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1971 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election


Canadian provincial election

FieldValue
election_name1971 Ontario general election
countryOntario
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
party_colourno
party_nameno
previous_election1967 Ontario general election
previous_year1967
previous_mps28th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
next_election1975 Ontario general election
next_year1975
elected_mps29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
seats_for_election117 seats in the [29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario](29th-legislative-assembly-of-ontario)
59 seats were needed for a majority
election_dateOctober 21, 1971
image1[[File:William Davis Empire Club (cropped).jpg160x160px]]
colour1
leader1Bill Davis
leader_since1[February 12, 1971](1971-progressive-conservative-party-of-ontario-leadership-election)
party1
leaders_seat1Peel North
last_election169
seats178
seat_change19
popular_vote11,465,313
percentage144.5%
swing12.2pp
image2[[File:Robert Nixon-c1971 (3x4).jpg160x160px]]
colour2
leader2Robert Nixon
leader_since2January 6, 1967
party2
leaders_seat2Brant
last_election228
seats220
seat_change28
popular_vote2913,742
percentage227.8%
swing23.8pp
image3[[File:Stephen Lewis circa 1963.jpg160x160px]]
colour3
leader3Stephen Lewis
leader_since3October 4, 1970
party3
leaders_seat3Scarborough West
last_election320
seats319
seat_change31
popular_vote3893,879
percentage327.1%
swing31.2pp
titlePremier
posttitlePremier after election
before_electionBill Davis
before_party
after_electionBill Davis
after_party

59 seats were needed for a majority |}} The 1971 Ontario general election was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the Province of Ontario.

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by Bill Davis, who had replaced John Robarts as PC leader and premier earlier in the year, won a ninth consecutive term in office, and maintained its majority in the legislature, increasing its caucus in the legislature by eight seats from its result in the previous election.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Robert Nixon, lost seven seats, but continued in the role of official opposition.

The social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Stephen Lewis, lost one seat.

This election marked the first time that the provincial election was held on a Thursday. Subsequently, every provincial election has also been held on a Thursday, with the exception of the 2007 Ontario general election, which was held on a Wednesday.

The electoral franchise was significantly expanded upon the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18.

Results

Summary

|- ! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party ! rowspan=2 | Party leader ! colspan=4 | MPPs ! colspan=4 | Votes |- ! Candidates 1967 !1971 !± !# ! ± !% ! ± (pp) | 117 || 69 || 78 || 9 || 1,465,313 || 446,558 || 44.50% || 2.40 includes Liberal-Labour in 1967 totals | 117 || 28 || 20 || 8 || 913,742 || 146,351 || 27.75% || 3.97 | 117 || 20 || 19 || 1 || 893,879 || 265,482 || 27.15% || 1.18 | || 23 || – || – || – || 16,959 || 14,577 || 0.52% || 0.42 | 5 || – || – || – || 1,620 || 558 || 0.05% || 0.03 | || 5 || – || – || – || 1,204 || 702 || 0.04% || 0.04 |- ! colspan="3" style="text-align:left;" | Total |384||117 ! " colspan="2"|117 ! " colspan="2"|3,292,717 ! " colspan="2"| 100.00% |- | 18,059

1,469
3,310,776
871,538
73.52
7.34
-
4,503,142
817,387
}

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary ON1967.svg |1967 |File:Ternary ON1971.svg |1971

PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
{{bartable2.40
{{bartable-3.97
{{bartable1.18
{{bartable0.42
{{bartable-0.03

Synopsis of results

RidingWinning partyTurnout
including spoilt ballotsVotesNameorder is as given in EO reports**[1967](1967-ontario-general-election)**PartyVotesShareMargin
#Margin
%PCLibNDPIndCommSCTotal
AlgomaPCPC5,22242.20%1,39711.29%73.88%5,2223,3263,82512,373
Algoma—ManitoulinLibPC5,14740.32%1,29810.17%72.06%5,1473,7683,84912,764
BrantLibLib8,84650.98%3,69921.32%73.31%5,1478,8463,35917,352
BrantfordNDPPC16,63245.04%4,52412.25%80.80%16,6328,18812,10836,928
CarletonPCPC18,53849.95%7,62220.54%73.78%18,53810,9167,65637,110
Carleton EastPCPC13,19046.56%4,12314.56%65.97%13,1909,0676,06928,326
Chatham—KentPCPC10,82748.54%2,2089.90%65.09%10,8278,6192,85922,305
Cochrane NorthPCPC11,21264.02%5,45431.14%76.21%11,2125435,75817,513
Cochrane SouthNDPNDP11,38348.43%6552.79%74.68%10,7281,27011,38312223,503
Dufferin—SimcoePCPC12,06351.97%4,45419.19%68.28%12,0637,6093,54023,212
DurhamPCPC10,62848.22%3,45415.67%76.47%10,6284,2397,17422,041
ElginPCPC14,74245.08%4,32513.23%78.98%14,74210,4177,32921532,703
Essex—KentLibLib7,08740.30%1,0355.89%75.52%4,4467,0876,05217,585
Essex SouthLibLib12,21751.75%5,69624.13%74.77%4,87212,2176,52123,610
Fort WilliamPCPC13,42849.05%3,77713.80%75.91%13,4284,2969,65127,375
Frontenac—AddingtonPCPC7,53938.05%1,7068.61%71.67%7,5395,8332,0814,36319,816
GlengarryPCPC7,49655.72%3,21123.87%75.27%7,4964,2851,67213,453
Grenville—DundasPCPC11,63563.06%6,98837.87%70.55%11,6354,6471,92724218,451
Grey—BruceLibLib13,65746.17%2,6388.92%79.70%11,01913,6574,90529,581
Grey SouthPCPC10,28554.91%4,87026.00%77.15%10,2855,4153,02918,729
Haldimand—NorfolkPCPC16,19757.67%8,98131.98%74.48%16,1977,2164,67328,086
Halton EastPCPC21,35955.43%11,62230.16%75.07%21,3599,7377,15428438,534
Halton WestPCPC25,13659.53%16,35338.73%76.20%25,1368,7838,30642,225
Hamilton CentreNDPNDP8,01838.32%1,4226.80%61.61%6,5966,3108,01820,924
Hamilton EastNDPNDP11,07340.64%2,84610.45%71.11%8,2277,94711,07327,247
Hamilton MountainPCPC17,97950.28%7,25420.29%78.13%17,9797,05310,72535,757
Hamilton WestPCPC12,80743.51%4,56515.51%73.86%12,8078,1508,24223329,432
HastingsPCPC9,19559.79%4,63630.14%70.12%9,1954,5591,62615,380
HuronPCPC9,79357.81%6,15536.34%78.11%9,7933,6383,4149416,939
Huron—BruceLibLib12,37467.60%8,61647.07%79.13%3,75812,3742,17218,304
KenoraPCPC11,22661.44%6,33134.65%73.05%11,2262,1504,89518,271
KentLibLib8,76849.83%1,99211.32%80.37%6,7768,7682,05117,595
Kingston and the IslandsPCPC12,28543.92%1870.67%68.30%12,28512,0983,58727,970
KitchenerLibLib19,16842.30%5,63312.43%72.62%13,53519,16812,23737945,319
LambtonPCPC9,98350.70%3,69718.78%75.69%9,9836,2862,91550719,691
LanarkPCPC10,67058.97%5,69531.47%69.20%10,6704,9752,45018,095
LeedsPCPC15,47765.45%10,75445.48%75.26%15,4773,4474,72323,647
LincolnPCPC19,51362.54%13,28942.59%72.38%19,5136,2244,55657233631,201
London NorthPCPC17,26641.90%5,42613.17%73.09%17,26611,19811,84090241,206
London SouthPCPC24,06450.54%11,36323.87%77.88%24,06412,70110,84547,610
Middlesex NorthPCPC8,63352.49%4,15525.26%78.65%8,6333,3374,47816,448
Middlesex SouthPCPC12,25342.85%3,05310.68%77.14%12,2537,1409,20028,593
MuskokaPCPC7,24050.01%3,11921.54%73.68%7,2403,1164,12114,477
Niagara FallsLibPC12,22142.25%1,8336.34%73.46%12,22110,3886,31928,928
Nickel BeltPCNDP9,00349.37%1,96410.77%79.34%7,0392,1959,00318,237
NipissingLibLib12,16641.95%280.10%74.61%12,13812,1664,69829,002
NorthumberlandPCPC12,27754.43%5,56024.65%75.74%12,2776,7173,56322,557
OntarioPCPC10,97052.26%5,30625.28%76.40%10,9705,6644,35620,990
Ontario SouthPCPC16,56151.14%5,61417.34%78.42%16,5614,87610,94732,384
OshawaNDPPC19,20746.73%2,7266.63%74.99%19,2075,41316,48141,101
Ottawa CentreLibNDP8,07535.46%1820.80%62.36%7,8936,8048,07522,772
Ottawa EastPCLib10,82752.52%5,12724.87%57.10%5,70010,8273,59049920,616
Ottawa SouthPCPC22,39251.67%11,75427.12%72.89%22,39210,30710,63843,337
Ottawa WestPCPC18,34945.54%6,71216.66%74.85%18,34910,30811,63740,294
OxfordLibPC16,32246.01%3,0248.52%77.52%16,32213,2985,85635,476
Parry SoundPCPC6,68237.35%2,18412.21%74.58%6,6823,7632,9474,49817,890
Peel NorthPCPC29,85159.48%18,59237.04%73.38%29,8519,08011,25950,190
Peel SouthPCPC29,56954.63%17,28231.93%73.61%29,56912,28712,26654,122
PerthLibLib16,26554.31%6,81522.76%74.35%9,45016,2654,23129,946
PeterboroughNDPPC18,63242.69%5901.35%77.67%18,6326,97018,04243,644
Port ArthurLibNDP11,46145.06%1,3695.38%75.47%10,0923,88011,46125,433
Prescott and RussellPCPC10,95051.84%5,49926.03%75.01%10,9505,4514,72321,124
Prince Edward—LennoxPCPC9,99552.78%3,40417.98%74.09%9,9956,5912,35018,936
QuintePCPC15,06657.36%7,45528.38%67.52%15,0667,6113,58826,265
Rainy RiverLLLib6,11550.00%2,20618.04%72.30%2,2076,1153,90912,231
Renfrew NorthPCPC11,98051.76%3,51715.20%71.42%11,9808,4632,51618523,144
Renfrew SouthPCPC9,37053.87%3,35319.28%79.83%9,3706,0172,00817,395
St. CatharinesPCPC16,07443.92%5,62715.37%68.01%16,07410,08010,44736,601
Sandwich—RiversideNDPNDP17,94450.24%8,59224.05%74.86%9,3528,42417,94435,720
SarniaLibLib14,42252.44%6,88425.03%67.23%7,53814,4225,54427,504
Sault Ste. MariePCPC14,98343.00%1,0352.97%79.24%14,9835,91513,94834,846
Simcoe CentrePCPC17,06755.98%9,19230.15%72.30%17,0677,8755,54330,485
Simcoe EastPCPC12,10948.41%5,46821.86%73.33%12,1096,2646,64125,014
StormontPCPC13,37858.09%7,09930.83%68.46%13,3783,3726,27923,029
SudburyLibNDP11,90540.92%2,7709.52%70.16%8,0539,13511,90529,093
Sudbury EastNDPNDP15,52253.62%8,45729.21%71.69%6,3637,06515,52228,950
Thunder BayNDPNDP6,99655.03%3,88230.54%75.38%3,1142,6026,99612,712
TemiskamingNDPPC9,69547.22%2,15410.49%74.88%9,6953,2977,54120,533
Victoria—HaliburtonPCPC10,36848.88%2,1199.99%74.78%10,3688,2492,59521,212
Waterloo NorthLibLib15,03539.41%2,4386.39%72.90%12,59715,03510,16235938,153
Waterloo SouthPCPC15,16550.40%4,54315.10%76.08%15,1654,30210,62230,089
WellandPCPC15,04450.19%5,15717.20%79.87%15,0445,0469,88729,977
Welland SouthLibLib8,84536.35%4381.80%74.09%8,4078,8457,08224,334
Wellington—DufferinPCPC8,25051.11%3,38320.96%71.41%8,2504,8672,55946716,143
Wellington SouthLibLib16,60645.94%6,85618.97%74.54%9,75016,6069,16163036,147
WentworthNDPNDP14,12843.82%3,93712.21%70.84%10,1917,92014,12832,239
Wentworth NorthPCPC12,48945.35%4,27915.54%80.74%12,4898,2106,84227,541
Windsor—WalkervilleLibLib12,98644.83%9763.37%74.84%3,97412,98612,01028,970
Windsor WestNDPNDP13,11942.98%3,44411.28%72.33%9,6757,73113,11930,525
York CentreLibLib14,88542.28%2120.60%73.79%14,67314,8855,64535,203
York NorthPCPC15,55752.39%7,51425.30%73.16%15,5576,0948,04329,694
ArmourdalePCPC16,05549.99%7,51123.39%74.05%16,0558,5447,51932,118
Beaches—WoodbineNDPPC13,76849.25%2,6309.41%73.73%13,7682,81911,1388814527,958
BellwoodsPCPC7,44351.71%3,83926.67%69.73%7,4433,3473,60414,394
Don MillsPCPC16,10250.80%5,98618.88%74.18%16,1025,48110,11631,699
DovercourtLibPC6,18334.60%390.22%66.65%6,1835,1166,14442917,872
DownsviewLibLib17,14052.25%6,21918.96%68.42%4,74017,14010,92132,801
EglintonPCPC20,24257.06%10,00528.20%78.82%20,24210,2374,81918035,478
EtobicokeLibLib16,67639.79%9432.25%75.56%15,73316,6769,07243241,913
High ParkNDPNDP16,50954.58%7,28224.07%74.39%9,2274,28416,50922930,249
HumberLibPC11,23541.48%3,05511.28%72.61%11,2357,6738,18027,088
LakeshoreNDPNDP10,86742.36%7352.87%75.42%10,1324,65310,86725,652
ParkdaleLibNDP5,99436.37%4362.65%66.60%4,9305,5585,99416,482
RiverdaleNDPNDP11,13249.27%2,51811.14%65.04%8,6142,50311,13234622,595
St. Andrew—St. PatrickPCPC9,58846.61%1,1375.53%68.33%9,5881,8608,45127523116420,569
St. DavidPCPC13,32050.07%5,29119.89%70.46%13,3204,9348,02932026,603
St. GeorgePCPC16,91655.44%9,49231.11%67.58%16,9167,4245,80137430,515
Scarborough CentreNDPPC15,78148.36%4,87314.93%73.04%15,7814,96210,90898432,635
Scarborough EastLibPC13,20640.94%6702.08%73.51%13,20612,5366,51432,256
Scarborough NorthPCPC24,98256.16%12,02327.03%80.39%24,9826,23512,95930844,484
Scarborough WestNDPNDP13,09238.96%1700.51%73.50%12,9227,59413,09233,608
York EastPCPC17,83050.69%7,89022.43%74.83%17,8309,9407,40235,172
York-Forest HillPCLib13,87041.52%1,3003.89%72.89%12,57013,8706,96333,403
York MillsPCPC41,62959.12%23,00732.68%73.87%41,62918,62210,15970,410
York SouthNDPNDP12,91548.01%2,87710.69%69.53%10,0383,94912,91526,902
York WestPCPC26,03459.41%13,58230.99%77.66%26,03412,4525,33543,821
YorkviewNDPNDP20,66043.38%6,63013.92%71.37%12,55014,03020,66039147,631

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

Analysis

29th Legislature
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotalPCLibNDPInd
4037178
15520
15419
Total3044421117
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
78309
204453
1942542
11201
4
32
SourcePartyTotal
align="center"**PC**align="center"**Lib**align="center"**NDP**
Seats retainedIncumbents returned50
Open seats held15
Byelection loss reversed1
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated10
Open seats gained21
Incumbent changed allegiance1
**Total**7820

Seats changing hands

Of the 117 seats, 22 were open because of MPPs who chose not to stand for reelection, and voters in only 19 seats changed allegiance from the previous election in 2018.

Tom Reid (Rainy River) had previously campaigned on the Liberal-Labour ticket, but sat with the Liberal caucus. In 1971, he opted to stand as a Liberal instead.

Party1967Gain from (loss to)1971PCLibNDP
696(1)6(2)
**Total**1173(12)10(1)6

There were 19 seats that changed allegiance in the election:

; PC to Liberal

  • Ottawa East
  • York-Forest Hill

; PC to NDP

  • Nickel Belt

; Liberal to PC

  • Algoma—Manitoulin
  • Niagara Falls
  • Oxford
  • Dovercourt
  • Humber
  • Scarborough East

; Liberal to NDP

  • Ottawa Centre
  • Port Arthur
  • Sudbury
  • Parkdale

; NDP to PC

  • Brantford
  • Oshawa
  • Peterborough
  • Temiskaming
  • Beaches—Woodbine
  • Scarborough Centre

References

References

  1. "1971 General Election".
  2. {{Cite canlaw. (1971)
  3. . ["1971 general election results"](https://results.elections.on.ca/en/data-explorer?fromYear=1867&toYear=2019&electionType=GE&electionId=275). *[[Elections Ontario]]*.
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