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82 seats in the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario 42 seats were needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1871 Ontario general election was the second general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on March 21, 1871, to elect the 82 Members of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1]
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Edward Blake, won a slim majority of the seats, and formed the government.
The Ontario Conservative Party, led by John Sandfield Macdonald, served as the official opposition.
Electoral reforms
Earlier in 1871, the Legislative Assembly passed an Act to give the courts jurisdiction to rule on petitions dealing with corrupt practices in elections.[2]
In 1872, the Parliament of Canada passed an Act to compel MPs who were also members of a provincial legislature to resign such seats if they wished to stand again in a federal election.[3] Five MLAs in the 1871 election were thus obliged to leave the Legislative Assembly in order to stand in federal ridings in 1872.
Results
Political party | Party leader | MLAs | Votes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidates | 1867 | 1871 | ± | # | ± | % | ± (pp) | |||
Liberal | 76 | 41 | 43 | 2![]() |
68,366 | 9,323![]() |
52.30% | 3.54![]() | ||
Conservative | 73 | 41 | 38 | 3![]() |
59,926 | 20,185![]() |
45.85% | 4.44![]() | ||
Conservative-Liberal | 1 | – | 1 | 1![]() |
1,116 | 1,116 | 0.85% | New | ||
Independent | 9 | – | – | – | 1,303 | 220![]() |
1.00% | 0.04![]() | ||
Total | 159 | 82 | 88 | 130,711 | 100.00% | |||||
Voter turnout | 130,711 | 28,612![]() |
62.93 | 10.93![]() | ||||||
Registered electors | 207,717 | 8,005![]() |
||||||||
Acclamations | █ Liberal | 7 | ||||||||
█ Conservative | 8 | |||||||||
Other candidates receiving nil votes[a 1] | █ Independent | 2 |
Party | Seats | Votes | Change (pp) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
█ Liberal | 43 / 88 |
3.54 | |||
█ Conservative | 38 / 88 |
-4.44 | |||
█ Other | 1 / 88 |
0.90 |
Synopsis of results
Riding | Winning party | Turnout | Votes | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name[a 1] | 1867 | Party | Votes | Share | Margin # |
Margin % |
Lib | Con | CL | Ind | Total | |||
Addington | Con | Lib | 809 | 50.82% | 26 | 1.63% | 59.31% | 809 | 783 | – | – | 1,592 | ||
Algoma | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Bothwell | Lib | Lib | 1,304 | 55.02% | 238 | 10.04% | 72.17% | 1,304 | 1,066 | – | – | 2,370 | ||
Brant North | Lib | Lib | 740 | 60.26% | 252 | 20.52% | 60.73% | 740 | 488 | – | – | 1,228 | ||
Brant South | Con | Con | 1,172 | 52.70% | 120 | 5.40% | 66.55% | 1,052 | 1,172 | – | – | 2,224 | ||
Brockville and Elizabethtown | Con | Con | 620 | 50.28% | 7 | 0.57% | 66.33% | 613 | 620 | – | – | 1,233 | ||
Bruce North | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Bruce South | Lib | Lib | 2,082 | 55.21% | 393 | 10.42% | 79.79% | 2,082[a 2] | 1,689 | – | – | 3,771 | ||
Cardwell | Con | CL | 1,116 | 63.16% | 465 | 26.32% | 67.14% | 651 | – | 1,116 | – | 1,767 | ||
Carleton | Lib | Con | 822 | 50.31% | 10 | 0.61% | 63.46% | 812 | 822 | – | – | 1,634 | ||
Cornwall | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Dundas | Lib | Lib | 1,216 | 56.09% | 264 | 12.18% | 76.28% | 1,216 | 952 | – | – | 2,168 | ||
Durham East | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Durham West | Lib | Lib | acclaimed[a 2] | |||||||||||
Elgin East | Con | Lib | 1,442 | 53.11% | 169 | 6.22% | 63.82% | 1,442 | 1,273 | – | – | 2,715 | ||
Elgin West | Con | Lib | 969 | 55.69% | 198 | 11.38% | 76.55% | 969 | 771 | – | – | 1,740 | ||
Essex | Con | Lib | 1,204 | 51.23% | 418 | 17.79% | 50.95% | 1,204 | 786 | – | 360 | 2,350 | ||
Frontenac | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Glengarry | Con | Con | 962 | 52.89% | 105 | 5.77% | 72.30% | 857 | 962 | – | – | 1,819 | ||
Grenville South | Con | Con | 797 | 51.22% | 38 | 2.44% | 76.42% | 759 | 797 | – | – | 1,556 | ||
Grey North | Con | Con | 1,339 | 58.42% | 386 | 16.84% | 50.22% | 953 | 1,339 | – | – | 2,292 | ||
Grey South | Con | Con | 1,625 | 59.92% | 538 | 19.84% | 61.83% | 1,087 | 1,625 | – | – | 2,712 | ||
Haldimand | Lib | Lib | 1,212 | 60.78% | 430 | 21.56% | 59.90% | 1,212 | 782 | – | – | 1,994 | ||
Halton | Lib | Lib | 1,194 | 55.98% | 255 | 11.95% | 57.51% | 1,194 | 939 | – | – | 2,133 | ||
Hamilton | Lib | Lib | 1,294 | 54.23% | 202 | 8.47% | 60.54% | 1,294 | 1,092 | – | – | 2,386 | ||
Hastings East | Con | Con | 186 | 88.57% | 162 | 77.14% | 10.10% | 24 | 186 | – | – | 210 | ||
Hastings North | Con | Con | 604 | 86.04% | 506 | 72.08% | 41.29% | 98 | 604 | – | – | 702 | ||
Hastings West | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Huron North | Con | Lib | 2,259 | 55.86% | 474 | 11.72% | 68.67% | 2,259 | 1,785 | – | – | 4,044 | ||
Huron South | Lib | Lib | 1,561 | 53.55% | 207 | 7.10% | 71.64% | 1,561 | 1,354 | – | – | 2,915 | ||
Kent | Lib | Lib | 1,382 | 53.55% | 183 | 7.09% | 61.15% | 1,382 | 1,199 | – | – | 2,581 | ||
Kingston | Con | Con | 607 | 50.04% | 21 | 1.73% | 58.21% | 586 | 607 | – | 20 | 1,213 | ||
Lambton | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Lanark North | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Lanark South | Con | Con | 816 | 42.88% | 150 | 7.88% | 66.10% | 666 | 816 | – | 421 | 1,903 | ||
Leeds North and Grenville North | Lib | Con | 723 | 61.01% | 261 | 22.03% | 52.71% | 462 | 723 | – | – | 1,185 | ||
Leeds South | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Lennox | Con | Con | 1,183 | 56.41% | 269 | 12.83% | 62.95% | – | 2,097[a 3] | – | – | 2,097 | ||
Lincoln | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
London | Con | Con | 985 | 63.84% | 427 | 27.67% | 57.06% | 558 | 985 | – | – | 1,543 | ||
Middlesex East | Lib | Con | 1,622 | 51.41% | 89 | 2.82% | 74.92% | 1,533 | 1,622 | – | – | 3,155 | ||
Middlesex North | Lib | Lib | 1,286 | 56.58% | 299 | 13.15% | 69.34% | 1,286 | 987 | – | – | 2,273 | ||
Middlesex West | Con | Lib | 1,362 | 58.81% | 408 | 17.62% | 77.17% | 1,362 | 954 | – | – | 2,316 | ||
Monck | Con | Con | 931 | 50.13% | 5 | 0.27% | 66.35% | 926 | 931 | – | – | 1,857 | ||
Niagara | Con | Con | 277 | 62.25% | 109 | 24.49% | 56.98% | 168 | 277 | – | – | 445 | ||
Norfolk North | Con | Lib | 1,122 | 56.78% | 268 | 13.56% | 74.43% | 1,122 | 854[a 4] | – | – | 1,976 | ||
Norfolk South | Lib | Lib | 1,009 | 53.30% | 125 | 6.60% | 71.73% | 1,009 | 884[a 4] | – | – | 1,893 | ||
Northumberland East | Lib | Lib | 694 | 37.70% | 30 | 1.63% | 53.22% | 694 | 664 | – | 483 | 1,841 | ||
Northumberland West | Lib | Lib | 1,013 | 50.90% | 36 | 1.81% | 67.48% | 1,013 | 977 | – | – | 1,990 | ||
Ontario North | Lib | Lib | 1,279 | 73.80% | 833 | 48.07% | 44.11% | 1,279 | 446 | – | – | 1,733 | ||
Ontario South | Lib | Lib | 1,180 | 52.17% | 98 | 4.33% | 65.81% | 1,180 | 1,082 | – | – | 2,262 | ||
Ottawa | Lib | Lib | 574 | 76.33% | 396 | 52.66% | 27.68% | 574 | 178 | – | – | 752 | ||
Oxford North | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Oxford South | Lib | Lib | 1,430 | 57.78% | 385 | 15.56% | 65.86% | 1,430 | 1,045 | – | – | 2,475 | ||
Peel | Con | Con | 1,118 | 51.36% | 59 | 2.71% | 75.91% | 1,059 | 1,118 | – | – | 2,177 | ||
Perth North | Con | Con | 1,630 | 57.88% | 444 | 15.77% | 68.20% | 1,186 | 1,630 | – | – | 2,816 | ||
Perth South | Lib | Con | 1,302 | 50.60% | 31 | 1.20% | 71.99% | 1,271 | 1,302 | – | – | 2,573 | ||
Peterborough East | Con | Con | 779 | 61.68% | 299 | 23.67% | 60.55% | 480 | 779 | – | 4 | 1,263 | ||
Peterborough West | Con | Lib | 648 | 52.13% | 53 | 4.26% | 69.91% | 648 | 595 | – | – | 1,243 | ||
Prescott | Lib | Con | 853 | 54.26% | 134 | 8.52% | 75.61% | 719 | 853 | – | – | 1,572 | ||
Prince Edward | Lib | Lib | 1,522 | 52.23% | 130 | 4.46% | 78.19% | 1,522 | 1,392[a 5] | – | – | 2,914 | ||
Renfrew North | Con | Con | 640 | 56.74% | 152 | 13.48% | 74.31% | 488 | 640 | – | – | 1,128 | ||
Renfrew South | Lib | Con | 448 | 63.46% | 190 | 26.91% | 59.88% | 258 | 448 | – | – | 706 | ||
Russell | Con | Con | 773 | 51.29% | 46 | 3.05% | 56.15% | 727 | 773 | – | 7 | 1,507 | ||
Simcoe North | Lib | Con | 1,354 | 44.39% | 313 | 10.26% | 69.41% | 1,696[a 6] | 1,354 | – | – | 3,050 | ||
Simcoe South | Con | Con | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Stormont | Con | Con | 705 | 50.18% | 5 | 0.36% | 74.34% | 700 | 705 | – | – | 1,405 | ||
Toronto East | Con | Con | 1,232 | 52.56% | 120 | 5.12% | 52.26% | 1,112 | 1,232 | – | – | 2,344 | ||
Toronto West | Con | Lib | 1,487 | 53.05% | 171 | 6.10% | 51.84% | 1,487 | 1,316 | – | – | 2,803 | ||
Victoria North | Lib | Con | 518 | 54.76% | 90 | 9.51% | 61.55% | 428 | 518 | – | – | 946 | ||
Victoria South | Lib | Lib | 1,046 | 60.05% | 350 | 20.09% | 59.97% | 1,742[a 7] | – | – | – | 1,742 | ||
Waterloo North | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Waterloo South | Lib | Lib | 1,215 | 60.27% | 414 | 20.54% | 69.42% | 1,215 | 801 | – | – | 2,016 | ||
Welland | Lib | Lib | 1,182 | 53.12% | 139 | 6.25% | 61.08% | 2,225[a 8] | – | – | – | 2,225 | ||
Wellington Centre | Con | Lib | 1,465 | 64.94% | 674 | 29.88% | 58.89% | 1,465 | 791 | – | – | 2,256 | ||
Wellington North | Lib | Lib | 1,531 | 63.53% | 652 | 27.05% | 59.40% | 1,531 | 879 | – | – | 2,410 | ||
Wellington South | Lib | Lib | acclaimed | |||||||||||
Wentworth North | Lib | Lib | 1,071 | 57.24% | 271 | 14.48% | 70.95% | 1,071 | 800 | – | – | 1,871 | ||
Wentworth South | Lib | Lib | 957 | 66.97% | 485 | 33.94% | 56.08% | 957 | 472 | – | – | 1,429 | ||
York East | Lib | Lib | 791 | 70.19% | 455 | 40.37% | 36.52% | 791 | 336 | – | – | 1,127 | ||
York North | Lib | Con | 1,306 | 50.10% | 5 | 0.19% | 66.64% | 1,301 | 1,306 | – | – | 2,607 | ||
York West | Con | Lib | 865 | 56.32% | 194 | 12.63% | 62.54% | 865 | 671 | – | – | 1,536 |
- ^ order is as given in EO reports
- ^ a b Edward Blake was elected in two ridings.
- ^ the incumbent John Stevenson received 914 votes
- ^ a b James Wilson (incumbent in Norfolk North) campaigned and lost in two ridings
- ^ William Anderson had been elected as a Liberal in an 1870 byelection
- ^ the incumbent William Lount received 655 votes
- ^ the incumbent Thomas Matchett received 696 votes
- ^ the incumbent William Beatty received 1,043 votes
- = 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
Party in 1st place | Party in 2nd place | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accl | Lib | Con | |||
Liberal | 7 | 2 | 34 | 43 | |
Conservative | 8 | 29 | 1 | 38 | |
Conservative-Liberal | 1 | 1 | |||
Total | 15 | 32 | 35 | 82 |
Parties | Accl | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
---|---|---|---|---|
█ Liberal | 7 | 36 | 32 | 1 |
█ Conservative | 8 | 30 | 35 | |
█ Conservative-Liberal | 1 | |||
█ Independent | 7 |
Source | Party | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lib | Con | CL | Total | ||||
Seats retained | Incumbents returned | 19 | 16 | 35 | |||
Returned by acclamation | 7 | 8 | 15 | ||||
Open seats held | 3 | 3 | |||||
Ouster of incumbents changing allegiance | 4 | 4 | |||||
Defeat of incumbent by same-party candidate | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||
Byelection loss reversed | 1 | 1 | |||||
Seats changing hands | Incumbents defeated | 8 | 7 | 15 | |||
Open seats gained | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |||
Total | 43 | 38 | 1 | 82 |
MLAs elected by region and riding
Party designations are as follows:
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Later resignations on campaigning at the federal level
Resignation | New incoming MLA | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Outgoing MLA | Elected as MP | Winner | |||
1872 federal election | ||||||
Bruce South | Edward Blake | ![]() |
Rupert Mearse Wells | |||
London | John Carling | ![]() |
William Ralph Meredith | |||
Middlesex West | Alexander Mackenzie | ![]() |
John Watterworth | |||
Monck | Lachlin McCallum | ![]() |
Henry Ryan Haney | |||
1873 federal byelection (Durham West) | ||||||
Brant South | Edmund Burke Wood | ![]() |
Arthur Sturgis Hardy | |||
1874 federal election | ||||||
Wellington North | Robert McKim | ![]() |
George Turner Orton |
- ^ elected in Lambton
- ^ campaigned in Wellington Centre
See also
- Politics of Ontario
- List of Ontario political parties
- Premier of Ontario
- Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)
Notes and references
Notes
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] Monk was returned in the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] Hamilton was returned in the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] James Bethune (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Declined the seat in favour of sitting for Bruce South[5] John McLeod (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] James Simeon McCuaig (Conservative) won the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] Ardagh was returned in the subsequent byelection.
- ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued.[5] Lauder was returned in the subsequent byelection.
References
- ^ "1871 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ The Controverted Elections Act of 1871, S.O. 1870-71, c. 3
- ^ An Act to compel Members of a Local Legislature in any Province where dual representation is not allowed, to resign their Seats before becoming Candidates in any Seats in the Dominion Parliament, S.C. 1872, c. 15
- ^ a b c d e "1871 general election results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1872. pp. 5–15.