1937 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1937 Ontario general election 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.[1]

Quick facts 90 seats in the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario 46 seats were needed for a majority, First party ...
1937 Ontario general election
← 1934
October 6, 1937
1943 â†’
90 seats in the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
46 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mitchell Hepburn William Earl Rowe John Mitchell
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 Decrease2 Increase6 Decrease1
Percentage 49.5% 39.4% 5.3%
Swing Increase2.4pp Decrease0.3pp Decrease1.7pp
Premier before election

Mitchell Hepburn
Liberal

 Premier after election

Mitchell Hepburn
Liberal

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Campaign

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.[2] 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 Farquhar 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.

More information Candidates, Total ...
Riding contests, by number of candidates (1937)
Candidates Lib Con CCF L-P UFO Lab Frm-Lab Ind Ind-Lib Ind-Con Soc-Lab Other Total
2 32341168
3 3031201133411196
4 1718141323426272
5 665131124130
Total 8589394176785114266
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Outcome

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 (together with effective support from the Liberal-Progressives and UFO, against which they did not field opposing candidates) has won an absolute majority of the popular vote.

Results

[3][4]

More information Political party, Party leader ...
Elections to the 20th Parliament of Ontario (1937)
Political party Party leader MPPs Votes
Candidates 1934 Dissol. 1937 ± # % ± (pp)
Liberal Mitchell Hepburn 856466622Decrease769,74748.992.43Increase
Conservative William Earl Rowe 891717236Increase619,61039.440.34Decrease
Liberal–Progressive 45432Decrease24,7521.581.31Decrease
Independent Liberal 8–111Increase20,7761.320.53Increase
United Farmers Farquhar Oliver 1111Steady7,2960.460.09Decrease
Co-operative Commonwealth John Mitchell[a 1] 3711–1Decrease77,8334.951.66Decrease
  CCF-Labour 2––––5,7460.37
Independent 711–1Decrease4,0390.260.96Decrease
Liberal–Labour –1––1DecreaseDid not campaign
Farmer–Labour 6––––14,6750.930.89Increase
Labour 7––––11,8070.750.74Increase
Independent Conservative 5––––8,2700.530.50Increase
Labor–Progressive 1––––3,3430.210.37%Decrease
Communist 1––––4080.03
Socialist Labor 11––––2,1990.140.04Increase
Social Credit 1––––5380.03New
Independent Labour 1––––940.010.02Decrease
Total 266 90 90 90 1,571,133 100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots 17,271
Registered voters / turnout 2,238,230 71.29% 2.32Decrease
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  1. [1]
    party president

Vote and seat summaries

Ternary plots - shift of electoral support (1934-1937)
  • Ternary plot of 1934 results
    1934
  • Ternary plot of 1937 results
    1937
Electoral districts identified by colours of winning parties


More information Party, Seats ...
Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
█ Liberal
62 / 90
48.99%
2.43
 
█ Conservative
23 / 90
39.44%
-0.34
 
█ Liberal–Progressive
3 / 90
1.58%
-1.31
 
█ Co-operative Commonwealth
0 / 90
5.32%
-1.66
 
█ Other
2 / 90
4.67%
0.88
 
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Synopsis of results

More information Riding, Winning party ...
Results by riding - 1937 Ontario general election[3][4]
Riding Winning party Turnout
[a 1]		 Votes
Name[a 2] 1934 Party Votes Share Margin
#		 Margin
%		 Lib Con CCF
[a 3]		 L-Prog UFO Lab F-Lab Ind Ind-Lab Ind-Lib Ind-Con Other Total
 
Addington Con Con 7,14650.82%2301.64%84.43%6,9167,146––––––––––14,062
Algoma—Manitoulin Lib Lib 7,09250.94%5764.14%74.61%7,0926,516––––313–––––13,921
Brant L-P Lib 9,11574.93%6,06549.86%63.52%9,1153,050––––––––––12,165
Brantford Ind I-Lib 8,09453.71%2,60217.27%72.24%–5,4921,483––––––8,094––15,069
Bruce Lib Lib 8,73956.36%1,97212.72%73.02%8,7396,767––––––––––15,506
Carleton Con Con 6,95658.41%3,26227.39%66.76%3,6946,956–––––––1,258––11,908
Cochrane North Lib Lib 4,94052.55%4805.11%72.74%4,9404,460––––––––––9,400
Cochrane South Lib Lib 12,77348.55%5,70921.70%73.29%12,7737,064––––6,473–––––26,310
Dufferin—Simcoe Lib Con 8,48453.22%1,0276.44%73.46%7,4578,484––––––––––15,941
Durham Lib Lib 7,18352.23%6144.46%79.19%7,1836,569––––––––––13,752
Elgin Lib Lib 12,36162.53%5,30826.85%78.08%12,3617,053355–––––––––19,769
Essex North Lib Lib 7,44951.85%2,45517.09%73.71%7,4494,994598–––1,326–––––14,367
Essex South Lib Lib 7,75563.51%3,30027.03%64.95%7,7554,455––––––––––12,210
Fort William Lib Con 5,73139.93%4953.45%79.73%5,2365,7311,542––––––1,845––14,354
Glengarry Lib Lib 6,73767.20%3,44934.40%72.00%6,7373,288––––––––––10,025
Grenville—Dundas Con Con 9,28854.99%1,6859.98%74.84%7,6039,288––––––––––16,891
Grey North L-P L-P 8,51154.21%2,33914.90%77.28%–6,1721,0168,511––––––––15,699
Grey South UFO UFO 7,29654.95%1,3149.90%71.83%–5,982––7,296–––––––13,278
Haldimand—Norfolk Lib Lib 12,63856.44%2,88312.87%76.53%12,6389,755––––––––––22,393
Halton L-P L-P 7,83255.50%1,87413.28%75.80%–5,9582387,832–––83––––14,111
Hamilton East CCF Lib 9,79647.31%3,85918.64%71.07%9,7965,9374,858––––––––11620,707
Hamilton Centre Lib Lib 11,95954.97%5,83926.84%68.33%11,9596,120–––––––––3,67621,755
Hamilton—Wentworth Lib Lib 11,55960.83%5,55029.21%73.01%11,5596,0091,434–––––––––19,002
Hastings East Con Con 7,05255.88%1,48411.76%84.08%5,5687,052––––––––––12,620
Hastings West Lib Con 9,92353.56%1,3197.12%76.36%8,6049,923––––––––––18,527
Huron Lib Lib 7,04250.86%1,1808.52%76.42%7,0425,862–––––942––––13,846
Huron—Bruce Lib Lib 8,58761.08%3,80727.08%74.03%8,5874,780–––––––470222–14,059
Kenora L-L Lib 6,59759.27%2,06418.54%67.40%6,5974,533––––––––––11,130
Kent East L-P L-P 8,25071.45%4,95342.89%71.04%–3,297–8,250––––––––11,547
Kent West Lib Lib 10,99177.72%7,84055.44%55.16%10,9913,151––––––––––14,142
Kingston Con Con 8,01450.59%1871.18%82.28%7,8278,014––––––––––15,841
Lambton East Lib Lib 8,59863.57%3,67027.13%74.79%8,5984,928––––––––––13,526
Lambton West Lib Lib 8,34161.28%3,07022.55%75.29%8,3415,271––––––––––13,612
Lanark Con Con 9,10354.37%1,4628.73%74.22%7,6419,103––––––––––16,744
Leeds Lib Con 10,33951.85%7363.69%79.42%9,60310,339––––––––––19,942
Lincoln Lib Lib 12,54748.40%1,1464.42%72.76%12,54711,4011,975–––––––––25,923
London Lib Lib 16,14455.19%5,28718.07%71.01%16,14410,8572,124––––––––12929,254
Middlesex North Lib Lib 8,47659.90%2,80119.79%73.29%8,4765,675––––––––––14,151
Middlesex South Lib Lib 8,37067.22%4,28934.45%67.04%8,3704,081––––––––––12,451
Muskoka—Ontario L-P Lib 9,72052.09%7814.19%77.63%9,7208,939––––––––––18,659
Niagara Falls Lib Lib 10,22560.39%5,08530.03%68.83%10,2255,140710–––857–––––16,932
Nipissing Lib Lib 8,66949.46%2,14012.21%73.16%8,6696,529–––––209–2,121––17,528
Northumberland Lib Lib 8,87351.83%6253.65%82.55%8,8738,248––––––––––17,121
Ontario Lib Lib 9,83444.13%2,0599.24%77.73%9,8347,7754,598––––––––7922,286
Ottawa East Lib Lib 16,92079.65%13,13461.82%67.75%16,9203,786–––––––––53821,244
Ottawa South Con Con 17,44350.20%8932.57%69.41%16,55017,443–––69–––––68434,746
Oxford Lib Lib 11,81253.84%2,71212.36%74.87%11,8129,100–––––1,029––––21,941
Parry Sound Lib Lib 6,16853.46%7996.93%75.43%6,1685,369––––––––––11,537
Peel Lib Con 8,22848.88%2791.66%78.68%7,9498,228657–––––––––16,834
Perth Lib Lib 15,54759.80%5,09719.61%75.80%15,54710,450––––––––––25,997
Peterborough Con Lib 10,60348.30%1,1025.02%80.18%10,6039,5011,849–––––––––21,953
Port Arthur Lib Lib 8,00656.34%3,06621.58%73.92%8,0064,9401,263–––––––––14,209
Prescott Lib Lib 6,35753.91%1,78815.16%70.53%6,357865–––––––4,569––11,791
Prince Edward—Lennox Lib Con 7,47050.69%2021.37%77.80%7,2687,470–––––––0––14,738
Rainy River Lib Lib 3,46050.45%1,31819.22%73.47%3,4602,1421,256––––––0––6,858
Renfrew North Lib Lib 6,21951.16%2822.32%76.19%6,2195,937–––––––0––12,156
Renfrew South Lib Lib 5,88747.27%1,0908.75%75.82%5,8874,797–––––––1,769––12,453
Russell Lib Lib 6,48158.65%3,41530.90%67.89%6,4813,066–––––1,504––––11,051
Sault Ste. Marie Lib Lib 7,13449.47%6464.48%77.42%7,1346,488798–––––––––14,420
Simcoe Centre Lib Lib 8,37554.19%1,2948.37%77.08%8,3757,081––––––––––15,456
Simcoe East Lib Con 7,60650.34%1030.68%71.31%7,5037,606––––––––––15,109
Stormont Lib Lib 10,40964.33%4,63828.67%71.94%10,4095,771––––––––––16,180
Sudbury Lib Lib 12,85055.59%5,47023.66%70.21%12,8507,380–––2,236–––650––23,116
Temiskaming Lib Lib 5,96646.70%2101.64%71.11%5,9665,7561,053–––––––––12,775
Victoria Lib Con 9,37250.92%3391.84%82.42%9,0339,372––––––––––18,405
Waterloo North Lib Lib 13,46662.64%9,30243.27%62.02%13,4663,322493–––4,164––––5321,498
Waterloo South Lib Lib 9,06453.63%3,36719.92%71.69%9,0645,6972,140–––––––––16,901
Welland Lib Lib 9,99453.78%2,94615.85%73.93%9,9947,048––––1,542–––––18,584
Wellington North Lib Lib 8,70455.19%1,63610.37%75.62%8,7047,068––––––––––15,772
Wellington South Lib Lib 8,89754.69%2,09112.85%78.59%8,897–566–––––––6,806–16,269
Wentworth Lib Lib 10,06854.08%4,34823.36%69.59%10,0685,7202,480––––––––34818,616
Windsor—Walkerville Lib Lib 10,09058.02%4,05723.33%71.88%10,0906,0331,269–––––––––17,392
Windsor—Sandwich Lib Lib 9,15561.79%5,69438.43%61.08%9,1553,4612,063––138––––––14,817
York East Con Con 11,26039.43%2090.73%63.90%11,05111,2606,008––––235––––28,554
York North Lib Lib 10,86753.11%2,68013.10%71.89%10,8678,1871,058––––––––35020,462
York South Con Con 10,34838.20%9043.34%66.95%9,44410,3486,985––––37––273–27,087
York West Lib Lib 11,60744.55%1,2004.61%57.90%11,60710,4072,622––1,307–––––11026,053
Beaches Con Con 7,91542.29%7253.87%68.09%7,1907,9153,611–––––––––18,716
Bellwoods Lib Lib 11,77268.72%6,71239.18%65.34%11,7725,060–––––––––29817,130
Bracondale Con Lib 7,55844.24%290.17%69.41%7,5587,5291,997–––––––––17,084
Dovercourt Con Con 10,39647.47%2,0039.15%63.24%8,39310,3962,668159–284––––––21,900
Eglinton Lib Lib 14,80948.75%1,1043.63%71.07%14,80913,7051,861–––––––––30,375
High Park Con Con 9,44346.95%2,15210.70%64.43%7,2919,4433,380–––––––––20,114
Parkdale Con Con 10,58344.39%1270.53%64.01%10,45610,5832,802–––––––––23,841
Riverdale Lib Con 11,08246.23%2,76111.52%66.19%8,32111,0824,477–––––94–––23,974
St. Andrew Lib Lib 6,43436.80%1510.86%71.31%6,4343,888878––6,283––––––17,483
St. David Con Lib 7,70343.18%8394.70%67.02%7,7036,8642,315–––––––85010717,839
St. George Lib Lib 10,07149.81%1,4146.99%62.63%10,0718,657–––1,490––––––20,218
St. Patrick Lib Lib 6,16148.45%6725.28%64.58%6,1615,489947–––––––119–12,716
Woodbine Con Con 9,75643.68%2,33110.44%63.26%7,4259,7565,152–––––––––22,333
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  1. [1]
    including spoilt ballots
  2. [2]
    order is as given in EO reports
  3. [3]
    Includes CCf-Labour candidates
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent switched allegiance for the election
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates
  = campaigned as CCF-Labour candidates

Analysis

More information Party in 1st place, Party in 2nd place ...
Party candidates in 2nd place
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
LibConLabF-LabI-LibI-Con
Liberal 58111162
Conservative 2323
Liberal–Progressive 33
United Farmers 11
Independent Liberal 11
Total 2363111190
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More information Parties, 1st ...
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5thTotal
█ Liberal 622385
█ Conservative 2363389
█ Liberal–Progressive 314
█ Independent Liberal 11518
█ United Farmers 11
█ Farmer–Labour 156
█ Labour 12317
█ Independent Conservative 145
█ Co-operative Commonwealth 32537
█ Independent 3317
█ CCF-Labour 22
█ Socialist Labor 17311
█ Communist 11
█ Labor–Progressive 11
█ Social Credit 11
█ Independent Labour 11
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Seats that changed hands

More information Party, Gain from (loss to) ...
Elections to the 20th Parliament of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1934–1937
Party 1934 Gain from (loss to) 1937
Lib Con L-Pro I-Lib UFO CCF L-L Ind
Liberal 643(9)21162
Conservative 179(3)23
Liberal–Progressive 5(2)3
Independent-Liberal –11
United Farmers 11
Co-operative Commonwealth 1(1)–
Liberal–Labour 1(1)–
Independent 1(1)–
Total909(7)3(9)2––(1)––1–1–1–90
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There were 17 seats that changed allegiance in the election.

More information Source, Party ...
Resulting composition of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
SourceParty
Lib Cons Lib-Pr UFO I-Lib Total
Seats retainedIncumbents returned 42113157
Open seats held 13316
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated 4913
Byelection gain held 11
Incumbent changed allegiance 213
Total 622331190
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See also

Notes

References

Further reading

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