1894 Ontario general election

The 1894 Ontario general election was the eighth general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 26, 1894, to elect the 94 Members of the 8th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1]

1894 Ontario general election

← 1890June 26, 18941898 →

94 seats in the 8th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
48 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderOliver MowatWilliam Ralph Meredith
PartyLiberalConservative
Leader since18721879
Leader's seatOxford NorthLondon
Last election5334
Seats won4523
Seat changeDecrease8Decrease9

Premier before election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

Premier after election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

The main issues were the Liberals' "Ontario System", as well as French language schools, farmer interests, support for Toronto business, woman suffrage, the temperance movement, and the demands of labour unions.[2]

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Oliver Mowat, formed the government for the seventh consecutive parliament, even though some of its members were elected under joint banners: either with the Patrons of Industry or the Protestant Protective Association.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by William Ralph Meredith, formed the official opposition.

The Patrons of Industry, a farmers' organization formed in 1890, cooperated with the urban labour movement to address the political frustrations of both groups with big business. Sixteen members of the Legislative Assembly were elected with Patrons of Industry support—12 Liberals, one Conservative, and three who ran only under the "Patrons of Industry" banner.

The Protestant Protective Association (PPA) was an anti-Catholic group, associated with the Orange Order. It campaigned against the rights of Catholics and French-Canadians, and argued that Roman Catholics were attempting to take over Ontario. Nine candidates were elected with PPA support, 6 Conservatives, 1 Liberal and 2 who ran only under the PPA banner. The PPA worked most closely with the Conservative opposition.

Unlike the previous two elections, this election strictly used First past the post to elect the members. The Toronto district was divided into separate single member districts, as part of the expansion of the Assembly.

Expansion of the Legislative Assembly

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An Act passed just prior to the election[3] increased the size of the Assembly from 91 to 94 seats:

Results

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Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario (1894)[1]
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates1890Dissol.1894±#%± (pp)
LiberalOliver Mowat8053458 153,82640.99%8.64
ConservativeWilliam Ralph Meredith56342311 104,36927.81%12.07
 Liberal-Patrons261212 44,02911.73%New
 ConservativeP.P.A.1355 24,6166.56%New
Patrons of IndustryJoseph Longford Haycock733 10,4652.79%New
 Conservative-Patrons722 11,6083.09%New
 Liberal-P.P.A.222 3,6490.97%New
Protestant Protective Association811 11,0152.94%New
Independent-Conservative-PPA111 2,3260.62%New
Independent99,3742.50%New
 Liberal-Equal Rights22 Did not campaign
 Conservative-Equal Rights22 Did not campaign
Vacant
Total209919194375,277100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots3,886
Registered voters / turnout539,35870.30%0.70
Seats and popular vote by party of major influence
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
Liberal[a 1]
45 / 94
40.99%
-8.64
 
Conservative[a 1]
23 / 94
27.81%
-12.07
 
Patrons of Industry
17 / 94
17.61%
17.6117.61
 
Protestant Protective Association[a 2]
9 / 94
11.09%
11.0911.09
 
Equal Rights
0 / 94
0.00%
-10.00
 
Other
0 / 94
3.12%
2.012.01
 
  1. ^ a b Straight party support only. Other MLAs sponsored by Patrons of Industry, PPA or Equal Rights Party are allocated to the latter, to show extent of influence.
  2. ^ Associated with the Orange Order.

Before the Legislature's first session opened, four by-elections were called. William Ralph Meredith (London) resigned to accept appointment as a judge, while the elections of James M. Savage (Algoma West), John Senn (Haldimand) and Edward H. Smythe (Kingston) were overturned on appeal. The Liberals won all four Conservative seats, thus securing a majority in the Assembly. That, together with the inability of the Patrons of Industry and the Conservatives to combine on any issue, ensured the Liberals' hold on power.[4]

Synopsis of results

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Results by riding - 1890 Ontario general election[1]
Riding[a 1]Winning partyTurnoutVotes
Name[a 2]1890PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibConPOIPPAIndTotal
 
AddingtonConCon1,84952.89%2025.78%75.79%1,6471,8493,496
Algoma EastConLib1,98250.85%661.69%50.48%1,9821,9163,898
Algoma WestLibCon1,13750.13%60.26%52.42%1,1311,1372,268
Brant NorthLibLib1,19261.44%44422.89%77.41%1,1927481,940
Brant SouthLibLib2,59756.74%61713.48%79.56%2,5971,9804,577
BrockvilleLibLib2,04553.49%2676.98%71.43%2,0451,7783,823
Bruce CentreLibL-PI1,93257.97%53115.93%69.91%1,4011,9323,333
Bruce NorthConL-PP1,36939.35%2467.07%63.61%1,1239871,369[a 3]3,479
Bruce SouthLibLib1,91352.05%1514.11%68.91%1,9131,7623,675
CardwellConC-PI1,88854.93%34510.04%65.18%63,431[a 4]3,437
CarletonConC-PI1,98663.61%85027.23%68.07%1,1361,9863,122
DufferinC-ERPI2,46557.05%60914.09%71.28%1,8562,4654,321
DundasConCon2,01052.44%1874.88%77.22%2,0101,8233,833
Durham EastC-ERCon1,74656.49%40112.97%66.84%1,7461,3453,091
Durham WestLibC-PP1,64650.94%611.89%84.42%1,5851,6463,231
Elgin EastConCon1,70043.72%3669.41%74.35%1,3341,7008543,888
Elgin WestConL-PI2,85151.55%1713.09%80.82%2,6802,8515,531
Essex NorthConLib1,84342.46%2465.67%54.60%1,8439011,5974,341
Essex SouthLibLib2,52152.82%78916.53%79.15%2,5215201,7324,773
FrontenacConL-PI1,51752.26%1314.51%61.94%1,3861,5172,903
GlengarryLibL-PI2,03055.22%38410.45%70.96%2,0301,6463,676
GrenvilleConCon1,82647.88%49212.90%64.99%1,3341,8266543,814
Grey CentreConPPA1,73542.67%54213.33%67.33%1,1382,928[a 5]4,066
Grey NorthLibLib1,64638.09%2134.93%66.04%1,6461,2421,4334,321
Grey SouthConPI2,40159.83%78919.66%69.29%1,6122,4014,013
HaldimandLibCon1,69350.22%150.44%76.00%1,6781,6933,371
HaltonConCon2,26951.25%1112.51%77.10%2,1582,2694,427
Hamilton EastNewLib2,34851.09%1002.18%78.01%2,3482,2484,596
Hamilton WestNewLib2,46855.10%45710.20%78.80%2,4682,0114,479
Hastings EastConL-PI1,57452.70%1615.39%63.32%1,4131,5742,987
Hastings NorthConPI1,78250.71%501.42%61.37%1,7321,7823,514
Hastings WestLibLib1,47351.41%812.83%56.05%1,4731,3922,865
Huron EastLibLib2,12955.95%45311.91%74.44%2,1291,6763,805
Huron SouthLibLib2,33550.24%220.47%79.03%2,3352,3134,648
Huron WestLibLib2,26350.85%761.71%73.39%2,2632,1874,450
Kent EastLibLib2,36555.03%43210.05%61.62%2,3651,9334,298
Kent WestConL-PI3,10654.52%5159.04%71.59%2,5913,1065,697
KingstonConCon1,71050.01%10.03%80.89%1,7091,7103,419
Lambton EastLibIC-PP2,32652.06%1844.12%78.15%2,1422,326[a 6]4,468
Lambton WestLibC-PP3,04450.73%881.47%63.63%2,9563,0446,000
Lanark NorthL-ERCon1,49950.44%260.87%75.08%1,4731,4992,972
Lanark SouthConCon1,83053.03%62318.05%69.08%1,2071,8304143,451
LeedsConCon1,99955.14%37310.29%65.02%1,9991,6263,625
LennoxConCon1,08939.09%1124.02%67.24%9771,0897202,786
LincolnConCon2,54851.23%1222.45%76.62%2,5482,4264,974
LondonConCon3,27351.07%1372.14%86.29%3,1363,2736,409
Middlesex EastConL-PP2,28054.79%3999.59%69.27%1,8812,2804,161
Middlesex NorthLibL-PI2,01551.64%1283.28%75.79%2,0151,8873,902
Middlesex WestLibLib1,97051.46%1122.93%79.59%1,9701,8583,828
MonckLibLib1,51951.13%672.26%72.61%1,5191,4522,971
MuskokaConC-PP1,80352.44%1684.89%75.02%1,6351,8033,438
NipissingLibLib1,34565.83%64731.67%56.12%1,3456982,043
Norfolk NorthLibLib1,69054.64%2879.28%76.63%1,6901,4033,093
Norfolk SouthLibLib1,42450.37%210.74%73.06%1,4241,4032,827
Northumberland EastConCon1,70138.76%1794.08%74.35%1,5222,867[a 7]4,389
Northumberland WestLibLib1,40252.27%1465.44%73.18%1,4021,256242,682
Ontario NorthConLib2,11450.90%751.81%79.45%2,1142,0394,153
Ontario SouthLibLib2,88452.94%3205.87%82.45%2,8842,5645,448
Oxford NorthLibLib2,19758.40%63216.80%64.35%2,1971,5653,762
Oxford SouthLibLib2,45454.21%3818.42%71.16%2,4542,0734,527
Parry SoundLibL-PI1,96856.94%48013.89%42.89%1,4881,9683,456
PeelLibLib2,27354.78%3979.57%75.59%2,2731,8764,149
Perth NorthLibCon2,95750.93%1081.86%81.23%2,8492,9575,806
Perth SouthLibL-PI2,23250.26%230.52%75.32%2,2092,2324,441
Peterborough EastLibLib1,62158.37%46516.74%62.43%1,6211,1562,777
Peterborough WestLibLib2,28060.00%76020.00%75.10%2,2801,5203,800
PrescottLibLib2,03871.06%1,20842.12%58.42%2,0388302,868
Prince EdwardLibL-PI2,14953.35%66716.56%71.00%1,4822,1493974,028
Renfrew NorthConLib1,97854.40%3208.80%75.46%1,9781,6583,636
Renfrew SouthLibLib1,80253.41%2316.85%69.55%3,373[a 8]13,374
RussellLibLib1,97662.47%78924.94%48.17%1,9761,1873,163
Simcoe CentreLibLib1,17036.76%792.48%67.88%1,1709221,0913,183
Simcoe EastConCon2,02143.21%1242.65%67.07%1,8972,0217594,677
Simcoe WestConL-PI1,50951.48%872.97%58.38%2,931[a 9]2,931
StormontLibL-PI1,80947.02%40410.50%62.89%1,4056331,8093,847
Toronto EastNewC-PP3,40166.12%1,65832.23%62.00%1,7433,401[a 10]5,144
Toronto NorthNewCon4,00755.58%80511.17%71.21%3,2024,0077,209
Toronto SouthNewCon6,07360.31%2,07720.63%71.35%3,9966,07310,069
Toronto WestNewCon4,36660.53%1,51921.06%68.31%2,8474,3667,213
Victoria EastConCon1,68854.40%2738.80%60.24%1,6881,4153,103
Victoria WestL-ERLib1,78548.64%47012.81%70.62%1,7851,3155703,670
Waterloo NorthLibLib2,04251.11%91822.98%64.48%2,0421,1248293,995
Waterloo SouthLibLib2,21255.63%44811.27%65.85%3,976[a 11]3,976
WellandConLib2,57950.90%911.80%78.16%2,5792,4885,067
Wellington EastLibLib1,30836.90%551.55%71.66%1,3089841,2533,545
Wellington SouthLibLib1,99360.39%68620.79%59.46%1,9931,3073,300
Wellington WestLibC-PP1,71854.49%2838.98%65.91%1,4351,7183,153
Wentworth NorthLibLib1,44951.31%742.62%78.75%1,4491,3752,824
Wentworth SouthLibLib1,55155.37%30110.75%83.84%1,5511,2502,801
York EastLibLib1,95956.23%43412.46%67.24%1,9591,5253,484
York NorthLibLib2,03554.28%3218.56%61.07%2,0351,7143,749
York WestLibCon2,15150.62%531.25%72.41%2,0982,1514,249
  1. ^ excluding Ottawa, a multi-member constituency
  2. ^ order is as given in EO reports
  3. ^ the Patrons of Industry incumbent Daniel McNaughton, who was elected in an 1893 byelection
  4. ^ two Conservative candidates
  5. ^ 1 PPA, plus the Conservative incumbent Joseph Rorke.
  6. ^ Peter Duncan McCallum, elected as an Independent Conservative in an 1893 byelection
  7. ^ the incumbent William Arnson Willoughby was the winning candidate
  8. ^ the incumbent John Francis Dowling received 1,571 votes
  9. ^ 1 Liberal; 1 Conservative
  10. ^ George Ryerson was previously elected as a Conservative in an 1893 byelection.
  11. ^ the incumbent John Douglas Moore was the winning candidate
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = incumbency arose from prior election result being overturned by the court
  = other incumbents renominated
  = joint Conservative candidate
  = joint Independent Conservative candidate
  = joint Liberal candidate
  = joint Labour candidate
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates
Results for Ottawa (2 seats)[1]
Political partyCandidateVotes%ElectedIncumbent
LiberalGeorge O. O'Keefe3,38129.99 Y
LiberalErskine Henry Bronson3,31629.41 Y Y
ConservativeTaylor McVeitty2,61623.20
IndependentA. F. McIntyre1,92317.06
IndependentT. H. Beck390.65
Majority[a 1]7006.21
Turnout6,84156.11
Registered voters12,193
  1. ^ plurality for third winning candidate

Analysis

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Party candidates in 2nd place[1][a 1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
LibConL-PIC-PPPOIC-PIPPAIndLab-PI
 Liberal21795215243
 Conservative18211123
 Liberal-PI5411112
 Conservative-PPA415
 Patrons of Industry123
 Conservative-PI112
 Liberal-PP22
 PPA11
 Independent Conservative-PPA11
Total33241172464192
  1. ^ excluding Ottawa seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
 Liberal44342
 Conservative23249
 Liberal-PI12112
 Conservative-PPA571
 Patrons of Industry322
 Conservative-PI241
 Liberal-PP2
 PPA161
 Independent Conservative-PPA1
 Independent4311
 Labour-PI1
Resulting composition of the 8th Legislative Assembly of Ontario[1]
SourcePartyTotal
LibConPOIL-PIC-PIPPAL-PPC-PPIC-PP
Seats retainedIncumbents returned26935
Open seats held8412
Byelection loss reversed11
Defeated by same-party candidate11
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated343611321
Open seats gained11611111
Byelection gains held112
Incumbent changed allegiance11
Incumbent from 3rd-party byelection gain changed allegiance112
New seatNew MLAs123
Previously incumbent in the Legislature1113
Ottawa seatsMLA returned11
New MLAs11
Total45233122125194

MLAs elected by region and riding

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Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal
  Conservative
  Patrons of Industry and allied candidates
  Protestant Protective Association and allied candidates

Division of ridings

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The newly created ridings returned the following MLAs:

18901894
RidingPartyMLAsRidingPartyMLAs
Toronto Conservative2Toronto East Conservative-PPA1
Toronto North Conservative1
 Liberal1Toronto South Conservative1
Toronto West Conservative1
Hamilton Liberal1Hamilton East Liberal1
Hamilton West Liberal1
Ottawa Liberal1converted to dual-member riding Liberal2

Seats that changed hands

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Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario – unaltered seats won/lost by party, 1890–1894
Party1890Gain from (loss to)1894
LibConLib-PC-PPAPOICon-PL-PPAPPAICPL-ERC-ER
Liberal506(4)(7)(3)(1)(1)141
Conservative324(6)(5)(1)(1)(2)(2)(1)1120
 Liberal-Patrons7512
 ConservativeP.P.A.314
Patrons of Industry1113
 Conservative-Patrons22
 Liberal-P.P.A.22
Protestant Protective Association11
Independent-Conservative-PPA11
Liberal-Equal Rights2(1)(1)
Conservative-Equal Rights2(1)(1)
Total8616(7)18(6)(12)(4)(3)(2)(2)(1)(1)2286

Of the constituencies that were not altered, there were 38 seats that changed allegiance in the election:

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. James Conmee (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.[5]
  2. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. William Harty (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.[5]
  3. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Jacob Baxter (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection.[5]
  4. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices.[5] Appeal was dismissed, and writ for new election issued. James Tucker (Conservative), brother of the ousted candidate, was elected in the subsequent byelection.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "1894 General Election". Elections Ontario. Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Janet B. Kerr, "Sir Oliver Mowat and the Campaign of 1894," Ontario History, March 1963, Vol. 55 Issue 1, pp 1-13
  3. ^ An Act respecting Representation of certain Cities in the Legislative Assembly, S.O. 1894, c. 2
  4. ^ Romney, Paul (1994). "Mowat, Sir Oliver". In Cook, Ramsay; Hamelin, Jean (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XIII (1901–1910) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  5. ^ a b c d Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Vol. XXVIII. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1895. pp. 6–11, 20–22, 65.
  6. ^ Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Vol. XXIX. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1896. pp. 5–6.