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1934 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election

1934 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election

FieldValue
election_name1934 Ontario general election
countryOntario
flag_year1921
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
party_colourno
party_nameno
previous_election1929 Ontario general election
previous_year1929
previous_mps18th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
next_year[1937](1937-ontario-general-election)
seats_for_election90 seats in the [19th Legislative Assembly of Ontario](19th-legislative-assembly-of-ontario)
46 seats were needed for a majority
election_dateJune 19, 1934
image_size150x150px
image1Mitchell Hepburn1 crop.jpg
colour1
leader1Mitchell Hepburn
leader_since1December 17, 1930
party1
leaders_seat1Elgin
last_election111
seats1**64**
seat_change153
percentage1**46.56%**
swing115.06pp
image2George S. Henry 1941 (cropped).jpg
colour2
leader2George S. Henry
leader_since21930
party2
leaders_seat2York East
last_election290
seats217
seat_change273
percentage239.78%
swing216.88pp
image3John Mitchell 1936.jpg
colour3
leader3John Mitchell
as party president
leader_since3n.a.
party3
leaders_seat3*Ran in Wentworth (Lost)*
last_election3n.a.
seats31
seat_change31
percentage36.98%
swing36.98pp
titlePremier
posttitlePremier after election
before_electionGeorge S. Henry
before_party
after_electionMitchell Hepburn
after_party
elected_members[elected members](19th-parliament-of-ontario)

46 seats were needed for a majority as party president

The 1934 Ontario general election was the 19th general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect the 19th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Mitchell Hepburn, defeated the governing Ontario Conservative Party, led by George Stewart Henry. Hepburn was assisted by Harry Nixon's Progressive bloc of MLAs who ran in this election as Liberal-Progressives on the understanding that they would support a Hepburn led government. Nixon, himself, became a senior cabinet minister in the Hepburn government.

Campaign

The campaign was brief and bitter, and both sides gained ammunition to use during that time. The Liberals were helped by the effects of the Great Depression, in much the same manner as their colleagues in the recent elections in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. They also aggressively pledged to reduce the cost of government once in office, and downplayed the issue of temperance, by pledging to bring recently passed amendments to liquor legislation into force as soon as they attained office.

Under their new leader Mitchell Hepburn, the Liberals were considered to possess more energy in campaigning as a party than at any time since the collapse of the Ross government in 1905. In several meetings (starting in Milton in April 1934), Hepburn especially accused several Conservatives of operating a "tollgate system" in agencies selling British liquor to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario through which they earned kickbacks based on the volume sold.

The Liberals fielded candidates in 81 of the 90 ridings. None of the remaining nine were won by Conservatives: they were taken by 5 Liberal-Progressives, 1 UFO, 1 Liberal-Labour, 1 CCF and 1 Independent.

CandidatesTotal
align="center"**Lib**align="center"**Con**
234
328
413
53
63
Total81
Election ad for the Ontario Conservatives run in the 1934 Ontario general election

Outcome

The Liberals won a majority in the Legislature, while the Conservatives lost four out of every five seats that they had won in the previous election. Eight Cabinet ministers were defeated, and no riding west of York County returned a Tory MPP. Northern Ontario went solidly Liberal.

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, in its first provincial election, ran 37 candidates and won a seat in the Ontario Legislature for the first time with the election of Samuel Lawrence in Hamilton East.

The United Farmers of Ontario had affiliated with the CCF but disaffiliated immediately prior to the 1934 election due to a row over suspected Communist infiltration of the party. Accordingly, two UFO nominated candidates, incumbent MLA Farquhar Oliver (Grey South) and Leslie Warner Oke, former MLA for Lambton East, ran as UFO candidates rather than with the CCF. Oliver was re-elected and later supported the Hepburn government.

Post-election developments

Three byelections had to be held shortly afterwards in August 1934:

:* Earl Hutchinson (Kenora) was re-elected as a Liberal-Labour MLA but resigned a month later to allow Peter Heenan, a former Labour MLA in the riding, to contest Kenora in a by-election as a Liberal so that he could be appointed to Cabinet. Heenan was returned by acclamation. Hutchinson was then appointed vice-chairman of the Workmen's Compensation Board. :* David Taylor (Grey North) was appointed as Deputy Minister of Games and Fisheries. He was succeeded by Roland Patterson. :* Paul Munro (Wellington South) died in a car crash in July 1934. James King became the new MPP.

Redistribution and reduction of ridings

Toronto ridings as constituted in 1926
Toronto riding boundaries after 1934 redistribution

The Legislative Assembly was reduced from 112 seats to 90 as a result of an Act passed in 1933:

Abolished ridingsNew ridings*Mergers of ridings**Riding abolished; parts transferred to other ridings**Change of name*

A subsequent Act in 1934 modified the limits of several Toronto ridings.

Results

|- ! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party ! rowspan=2 | Party leader ! colspan=5 | MPPs ! colspan=3 | Votes |- ! Candidates 1929 !Dissol. !1934 !± !# !% ! ± (pp) | 81 || 11 || 16 || 64 || 53 || 727,168 || 46.56% || 15.06 | 90 || 90 || 88 || 17 || 73 || 621,218 || 39.78% || 16.88 | 37 || – || – || 1 || 1 || 108,961 || 6.98% || Progressive and Liberal-Progressive 1929 results are combined. | 5 || 7 || 4 || 5 || 2 || 45,090 || 2.89% || 1.92 | 14 || – || – || 1 || 1 || 19,103 || 1.22% || 1.16 | 2 || 1 || 1 || 1 || || 8,648 || 0.55% || 0.71 | 1 || – || – || 1 || 1 || 5,877 || 0.38% || | 3 || 2 || 2 || – || 2 || 423 || 0.03% || 2.13 | | 1 || 1 || 1 || – || 1 || 216 || 0.01% || 0.84 | 3 || – || – || – || – || 12,284 || 0.79% || | 13 || – || – || – || – || 9,559 || 0.61% || 0.46 | 5 || – || – || – || – || 1,626 || 0.10% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 608 || 0.04% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 534 || 0.03% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 165 || 0.01% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 158 || 0.01% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 107 || 0.01% || | 1 || – || – || – || – || 81 || 0.01% || |-style="background:#E9E9E9;" | 261 || 112 || 112 || 90 || -22 || 1,561,826 || 100.00% || |- |-style="background:#E9E9E9;" |2,145,255 |73.61% |16.99 |}

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary ON1929.svg |1929 |File:Ternary ON1934.svg |1934

PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
{{bartable15.06
{{bartable-16.88
{{bartable-1.92
{{bartable6.96
{{bartable-0.71
{{bartable0.38
{{bartable-2.54
{{bartable0.25

Synopsis of results

RidingWinning partyTurnout
including spoilt ballotsVotesNameorder is as given in EO reportsPartyVotesShareMargin
#Margin
%LibConCCFL-ProgUFOLLIndCommInd-LibInd-OthOtherTotal
AddingtonCon7,22353.81%1,0247.63%79.40%6,1997,22313,422
Algoma—ManitoulinLib9,24762.87%3,78625.74%79.07%9,2475,46114,708
BrantL-P9,40268.65%5,10837.30%70.69%4,2949,40213,696
BrantfordInd8,34950.17%2,01412.10%81.55%6,3351,9588,34916,642
BruceLib10,10060.07%3,38720.15%77.98%10,1006,71316,813
CarletonCon6,84256.36%1,54512.73%72.73%5,2976,84212,139
Cochrane NorthLib5,30453.41%1,98119.95%79.83%5,3043,3237705349,931
Cochrane SouthLib8,18347.02%3,06117.59%71.56%8,1835,1222,97521075915617,405
Dufferin—SimcoeLib8,39353.60%1,1267.19%76.21%8,3937,26715,660
DurhamLib6,23245.75%2681.97%74.32%6,2325,9641,42513,621
ElginLib11,92256.58%2,77213.15%82.13%11,9229,15021,072
Essex NorthLib7,45950.71%3,03020.60%77.04%7,4594,4291,8121,00914,709
Essex SouthLib7,11055.56%1,42311.12%66.68%7,1105,68712,797
Fort WilliamLib9,10062.87%3,72525.73%82.43%9,1005,37514,475
GlengarryLib6,39161.55%2,39823.09%68.33%6,3913,99310,384
Grenville—DundasCon8,85953.97%1,3027.93%73.56%7,5578,85916,416
Grey NorthL-P9,77060.52%3,39621.04%79.81%6,3749,77016,144
Grey SouthUFO8,30159.66%2,68919.33%73.46%5,6128,30113,913
Haldimand—NorfolkLib12,16456.43%2,77112.85%74.32%12,1649,39321,557
HaltonL-P6,92950.00%1,3019.39%74.60%5,6281,3016,92913,858
Hamilton EastCCF10,45854.86%3,24517.02%67.64%7,21310,45841681516219,064
Hamilton CentreLib11,25051.71%3,22214.81%70.34%11,2508,0282,47821,756
Hamilton—WentworthLib11,12757.18%4,28422.01%77.45%11,1276,8431,49119,461
Hastings EastCon6,25751.73%4183.46%78.35%5,8396,25712,096
Hastings WestLib9,62753.26%1,1796.52%80.01%9,6278,44818,075
HuronLib8,25457.52%2,28115.90%78.86%8,2545,97312214,349
Huron—BruceLib9,59165.78%4,60231.56%73.25%9,5914,98914,580
KenoraL-L5,87762.41%2,33724.82%71.92%3,5405,8779,417
Kent EastL-P8,39964.60%4,06431.26%72.89%4,3358,399byelection gain was under the Liberal banner26713,001
Kent WestLib11,01658.81%4,87926.04%74.30%11,0166,1371,58018,733
KingstonCon7,63453.92%1,1097.83%79.02%6,5257,63414,159
Lambton EastLib7,83556.80%2,40617.44%74.64%7,8355,42934718313,794
Lambton WestLib7,47354.75%2,30716.90%76.57%7,4735,1661,01013,649
LanarkCon8,46852.27%7374.55%73.20%7,7318,46816,199
LeedsLib10,19553.24%1,2426.49%77.95%10,1958,95319,148
LincolnLib12,92448.85%1,4365.43%76.94%12,92411,4882,04726,459
LondonLib16,44254.69%3,11910.37%74.95%16,44213,32330030,065
Middlesex NorthLib7,75354.75%1,3459.50%72.72%7,7536,40814,161
Middlesex SouthLib8,23960.33%2,82120.66%73.33%8,2395,41813,657
Muskoka—OntarioL-P10,59056.86%2,55413.71%79.04%8,03610,59018,626
Niagara FallsLib9,09653.12%3,98223.25%73.04%9,0965,1142,91417,124
NipissingLib12,14966.80%6,11133.60%74.90%12,1496,03818,187
NorthumberlandLib9,08752.53%8765.06%83.20%9,0878,21117,298
OntarioLib11,40956.63%5,04625.05%76.42%11,4096,3632,37520,147
Ottawa EastLib10,31443.37%3,03912.78%81.10%10,3147,2756,1167923,784
Ottawa SouthCon16,98347.56%2460.69%74.20%16,73716,9831,53119216510035,708
OxfordLib11,76750.11%2,47210.53%79.50%11,7679,2952,42223,484
Parry SoundLib7,19962.83%2,94025.66%78.82%7,1994,25911,458
PeelLib7,96048.42%2441.48%78.04%7,9607,71676416,440
PerthLib16,37160.23%5,56020.45%78.88%16,37110,81127,182
PeterboroughCon9,39444.64%340.16%76.36%9,3609,3942,28821,042
Port ArthurLib7,51458.93%3,22825.32%81.10%7,5144,28634260812,750
PrescottLib5,00438.79%2281.77%76.80%5,0043,1194,77612,899
Prince Edward—LennoxLib7,86652.15%6504.31%74.95%7,8667,21615,082
Rainy RiverLib4,72568.26%2,52836.52%76.13%4,7252,1976,922
Renfrew NorthLib7,77060.86%2,77221.71%76.80%7,7704,99812,768
Renfrew SouthLib8,40665.18%3,91530.36%76.00%8,4064,49112,897
RussellLib6,38154.55%2,97125.40%72.36%6,3813,4101,90611,697
Sault Ste. MarieLib7,53055.47%1,81113.34%77.94%7,5305,71932713,576
Simcoe CentreLib9,00462.59%3,62225.18%74.46%9,0045,38214,386
Simcoe EastLib9,32757.15%2,33414.30%80.64%9,3276,99316,320
StormontLib9,43063.06%3,90526.11%72.25%9,4305,52514,955
SudburyLib10,51652.88%1,6048.07%76.86%10,5168,91245819,886
TemiskamingLib5,57348.48%2,30020.01%73.92%5,5733,2732,64911,495
VictoriaLib10,62957.11%2,64714.22%81.29%10,6297,98218,611
Waterloo NorthLib11,82753.11%6,24128.03%68.87%11,8275,5864,32752822,268
Waterloo SouthLib8,86050.43%2,33713.30%75.91%8,8606,5232,18617,569
WellandLib10,38655.74%4,16422.35%73.36%10,3866,2222,02418,632
Wellington NorthLib10,20966.29%5,01732.58%74.10%10,2095,19215,401
Wellington SouthLib10,37660.36%3,56120.71%84.97%10,3766,81517,191
WentworthLib6,27234.47%1190.65%71.89%6,2726,1535,77118,196
Windsor—WalkervilleLib10,10457.58%5,32430.34%76.74%10,1044,7802,15151217,547
Windsor—SandwichLib9,93456.51%3,95322.49%69.85%9,9345,9811,66417,579
York EastCon12,81542.60%2,7419.11%69.78%10,07412,8156,2232256648130,082
York NorthLib11,40256.20%3,48917.20%77.52%11,4027,91397420,289
York SouthCon10,15939.70%9803.83%69.06%9,17910,1595,54670625,590
York WestLib11,60045.60%2,1198.33%63.36%11,6009,4813,87548325,439
BeachesCon7,82244.38%2,87616.32%67.62%4,8597,8224,94617,627
BellwoodsLib9,33955.17%3,97323.47%70.70%9,3395,3661,1331,09116,929
BracondaleCon6,45241.10%2891.84%64.84%6,1636,4522,7343123915,700
DovercourtCon9,26641.13%4101.82%66.94%8,8569,2664,19221622,530
EglintonLib12,55646.51%1,6656.17%68.03%12,55610,8913,28726526,999
High ParkCon8,93442.14%9934.68%68.08%7,9418,9344,32721,202
ParkdaleCon10,08742.26%2120.89%67.01%9,87510,0873,90623,868
RiverdaleLib10,89848.90%5352.40%63.70%10,89810,3631,02522,286
St. AndrewLib6,05542.20%1,3719.55%66.57%6,0554,6842,0301,39218814,349
St. DavidCon6,75140.51%1,0956.57%64.63%5,6566,7514,26016,667
St. GeorgeLib8,29645.49%4262.34%62.16%8,2967,8701,86221018,238
St. PatrickLib5,70450.08%180.16%63.00%5,7045,68611,390
WoodbineCon9,33441.76%2,1909.80%65.43%7,1449,3345,66620522,349

: = 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 : = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature : = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada : = multiple candidates

Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotalLibConCCFI-Lib
63164
16117
55
11
11
11
11
Total16721190
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5thTotal
6416190
1772190
55
1134137
174214
112
11
1113
31013
224
11
112
11
11
11
11
11

Reorganization of ridings

19291934RidingPartyRidingParty*Mergers of ridings**Riding abolished; parts transferred to other ridings*
AlgomaAlgoma—Manitoulin
Manitoulin
BrockvilleLeeds
Leeds
Bruce NorthBruce
Bruce South
DufferinDufferin—Simcoe
Simcoe Southwest
Elgin EastElgin
Elgin West
DundasGrenville—Dundas
Grenville
HaldimandHaldimand—Norfolk
Norfolk
Hamilton WestWentworth
Wentworth South
Lanark NorthLanark
Lanark South
LincolnLincoln
St. Catharines
London NorthLondon
London South
MuskokaMuskoka—Ontario
Ontario North
NipissingNipissing
Sturgeon Falls
Ottawa NorthOttawa South
Ottawa South
Oxford NorthOxford
Oxford South
Perth NorthPerth
Perth South
Peterborough CityPeterborough
Peterborough County
Prince EdwardPrince Edward—Lennox
Frontenac-Lennox
Victoria NorthVictoria
Victoria South
Brockton
Greenwood
Hastings North

Seats that changed hands

Party1929Gain from (loss to)1934ConLibProL-ProUFOLabI-ConCCFInd
55(39)(1)
8391
3(1)(2)
112
1
1
2(2)
1
1
**Total**7142(42)3(3)

Of the unaltered seats, there were 47 that changed allegiance in the election:

Conservative to Liberal

  • Bellwoods

  • Cochrane North

  • Cochrane South

  • Eglinton

  • Essex North

  • Essex South

  • Fort William

  • Hamilton Centre

  • Hamilton—Wentworth

  • Hastings West

  • Kent West

  • Lambton East

  • Lambton West

  • Middlesex North

  • Middlesex South

  • Niagara Falls

  • Northumberland

  • Ottawa East

  • Parry Sound

  • Peel

  • Port Arthur

  • Renfrew North

  • Riverdale

  • Russell

  • Sault Ste. Marie

  • Simcoe East

  • St. Andrew

  • St. George

  • St. Patrick

  • Stormont

  • Sudbury

  • Timiskaming

  • Waterloo South

  • Welland

  • Wellington South

  • Windsor—Sandwich

  • Windsor—Walkerville

  • York North

  • York West

Conservative to Liberal-Progressive

  • Kent East

Conservative to CCF

  • Hamilton East

Conservative to Independent

  • Brantford

Progressive to Liberal

  • Huron (formerly Huron South)

Progressive to Liberal-Progressive

  • Brant
  • Grey North

Independent-Conservative to Liberal

  • Prescott
  • Rainy River

References

  1. "1934 General Election".
  2. {{Cite canlaw. (1934)
  3. (13 June 1934). "Nominations for Elections in Ontario and Saskatchewan". Ottawa Citizen.
  4. {{Cite canlaw. (1933)
  5. {{Cite canlaw. (1934)
  6. . ["1934 General Election"](https://results.elections.on.ca/en/data-explorer?fromYear=1867&toYear=2019&electionType=GE&electionId=228). *[[Elections Ontario]]*.
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