1894 Ontario general election

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1894 Ontario general election
Flag of Ontario.svg
  1890 June 26, 1894 1898  

94 seats in the 8th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
48 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Oliver Mowat.jpg William Ralph Meredith.png
Leader Oliver Mowat William Ralph Meredith
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader since18721879
Leader's seat Oxford North London
Last election5334
Seats won4523
Seat changeDecrease2.svg8Decrease2.svg9

Premier before election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

Premier after election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

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]

Contents

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

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

Results

[1]

Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario (1894)
Political partyParty leaderMPPsVotes
Candidates 1890 Dissol. 1894±#%± (pp)
Liberal Oliver Mowat 8053458Decrease2.svg153,82640.99%8.64Decrease2.svg
Conservative William Ralph Meredith 56342311Decrease2.svg104,36927.81%12.07Decrease2.svg
  Liberal-Patrons 261212Increase2.svg44,02911.73%New
  ConservativeP.P.A. 1355Increase2.svg24,6166.56%New
Patrons of Industry Joseph Longford Haycock 733Increase2.svg10,4652.79%New
  Conservative-Patrons 722Increase2.svg11,6083.09%New
  Liberal-P.P.A. 222Increase2.svg3,6490.97%New
Protestant Protective Association811Increase2.svg11,0152.94%New
Independent-Conservative-PPA111Increase2.svg2,3260.62%New
Independent 99,3742.50%New
  Liberal-Equal Rights 22Decrease2.svgDid not campaign
  Conservative-Equal Rights 22Decrease2.svgDid not campaign
Vacant
Total209919194375,277100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots3,886
Registered voters / turnout539,35870.30%0.70Increase2.svg
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. 1 2 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

Results by riding - 1890 Ontario general election [1]
Riding [a 1] Winning partyTurnoutVotes
Name [a 2] 1890 PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
LibConPOIPPAIndTotal
 
Addington ConCon1,84952.89%2025.78%75.79%1,6471,8493,496
Algoma East ConLib1,98250.85%661.69%50.48%1,9821,9163,898
Algoma West LibCon1,13750.13%60.26%52.42%1,1311,1372,268
Brant North LibLib1,19261.44%44422.89%77.41%1,1927481,940
Brant South LibLib2,59756.74%61713.48%79.56%2,5971,9804,577
Brockville LibLib2,04553.49%2676.98%71.43%2,0451,7783,823
Bruce Centre LibL-PI1,93257.97%53115.93%69.91%1,4011,9323,333
Bruce North ConL-PP1,36939.35%2467.07%63.61%1,1239871,369 [a 3] 3,479
Bruce South LibLib1,91352.05%1514.11%68.91%1,9131,7623,675
Cardwell ConC-PI1,88854.93%34510.04%65.18%63,431 [a 4] 3,437
Carleton ConC-PI1,98663.61%85027.23%68.07%1,1361,9863,122
Dufferin C-ERPI2,46557.05%60914.09%71.28%1,8562,4654,321
Dundas ConCon2,01052.44%1874.88%77.22%2,0101,8233,833
Durham East C-ERCon1,74656.49%40112.97%66.84%1,7461,3453,091
Durham West LibC-PP1,64650.94%611.89%84.42%1,5851,6463,231
Elgin East ConCon1,70043.72%3669.41%74.35%1,3341,7008543,888
Elgin West ConL-PI2,85151.55%1713.09%80.82%2,6802,8515,531
Essex North ConLib1,84342.46%2465.67%54.60%1,8439011,5974,341
Essex South LibLib2,52152.82%78916.53%79.15%2,5215201,7324,773
Frontenac ConL-PI1,51752.26%1314.51%61.94%1,3861,5172,903
Glengarry LibL-PI2,03055.22%38410.45%70.96%2,0301,6463,676
Grenville ConCon1,82647.88%49212.90%64.99%1,3341,8266543,814
Grey Centre ConPPA1,73542.67%54213.33%67.33%1,1382,928 [a 5] 4,066
Grey North LibLib1,64638.09%2134.93%66.04%1,6461,2421,4334,321
Grey South ConPI2,40159.83%78919.66%69.29%1,6122,4014,013
Haldimand LibCon1,69350.22%150.44%76.00%1,6781,6933,371
Halton ConCon2,26951.25%1112.51%77.10%2,1582,2694,427
Hamilton East NewLib2,34851.09%1002.18%78.01%2,3482,2484,596
Hamilton West NewLib2,46855.10%45710.20%78.80%2,4682,0114,479
Hastings East ConL-PI1,57452.70%1615.39%63.32%1,4131,5742,987
Hastings North ConPI1,78250.71%501.42%61.37%1,7321,7823,514
Hastings West LibLib1,47351.41%812.83%56.05%1,4731,3922,865
Huron East LibLib2,12955.95%45311.91%74.44%2,1291,6763,805
Huron South LibLib2,33550.24%220.47%79.03%2,3352,3134,648
Huron West LibLib2,26350.85%761.71%73.39%2,2632,1874,450
Kent East LibLib2,36555.03%43210.05%61.62%2,3651,9334,298
Kent West ConL-PI3,10654.52%5159.04%71.59%2,5913,1065,697
Kingston ConCon1,71050.01%10.03%80.89%1,7091,7103,419
Lambton East LibIC-PP2,32652.06%1844.12%78.15%2,1422,326 [a 6] 4,468
Lambton West LibC-PP3,04450.73%881.47%63.63%2,9563,0446,000
Lanark North L-ERCon1,49950.44%260.87%75.08%1,4731,4992,972
Lanark South ConCon1,83053.03%62318.05%69.08%1,2071,8304143,451
Leeds ConCon1,99955.14%37310.29%65.02%1,9991,6263,625
Lennox ConCon1,08939.09%1124.02%67.24%9771,0897202,786
Lincoln ConCon2,54851.23%1222.45%76.62%2,5482,4264,974
London ConCon3,27351.07%1372.14%86.29%3,1363,2736,409
Middlesex East ConL-PP2,28054.79%3999.59%69.27%1,8812,2804,161
Middlesex North LibL-PI2,01551.64%1283.28%75.79%2,0151,8873,902
Middlesex West LibLib1,97051.46%1122.93%79.59%1,9701,8583,828
Monck LibLib1,51951.13%672.26%72.61%1,5191,4522,971
Muskoka ConC-PP1,80352.44%1684.89%75.02%1,6351,8033,438
Nipissing LibLib1,34565.83%64731.67%56.12%1,3456982,043
Norfolk North LibLib1,69054.64%2879.28%76.63%1,6901,4033,093
Norfolk South LibLib1,42450.37%210.74%73.06%1,4241,4032,827
Northumberland East ConCon1,70138.76%1794.08%74.35%1,5222,867 [a 7] 4,389
Northumberland West LibLib1,40252.27%1465.44%73.18%1,4021,256242,682
Ontario North ConLib2,11450.90%751.81%79.45%2,1142,0394,153
Ontario South LibLib2,88452.94%3205.87%82.45%2,8842,5645,448
Oxford North LibLib2,19758.40%63216.80%64.35%2,1971,5653,762
Oxford South LibLib2,45454.21%3818.42%71.16%2,4542,0734,527
Parry Sound LibL-PI1,96856.94%48013.89%42.89%1,4881,9683,456
Peel LibLib2,27354.78%3979.57%75.59%2,2731,8764,149
Perth North LibCon2,95750.93%1081.86%81.23%2,8492,9575,806
Perth South LibL-PI2,23250.26%230.52%75.32%2,2092,2324,441
Peterborough East LibLib1,62158.37%46516.74%62.43%1,6211,1562,777
Peterborough West LibLib2,28060.00%76020.00%75.10%2,2801,5203,800
Prescott LibLib2,03871.06%1,20842.12%58.42%2,0388302,868
Prince Edward LibL-PI2,14953.35%66716.56%71.00%1,4822,1493974,028
Renfrew North ConLib1,97854.40%3208.80%75.46%1,9781,6583,636
Renfrew South LibLib1,80253.41%2316.85%69.55%3,373 [a 8] 13,374
Russell LibLib1,97662.47%78924.94%48.17%1,9761,1873,163
Simcoe Centre LibLib1,17036.76%792.48%67.88%1,1709221,0913,183
Simcoe East ConCon2,02143.21%1242.65%67.07%1,8972,0217594,677
Simcoe West ConL-PI1,50951.48%872.97%58.38%2,931 [a 9] 2,931
Stormont LibL-PI1,80947.02%40410.50%62.89%1,4056331,8093,847
Toronto East NewC-PP3,40166.12%1,65832.23%62.00%1,7433,401 [a 10] 5,144
Toronto North NewCon4,00755.58%80511.17%71.21%3,2024,0077,209
Toronto South NewCon6,07360.31%2,07720.63%71.35%3,9966,07310,069
Toronto West NewCon4,36660.53%1,51921.06%68.31%2,8474,3667,213
Victoria East ConCon1,68854.40%2738.80%60.24%1,6881,4153,103
Victoria West L-ERLib1,78548.64%47012.81%70.62%1,7851,3155703,670
Waterloo North LibLib2,04251.11%91822.98%64.48%2,0421,1248293,995
Waterloo South LibLib2,21255.63%44811.27%65.85%3,976 [a 11] 3,976
Welland ConLib2,57950.90%911.80%78.16%2,5792,4885,067
Wellington East LibLib1,30836.90%551.55%71.66%1,3089841,2533,545
Wellington South LibLib1,99360.39%68620.79%59.46%1,9931,3073,300
Wellington West LibC-PP1,71854.49%2838.98%65.91%1,4351,7183,153
Wentworth North LibLib1,44951.31%742.62%78.75%1,4491,3752,824
Wentworth South LibLib1,55155.37%30110.75%83.84%1,5511,2502,801
York East LibLib1,95956.23%43412.46%67.24%1,9591,5253,484
York North LibLib2,03554.28%3218.56%61.07%2,0351,7143,749
York West LibCon2,15150.62%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

[1]

Results for Ottawa (2 seats)
Political partyCandidateVotes %ElectedIncumbent
Liberal George O. O'Keefe 3,38129.99Green check.svgY
Liberal Erskine Henry Bronson 3,31629.41Green check.svgYGreen check.svgY
Conservative Taylor McVeitty2,61623.20
Independent A. F. McIntyre1,92317.06
Independent T. H. Beck390.65
Majority [a 1] 7006.21
Turnout6,84156.11
Registered voters12,193
  1. plurality for third winning candidate

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place [1] [a 1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
LibConL-PIC-PPPOIC-PIPPAIndLab-PI
  Liberal 21795215243
  Conservative 18211123
 Liberal-PI5411112
 Conservative-PPA415
  Patrons of Industry 123
 Conservative-PI112
 Liberal-PP22
 PPA11
 Independent Conservative-PPA11
Total33241172464192
  1. excluding Ottawa seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party [1]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
  Liberal 44342
  Conservative 23249
 Liberal-PI12112
 Conservative-PPA571
  Patrons of Industry 322
 Conservative-PI241
 Liberal-PP2
 PPA161
 Independent Conservative-PPA1
  Independent 4311
 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

Party designations are as follows:

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

    Division of ridings

    The newly created ridings returned the following MLAs:

    18901894
    RidingPartyMLAsRidingPartyMLAs
    Toronto   Conservative 2 Toronto East  Conservative-PPA1
    Toronto North   Conservative 1
      Liberal 1 Toronto South   Conservative 1
    Toronto West   Conservative 1
    Hamilton   Liberal 1 Hamilton East   Liberal 1
    Hamilton West   Liberal 1
    Ottawa   Liberal 1converted to dual-member riding  Liberal 2

    Seats that changed hands

    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
    Liberal 506(4)(7)(3)(1)(1)141
    Conservative 324(6)(5)(1)(1)(2)(2)(1)1120
      Liberal-Patrons 7512
      ConservativeP.P.A. 314
    Patrons of Industry 1113
      Conservative-Patrons 22
      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

    Notes and references

    Notes

    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]

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    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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. 1 2 3 4 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.