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1945 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election

Field	Value
election_name	1945 Ontario general election
country	Ontario
flag_year	1921
type	parliamentary
ongoing	no
party_colour	no
party_name	no
previous_election	1943 Ontario general election
previous_year	1943
previous_mps	21st Legislative Assembly of Ontario
next_election	1948 Ontario general election
next_year	1948
elected_mps	22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario
seats_for_election	90 seats in the [22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario](22nd-legislative-assembly-of-ontario)
46 seats were needed for a majority
election_date	June 4, 1945
image_size	150x150px
image1	GeorgeDrew.jpg
colour1
leader1	George Drew
leader_since1	[December 9, 1938](1938-conservative-party-of-ontario-leadership-election)
party1
leaders_seat1	High Park
last_election1	38
seats1	66
seat_change1	28
percentage1	44.3%
swing1	8.6pp
image2	Mitchell Hepburn1 crop.jpg
colour2
leader2	Mitchell Hepburn
leader_since2	April 2, 1945
party2
leaders_seat2	Elgin (lost re-election)
last_election2	15
seats2	14
seat_change2	1
percentage2	29.8%
swing2	1.4pp
image4	Ted jolliffe 1942.jpg
colour4
leader4	Ted Jolliffe
leader_since4	April 3, 1942
party4
leaders_seat4	York South (lost re-election)
last_election4	34
seats4	8
seat_change4	26
percentage4	22.4%
swing4	9.3pp
image5	LP
colour5
leader5	Leslie Morris
leader_since5	1945
party5	Labor-Progressive
leaders_seat5	Ran in Bracondale (Lost)
last_election5	2
seats5	2
seat_change5	±0
percentage5	2.4%
swing5	1.5pp
title	Premier
posttitle	Premier after election
before_election	George Drew
before_party
after_election	George Drew
after_party

46 seats were needed for a majority The 1945 Ontario general election was held on June 4, 1945, to elect the 90 members of the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the province of Ontario.

Background

The Legislature was dissolved on March 24, 1945, upon the government's failure to defeat a non-confidence motion. The election call was delayed in order to implement new legislation relating to the collection of votes from servicemen and women overseas, but the date was later fixed for June 11. When the 1945 Canadian federal election was set for the same date, the Ontario date was accelerated by one week to June 4, in order to separate the two campaigns.

The Drew government called the election in an attempt to get a majority government. By exploiting increasing Cold War tensions, the PC Party was able to defeat Jolliffe's CCF by stoking fears about communism. Jolliffe replied by giving a radio speech (written by Lister Sinclair) that accused Drew of running a political gestapo in Ontario, alleging that a secret department of the Ontario Provincial Police was acting as a political police spying on the opposition and the media. This accusation led to a backlash, and loss of support for the CCF, including the loss of Jolliffe's own seat of York South. This probably helped Drew win his majority, although in the 1970s, archival evidence was discovered proving the charge.{{cite book | url-access = limited

Campaign

Of the 90 ridings, only 8 had two-way races; 47 were three-way contests, and the Labor-Progressives forced 30 four way races:

Candidates	Total
align="center"	PC	align="center"	CCF
2	4
3	47
4	30
5	7
6	1
7	1
Total	90

Outcome

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by George Drew, won a second consecutive term in office, winning a solid majority of seats in the legislature—66, up from 38 in the previous election.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by former premier Mitchell Hepburn, was returned to the role of official opposition with 11 seats, plus 3 Liberal-Labour seats that it won, out of 6 contested, in coalition with the Labor-Progressive Party (which was, in fact, the Communist Party), in an effort to marginalize the CCF. The three new Liberal-Labour MPPs were James Newman of Rainy River, Joseph Meinzinger of Waterloo North and Alexander Parent of Essex North.

The social democratic Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), led by Ted Jolliffe, was reduced from 34 seats to 8.

Two seats were won by the Labor-Progressive Party on its own with the re-election of A.A. MacLeod and J.B. Salsberg. The LPP contested a total of 31 ridings under the leadership of Leslie Morris who was defeated in the Toronto riding of Bracondale.

Results

|- ! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party ! rowspan=2 | Party leader ! colspan=5 | MPPs ! colspan=3 | Votes |- ! Candidates 1943 !Dissol. !1945 !± !# !% ! ± (pp) | 90 || 38 || 38 || 66 || 28 || 781,345 || 44.25 || 8.50 | 80 || 15 || 15 || 11 || rowspan="2"|1 || 479,253 || 27.14 || rowspan="2"|2.50 | 6 || – || – || 3 || 34,879 || 1.98 | 89 || 34 || 34 || 8 || 26 || 395,708 || 22.41 || 9.21 A. A. MacLeod (Bellwoods) and J. B. Salsberg (St. Andrew) were the only candidates nominated and elected under the Labour ticket in 1943, but switched to the new Labor-Progressive Party on its formation shortly after the election. | 31 || 2 || 2 || 2 || || 46,418 || 2.63 || 1.73 Mitchell Hepburn (Elgin) opted not to run as a Liberal candidate in 1943, and returned to the Liberals to once again become their leader. | 2 || 1 || 1 || – || 1 || 6,359 || 0.36 || 0.41 compared with Independent Labour 1943 results | 4 || – || – || – || – || 10,805 || 0.61 || 0.44 | 5 || – || – || – || – || 6,995 || 0.40 || 0.21 George Barker (York East) was an Independent-Soldier candidate, and John Beauchamp (Ottawa East) ran under the Veterans' Reform ticket. | 4 || – || – || – || – || 976 || 0.06 || – | 3 || – || – || – || – || 852 || 0.05 || Returned | 1 || – || – || – || – || 328 || 0.02 || 0.02

-
-style="background:#E9E9E9;"
2,469,960
72.20%
13.84
}

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary ON1943.svg |1943 |File:Ternary ON1945.svg |1945

Party	Change (pp)
	{{bartable	8.50
/Liberal-Labour	{{bartable	-2.50
	{{bartable	-9.21
	{{bartable	1.73
	{{bartable	1.48

Synopsis of results

Riding	Winning party	Turnout
including spoilt ballots	Votes	Nameorder is as given in EO reports	[1943](1943-ontario-general-election)	Party	Votes	Share	Margin
#	Margin
%	PC	Lib	LL	CCF	Lab-Pr	Lab	I-Lib	I-Oth	Other	Total
Addington		PC		PC	6,992	54.15%	2,113	16.36%	80.65%	6,992	4,879	–	1,042	–	–	–	–	–	12,913
Algoma—Manitoulin		Lib		PC	4,336	37.42%	168	1.45%	77.98%	4,336	4,168	–	3,083	–	–	–	–	–	11,587
Brant		Lib		Lib	7,151	47.68%	1,191	7.94%	70.12%	5,960	7,151	–	1,886	–	–	–	–	–	14,997
Brantford		CCF		PC	6,581	36.91%	26	0.15%	74.69%	6,581	6,555	–	4,266	426	–	–	–	–	17,828
Bruce		Lib		PC	7,229	46.16%	449	2.87%	76.77%	7,229	6,780	–	1,651	–	–	–	–	–	15,660
Carleton		PC		PC	9,495	59.80%	5,253	33.08%	72.09%	9,495	4,242	–	2,141	–	–	–	–	–	15,878
Cochrane North		CCF		Lib	3,573	39.07%	313	3.42%	80.91%	1,918	3,573	–	3,260	395	–	–	–	–	9,146
Cochrane South		CCF		CCF	10,521	40.29%	2,822	10.81%	79.48%	6,126	7,699	–	10,521	1,764	–	–	–	–	26,110
Dufferin—Simcoe		PC		PC	9,216	74.30%	6,028	48.60%	62.38%	9,216	–	–	3,188	–	–	–	–	–	12,404
Durham		PC		PC	7,027	53.36%	2,585	19.63%	77.00%	7,027	4,442	–	1,700	–	–	–	–	–	13,169
Elgin		Ind-Lib		PC	10,278	52.29%	2,402	12.22%	76.50%	10,278	7,876	–	1,500	–	–	–	–	–	19,654
Essex North		CCF		LL	6,801	36.41%	685	3.67%	69.28%	6,116	–	6,801	5,762	–	–	–	–	–	18,679
Essex South		PC		PC	7,688	51.99%	1,825	12.34%	74.42%	7,688	5,863	–	1,237	–	–	–	–	–	14,788
Fort William		CCF		CCF	8,197	41.88%	2,590	13.23%	74.29%	5,607	4,598	–	8,197	1,171	–	–	–	–	19,573
Glengarry		Lib		Lib	5,594	54.90%	1,613	15.83%	74.30%	3,981	5,594	–	615	–	–	–	–	–	10,190
Grenville—Dundas		PC		PC	8,843	62.17%	4,593	32.29%	65.50%	8,843	4,250	–	1,130	–	–	–	–	–	14,223
Grey North		Lib		PC	7,275	45.63%	592	3.71%	74.17%	7,275	6,683	–	1,987	–	–	–	–	–	15,945
Grey South		Lib		Lib	6,584	52.66%	1,541	12.33%	72.17%	5,043	6,584	–	876	–	–	–	–	–	12,503
Haldimand—Norfolk		PC		PC	11,943	53.64%	4,622	20.76%	71.55%	11,943	7,321	–	3,003	–	–	–	–	–	22,267
Halton		PC		PC	6,914	44.77%	1,189	7.70%	74.31%	6,914	5,725	–	2,806	–	–	–	–	–	15,445
Hamilton East		CCF		PC	10,561	41.70%	2,739	10.81%	73.12%	10,561	4,445	–	7,822	2,291	–	–	–	207	25,326
Hamilton Centre		CCF		PC	9,091	36.23%	640	2.55%	74.18%	9,091	5,633	–	8,451	1,919	–	–	–	–	25,094
Hamilton—Wentworth		CCF		PC	10,102	44.00%	3,850	16.77%	78.49%	10,102	6,252	–	6,047	556	–	–	–	–	22,957
Hastings East*		PC		PC	5,928	56.90%	2,489	23.89%	72.02%	5,928	3,439	–	1,052	–	–	–	–	–	10,419
Hastings West		PC		PC	9,351	50.83%	2,910	15.82%	69.35%	9,351	6,441	–	2,604	–	–	–	–	–	18,396
Huron		PC		PC	7,081	52.67%	1,929	14.35%	74.90%	7,081	5,152	–	1,211	–	–	–	–	–	13,444
Huron—Bruce		PC		PC	7,188	52.57%	2,169	15.86%	76.53%	7,188	5,019	–	1,465	–	–	–	–	–	13,672
Kenora		CCF		CCF	3,461	33.92%	190	1.86%	73.80%	3,271	–	2,998	3,461	474	–	–	–	–	10,204
Kent East		PC		PC	7,000	53.20%	841	6.39%	78.53%	7,000	6,159	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13,159
Kent West		Lib		PC	10,691	51.68%	2,555	12.35%	71.20%	10,691	8,136	–	1,861	–	–	–	–	–	20,688
Kingston*		PC		PC	9,275	52.71%	2,907	16.52%	73.63%	9,275	6,368	–	1,631	322	–	–	–	–	17,596
Lambton East		Lib		PC	5,693	45.96%	86	0.69%	71.90%	5,693	5,607	–	1,087	–	–	–	–	–	12,387
Lambton West		CCF		PC	7,255	42.61%	975	5.73%	77.16%	7,255	6,280	–	3,490	–	–	–	–	–	17,025
Lanark		PC		PC	12,483	87.26%	10,660	74.51%	63.59%	12,483	–	–	1,823	–	–	–	–	–	14,306
Leeds		PC		PC	10,192	58.05%	4,229	24.09%	75.89%	10,192	5,963	–	1,403	–	–	–	–	–	17,558
Lincoln		PC		PC	16,344	49.91%	8,293	25.32%	76.03%	16,344	8,051	–	6,791	–	1,563	–	–	–	32,749
London		PC		PC	16,649	46.03%	5,390	14.90%	77.55%	16,649	11,259	–	7,863	402	–	–	–	–	36,173
Middlesex North		PC		PC	7,123	45.85%	1,764	11.35%	71.76%	7,123	5,359	–	3,055	–	–	–	–	–	15,537
Middlesex South		PC		PC	6,251	44.57%	135	0.96%	71.08%	6,251	6,116	–	1,659	–	–	–	–	–	14,026
Muskoka—Ontario		Lib		PC	8,073	47.71%	1,902	11.24%	73.95%	8,073	6,171	–	2,676	–	–	–	–	–	16,920
Niagara Falls		CCF		PC	7,014	33.39%	192	0.91%	70.22%	7,014	6,822	–	6,560	611	–	–	–	–	21,007
Nipissing		CCF		Lib	5,988	35.45%	1,123	6.65%	74.59%	4,512	5,988	–	4,865	–	–	–	1,525	–	16,890
Northumberland		PC		PC	8,674	55.70%	2,911	18.69%	76.85%	8,674	5,763	–	1,135	–	–	–	–	–	15,572
Ontario		CCF		PC	9,130	35.49%	1,079	4.19%	74.38%	9,130	8,051	–	7,693	–	852	–	–	–	25,726
Ottawa East		Lib		Lib	10,725	42.36%	4,708	18.60%	66.34%	5,287	10,725	–	2,234	–	–	6,359	–	711	25,316
Ottawa South		PC		PC	23,616	53.50%	9,167	20.77%	69.93%	23,616	14,449	–	5,571	–	–	–	–	503	44,139
Oxford		PC		PC	11,402	50.05%	3,408	14.96%	72.53%	11,402	7,994	–	3,386	–	–	–	–	–	22,782
Parry Sound		CCF		Lib	4,289	36.81%	124	1.06%	73.35%	4,165	4,289	–	3,199	–	–	–	–	–	11,653
Peel		PC		PC	9,923	56.19%	5,511	31.21%	69.10%	9,923	–	4,412	3,325	–	–	–	–	–	17,660
Perth		Lib		PC	12,302	48.24%	1,935	7.59%	72.34%	12,302	10,367	–	2,835	–	–	–	–	–	25,504
Peterborough		PC		PC	12,398	50.94%	4,684	19.25%	81.29%	12,398	7,714	–	4,225	–	–	–	–	–	24,337
Port Arthur		CCF		CCF	6,403	34.90%	2,028	11.05%	73.01%	3,254	4,375	–	6,403	1,486	–	–	2,828	–	18,346
Prescott		Lib		Lib	6,037	51.31%	2,255	19.17%	75.06%	1,946	6,037	–	3,782	–	–	–	–	–	11,765
Prince Edward—Lennox		PC		PC	7,583	57.46%	2,878	21.81%	71.84%	7,583	4,705	–	909	–	–	–	–	–	13,197
Rainy River		CCF		LL	2,583	34.59%	251	3.36%	78.63%	2,332	–	2,583	2,186	366	–	–	–	–	7,467
Renfrew North		PC		PC	6,118	45.97%	1,570	11.80%	80.89%	6,118	4,548	–	2,643	–	–	–	–	–	13,309
Renfrew South		Lib		PC	5,864	48.39%	774	6.39%	75.09%	5,864	5,090	–	1,164	–	–	–	–	–	12,118
Russell		Lib		Lib	5,925	49.94%	1,511	12.74%	65.82%	4,414	5,925	–	997	–	–	–	528	–	11,864
Sault Ste. Marie		CCF		CCF	5,623	34.69%	176	1.09%	81.51%	5,447	5,138	–	5,623	–	–	–	–	–	16,208
Simcoe Centre		PC		PC	6,229	45.22%	1,613	11.71%	77.39%	6,229	4,616	–	1,754	–	–	–	1,176	–	13,775
Simcoe East		PC		PC	7,433	50.05%	3,265	21.99%	60.10%	7,433	4,168	–	3,249	–	–	–	–	–	14,850
Stormont		PC		Lib	8,701	49.43%	2,057	11.69%	59.26%	6,644	8,701	–	1,664	594	–	–	–	–	17,603
Sudbury		CCF		CCF	13,627	47.33%	6,075	21.10%	74.80%	5,920	7,552	–	13,627	1,692	–	–	–	–	28,791
Temiskaming		CCF		CCF	4,327	39.66%	1,176	10.78%	78.17%	3,151	3,150	–	4,327	282	–	–	–	–	10,910
Victoria		PC		PC	9,732	61.39%	5,098	32.16%	75.66%	9,732	4,634	–	1,487	–	–	–	–	–	15,853
Waterloo North		CCF		LL	11,104	41.24%	1,165	4.33%	69.96%	9,939	–	11,104	5,135	745	–	–	–	–	26,923
Waterloo South		CCF		PC	8,289	42.32%	2,035	10.39%	72.64%	8,289	5,043	–	6,254	–	–	–	–	–	19,586
Welland		CCF		PC	8,161	34.55%	244	1.03%	78.35%	8,161	7,917	–	5,440	–	2,106	–	–	–	23,624
Wellington North		Lib		Lib	6,821	46.89%	24	0.16%	72.58%	6,797	6,821	–	928	–	–	–	–	–	14,546
Wellington South		CCF		PC	7,608	43.40%	1,598	9.12%	74.29%	7,608	6,010	–	3,910	–	–	–	–	–	17,528
Wentworth		CCF		CCF	9,612	39.08%	591	2.40%	70.03%	9,021	4,254	–	9,612	1,325	–	–	–	385	24,597
Windsor—Walkerville		CCF		PC	7,880	40.27%	1,596	8.16%	69.21%	7,880	–	–	5,402	–	6,284	–	–	–	19,566
Windsor—Sandwich		CCF		PC	8,487	40.59%	1,506	7.20%	67.54%	8,487	–	6,981	5,439	–	–	–	–	–	20,907
York East		CCF		PC	20,741	46.95%	5,628	12.74%	68.66%	20,741	6,163	–	15,113	753	–	–	–	1,411	44,181
York North		CCF		PC	10,348	42.16%	3,042	12.39%	72.23%	10,348	7,306	–	6,889	–	–	–	–	–	24,543
York South		CCF		PC	14,893	40.53%	768	2.09%	68.39%	14,893	6,486	–	14,125	1,024	–	–	–	220	36,748
York West		CCF		PC	16,408	43.95%	4,422	11.85%	68.84%	16,408	8,016	–	11,986	922	–	–	–	–	37,332
Beaches		PC		PC	11,676	52.38%	4,854	21.77%	70.60%	11,676	3,794	–	6,822	–	–	–	–	–	22,292
Bellwoods		Lab		Lab-Pr	6,799	33.62%	816	4.03%	70.28%	5,983	3,301	–	4,142	6,799	–	–	–	–	20,225
Bracondale		CCF		PC	6,600	35.61%	1,622	8.75%	70.77%	6,600	4,019	–	4,978	2,607	–	–	328	–	18,532
Dovercourt		PC		PC	12,236	45.67%	4,704	17.56%	68.84%	12,236	5,788	–	7,532	1,237	–	–	–	–	26,793
Eglinton		PC		PC	26,115	63.72%	18,830	45.95%	78.93%	26,115	6,450	–	7,285	1,132	–	–	–	–	40,982
High Park		PC		PC	15,238	57.19%	3,830	14.37%	72.87%	15,238	–	–	11,408	–	–	–	–	–	26,646
Parkdale		PC		PC	13,875	46.71%	6,159	20.73%	71.44%	13,875	7,716	–	6,812	1,304	–	–	–	–	29,707
Riverdale		CCF		PC	12,620	47.53%	3,871	14.58%	67.06%	12,620	4,302	–	8,749	683	–	–	–	197	26,551
St. Andrew		Lab		Lab-Pr	10,010	51.80%	5,985	30.97%	68.22%	4,025	2,505	–	2,786	10,010	–	–	–	–	19,326
St. David		CCF		PC	8,535	42.24%	2,973	14.71%	66.38%	8,535	4,924	–	5,562	1,183	–	–	–	–	20,204
St. George		PC		PC	13,153	55.34%	6,982	29.38%	65.87%	13,153	4,442	–	6,171	–	–	–	–	–	23,766
St. Patrick		PC		PC	7,974	50.21%	4,713	29.68%	68.02%	7,974	3,163	–	3,261	1,484	–	–	–	–	15,882
Woodbine		CCF		PC	12,083	43.83%	2,262	8.20%	67.78%	12,083	4,199	–	9,821	459	–	–	938	69	27,569

: = open seat : = turnout is above provincial average : = winning candidate was in previous Legislature : = incumbent had switched allegiance : = incumbency arose from byelection gain : = previously incumbent in another riding : = other incumbents renominated : = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature : = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada : = multiple candidates

Analysis

Party in 1st place	Party in 2nd place	Total	PC	Lib	LL	CCF	Lab
	45	2	18	1		66
7			3		1	11
3						3
5	3					8
2						2
Total	17	48	2	21	1	1	90

1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
66	17	7			90
11	48	19	2		80
8	21	59	1		89
3	2	1			6
2			26	3	31
	1		3		4
	1				1
			5		5
			1	2	3
			1	1	2
				2	2
				1	1

Source	Party	Total
align="center"	PC	align="center"	Lib	align="center"	L-L
Seats retained	Incumbents returned	35
Open seats held	2	1
Seats changing hands	Incumbents defeated	25
Open seats gained	3
Return of members previously elected	1	2
Total	66	11

Seats that changed hands

Party	1943	Gain from (loss to)	1945	PC	Lib	CCF	L-L	Lbr-P	I-Lib
38			8	(1)	20
15	1	(8)			3
34		(20)		(3)				(3)
–					3
2
1		(1)
Total	90	1	(29)	8	(4)	26	–	–	(3)

There were 36 seats that changed allegiance in the election.

PC to Liberal

Stormont

Liberal to PC

Algoma—Manitoulin
Bruce
Grey North
Kent West
Lambton East
Muskoka—Ontario
Perth
Renfrew South

CCF to PC

Bracondale
Brantford
Hamilton Centre
Hamilton East
Hamilton—Wentworth
Lambton West
Niagara Falls
Ontario
Riverdale
St. David
Waterloo South
Welland
Wellington South
Windsor—Sandwich
Windsor—Walkerville
Woodbine
York East
York North
York South
York West

CCF to Liberal

Cochrane North
Nipissing
Parry Sound

CCF to Liberal-Labour

Essex North
Rainy River
Waterloo North

Independent-Liberal to PC

Elgin

Notable group of candidates

Ten candidates who were not incumbents had served as MPPs prior to 1943:

Riding	Votes	Placed
Cochrane North	Joseph-Anaclet Habel	3,573
Hamilton Centre	John Newlands	5,633
Hamilton—Wentworth	Thomas Baker McQuesten	6,252
Lambton West	William Guthrie	6,280
Niagara Falls	William Houck	6,822
Parry Sound	Milton Taylor Armstrong	4,289
Temiskaming	William Glennie Nixon	3,150
Welland	Edward James Anderson	7,917
Bracondale	Lionel Pretoria Conacher	4,019
Woodbine	Goldwin Corlett Elgie	12,083

References

{{Cite canlaw. (1945 (1st sess.))
. (April 16, 1945). ["Advance Ontario Election To June 4"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/456530056/). *[[Ottawa Citizen]]*.
. ["1945 General Election"](https://results.elections.on.ca/en/data-explorer?fromYear=1867&toYear=2019&electionType=GE&electionId=247).
. (June 5, 1945). ["Returns by Ridings"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/48546958/). *[[Ottawa Journal]]*.
. (1946). "Sessional Papers: Vol. LXXVIII - Part IV". *King's Printer*.

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