Kent (Ontario provincial electoral district)

This article is about the former provincial electoral district. For the former federal electoral district, see Kent (Ontario federal electoral district). For the pre-Confederation electoral district, see Kent (Province of Canada electoral district).

Kent was an electoral riding in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1867 at the time of confederation. It was abolished in 1875 when it was split into Kent East and Kent West ridings. It was re-established in 1967 and then redistributed into Kent—Elgin in 1975. It was finally abolished in 1987 when it was merged into Essex—Kent.

Kent

Ontario electoral district
Defunct provincial electoral district
Legislature	Legislative Assembly of Ontario
District created	1867
District abolished	1986
First contested	1867
Last contested	1985

Members of Provincial Parliament

Kent
Assembly	Years	Member		Party
1st	1867–1871		John Smith	Liberal
2nd	1871–1874		James Dawson	Liberal
Riding split into Kent East and Kent West ridings in 1875
Riding re-established in 1967
28th	1967–1971		Jack Spence	Liberal
29th	1971–1975
Kent-Elgin
30th	1975–1977		Jack Spence	Liberal
31st	1977–1981		Jim McGuigan	Liberal
32nd	1981–1985
33rd	1985–1987
Sourced from the Ontario Legislative Assembly
Merged into Essex—Kent before the 1987 election

Election results

1867 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	John Smith	1,486	51.14
	Conservative	Mr. McMichael	1,420	48.86
Total valid votes			2,906	77.99
Eligible voters			3,726
	Liberal pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario

1871 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	James Dawson	1,382	53.55	+2.41
	Conservative	John Smith	1,199	46.45	−2.41
Turnout			2,581	61.15	−16.84
Eligible voters			4,221
	Liberal hold		Swing		+2.41
Source: Elections Ontario