterborough East | Con | Lib | 1,078 | 53.21% | 130 | 6.42% | 65.38% | 1,078 | 948 | – | – | 2,026 | ||
Peterborough West | Lib | Con | 1,130 | 52.68% | 252 | 11.75% | 55.99% | 878 | 1,130 | – | 137 | 2,145 | ||
Prescott | Con | Con | 900 | 47.62% | 278 | 14.71% | 58.77% | 622 | 900 | – | 368 | 1,890 | ||
Prince Edward | Lib | Lib | 1,894 | 50.47% | 35 | 0.93% | 73.78% | 1,894 | 1,859 | – | – | 3,753 | ||
Renfrew North | Con | Lib | 1,066 | 52.56% | 104 | 5.13% | 72.07% | 1,066 | 962 | – | – | 2,028 | ||
Renfrew South | Lib | Lib | 837 | 54.28% | 132 | 8.56% | 67.72% | 837 | 705 | – | – | 1,542 | ||
Russell | Con | Lib | 696 | 37.30% | 27 | 1.45% | 38.86% | 975 | 669 | – | 222 | 1,866 | ||
Simcoe East | Con | Lib | 1,324 | 56.82% | 318 | 13.65% | 61.72% | 1,324 | 1,006 | – | – | 2,330 | ||
Simcoe South | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Simcoe West | Con | Con | 1,483 | 51.10% | 64 | 2.21% | 55.06% | 1,419 | 1,483 | – | – | 2,902 | ||
Stormont | Lib | Con | 950 | 50.29% | 11 | 0.58% | 71.47% | 939 | 950 | – | – | 1,889 | ||
Toronto East | Con | Con | 2,132 | 50.68% | 57 | 1.35% | 51.12% | 2,075 | 2,132 | – | – | 4,207 | ||
Toronto West | Con | Con | 2,324 | 50.74% | 68 | 1.48% | 45.24% | 2,256 | 2,324 | – | – | 4,580 | ||
Victoria North | Lib | Lib | 1,217 | 56.34% | 274 | 12.69% | 65.04% | 1,217 | 943 | – | – | 2,160 | ||
Victoria South | Lib | Lib | 1,644 | 51.81% | 115 | 3.62% | 68.27% | 1,644 | 1,529 | – | – | 3,173 | ||
Waterloo North | Lib | Lib | 1,351 | 53.29% | 167 | 6.59% | 71.37% | 1,351 | 1,184 | – | – | 2,535 | ||
Waterloo South | Lib | Lib | 1,699 | 57.38% | 437 | 14.76% | 72.06% | 1,699 | 1,262 | – | – | 2,961 | ||
Welland | Lib | Con | 1,966 | 50.97% | 75 | 1.94% | 66.49% | 1,891 | 1,966 | – | – | 3,857 | ||
Wellington Centre | Lib | Lib | 1,405 | 65.35% | 660 | 30.70% | 50.05% | 1,405 | 745 | – | – | 2,150 | ||
Wellington South | Lib | Lib | 1,430 | 52.15% | 118 | 4.30% | 65.83% | 1,430 | 1,312 | – | – | 2,742 | ||
Wellington West | L-Con | Lib | 2,026 | 56.00% | 434 | 12.00% | 64.61% | 2,026 | 1,592 | – | – | 3,618 | ||
Wentworth North | Con | Lib | 1,223 | 85.41% | 1,014 | 70.81% | 38.23% | 1,223 | 209 | – | – | 1,432 | ||
Wentworth South | Lib | Con | 1,231 | 50.02% | 1 | 0.04% | 66.19% | 1,230 | 1,231 | – | – | 2,461 | ||
York East | Lib | Lib | 1,825 | 53.58% | 244 | 7.16% | 58.93% | 1,825 | 1,581 | – | – | 3,406 | ||
York North | Lib | Lib | 2,200 | 56.54% | 509 | 13.08% | 68.77% | 2,200 | 1,691 | – | – | 3,891 | ||
York West | Lib | Lib | 1,268 | 51.21% | 60 | 2.42% | 63.16% | 1,268 | 1,208 | – | – | 2,476 |
- ^ order is as given in EO reports
- ^ the incumbent Abram William Lauder was reelected
- = open seat
- = turnout is above provincial average
- = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
- = incumbent had switched allegiance
- = previously incumbent in another riding
- = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
- = incumbency arose from byelection gain
- = other incumbents renominated
- = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
- = multiple candidates
Analysis
editParty in 1st place | Party in 2nd place | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accl | Lib | Con | Ind | |||
Liberal | 1 | 55 | 1 | 57 | ||
Conservative | 1 | 22 | 6 | 29 | ||
Independent Conservative | 2 | |||||
Total | 22 | 57 | 7 | 88 |
Parties | Accl | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
█ Liberal | 1 | 56 | 22 | 2 | ||
█ Conservative | 1 | 28 | 57 | 1 | ||
█ Independent Conservative | 2 | |||||
█ Independent | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
Source | Party | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lib | Con | I-Con | Total | ||
Seats retained | Incumbents returned | 30 | 17 | 1 | 48 |
Returned by acclamation | 1 | 1 | |||
Open seats held | 13 | 3 | 16 | ||
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance | 1 | 1 | |||
Seats changing hands | Incumbents defeated | 8 | 3 | 11 | |
Open seats gained | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |
Byelection gains held | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
Total | 57 | 29 | 2 | 88 |
MLAs elected by region and riding
editParty designations are as follows:
Liberal
Conservative
Independent Conservative
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See also
editNotes and references
editNotes
edit- ^ Overturned on petition to the court, because of ballot papers improperly rejected.[2] Adam Jacob Baker (Conservative) was declared elected.[3]
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[3] Kerr was returned in the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[3] Robertson was returned in the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Overturned on petition to the court. Nicholas Awrey (Liberal) was declared elected.[3]
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued,[3] but Barr would decline to stand for reelection. William Jelly would succeed in the ensuing race.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "1879 general election results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Sessional Paper No. 19". List of Sessional Papers (Vol. XII Part III). Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1880. pp. 53–54.
- ^ a b c d e Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1880. pp. 7–10.