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2007 Ontario general election

Canadian provincial election


Canadian provincial election

FieldValue
election_name2007 Ontario general election
countryOntario
typeparliamentary
ongoingno
party_colourno
party_nameno
turnout52.8% (4.07pp)
previous_election2003 Ontario general election
previous_year2003
previous_mps38th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
elected_mps39th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
next_election2011 Ontario general election
next_year2011
seats_for_election107 seats in the [39th Legislative Assembly of Ontario](39th-legislative-assembly-of-ontario)
54 seats were needed for a majority
election_dateOctober 10, 2007
image1File: Dalton McGuinty, Mayors' Summit (cropped).jpg
image_size150x150px
colour1
leader1Dalton McGuinty
leader_since1[December 1, 1996](1996-ontario-liberal-party-leadership-election)
party1
leaders_seat1Ottawa South
last_election172 seats, 46.47%
seats_before167
seats171
seat_change14
popular_vote11,867,273
percentage142.25%
swing14.22pp
image2File: John Tory, Air India Flight 182 Memorial ground breaking (cropped).jpg
colour2
leader2John Tory
leader_since2[September 18, 2004](2004-progressive-conservative-party-of-ontario-leadership-election)
party2
leaders_seat2*Ran in Don Valley West (lost)*
last_election224 seats, 34.67%
seats_before225
seats226
seat_change21
popular_vote21,398,806
percentage231.62%
swing23.05pp
image4File:Howard Hampton, Toronto City Summit Alliance (cropped).jpg
colour4
leader4Howard Hampton
leader_since4June 22, 1996
party4
leaders_seat4Kenora—Rainy River
last_election47 seats, 14.69%
seats_before410
seats410
seat_change4
popular_vote4741,465
percentage416.76%
swing42.07pp
image5File:Frank de Jong 01 Pengo (3x4 crop).jpg
colour5
leader5Frank de Jong
leader_since51993
party5
leaders_seat5*Ran in Davenport (lost)*
last_election50 seats, 2.81%
seats_before50
seats50
seat_change5
popular_vote5354,897
percentage58.02%
swing55.21pp
map_imageOntario_Election_2007_Riding_Results_Map.svg
map_size330px
map_captionPopular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Riding names are listed at the bottom.
titlePremier
posttitlePremier after election
before_electionDalton McGuinty
before_party
after_electionDalton McGuinty
after_party

54 seats were needed for a majority General elections were held on October 10, 2007, to elect members (MPPs) of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Premier Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular vote. The election saw the third-lowest voter turnout in Ontario provincial elections, setting a then record for the lowest voter turnout with 52.8% of people who were eligible voted. This broke the previous record of 54.7% in the 1923 election, but would end up being surpassed in the 2011 and 2022 elections.

As a result of legislation passed by the Legislature in 2004, election dates are now fixed by formula so that an election is held approximately four years after the previous election, unless the government is defeated by a vote of "no confidence" in the Legislature. Previously, the governing party had considerable flexibility to determine the date of an election anywhere up to five years of being elected. The date of this election was originally presumed to be October 4, 2007;{{Cite news | access-date = 2014-05-28 | archive-date = 2014-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140605184812/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-government-changes-election-date/article1070534/ | url-status = live

In the same election, there was a provincial referendum on whether to change from first-past-the-post to mixed member proportional representation, as recommended by the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. This measure failed, with 37% of the participating electorate and 5 out of 107 ridings voting for the new system; a 60% supermajority was required province-wide, with at least 2/3 of the ridings also supporting it by a simple majority.

Issues

Although all four parties released a variety of detailed platform proposals, the campaign was dominated almost entirely by John Tory's promise to extend public funding to Ontario's faith-based schools.

In Ontario at present, the Catholic school system is fully funded in the same manner as public schools. However, other religious schools, such as Jewish, Muslim or Christian schools, are not funded by the province. This discrepancy has been cited as discriminatory by both the Supreme Court of Canada and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, although to date the province has taken no action to change its existing school funding policies, on the grounds that Catholic school funding in the province is mandated by the Constitution of Canada.

Tory's proposal to extend funding to religious schools was controversial, with polls confirming that a clear majority of Ontarians opposed the proposal. Even some of Tory's own caucus, most notably Bill Murdoch and Garfield Dunlop, openly criticized the proposal during the election campaign. After heavy opposition, Tory changed his position later in the campaign, promising a free vote on the issue.

The Liberals and the NDP were both opposed to non-Catholic religious school funding, while the Green Party proposed eliminating the province's existing Catholic school funding in favour of a single public school board. Liberal opposition to non-Catholic religious school funding, especially private Muslim schools, appealed to Islamophobic sentiment in the province.

There was a brief flurry of interest in health care issues when John Tory emphasized his support for an increasing role for the private sector in health care.

In the final week of the campaign, NDP leader Howard Hampton criticized the media for focusing almost entirely on religious schools and virtually ignoring other issues.

Redistribution

With the passing of Bill 214 and the Representation Act, 2005 in the year 2005, Ontario's electoral boundaries were no longer identical to the federal electoral boundaries.{{Cite web |access-date = 2007-08-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927175109/http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/en-CA/Tools/ElectoralDistricts/ElectoralDistricts.htm |archive-date = 2007-09-27 |url-status = dead

The 11 northern electoral districts were: Algoma—Manitoulin, Kenora—Rainy River, Nickel Belt, Nipissing, Parry Sound—Muskoka, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, Thunder Bay—Superior North, Timiskaming—Cochrane, and Timmins—James Bay.

As a result of the redistribution, none of the three major parties took fewer seats than it held at the dissolution of the previous legislature. The Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives each gained seats, while the New Democratic Party's seat total remained unchanged.

Contests

Candidates nominatedRidingsPartyTotals
align="center"**Lib**align="center"**PC**align="center"**NDP**align="center"**Green**
4171717
5383838
6323232
7121212
8777
9111
Totals107107107

Results

|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC" !rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Party !rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Party leader !rowspan="2"|Candidates !colspan="4" style="text-align:center;" |Seats !colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Popular vote

- style="background-color:#CCCCCC"
}
  • Two independent candidates are running for the unregistered Communist League, while two others are perennial candidates of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist).
  • Eileen Butson, party president, acted as the CoR's spokesperson as the party decided not to have a party leader.

Vote and seat summaries

|File:Ternary ON2003.svg |2003 |File:Ternary ON2007.svg |2007

Synopsis of results

Main article: Results by riding of the Ontario general election, 2007

RidingWinning partyTurnout
including spoilt ballotsVotesminor political parties receiving less than 1% of the popular vote are aggregated under "Other"; independent candidates are aggregated separately[2003](2003-ontario-general-election)1st
placeVotesShareMargin
#Margin
%2nd
placeLibPCNDPGreenIndOtherTotal
Ajax—Pickering*New*Lib19,85749.07%5,95914.73%PC49.34%19,85713,8983,2753,067-36840,465
Algoma—ManitoulinLibLib11,36142.56%1,4985.61%NDP54.49%11,3613,7449,8631,374-35426,696
Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—WestdaleLibLib20,44541.16%3,3536.75%PC58.12%20,44517,0926,8144,11222298549,670
BarriePCLib19,54842.20%1,3812.98%PC51.95%19,54818,1673,7004,38517934146,320
Beaches—East YorkNDPNDP17,52244.32%7,30718.48%Lib54.37%10,2156,16617,5224,785-85139,539
Bramalea—Gore—MaltonLibLib19,10647.00%7,17217.64%PC43.65%19,10611,9345,0164,120-47140,647
Brampton—SpringdaleLibLib17,67350.66%6,96519.97%PC43.45%17,67310,7083,8002,292-41034,883
Brampton WestLibLib20,74646.19%5,62612.53%PC43.92%20,74615,1204,9013,47118548844,911
BrantLibLib23,48549.16%9,69820.30%PC52.69%23,48513,7876,5363,27228940347,772
Bruce—Grey—Owen SoundPCPC21,15646.61%6,11713.48%Green59.96%6,77421,1561,72115,039-69545,385
BurlingtonPCPC21,57841.34%1,8543.55%Lib58.91%19,72421,5785,7284,779-39152,200
CambridgePCPC17,94241.70%3,2387.52%Lib49.69%14,70417,9425,8963,842-64643,030
Carleton—Mississippi MillsPCPC25,12647.83%8,35015.89%Lib55.30%16,77625,1264,0025,517-1,11252,533
Chatham-Kent—EssexLibLib18,78251.98%8,41523.29%PC48.81%18,78210,3674,6012,054-32636,130
DavenportLibLib12,46741.82%1,5875.32%NDP45.84%12,4672,80510,8803,04711450029,813
Don Valley EastLibLib19,66755.63%10,78930.52%PC51.30%19,6678,8783,7592,28746729735,355
Don Valley WestLibLib23,08050.44%4,92410.76%PC59.20%23,08018,1562,1382,202-18345,759
Dufferin—CaledonPCPC16,52241.85%3,8849.84%Lib52.50%12,63816,5223,8936,430--39,483
DurhamPCPC21,51546.96%6,78514.81%Lib54.34%14,73021,5155,5214,053--45,819
Eglinton—LawrenceLibLib17,40243.23%2,1455.33%PC55.62%17,40215,2574,0392,8719059440,253
Elgin—Middlesex—LondonLibLib20,08549.10%7,62518.64%PC53.09%20,08512,4604,6433,363-35340,904
EssexLibLib19,97048.02%9,57023.01%PC48.69%19,97010,4008,6382,220-35841,586
Etobicoke CentreLibLib22,93950.07%7,27215.87%PC59.40%22,93915,6673,8473,357--45,810
Etobicoke—LakeshoreLibLib20,21845.99%6,73615.32%PC53.62%20,21813,4825,8373,46748047843,962
Etobicoke NorthLibLib15,14754.85%9,34633.84%PC45.19%15,1475,8014,1011,312-1,25527,616
Glengarry—Prescott—RussellLibLib24,34560.51%13,41833.35%PC52.80%24,34510,9272,2812,344-33740,234
GuelphLibLib20,34640.92%8,16616.42%PC57.03%20,34612,1806,8809,750-57149,727
Haldimand—NorfolkPCPC26,13560.92%16,59938.69%Lib56.25%9,53626,1354,5462,230-45742,904
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—BrockPCPC24,27349.99%9,94620.49%Lib59.22%14,32724,2735,7853,475-69248,552
HaltonPCPC22,67741.84%1760.32%Lib51.53%22,50122,6774,1604,376-48754,201
Hamilton Centre*New*NDP17,17644.72%6,08015.83%Lib48.63%11,0965,67317,1763,610-85238,407
Hamilton East—Stoney CreekLibNDP16,27237.65%1,2102.80%Lib51.36%15,0629,31016,2722,122-45243,218
Hamilton MountainLibLib17,38737.24%1,7343.71%NDP53.33%17,38710,98215,6532,172-49346,687
Huron—BruceLibLib20,46945.95%6,86315.41%PC59.80%20,46913,6065,9322,9115951,03544,548
Kenora—Rainy RiverNDPNDP14,28160.62%8,52936.20%Lib46.16%5,7522,75714,281769--23,559
Kingston and the IslandsLibLib23,27747.23%12,27624.91%PC53.96%23,27711,00110,1294,321-55649,284
Kitchener CentreLibLib17,48445.90%7,76720.39%PC49.58%17,4849,7176,7073,16242559938,094
Kitchener—Conestoga*New*Lib16,31541.82%1,8654.78%PC49.25%16,31514,4504,5452,805-90139,016
Kitchener—WaterlooPCPC20,74840.84%4,9009.65%Lib53.63%15,84820,7488,9024,707-59850,803
Lambton—Kent—MiddlesexLibLib18,22843.27%2,9336.96%PC55.18%18,22815,2954,5203,329-75842,130
Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington*New*PC18,21340.58%8201.83%Lib52.08%17,39318,2135,6233,186-46244,877
Leeds—GrenvillePCPC22,75556.24%11,15327.56%Lib55.11%11,60222,7552,8212,907-37740,462
London—FanshaweLibLib13,74238.68%3,98211.21%PC48.21%13,7429,7609,3502,548129-35,529
London North CentreLibLib21,66947.17%10,77223.45%PC50.00%21,66910,8977,6495,720--45,935
London WestLibLib25,96752.42%13,95628.18%PC57.83%25,96712,0115,5625,18420160749,532
Markham—UnionvilleLibLib21,14959.47%11,57532.55%PC40.51%21,1499,5742,5971,910-33535,565
Mississauga—Brampton South*New*Lib19,73853.78%10,40528.35%PC42.46%19,7389,3333,7853,846-036,702
Mississauga East—CooksvilleLibLib22,24958.93%13,53435.85%PC47.48%22,2498,7153,1922,361-1,23537,752
Mississauga—ErindaleLibLib21,55147.85%6,63814.74%PC47.08%21,55114,9135,0563,521--45,041
Mississauga SouthLibLib19,19546.68%5,00812.18%PC54.08%19,19514,1873,7453,629-36541,121
Mississauga—StreetsvilleLibLib20,26452.55%9,10923.62%PC45.63%20,26411,1553,9442,925-27438,562
Nepean—CarletonPCPC27,07050.28%9,33917.35%Lib54.61%17,73127,0704,0004,500-53353,834
Newmarket—AuroraPCPC19,46042.72%1,3552.97%Lib55.21%18,10519,4603,2904,182-51845,555
Niagara FallsLibLib22,21047.53%7,67016.41%PC51.08%22,21014,5404,6055,373--46,728
Niagara West—GlanbrookPCPC24,31151.06%10,02121.05%Lib58.57%14,29024,3115,8093,206--47,616
Nickel BeltNDPNDP15,12646.59%2,7628.51%Lib53.56%12,3643,26315,1261,374-34132,468
NipissingLibLib13,78142.11%4581.40%PC56.79%13,78113,3234,1361,248-23832,726
Northumberland—Quinte WestLibLib22,28745.37%6,95714.16%PC54.92%22,28715,3306,4925,012--49,121
Oak Ridges—Markham*New*Lib28,56448.22%7,19712.15%PC47.77%28,56421,3674,6983,81534245559,241
OakvilleLibLib23,76149.81%7,10214.89%PC58.26%23,76116,6593,0913,916-27947,706
OshawaPCPC15,97739.02%2,4956.09%NDP48.94%8,76215,97713,4822,474-25340,948
Ottawa CentreLibLib18,25534.91%2,0944.00%NDP58.25%18,25510,41616,1616,45828372052,293
Ottawa—OrléansLibLib25,64952.86%8,95418.45%PC57.86%25,64916,6953,0882,214-87548,521
Ottawa SouthLibLib24,01550.13%9,80920.48%PC56.60%24,01514,2064,4673,902-1,31147,901
Ottawa—VanierLibLib20,95450.96%11,78528.66%PC51.49%20,9549,1696,0494,29325539641,116
Ottawa West—NepeanLibLib23,84250.64%8,87118.84%PC57.51%23,84214,9714,5642,90320759247,079
OxfordPCPC18,44547.27%6,99017.91%Lib53.72%11,45518,4454,4213,44165960139,022
Parkdale—High ParkLibNDP18,19444.71%6,29415.47%Lib57.43%11,9006,02418,1943,938-63840,694
Parry Sound—MuskokaPCPC17,34847.22%7,52920.49%Lib56.76%9,81917,3485,0154,557--36,739
Perth—WellingtonLibLib18,09646.65%5,75814.84%PC54.62%18,09612,3383,9123,0512171,17538,789
PeterboroughLibLib24,46647.72%11,29022.02%PC57.47%24,46613,1768,5234,473-63451,272
Pickering—Scarborough EastLibLib19,76248.63%6,87816.92%PC54.01%19,76212,8844,5632,57227558540,641
Prince Edward—Hastings*New*Lib20,96346.36%6,12313.54%PC54.16%20,96314,8406,2872,663-46345,216
Renfrew—Nipissing—PembrokePCPC24,97562.34%15,07037.62%Lib57.55%9,90524,9753,0381,777-36840,063
Richmond Hill*New*Lib19,45647.83%5,32913.10%PC47.23%19,45614,1273,5653,210-31840,676
St. CatharinesLibLib21,02947.23%8,16518.34%PC53.83%21,02912,8647,0693,152-40644,520
St. Paul'sLibLib21,28047.43%9,37020.88%PC55.99%21,28011,9107,0613,74432854544,868
Sarnia—LambtonLibPC16,14538.16%3,7028.75%Lib55.20%12,44316,14511,3492,376--42,313
Sault Ste. MarieLibLib19,31660.13%10,84133.75%NDP55.56%19,3162,3498,4751,377-60532,122
Scarborough—AgincourtLibLib19,54158.08%11,01032.72%PC46.01%19,5418,5313,5311,511-53233,646
Scarborough CentreLibLib17,77553.66%9,45528.55%PC48.06%17,7758,3204,4011,827-80033,123
Scarborough—GuildwoodLibLib14,43042.52%4,92714.52%PC51.28%14,4309,5037,4411,811-75133,936
Scarborough—Rouge RiverLibLib22,30765.06%17,34750.59%PC41.82%22,3074,9604,6911,276-1,05534,289
Scarborough SouthwestLibLib15,11446.15%6,75520.63%PC49.70%15,1148,3595,9302,649-69532,747
Simcoe—GreyPCPC24,27050.65%11,82324.67%Lib54.86%12,44724,2704,4175,4282731,08547,920
Simcoe NorthPCPC22,98649.82%8,89219.27%Lib54.06%14,09422,9864,2404,709-11246,141
Stormont—Dundas—South GlengarryLibLib18,66048.86%3,86610.12%PC51.81%18,66014,7942,8131,680-24738,194
SudburyLibLib19,30758.77%10,39331.64%NDP51.11%19,3072,6058,9141,60812429332,851
ThornhillLibPC22,24445.92%1,7253.56%Lib52.17%20,51922,2442,6572,50715835648,441
Thunder Bay—AtikokanLibLib10,92837.69%500.17%NDP52.36%10,9285,91810,8781,270--28,994
Thunder Bay—Superior NorthLibLib13,37346.78%2,4358.52%NDP53.91%13,3732,68810,9381,586--28,585
Timiskaming—CochraneLibLib11,58842.90%6342.35%NDP54.80%11,5883,65910,954811--27,012
Timmins—James BayNDPNDP13,17651.60%3,44713.50%Lib53.76%9,7292,19113,176437--25,533
Toronto CentreLibLib21,52247.85%12,43827.65%PC49.90%21,5229,0848,4644,4123581,14144,981
Toronto—DanforthNDPNDP17,97545.85%6,52716.65%Lib53.18%11,4484,42317,9754,372-98639,204
Trinity—SpadinaNDPNDP18,50841.15%4,3289.62%Lib49.63%14,1806,23518,5085,15650439044,973
VaughanLibLib28,96461.90%20,20543.18%PC46.31%28,9648,7595,4702,975623-46,791
WellandNDPNDP24,91053.94%14,33031.03%Lib55.29%10,5808,72224,9101,973--46,185
Wellington—Halton HillsPCPC21,53349.16%8,22118.77%Lib57.49%13,31221,5333,9144,489-55543,803
Whitby—OshawaPCPC22,69444.00%4,1348.02%Lib53.54%18,56022,6945,7343,745-83951,572
WillowdaleLibLib21,16647.73%5,60812.65%PC49.51%21,16615,5583,6992,96011984744,349
Windsor—TecumsehLibLib17,89449.34%9,05824.98%NDP44.04%17,8946,1068,8362,696-73536,267
Windsor WestLibLib16,82150.19%8,21724.52%NDP41.02%16,8215,6528,6041,974-46333,514
York CentreLibLib16,64648.73%5,61816.45%PC49.07%16,64611,0283,7132,207-56834,162
York—SimcoePCPC19,17346.23%6,38815.40%Lib49.73%12,78519,1734,2054,664-64541,472
York South—WestonLibLib13,84642.94%4521.40%NDP46.34%13,8463,17313,3941,226-60332,242
York WestLibLib13,24654.74%6,48226.79%NDP44.44%13,2462,4846,7641,19922528224,200

: = new riding : = merged riding : = open seat : = turnout is above provincial average : = incumbent re-elected : = incumbent changed allegiance : = other incumbents renominated

Comparative analysis for ridings (2007 vs 2003)

Riding and winning partyTurnoutVote share%Change (pp)%Change (pp)
Ajax—PickeringLibHold49.34{{bartable-10.29-51embackground:#708090}}49.07
Algoma—ManitoulinLibHold54.49{{bartable-3.34-51embackground:#708090}}42.56
Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—WestdaleLibHold58.12{{bartable2.84-51embackground:#708090}}41.16
BarrieLibGain51.95{{bartable-4.07-51embackground:#708090}}42.20
Beaches—East YorkNDPHold54.37{{bartable-1.26-51embackground:#708090}}44.32
Bramalea—Gore—MaltonLibHold43.65{{bartable-6.16-51embackground:#708090}}47.00
Brampton—SpringdaleLibHold43.45{{bartable-6.80-51embackground:#708090}}50.66
Brampton WestLibHold43.92{{bartable-6.91-51embackground:#708090}}46.19
BrantLibHold52.69{{bartable-3.45-51embackground:#708090}}49.16
Bruce—Grey—Owen SoundPCHold59.96{{bartable-2.94-51embackground:#708090}}46.61
BurlingtonPCHold58.91{{bartable-2.60-51embackground:#708090}}41.34
CambridgePCHold49.69-{{bartable-4.10-51embackground:#708090}}41.70
Carleton—Mississippi MillsPCHold55.30{{bartable-6.12-51embackground:#708090}}47.83
Chatham—Kent—EssexLibHold48.81{{bartable-6.83-51embackground:#708090}}51.98
DavenportLibHold45.84{{bartable-3.22-51embackground:#708090}}41.82
Don Valley EastLibHold51.30{{bartable-4.02-51embackground:#708090}}55.63
Don Valley WestLibHold59.20{{bartable-0.65-51embackground:#708090}}50.44
Dufferin—CaledonPCHold52.50{{bartable-6.00-51embackground:#708090}}41.85
DurhamPCHold54.34{{bartable-4.06-51embackground:#708090}}46.96
Eglinton—LawrenceLibHold55.62{{bartable-2.27-51embackground:#708090}}43.23
Elgin—Middlesex—LondonLibHold53.09{{bartable-7.23-51embackground:#708090}}49.10
EssexLibHold48.69{{bartable-4.68-51embackground:#708090}}48.02
Etobicoke CentreLibHold59.40{{bartable-3.09-51embackground:#708090}}50.07
Etobicoke—LakeshoreLibHold53.62{{bartable-5.90-51embackground:#708090}}45.99
Etobicoke NorthLibHold45.19{{bartable-2.72-51embackground:#708090}}54.85
Glengarry—Prescott—RussellLibHold52.80{{bartable-4.81-51embackground:#708090}}60.51
GuelphLibHold57.03{{bartable-3.05-51embackground:#708090}}40.92
Haldimand—NorfolkPCHold56.25{{bartable-3.13-51embackground:#708090}}60.92
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—BrockPCHold59.22{{bartable-3.95-51embackground:#708090}}49.99
HaltonPCHold51.53{{bartable-8.20-51embackground:#708090}}41.84
Hamilton CentreNDP*New*48.63*New*44.72*New*
Hamilton East—Stoney CreekNDPGain51.36{{bartable4.63-51embackground:#708090}}37.65
Hamilton MountainLibHold53.33{{bartable-5.63-51embackground:#708090}}37.24
Huron—BruceLibHold59.80{{bartable-6.66-51embackground:#708090}}45.95
Kenora—Rainy RiverNDPHold46.16{{bartable-2.41-51embackground:#708090}}60.62
Kingston and the IslandsLibHold53.96{{bartable-0.33-51embackground:#708090}}47.23
Kitchener CentreLibHold49.58{{bartable-3.66-51embackground:#708090}}45.90
Kitchener—ConestogaLib*New*49.25*New*41.82*New*
Kitchener—WaterlooPCHold53.63{{bartable-5.44-51embackground:#708090}}40.84
Lambton—Kent—MiddlesexLibHold55.18{{bartable-4.57-51embackground:#708090}}43.27
Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and AddingtonPCGain52.08{{bartable-6.60-51embackground:#708090}}40.58
Leeds—GrenvillePCHold55.11{{bartable-7.00-51embackground:#708090}}56.24
London—FanshaweLibHold48.21{{bartable-4.24-51embackground:#708090}}38.68
London North CentreLibHold50.00{{bartable-6.44-51embackground:#708090}}47.17
London WestLibHold57.83{{bartable-2.19-51embackground:#708090}}52.42
Markham—UnionvilleLib*New*40.51*New*59.47*New*
Mississauga—Brampton SouthLib*New*42.46*New*53.78*New*
Mississauga East—CooksvilleLib*New*47.48*New*58.93*New*
Mississauga—ErindaleLib*New*47.08*New*47.85*New*
Mississauga SouthLibHold54.08{{bartable-2.81-51embackground:#708090}}46.68
Mississauga—StreetsvilleLib*New*45.63*New*52.55*New*
Nepean—CarletonPCHold54.61{{bartable-7.61-51embackground:#708090}}50.28
Newmarket—AuroraPC*New*55.21*New*42.72*New*
Niagara FallsLibHold51.08{{bartable-6.32-51embackground:#708090}}47.53
Niagara West—GlanbrookPCHold58.57{{bartable-2.28-51embackground:#708090}}51.06
Nickel BeltNDPHold53.56{{bartable-8.26-51embackground:#708090}}46.59
NipissingLibHold56.79{{bartable-5.81-51embackground:#708090}}42.11
Northumberland—Quinte WestLibHold54.92{{bartable-5.39-51embackground:#708090}}45.37
Oak Ridges—MarkhamLib*New*47.77*New*48.22*New*
OakvilleLibHold58.26{{bartable-4.05-51embackground:#708090}}49.81
OshawaPCHold48.94{{bartable-2.53-51embackground:#708090}}39.02
Ottawa CentreLibHold58.25{{bartable2.62-51embackground:#708090}}34.91
Ottawa—OrléansLibHold57.86{{bartable-5.53-51embackground:#708090}}52.86
Ottawa SouthLibHold56.60{{bartable-2.17-51embackground:#708090}}50.13
Ottawa—VanierLibHold51.49{{bartable0.69-51embackground:#708090}}50.96
Ottawa West—NepeanLibHold57.51{{bartable-4.62-51embackground:#708090}}50.64
OxfordPCHold53.72{{bartable-6.50-51embackground:#708090}}47.27
Parkdale—High ParkNDPGain57.43{{bartable2.50-51embackground:#708090}}44.71
Parry Sound—MuskokaPCHold56.76{{bartable-3.27-51embackground:#708090}}47.22
Perth—WellingtonLibHold54.62{{bartable-5.07-51embackground:#708090}}46.65
PeterboroughLibHold57.47{{bartable-5.29-51embackground:#708090}}47.72
Pickering—Scarborough EastLib*New*54.01*New*48.63*New*
Prince Edward—HastingsLibHold54.16{{bartable-3.04-51embackground:#708090}}46.36
Renfrew—Nipissing—PembrokePCHold57.55{{bartable-6.42-51embackground:#708090}}62.34
Richmond HillLib*New*47.23*New*47.83*New*
St. CatharinesLibHold53.83{{bartable-2.60-51embackground:#708090}}47.23
St. Paul’sLibHold55.99{{bartable-2.04-51embackground:#708090}}47.43
Sarnia—LambtonPCGain55.20{{bartable-4.14-51embackground:#708090}}38.16
Sault Ste. MarieLibHold55.56{{bartable-5.54-51embackground:#708090}}60.13
Scarborough—AgincourtLibHold46.01{{bartable-6.87-51embackground:#708090}}58.08
Scarborough CentreLibHold48.06{{bartable-8.54-51embackground:#708090}}53.66
Scarborough—GuildwoodLib*New*51.28*New*42.52*New*
Scarborough—Rouge RiverLibHold41.82{{bartable-6.27-51embackground:#708090}}65.06
Scarborough SouthwestLibHold49.70{{bartable-5.18-51embackground:#708090}}46.15
Simcoe—GreyPCHold54.86{{bartable-5.43-51embackground:#708090}}50.65
Simcoe NorthPCHold54.06{{bartable-6.79-51embackground:#708090}}49.82
Stormont—Dundas—South GlengarryLibHold51.81{{bartable-3.97-51embackground:#708090}}48.86
SudburyLibHold51.11{{bartable-4.84-51embackground:#708090}}58.77
ThornhillPCGain52.17{{bartable-5.61-51embackground:#708090}}45.92
Thunder Bay—AtikokanLibHold52.36{{bartable-3.24-51embackground:#708090}}37.69
Thunder Bay—Superior NorthLibHold53.91{{bartable-1.70-51embackground:#708090}}46.78
Timiskaming—CochraneLibHold54.80{{bartable-6.35-51embackground:#708090}}42.90
Timmins—James BayNDPHold53.76{{bartable-3.54-51embackground:#708090}}51.60
Toronto CentreLibHold49.90{{bartable-3.22-51embackground:#708090}}47.85
Toronto—DanforthNDPHold53.18{{bartable-2.69-51embackground:#708090}}45.85
Trinity—SpadinaNDPHold49.63{{bartable-2.41-51embackground:#708090}}41.15
VaughanLib*New*46.31*New*61.90*New*
WellandNDPHold55.29{{bartable-4.96-51embackground:#708090}}53.94
Wellington—Halton HillsPCHold57.49{{bartable2.21-51embackground:#708090}}49.16
Whitby—OshawaPCHold53.54{{bartable-6.86-51embackground:#708090}}44.00
WillowdaleLibHold49.51{{bartable-6.23-51embackground:#708090}}47.73
Windsor—TecumsehLibHold44.04{{bartable-3.77-51embackground:#708090}}49.34
Windsor WestLibHold41.02{{bartable-2.85-51embackground:#708090}}50.19
York CentreLibHold49.07{{bartable-0.52-51embackground:#708090}}48.73
York—SimcoePCHold49.73{{bartable-8.60-51embackground:#708090}}46.23
York South—WestonLibHold46.34{{bartable-4.41-51embackground:#708090}}42.94
York WestLibHold44.44{{bartable0.49-51embackground:#708090}}54.74

Maps

File:Ontario general election, 2007 results by riding - Liberal Party strength.svg|Support for Liberal Party candidates by riding File:Ontario general election, 2007 results by riding - Progressive Conservative Party strength.svg|Support for Progressive Conservative Party candidates by riding File:Ontario general election, 2007 results by riding - New Democratic Party strength.svg|Support for New Democratic Party candidates by riding File:Ontario general election, 2007 results by riding - Green Party strength.svg|Support for Green Party candidates by riding

Principal races

Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotalalign="center"Libalign="center"PCalign="center"NDPalign="center"Grn
581371
241126
1010
Total3458141107
PartiesSeats
Total107
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5thTotal
71342107
2658221107
10146518107
11888107
6363
1616
88
22
1
SourcePartyTotal
align="center"**Lib**align="center"**PC**align="center"**NDP**
Incumbents returned6022
Open seats held31
Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance1
New seats gained51
Incumbents defeated22
Open seats gained
**Total**7126

Incumbent MPPs who did not run for re-election

Electoral districtIncumbent at dissolutionSubsequent nomineeNew MPP
Hamilton MountainMarie BountrogianniSophia Aggelonitis
Scarborough EastMary Anne Chambers*riding dissolved*
Hamilton WestJudy Marsales*riding dissolved*
Nickel BeltShelley MartelFrance Gélinas
Stoney CreekJennifer Mossop*Riding dissolved*
Prince Edward—HastingsErnie ParsonsLeona Dombrowsky
Ottawa CentreRichard PattenYasir Naqvi

Opinion polls

Since the 2003 general election, several polls were conducted to determine the ongoing preference of voters. They showed a decline in Liberal support following the 2004 Ontario budget. Overall, support for the governing Liberals declined slightly since the 2003 election, the NDP gained some ground since the 2003 election, and the PCs' poll numbers did not change significantly since 2003. Support for the Green Party increased significantly, a shift which paralleled the increase in support for the party's federal counterpart. During the pre-election period, the Ontario Greens did not appear as an option in some of the polls.

Polls indicate results for decided voters. More information can be found in the footnotes to each poll, including undecided results, if provided by the pollster. A dash indicates the absence of a prompt for that party.

Polling firmDate releasedDate poll conductedLiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Harris-Decimatitle=Liberals ride lead in polls while PC school funding flip fails to boost supportpublisher=SES Research/Sun Mediadate=October 9, 2007url=http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F07-T261.pdfaccess-date=2007-10-09archive-date=2007-10-25archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025025847/http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F07-T261.pdfurl-status=live}} The poll results, based on a one-week sample of 709 Ontarians, have a margin of error of 3.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20.October 6 – 7, 200742311710
SES ResearchOctober 9, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Liberal Victory Imminentpublisher = SES Research/Sun Mediadate = October 9, 2007url = http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F07-T261.pdfaccess-date = 2007-10-09
EnvironicsOctober 9, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Liberals Headed for Majority Governmentpublisher = Environicsdate = October 9, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=649access-date = 2007-10-09
Strategic CounselOctober 8, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Poll says Ontario Liberals have 15-point leadCTV News]]/The Globe and Maildate = October 8, 2007url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/poll-says-ontario-liberals-have-15-point-lead-1.259345archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017162610/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071008/ontario_poll_071008/20071008?hub=TopStories
Ipsos-ReidOctober 6, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Tory's Gambit Fails: Grits Headed For Majority Governmentpublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest/National Postdate = October 6, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3671access-date = 2007-10-06
Angus Reid StrategiesOctober 5, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Ontario Liberals Hold Six-Point Advantage: Tory's Leadership Edge Evaporates; Now Tied with McGuintywork = Ontario Politicspublisher = Angus-Reid Strategiesdate = 2007-10-05url = http://angusreidstrategies.com/uploads/pages/pdfs/2007.10.05%20Ontario%20Press%20Release.pdf
Decima ResearchOctober 2, 2007{{Cite newstitle=Liberal lead firmingpublisher=The Canadian Press/Harris-Decimadate=October 2, 2007url=http://www.decima.com/en/pdf/news_releases/071003E.pdfaccess-date=2007-10-03
SES ResearchOctober 2, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Grits Move Into Majority Territorypublisher = SES Research/Sun Mediadate = October 2, 2007url = http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F07-T256.pdfaccess-date = 2007-10-02
Ipsos-ReidSeptember 29, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Post Debate Tory Tumble Gives McGuinty Liberals Ten Point Leadpublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest/National Postdate = September 29, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3656access-date = 2007-09-29
EnvironicsSeptember 28, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Opposition grows to funding faith-based schools, but issue has little impact on vote intentionpublisher = Environicsdate = September 28, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=647access-date = 2007-09-28
Decima ResearchSeptember 26, 2007{{Cite newstitle=Voting intentions stuckwork=Ontario Politicspublisher=Canadian Press/Harris Decimadate=2007-09-26url=http://www.decima.com/en/pdf/news_releases/070926E.pdf
Angus Reid StrategiesSeptember 25, 2007{{Cite newstitle = McGuinty's Grits Lead by Five Points in Ontariowork = Ontario Politicspublisher = Angus-Reid Strategiesdate = 2007-09-25url = http://www.angus-reid.com/uppdf/OntarioII.pdf
SES ResearchSeptember 25, 2007{{Cite newslast =Nanosfirst =Nikitatitle =Grits Lead by Eight Pointswork =Ontario Politicspublisher =SES Research/Sun Media
Ipsos-ReidSeptember 20, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Will Hot Debate Thaw Frozen Voters?publisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest/National Postdate = September 20, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3649access-date = 2007-09-20
Decima ResearchSeptember 19, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Liberals maintain lead over Tories in latest pollpublisher = The Canadian Press/Harris-Decimadate = September 19, 2007url = https://www.thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/258378access-date = 2007-09-19
Strategic CounselSeptember 18, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Ontario voters pan faith-based education: pollCTV News]]/The Globe and Maildate = September 18, 2007url = http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070918.wontpoll18/businessaccess-date = 2014-05-28
Ipsos-ReidSeptember 15, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario vote essentially stagnant after 1st weekpublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest/National Postdate = September 15, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3640access-date = 2007-09-16
EnvironicsSeptember 13, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Ontarians divided over proposal to extend public funding to all religious schoolspublisher = Environicsdate = September 13, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=643access-date = 2007-09-14
Angus Reid StrategiesSeptember 13, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Liberals Lead by Two Points in Ontariowork = Polls & Researchpublisher = Angus Reid Global Monitordate = 2007-09-14url = http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28232/liberals_lead_by_two_points_in_ontario
Decima ResearchSeptember 12, 2007{{Cite newslast =Perkelfirst =Colintitle =Liberals lead Conservatives in pollpublisher =Decima Research/Toronto Stardate =2007-09-12
Ipsos-ReidSeptember 10, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Liberal lead over Tories slipping in Ontario: pollpublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest/National Postdate = 2007-09-10url = http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=99ba49ca-f032-494c-b8fb-5f74bccef902&k=54740&p=2archive-url = https://archive.today/20130118182356/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=99ba49ca-f032-494c-b8fb-5f74bccef902&k=54740&p=2
SES ResearchAugust 30, 2007{{Cite newslast =Nanosfirst =Nikitatitle =Ontario grits lead by six pointswork =Ontario Politicspublisher =SES Research/Sun Media
Ipsos-ReidAugust 28, 2007{{Cite newstitle = As the Ontario Election Draws Near, The GTA moves Red while the Rest of Ontario moves Bluework = CanWest Pollspublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWestdate = 2007-09-10url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3616
Ipsos-ReidAugust 21, 2007{{Cite newstitle = As the Ontario Election Draws Near, The GTA moves Red while the Rest of Ontario moves Bluework = CanWest Pollspublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWestdate = 2007-08-21url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3608
The Strategic CounselAugust 20, 2007{{Cite newslast =Howlettfirst =Karentitle =McGuinty support slips to minority status, poll findswork =Ontario Politicspublisher =The Globe and Mail/CTV News
Ipsos-ReidJuly 3, 2007{{Cite newstitle = Race Tightens as Summer Heats Uppublisher = Ipsos-Reid/CanWest Pollsdate = July 3, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/act_hit_cntr.cfm?id=3555&Region=us&PDF_name=mr070703-1.pdfarchive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20070710093511/http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/act_hit_cntr.cfm?id=3555&Region=us&PDF_name=mr070703-1.pdf
EnvironicsJuly 2, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Provincial Party Support March 2007publisher = Environicsdate = July 2, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=642access-date = 2007-09-10
PollaraJune 16, 2007{{Cite newslast = Kalinoswskifirst = Tesstitle = A $17,5B transit promisepublisher = The Toronto Stardate = June 16, 2007
SES ResearchJune 3, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Liberals and PCs in Dead Heatpublisher = SES Researchdate = June 3, 2007url = http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-S07-T236.pdfaccess-date = 2007-06-10
EnvironicsMay 18, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Provincial Party Support March 2007publisher = Environicsdate = May 18, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=635access-date = 2007-05-23
Ipsos-ReidFebruary 24, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Politics With Just Over 7 Months To "E" Day Liberals(38%) Lead Tories (33%), NDP (17%) And Green (9%)publisher = Ipsos-Reiddate = February 24, 2007url = http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3379access-date = 2007-05-23
EnvironicsJanuary 5, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Provincial Party Support December 2006publisher = Environicsdate = January 5, 2007url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=627access-date = 2007-06-10
SES ResearchDecember 17, 2006{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Political Landscapepublisher = SES Researchdate = December 17, 2006url = http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F06-T207.pdfaccess-date = 2007-06-10
EnvironicsOctober 26, 2006{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Liberals establish solid leadpublisher = Environicsdate = October 26, 2006url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=613access-date = 2007-06-10
EKOSOctober 18, 2006{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Liberals With Clear LeadEKOS]]date = October 18, 2006url = http://www.ekos.com/media/default.aspaccess-date = 2007-06-10
SES ResearchOctober 7, 2006{{cite press releasetitle = Ontario Liberals Lead by Seven Pointspublisher = SES Researchdate = October 7, 2006url = http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-F06-T7.pdfaccess-date = 2007-06-10
EnvironicsSeptember 9, 2006{{cite press releasetitle = Provincial Party Support results June 2006publisher = Environicsdate = September 9, 2006url = http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=610access-date = 2007-06-11
Vector ResearchMay 14, 2006-3938185
EnvironicsApril 13, 2006-343924-
SES ResearchMarch 23, 2006-4134205
Léger MarketingMarch 22, 2006-343420-
SES ResearchFebruary 17, 2006-4137184
Vector ResearchJanuary 21, 2006-3635236
EnvironicsOctober 16, 2005-423521-
Vector ResearchSeptember 19, 2005-3341206
SES ResearchJune 14, 2005-4135214
Léger MarketingJune 8, 2005-423417-
Léger MarketingApril 29, 2005-363719-
Vector ResearchApril 13, 2005-3541185
EnvironicsApril 11, 2005-354121-
Léger MarketingMarch 17, 2005-443319-
Vector ResearchDecember 16, 2004-3932245
EnvironicsDecember 2004-373923-
EnvironicsDecember 11, 2004-354023-
Léger MarketingSeptember 2004-373519-
Vector ResearchAugust 22, 2004-3732239
EnvironicsAugust 9, 2004-3537234
Ipsos-ReidJune 14, 2004-3239236
SES ResearchJune 5, 2004-344120-
Decima ResearchMay 27, 2004-322921-
EnvironicsMay 6, 2004-4533201
Ipsos-ReidApril 19, 2004-4530195
SES ResearchJanuary 23, 2004-492910-
EnvironicsJanuary 21, 2004-5030163
Ipsos-ReidDecember 14, 2003-5127166
Ipsos-ReidNovember 8, 2003-5627125
EnvironicsOctober 30, 2003-4929182
[Last election](2003-ontario-general-election) (October 2, 2003)-46.434.614.72.8

Riding specific polls

RidingPolling firmDate releasedDate poll conductedLiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Don Valley WestCOMPASOctober 1, 2007{{cite press releasetitle = Liberal Minister Kathleen Wynne Leading by Wide Margin: PC Schooling Promise Stirs Unease about Integrating ImmigrantsCOMPAS]]/Ottawa Citizendate = October 1, 2007url = http://www.compas.ca/data/071001-DonValleyWestToryVsWynne-EP.pdfaccess-date = 2007-10-06
Bruce—Grey—Owen SoundOraclepoll Researchurl=http://www.gpo.ca/sites/greenparty.on.ca/files/Bruce%20Grey%20Owen%20Sound%20Riding%20Report.doctitle=Archived copyaccess-date=October 7, 2007archive-date=October 4, 2007archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004210912/http://www.gpo.ca/sites/greenparty.on.ca/files/Bruce%20Grey%20Owen%20Sound%20Riding%20Report.docurl-status=dead }}October 2 – 3, 200721371327
Nickel BeltOraclepoll ResearchOctober 4, 2007October 2 – 3, 2007417493

Timeline

  • May 13, 2004 - Andrea Horwath of the NDP is elected in a by-election in Hamilton East and collects over 60% of the vote. The riding was previously held by the Liberals.
  • May 18, 2004 - The 2004 Ontario budget is announced. Given its tax increase and healthcare cuts, it is unpopular with the public.
  • June 1, 2004 - Bill 87, which would establish fixed election dates, is introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
  • August 9, 2004 - A poll by Environics shows the Liberals in second place for the first time since the last election. The NDP is also rising in support. According to the poll, the Progressive Conservatives lead with 37% followed by the Liberals with 35%, the NDP with 23% and the Greens with 4%.{{cite press release | access-date = 2007-05-23 | archive-date = 2007-09-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200049/http://erg.environics.net/media_room/default.asp?aID=560 | url-status = live
  • September 18, 2004 - John Tory becomes leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party replacing outgoing former premier Ernie Eves and defeating Jim Flaherty and Frank Klees.
  • January 31, 2005 - Eves resigns his seat in the provincial legislature, clearing the way for Tory to run in the resulting by-election.
  • March 17, 2005 - Tory is elected in the Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey by-election, holding the seat for the Conservatives.
  • March 29, 2005 - Tory is officially installed as the Leader of the Opposition.
  • August 18, 2005 - Speaker Alvin Curling resigns his Scarborough—Rouge River seat to accept a diplomatic appointment. A by-election must be called within six months.
  • October 26, 2005 - A by-election is called for Scarborough—Rouge River for November 24.
  • November 24, 2005 - Bas Balkissoon wins in the Scarborough–Rouge River by-election, holding the seat for the Liberals.
  • November 29, 2005 - Progressive Conservative MPPs Jim Flaherty, John Baird, and NDP MPP Marilyn Churley resign their seats in the provincial legislature to run for seats in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2006 federal election.
  • March 1, 2006 - By-elections are called for the ridings of Toronto—Danforth, Nepean—Carleton, and Whitby—Ajax for March 30. These seats became vacant when they were resigned on November 29, 2005, so the MPPs could run in the federal election of January 2006.
  • March 30, 2006 - the NDP's Peter Tabuns wins the Toronto—Danforth by-election, Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod wins in Nepean—Carleton, and Progressive Conservative Christine Elliott wins in Whitby-Ajax. The Liberals' star candidates in all three ridings fell short.{{Cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060420053519/http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/en/march_30_unofficial_results_en.shtml |archive-date = 2006-04-20 |url-status = dead
  • May 18, 2006 - Former Education Minister Gerard Kennedy resigns his Parkdale—High Park seat to pursue his bid for the federal Liberal leadership.{{Cite news | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071012082720/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060518/gerard_kennedy_060518/20060518?hub=TopStories | url-status =dead | archive-date =October 12, 2007 | access-date = 2007-05-23}}
  • September 14, 2006 - Cheri DiNovo of the NDP wins the by-election to replace Liberal Gerard Kennedy in Parkdale-High Park.{{Cite web |access-date=2007-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627015049/http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/results/2006ByElections/index_PHP.jsp?flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=June 27, 2007 |url-status=dead
  • September 18, 2006 - Joe Cordiano, MPP for York South—Weston, resigns from cabinet and legislature to spend more time with family.{{Cite news |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030809/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1136206611.html?dids=1136206611:1136206611&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+27%2C+2006&author=IAN+URQUHART&pub=Daily+Mercury&edition=&startpage=A.13&desc=Passing+ships+firing+cannonballs+at+McGuinty |archive-date= October 1, 2007 | access-date = 2007-05-23 }}

  • September 25, 2006 - Tony Wong, MPP for Markham, resigns from the legislature to run for York Region council in Markham, Ontario.{{Cite news | access-date = 2007-05-23 | archive-date = 2007-10-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001011136/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1142001381.html?dids=1142001381%3A1142001381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&date=Sep+26%2C+2006&author=&pub=Markham+Economist+&+Sun&edition=&startpage=1&desc=MPP+quits+Queen%27s+Park | url-status = dead

  • September 28, 2006 - Cam Jackson, MPP for Burlington, resigns from the Legislature to run for mayor of Burlington.{{Cite news | url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071001045628/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/1137263171.html?dids=1137263171:1137263171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+29%2C+2006&author=Christine+Cox&pub=The+Spectator&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Jackson+joins+race+for+Burlington+mayor |archive-date= October 1, 2007 | access-date = 2007-05-23 }}

  • January 10, 2007 - By-elections called in the ridings of: Burlington; Markham; and York South—Weston to be held on February 8, 2007.

  • February 7, 2007 - The provincial government announces election date will be October 10, 2007 to avoid conflict with Shemini Atzeret on October 4.

  • February 8, 2007 - In three by-elections, Paul Ferreira of the NDP wins York South–Weston from the Liberals while Michael Chan of the Liberals and Joyce Savoline of the PCs hold Markham and Burlington, respectively.

  • March 29, 2007 - MPP Tim Peterson leaves the Liberal caucus and intends to run in this election as a Progressive Conservative.{{Cite news | access-date = 2007-05-23 | archive-date = 2016-03-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305202049/http://www.thestar.com/news/2007/03/29/mpp_peterson_brother_of_expremier_to_join_tories.html | url-status = live

  • April 25, 2007 - Democratic Renewal Minister Marie Bountrogianni introduces Bill 218, a bill to have longer voting hours – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – that identification be presented, advanced polls increased to 13 days from 6 days, and amendments regarding the referendum on election formulas for electing MPPS. The proposed legislation will also deal with suggestions for online voting and with complaints that the permanent voters' list is unreliable because it does not keep up with moves and deaths.{{Cite news | access-date = 2014-05-28 | archive-date = 2014-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140605181743/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-acts-to-undo-electoral-apathy/article684067/ | url-status = live

  • May 18, 2007 - New Democratic Party MPP Shelley Martel announced she will not seek re-election in her Nickel Belt riding. She is leaving politics for family reasons, and to pursue other career opportunities.{{Cite news | access-date = 2007-05-18 | archive-date = 2016-03-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307092344/http://www.thestar.com/news/2007/05/18/mpp_shelley_martel_wont_run_again.html | url-status = live

  • May 18, 2007 - A poll released by Environics showed the governing Liberals in second place for the first time since March 2006. According to the poll, the Progressive Conservatives lead with 39% followed by the Liberals with 33%, the NDP with 26% and the Greens with 2%. The poll was conducted between March 13 to April 3, 2007.

  • June 3, 2007 - A poll released by SES Research showed that the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives are in a dead-heat, with 29.8% of voters supporting each party. The NDP had 16% and the Green Party had 9%. 15% were undecided.

  • June 4, 2007 Today, Bill 218 is given third reading and royal assent. The bill amends the Elections Act with the following changes: making electors present proper identification; methods of updating the permanent register of electors and creating an electronic system to allow electors to change their personal information online; alternative forms of voting and electronic vote counting can now take place; scrutineers from outside an electoral district, now have the same privileges as a resident scrutineer; Ballots will now show party affiliation and any nickname or familiar name of that the candidate requests; the Chief Electoral Officer is allowed to advertise information regarding the October 2007 Referendum on electoral reform.{{Cite web | access-date = 2007-06-10 | archive-date = 2007-06-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070614024841/http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/38_Parliament/Session2/b218ra.pdf | url-status = dead

  • June 5, 2007 - Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty prorogues the Legislature, stating that the passing of 14 bills during the session meant that the government's agenda had been fulfilled.{{Cite news | access-date = 2014-05-28 | archive-date = 2014-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140605181748/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mcguinty-admits-health-tax-will-haunt-him/article1086339/ | url-status = live | access-date = 2007-06-10

  • July 11, 2007 - Citing health concerns Mary Anne Chambers, the Children and Youth Services Minister and MPP for Scarborough East, will not be seeking re-election in the October 10 Ontario vote. She would have run in the Scarborough—Guildwood electoral district.{{Cite news | access-date = 2007-07-11 | archive-date = 2007-09-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122525/http://www.thestar.com/article/234628 | url-status = live

  • July 26, 2007 - Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle resigned after an auditor general's report severely criticizes how $32 million in year-end grants to ethnic groups was administered.{{Cite news |access-date = 2007-07-26 |archive-date = 2014-09-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140903133821/http://www.thestar.com/news/2007/07/26/minister_quits_over_grants.html |url-status = live

  • September 10, 2007 - Official election call. Writ issued as per omnibus Budget Act, Bill 187, that includes the amendment to the Election Act to set writ issuance date. Premier McGuinty formally asked the Lt. Governor to dissolve the legislature. The campaign will be 29 days long, one day longer than the minimum.{{Cite news | access-date = 2014-05-28 | archive-date = 2014-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140605181758/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-election-to-be-called-sept-10/article684469/ | url-status = live

Hamilton Mountain
  • September 18, 2007- Nomination papers due. A candidate or their designate must submit their nomination papers and deposit in person at the returning office by 2 p.m.{{Cite web |access-date=2007-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928071438/http://www.elections.on.ca/en-CA/CandidatesAndParties/Candidates/ImportantDatesforCandidates.htm |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead
  • September 20, 2007- Televised leadership debate between McGuinty, Tory and Hampton.
  • September 22 – October 4, 2007 - Advance polling stations open for early voting from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
  • October 10, 2007 - Ontario general election from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. EDT or in the most western part of the province 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT as per Provision 20, Section 40(1) and 40(2) of the Election Act.

Election results

At 9:23 pm EDT, Citytv projected a Liberal majority government. CTV News made the same call at 9:30 pm EDT, followed by CBC News at 9:37 pm EDT, and Canadian Press at 9:52 pm EDT.

Also at 10:30 pm EDT, CBC and CTV reported that Progressive Conservative leader John Tory had called Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty to concede the election. At 10:39 pm EDT, Tory was declared defeated by Canadian Press in the riding of Don Valley West.

At 10:43 pm EDT, Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty took the stage to give his speech to the public, breaking tradition of the defeated party leaders going first.

Each party lost at least one incumbent MPP — Liberals Mario Racco and Caroline Di Cocco, PCs Joe Tascona, Tim Peterson and John Tory and NDP Paul Ferreira were all defeated. However, each party's losses were offset by gains in other seats. The actual changes in party standings were accounted for entirely by the four new seats resulting from redistribution and the defeat of Peterson. Overall, however, most incumbent MPPs were returned in their ridings.

McGuinty became the first Liberal leader in Ontario to win two successive majorities in the legislature since Mitchell Hepburn in the 1937 election.

Breakdown by region

Northern Ontario

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats713

All eleven ridings in Northern Ontario were retained by their incumbent parties. The popular vote, however, shifted dramatically, with several Liberal incumbents holding on only very narrowly against NDP challengers. Most notably, Bill Mauro retained Thunder Bay—Atikokan by a margin of just 36 votes against John Rafferty, whom Mauro had defeated in 2003 by a margin of over 11,000 — Rafferty, in fact, spent much of the night leading Mauro. A judicial recount on October 31 increased Mauro's margin of victory to 50 votes. David Ramsay, similarly, trailed New Democrat John Vanthof in Timiskaming—Cochrane for much of the night, pulling ahead to a winning margin of 634 votes only in the final few polls to report. This was the narrowest margin of victory in Ramsay's 22-year career. Michael Gravelle also retained Thunder Bay—Superior North by an uncharacteristically narrow margin over Jim Foulds.

As well, Monique Smith retained Nipissing by just 377 votes over Progressive Conservative candidate Bill Vrebosch — in 2003, she had defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Al McDonald by a wider margin of over 3,000 votes.

In keeping with this trend, New Democrat incumbents Howard Hampton and Gilles Bisson widened their margins of victory over Liberal challengers compared to 2003, and France Gélinas maintained the same margin that her predecessor, Shelley Martel, had attained in the previous election.

Notably, the rise in popular support for the New Democrats in Northern Ontario carried over into the 2008 federal election, in which the NDP won nearly every seat in the region for the first time in its history.

Eastern Ontario

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats950

In Eastern Ontario, the new riding of Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington was carried by PC candidate Randy Hillier, while all 13 existing ridings were carried by their incumbent parties. With the exception of Yasir Naqvi, who carried Ottawa Centre by a much smaller margin over the NDP than Richard Patten had attained in 2003, Liberals in Ottawa improved their winning margins, although outside of Ottawa the popular vote trend remained relatively stable.

Central Ontario

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats380

The most conservative-friendly area of the province, the PC vote largely held up, with the only Liberal gain being Aileen Carroll winning Barrie, the seat she used to represent federally. This was countered by a PC nominal gain in Newmarket—Aurora. The area also delivered the strongest support in the province for the Green Party, with Shane Jolley finishing a very strong second in Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound with 33.1% of the vote, the best finish ever received by any Green candidate in Canada to that point. The Greens also knocked the NDP into fourth place in a majority of area ridings.

Midwestern Ontario

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats650

A politically mixed region, Midwestern Ontario had every incumbent party re-elected, as well as some anomalous results; in an election where the PCs were largely held to rural areas, and the Liberals consolidated an urban/suburban base, Elizabeth Witmer held onto the riding of Kitchener—Waterloo for the PCs, while the Liberals won in rural ridings in which they were the incumbent party, such as Huron—Bruce and Perth—Wellington. Further away from the provincewide result, on an election night which demonstrated Liberal strength province wide, Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant delivered the most crushing defeat for a Liberal candidate in the province, with the victorious PC incumbent Toby Barrett coming out 16,571 votes and 38.6% ahead of the Liberal.

Brampton, Mississauga & Oakville

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats900

Although the suburban Western GTA had traditionally been a good area for the PCs, winning many seats in the area as recently as the Harris days, where it formed part of the 905-area backbone of the PC government, the Liberals won every seat in the area handily, with the victorious Liberal candidates averaging at around 50%. Even Mississauga South, which prior to the 2003 election had not voted Liberal provincially since the riding's creation, and had been expected to be a very tight race, proved a surprisingly easy victory for Charles Sousa, who gained the seat back for the Liberals from Tim Peterson, who had crossed the floor. The NDP continued to be a non-factor in the area, while the Greens growth in popular vote across the province was reflected, with the Greens even beating the NDP into fourth place in Oakville, which ironically had been the only riding in the province the Greens had not run in the previous election.

Southern Durham and York

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats630

The Liberals continued to dominate York Region, with each incumbent being re-elected by a comfortable margin except in Thornhill where Mario Racco lost to PC candidate Peter Shurman. The newly created riding of Ajax—Pickering, projected to be a close race, elected Liberal Joe Dickson by over 6,000 votes despite having no party nominate incumbents. In southern Durham Region, Liberal Wayne Arthurs was re-elected to the newly distributed Pickering—Scarborough East, while Progressive Conservative Christine Elliott was re-elected to Whitby—Oshawa. Despite high expectations for Sid Ryan's fourth run as an NDP candidate in Oshawa, PC incumbent Jerry Ouellette was again re-elected by a wider majority than in 2003.

Hamilton, Burlington & Niagara

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats433

An area with several close seats, and a fairly even distribution of seats, every party had a realistic chance of increasing its seat count here. Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, which was a merger of a Liberal held riding and an NDP held riding, and had neither incumbent running, was the most interesting match of the night, with the NDP winning a close race. It proved to be the only change of the election, and every other riding returned the incumbent party, although many in close races, such as Hamilton Mountain (Liberals over NDP), Halton, (PCs over Liberals) and Burlington (PCs over Liberals).

Southwestern Ontario

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats910

In an area with a strong rural-urban divide, both the NDP and PCs had strong hopes of making gains against the Liberals. The NDP had strong hopes of upsetting high-profile Liberals in both Windsor West, and Windsor—Tecumseh, given the NDP's ownership of those seats federally, and the continued decline of the local industrial economy. London—Fanshawe was similarly also a top target, as the NDP had the riding federally and finished a close second in 2003. Overall, however, the only area seat that changed hands was Sarnia—Lambton, with Culture Minister Caroline Di Cocco, the most high-profile Liberal casualty of the night, losing to PC challenger Bob Bailey.

Toronto

LiberalProgressive ConservativeNew DemocratsGreen
Seats1804

All ridings in Toronto were retained by their incumbent parties, with the exception of York South—Weston. New Democrat Paul Ferreira, who had won the seat from the Liberals in a by-election in February 2007, was narrowly defeated by a swing back to Liberal candidate Laura Albanese. Almost twice as many people voted in the riding in the general election compared to the by-election.

In Toronto's other notable race, Liberal incumbent Kathleen Wynne defeated PC leader John Tory in Don Valley West. Tory previously represented Dufferin—Caledon, but had chosen to run in a Toronto riding in the general election.

Toronto's only incumbent from 2003 not to run again was Liberal MPP Mary Anne Chambers. The Liberals successfully retained the seat under new candidate Margarett Best.

References

Notes

Citations

References

  1. (October 11, 2007). "Boring campaign behind poor voter turnout: analysts". CTV News.
  2. (24 July 2014). "Electoral System Referendum Act, 2007, S.O. 2007, c. 1 - Bill 155".
  3. Alphonso, Caroline. (September 10, 2007). "Ontario campaign starts with verbal attacks". The Globe and Mail.
  4. "Progressive Conservatives to soften position on faith-based schools: report".
  5. Christ Selley. (21 November 2015). "Progressive Conservatives to soften position on faith-based schools: report". The National Post.
  6. Robin V. Sears. (1 November 2007). "How Ontario got a one-issue campaign".
  7. (October 9, 2007). "Liberals ride lead in polls while PC school funding flip fails to boost support". [[SES Research]]/[[Sun Media]].
  8. "Archived copy".
  9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012200215/http://thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=724008 The Sudbury Star - Ontario, CA]
  10. link. (July 18, 2010 [York South—Weston]. 216 of 216 polls reporting. Accessed February 8, 2007)
  11. (March 2018)
  12. (March 2018)
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