1990 Ontario general election

Wikipedia

1990 Ontario general election

 1987 September 6, 1990 1995 

130 seats in the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
66 seats needed for a majority
Turnout64.45%[1]
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Bob Rae David Peterson Mike Harris
Party New Democratic Liberal Progressive Conservative
Leader since February 7, 1982 February 21, 1982 May 12, 1990
Leader's seat York South London Centre (lost re-election) Nipissing
Last election 19 95 16
Seats won 74 36 20
Seat change Increase55 Decrease59 Increase4
Popular vote 1,509,506 1,302,134 944,564
Percentage 37.6% 32.4% 23.5%
Swing Increase11.9pp Decrease14.9pp Decrease1.2pp

Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Click the map for more details.

Premier before election

David Peterson
Liberal

Premier after election

Bob Rae
New Democratic

The 1990 Ontario general election was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada. The governing Ontario Liberal Party led by Premier David Peterson was unexpectedly defeated. Although the Peterson government, and Peterson himself, were very popular,[2] he was accused of opportunism in calling an election just three years into his mandate. In a shocking upset, the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Bob Rae, won a majority government. This marked the first time the NDP had won government east of Manitoba, and to date the only time the NDP formed the government in Ontario.

Not even the NDP expected to come close to winning power. Rae had already made plans to retire from politics after the election; however, the NDP managed to take many seats in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from the Liberals, and Rae himself represented York South, in Metro Toronto. They also did better than ever before, or in some cases since, in many other cities and rural areas. The NDP finished only five points ahead of the Liberals in the popular vote, but due to the nature of the first-past-the-post electoral system, which ignores the popular vote and awards power based on the number of ridings won, the NDP's gains in the GTA decimated the Liberal caucus. The Liberals lost 59 seats, the second-worst defeat for a governing party in Ontario. At the time, it was the Liberals' worst showing in an Ontario election. Peterson himself was heavily defeated in London Centre by NDP challenger Marion Boyd, losing by 8,200 votes, one of the few times a provincial premier has lost their own seat.

Although Mike Harris' Progressive Conservative Party was unable to overcome voter distrust of the federal Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, his party managed to make a net gain of four seats. Although Harris was from northern Ontario, the Tories were particularly weak in that region, placing fourth, behind the Liberals, NDP, and the right-wing Confederation of Regions Party (CoR) in six northern Ontario ridings (Algoma, Cochrane South, Nickel Belt, Sudbury, Sudbury East, and Sault Ste. Marie). The CoR also placed ahead of the Progressive Conservatives in the Renfrew North and Cornwall ridings in eastern Ontario. Although they received only 1.9% of the vote provincewide, they managed 7.8% in the 33 ridings in which they actually fielded a candidate.

The Green Party of Ontario placed third, ahead of the NDP, in Parry Sound riding, where former Liberal leadership candidate Richard Thomas was the party's candidate.

The Ontario Legislature after the 1990 election.

Riding name change

Before the election, an Act was passed, changing the name of Prince Edward—Lennox to Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings.[3]

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey
Source ONDP OLP PCO Other ME Sample
Election 1990 September 6, 1990 37.6 32.4 23.5 6.5
Angus Reid-Southam August 30, 1990 [4] 38 34 24 4 3.3 804
Environics August 21, 1990 [5] 34 40 23 3.1 1,008
Leader's debate held (August 20, 1990)[6]
Decima August 13, 1990 [7] 30 40 28
Election called (July 30, 1990)[8]

During the 34th Parliament of Ontario

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey
Source ONDP OLP PCO Other ME Sample
Gallup July 1990 [9] 24 43 26
Environics July 8, 1990 [10] 26 50 22 3.2 1,000
Environics April 1990 [11] 28 47 23
Environics December 1989 [12] 26 42 30 3.2
Environics September 1989 [12] 26 45 28 3.2
Environics July 6, 1989 [13] 25 45 29 3.2 1,012
Environics December 13, 1988 [14] 21 43 34 1,025
Angus Reid October 1988 [15] 20 53 25
Environics May 1988 [16] 25 45 28 1 3.2 1,003
Environics May 1988 [16] 25 45 28 1 3.2 1,003
Gallup May 14, 1988 [17] 25 50 24 5 571
Environics February 1988 [18] 24 54 21 3.2 1,003
Environics November 22, 1987 [19] 24 52 23 3.2 1,008
Election 1987 September 10, 1987 25.7 47.3 23.5 3.5

Results

[1]

Elections to the 35th Parliament of Ontario (1990)
Political party Party leader MPPs Votes
Candidates 1987 Dissol. 1990 ± # % ± (pp)
New Democratic Bob Rae 130 19 19 74 55Increase 1,509,506 37.6% 11.9Increase
Liberal David Peterson 130 95 93 36 59Decrease 1,302,134 32.4% 14.9Decrease
Progressive Conservative Mike Harris 130 16 17 20 4Increase 944,564 23.5% 1.2Decrease
Family Coalition Donald Pennell 68 110,831 2.8% 1.5Increase
Confederation of Regions Dean Wasson 33 75,873 1.9% New
Green Katherine Mathewson 40 30,097 0.8% 0.7Increase
Libertarian James Stock 45 24,613 0.6% 0.2Increase
Freedom Robert Metz 10 6,015 0.1% Steady
Communist Elizabeth Rowley 4 1,139 0.1Decrease
Independent   15 13,307 0.3% Steady
Vacant 1
Total 615 130 130 130 4,018,079 100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots 52,575
Total ballots cast 4,070,654
Registered voters / turnout 6,315,949 64.5% 1.8Increase

Vote and seat summaries


Popular vote
New Democratic
37.57%
Liberal
32.41%
PC
23.51%
Others
6.51%
Seats summary
New Democratic
56.92%
Liberal
27.69%
PC
15.38%

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1990 Ontario general election[1]
Riding Winning party Turnout
[a 1]
Votes[a 2]
Name[a 3][a 4] 1987 1st
place
Votes Share Margin
#
Margin
%
2nd
place
3rd
place
NDP Lib PC FCP CoR Ind Other Total
 
Algoma  NDP  NDP 8,22158.65%4,64833.16%  Lib  CoR 65.62%8,2213,5734331,79014,017
Algoma—Manitoulin  Lib  Lib 5,96138.86%2071.35%  NDP  PC 61.25%5,7545,9612,1631,11434715,339
Beaches—Woodbine  NDP  NDP 14,38158.35%8,05232.67%  Lib  PC 65.95%14,3816,3293,53540024,645
Brampton North  Lib  Lib 11,68634.92%980.29%  NDP  PC 58.35%11,58811,6867,6191,46643466933,462
Brampton South  Lib  Lib 12,91832.31%4241.06%  NDP  PC 59.36%12,49412,91811,3952,51166739,985
Brantford  Lib  NDP 17,73648.63%4,09211.22%  Lib  PC 66.71%17,73613,6443,0871,41359436,474
Brant—Haldimand  Lib  Lib 10,75137.35%1,4695.10%  NDP  PC 61.18%9,28210,7516,2281,5201,00428,785
Bruce  Lib  Lib 11,47637.71%3,51111.54%  NDP  PC 68.92%7,96511,4767,3493,63930,429
Burlington South  PC  PC 17,08452.53%8,89927.36%  NDP  Lib 69.48%8,1855,54417,0841,70732,520
Cambridge  NDP  NDP 21,80660.28%14,24939.39%  Lib  PC 64.84%21,8067,5574,4492,36436,176
Carleton  PC  PC 17,86046.91%7,71720.27%  Lib  NDP 65.15%10,07110,14317,86038,074
Carleton East  Lib  Lib 19,05953.88%9,08325.68%  NDP  PC 63.52%9,97619,0595,1171,22435,376
Chatham—Kent  Lib  NDP 13,93044.74%3,96712.74%  Lib  PC 63.01%13,9309,9635,6191,62631,138
Cochrane North  Lib  NDP 6,61840.47%1430.87%  Lib  PC 62.16%6,6186,4753,26116,354
Cochrane South  PC  NDP 11,46047.61%2,0998.72%  Lib  CoR 62.95%11,4609,3611,0192,22924,069
Cornwall  Lib  Lib 12,72546.53%5,68120.77%  NDP  CoR 63.79%7,04412,7253,1694,40927,347
Don Mills  Lib  NDP 9,74034.20%9543.35%  Lib  PC 64.23%9,7408,7867,6315621,76428,483
Dovercourt  Lib  NDP 10,60454.25%3,98920.41%  Lib  PC 66.27%10,6046,6151,2391,09019,548
Downsview  Lib  NDP 13,44056.58%5,22121.98%  Lib  PC 66.08%13,4408,2191,47761923,755
Dufferin—Peel  Lib  PC 10,89934.66%5721.82%  Lib  NDP 66.56%8,62710,32710,8991,59431,447
Durham Centre  Lib  NDP 12,59435.88%2,3486.69%  Lib  PC 61.23%12,59410,2469,1261,1861,08785735,096
Durham East  PC  NDP 10,96032.74%530.16%  PC  Lib 63.43%10,9607,83610,9072,4871,28633,476
Durham West  Lib  NDP 16,36637.47%1,9824.54%  Lib  PC 62.36%16,36614,38411,1671,76143,678
Durham—York  Lib  NDP 12,29733.89%1,2303.39%  Lib  PC 61.90%12,29711,06710,9042,01636,284
Eglinton  Lib  Lib 12,03235.97%1730.52%  PC  NDP 69.98%7,77212,03211,8591,78833,451
Elgin  Lib  NDP 14,18941.67%4,46613.12%  Lib  PC 66.51%14,1899,7239,0311,10434,047
Essex-Kent  Lib  NDP 15,85852.66%5,89019.56%  Lib  PC 67.52%15,8589,9682,7391,55130,116
Essex South  Lib  Lib 10,57536.02%2120.72%  NDP  PC 59.40%10,36310,5756,3352,08529,358
Etobicoke—Humber  Lib  Lib 13,58238.61%3,53310.04%  NDP  PC 70.29%10,04913,5829,2891,29296635,178
Etobicoke—Lakeshore  NDP  NDP 18,11857.23%11,11235.10%  Lib  PC 66.15%18,1187,0064,8541,05362931,660
Etobicoke—Rexdale  NDP  NDP 17,62067.07%13,03549.62%  Lib  PC 61.42%17,6204,5853,24382226,270
Etobicoke West  Lib  PC 13,71340.56%3,63110.74%  Lib  NDP 69.86%7,99210,08213,7131,04530467433,810
Fort William  Lib  Lib 11,79844.44%1,3455.07%  NDP  PC 62.74%10,45311,7984,30026,551
Fort York  Lib  NDP 11,02346.30%1,3675.74%  Lib  PC 63.48%11,0239,6562,25833053923,806
Frontenac—Addington  Lib  NDP 9,69633.24%1,4705.04%  Lib  PC 65.15%9,6968,2268,2112,0201,02129,174
Grey  Lib  PC 13,74236.11%2,4626.47%  NDP  Lib 65.20%11,28010,25713,7422,15762038,056
Guelph  Lib  NDP 15,05137.91%3,1077.83%  Lib  PC 69.48%15,05111,94410,1841,60292039,701
Halton Centre  Lib  Lib 13,49435.03%1,2153.15%  PC  NDP 63.12%10,16313,49412,2791,2321,35538,523
Halton North  Lib  NDP 8,51030.94%5481.99%  Lib  PC 64.50%8,5107,9627,4992,4891,04327,503
Hamilton Centre  Lib  NDP 14,02955.32%6,21524.51%  Lib  PC 59.78%14,0297,8142,1163651,03425,358
Hamilton East  NDP  NDP 20,28971.60%14,76452.10%  Lib  PC 61.70%20,2895,5251,67684628,336
Hamilton Mountain  NDP  NDP 22,48859.76%14,77939.28%  PC  Lib 66.55%22,4887,4327,70937,629
Hamilton West  NDP  NDP 18,55056.59%11,31434.52%  Lib  PC 67.90%18,5507,2364,3612,32430632,777
Hastings—Peterborough  PC  NDP 11,28339.89%8963.17%  PC  Lib 68.76%11,2834,28510,3871,1991,12828,282
High Park—Swansea  Lib  NDP 11,43245.12%3,27312.92%  Lib  PC 64.83%11,4328,1594,67440966325,337
Huron  Lib  NDP 10,02034.47%9543.28%  PC  Lib 71.47%10,0206,6539,0662,93140029,070
Kenora  Lib  Lib 8,15240.55%3311.65%  NDP  Ind 61.67%7,8218,1521,7762,35720,106
Kingston and the Islands  Lib  NDP 10,18437.99%2,0927.80%  Lib  PC 57.00%10,1848,0927,0791,45226,807
Kitchener  Lib  NDP 15,75046.82%6,01917.89%  Lib  PC 62.90%15,7509,7316,1572,00233,640
Kitchener—Wilmot  Lib  NDP 16,05643.94%5,18714.20%  Lib  PC 60.09%16,05610,8697,3422,27036,537
Lake Nipigon  NDP  NDP 8,33565.19%5,25241.08%  Lib  PC 59.98%8,3353,08373563212,785
Lambton  Lib  NDP 8,69131.40%1,0263.71%  PC  Lib 68.17%8,6917,2917,6653,55747127,675
Lanark—Renfrew  PC  PC 11,06332.48%1,3984.10%  Lib  NDP 60.37%8,5419,66511,0631,8532,93834,060
Lawrence  Lib  Lib 11,78644.70%1,6076.10%  NDP  PC 65.68%10,17911,7863,55784226,364
Leeds—Grenville  PC  PC 16,84649.07%7,67422.35%  Lib  NDP 66.18%8,3129,17216,84634,330
Lincoln  Lib  NDP 12,11735.49%1,0623.11%  Lib  PC 68.07%12,11711,0559,4071,56234,141
London Centre  Lib  NDP 17,83751.31%8,16623.49%  Lib  PC 66.05%17,8379,6715,34898234558234,765
London North  Lib  PC 18,07941.30%4,0749.31%  NDP  Lib 67.80%14,0059,99018,0791,09560143,770
London South  Lib  NDP 17,43842.41%5,65113.74%  Lib  PC 65.61%17,43811,7879,8281,42763541,115
Markham  PC  PC 25,59549.97%10,46720.43%  Lib  NDP 64.39%8,45915,12825,5951,08631164251,221
Middlesex  Lib  NDP 12,52232.62%5201.35%  Lib  PC 68.80%12,52212,0028,9574,00789438,382
Mississauga East  Lib  Lib 12,44839.29%3,27110.32%  NDP  PC 61.61%9,17712,4488,2851,36341131,684
Mississauga North  Lib  Lib 12,65837.85%1,4424.31%  NDP  PC 57.77%11,21612,6587,99063294633,442
Mississauga South  PC  PC 17,12652.45%9,54729.24%  NDP  Lib 65.68%7,5796,62417,1261,32332,652
Mississauga West  Lib  Lib 20,03842.11%6,10012.82%  NDP  PC 59.59%13,93820,03811,94577189247,584
Muskoka—Georgian Bay  Lib  NDP 13,42240.63%2,9188.83%  PC  Lib 67.65%13,4229,10510,50433,031
Nepean  Lib  Lib 13,72342.45%3,85311.92%  PC  NDP 62.91%7,45313,7239,8701,28232,328
Niagara Falls  Lib  NDP 13,88446.37%5,90519.72%  Lib  PC 63.38%13,8847,9793,8966743,14136529,939
Niagara South  Lib  NDP 11,16146.56%3,92916.39%  Lib  PC 65.10%11,1617,2324,0321,54723,972
Nickel Belt  NDP  NDP 9,92558.54%6,65839.27%  Lib  CoR 69.07%9,9253,2679672,79616,955
Nipissing  PC  PC 15,46945.85%4,72414.00%  Lib  NDP 70.16%7,03910,74515,46948833,741
Norfolk  Lib  NDP 14,85041.03%3,87910.72%  Lib  PC 67.95%14,85010,97110,37436,195
Northumberland  Lib  Lib 11,98433.53%1,0943.06%  PC  NDP 66.93%9,58111,98410,8901,2131,67739535,740
Oakville South  Lib  PC 10,94934.98%1080.35%  Lib  NDP 66.73%6,42310,84110,9499961,0571,03831,304
Oakwood  Lib  NDP 10,42348.74%2,28010.66%  Lib  PC 67.69%10,4238,1431,6711,14721,384
Oriole  Lib  Lib 10,65541.86%2,2148.70%  NDP  PC 66.13%8,44110,6555,43592325,454
Oshawa  NDP  NDP 16,60161.09%11,48542.27%  Lib  PC 51.99%16,6015,1163,8711,58527,173
Ottawa Centre  Lib  NDP 14,52247.70%2,8669.41%  Lib  PC 67.17%14,52211,6562,72380916057630,446
Ottawa East  Lib  Lib 16,36362.41%10,26039.13%  NDP  PC 55.23%6,10316,3632,20382672326,218
Ottawa—Rideau  Lib  Lib 13,45445.31%4,60915.52%  NDP  PC 59.96%8,84513,4545,2341,04986125229,695
Ottawa South  Lib  Lib 13,84545.87%6,01919.94%  NDP  PC 68.56%7,82613,8457,39950361230,185
Ottawa West  Lib  Lib 13,90841.61%4,84014.48%  PC  NDP 65.68%8,39113,9089,0681,0441,01133,422
Oxford  Lib  NDP 12,68434.75%2,8247.74%  PC  Lib 67.65%12,6849,8029,8603,18297636,504
Parkdale  Lib  Lib 8,08046.39%5233.00%  NDP  PC 61.22%7,5578,08094127356617,417
Parry Sound  PC  PC 10,07843.78%4,95321.52%  Lib  Grn 65.09%2,9935,12510,0787634,06123,020
Perth  Lib  NDP 11,71236.83%2,9919.41%  Lib  PC 66.24%11,7128,7218,6002,76931,802
Peterborough  Lib  NDP 13,81332.98%1850.44%  Lib  PC 66.65%13,81313,6288,8843,6521,58632541,888
Port Arthur  Lib  NDP 11,91942.88%1,0343.72%  Lib  PC 62.22%11,91910,8853,8541,14027,798
Prescott and Russell  Lib  Lib 25,87964.97%16,51041.45%  NDP  PC 59.27%9,36925,8792,8481,11961839,833
Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings  Lib  NDP 9,20433.17%9053.26%  PC  Lib 61.45%9,2048,1888,2992,06127,752
Quinte  Lib  Lib 11,11437.43%4,10413.82%  NDP  PC 59.41%7,01011,1145,8252,3313,41129,691
Rainy River  NDP  NDP 7,83861.47%3,96031.06%  Lib  PC 66.34%7,8383,8781,03512,751
Renfrew North  Lib  Lib 13,08243.32%7,16623.73%  NDP  CoR 65.62%5,91613,0824,5861,1045,51030,198
Riverdale  NDP  NDP 14,08661.97%8,51437.46%  Lib  PC 62.45%14,0865,5721,5781,49322,729
St. Andrew—St. Patrick  Lib  NDP 10,32134.45%1,0803.61%  PC  Lib 66.89%10,3218,9389,2411,45629,956
St. Catharines  Lib  Lib 11,56538.76%9363.14%  NDP  PC 66.77%10,62911,5653,9261,3312,38429,835
St. Catharines—Brock  Lib  NDP 9,53834.71%1,1594.22%  Lib  PC 65.85%9,5388,3796,9698731,44927027,478
St. George—St. David  Lib  Lib 10,71836.08%720.24%  NDP  PC 64.63%10,64610,7186,95593245529,706
Sarnia  PC  NDP 10,86036.71%2,3207.84%  Lib  PC 64.84%10,8608,5406,2692,69165257429,586
Sault Ste. Marie  NDP  NDP 14,03636.26%6971.80%  Lib  CoR 68.26%14,03613,3393,3477,99138,713
Scarborough—Agincourt  Lib  Lib 13,34744.32%4,70715.63%  PC  NDP 63.54%6,76313,3478,6401,36830,118
Scarborough Centre  Lib  NDP 12,32445.21%3,06811.25%  Lib  PC 64.45%12,3249,2565,68227,262
Scarborough East  Lib  NDP 11,70035.55%1,7745.39%  Lib  PC 63.47%11,7009,9269,8903681,03132,915
Scarborough—Ellesmere  Lib  NDP 14,03648.20%4,61915.86%  Lib  PC 66.79%14,0369,4174,85581129,119
Scarborough North  Lib  Lib 13,39344.56%3,91613.03%  NDP  PC 57.86%9,47713,3935,3671,19962030,056
Scarborough West  NDP  NDP 14,34051.16%7,81927.90%  Lib  PC 65.21%14,3406,5215,76999640128,027
Simcoe Centre  Lib  NDP 15,71137.79%2,8426.84%  Lib  PC 62.46%15,71112,86910,0132,97941,572
Simcoe East  PC  PC 14,82839.65%7401.98%  NDP  Lib 67.46%14,0887,21914,8281,26337,398
Simcoe West  PC  PC 11,71036.49%1,8405.73%  NDP  Lib 63.84%9,8707,76511,7102,74432,089
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry  PC  PC 11,88740.87%3,50112.04%  Lib  NDP 65.77%5,3578,38611,8873,45229,082
Sudbury  Lib  NDP 13,40741.21%3,39710.44%  Lib  CoR 66.57%13,40710,0103,3185,79532,530
Sudbury East  NDP  NDP 17,53658.00%10,05233.25%  Lib  CoR 70.87%17,5367,4841,4583,75430,232
Timiskaming  Lib  Lib 8,36442.29%2,17310.99%  NDP  PC 67.57%6,1918,3642,2612,25071319,779
Victoria—Haliburton  Lib  NDP 15,46744.33%6,52018.69%  PC  Lib 69.10%15,4677,6688,9471,41997141734,889
Waterloo North  Lib  PC 14,55237.43%3,2548.37%  NDP  Lib 62.03%11,2989,44114,5522,94664638,883
Welland-Thorold  NDP  NDP 20,48863.62%12,93140.16%  Lib  PC 69.80%20,4887,5572,89387838632,202
Wellington  PC  PC 12,14139.62%1,3044.26%  NDP  Lib 66.44%10,8377,66812,14130,646
Wentworth East  Lib  NDP 15,22444.63%3,1479.23%  Lib  PC 66.82%15,22412,0775,60953366834,111
Wentworth North  Lib  NDP 11,47234.05%880.26%  Lib  PC 69.63%11,47211,3848,7401,23686033,692
Willowdale  Lib  PC 11,95735.20%8342.46%  Lib  NDP 63.33%9,12511,12311,9571,07468833,967
Wilson Heights  Lib  Lib 12,27244.26%2,6549.57%  NDP  PC 62.99%9,61812,2724,91392227,725
Windsor—Riverside  NDP  NDP 21,14471.03%14,50448.72%  Lib  PC 62.16%21,1446,6401,09688929,769
Windsor—Sandwich  Lib  NDP 15,95254.45%4,14514.15%  Lib  PC 58.96%15,95211,8071,18635329,298
Windsor—Walkerville  Lib  NDP 15,89955.19%4,31814.99%  Lib  PC 59.74%15,89911,5811,32728,807
York Centre  Lib  Lib 28,05645.57%9,20614.95%  NDP  PC 61.85%18,85028,05614,65661,562
York East  Lib  NDP 10,68935.81%7892.64%  Lib  PC 68.03%10,6899,9008,02138085829,848
York Mills  Lib  PC 13,03744.64%2,6479.06%  Lib  NDP 68.30%4,83010,39013,03795029,207
York North  Lib  Lib 11,45234.25%1480.44%  PC  NDP 63.14%10,68111,45211,30433,437
York South  NDP  NDP 16,64266.70%12,10848.53%  Lib  PC 66.80%16,6424,5342,5611,21224,949
Yorkview  Lib  NDP 9,94549.58%1,6198.07%  Lib  PC 61.11%9,9458,3261,25423130320,059
  1. including spoilt ballots
  2. minor political parties receiving less than 1% of the popular vote are aggregated under "Other"; independent candidates are aggregated separately
  3. order is as given in EO reports
  4. Names are as specified in 1976 Act plus 1990 amendment - EO file has errors
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

Comparative analysis for ridings (1990 vs 1987)

Summary of riding results by turnout and vote share for winning candidate (vs 1987)[a 1]
Riding and winning party Turnout Vote share
% Change (pp) % Change (pp)
 
Algoma  NDP Hold 65.62-3.19
 
58.65-2.25
 
Algoma—Manitoulin  Lib Hold 61.25-0.89
 
38.86-7.19
 
Beaches—Woodbine  NDP Hold 65.954.12
 
58.358.61
 
Brampton North  Lib Hold 58.354.21
 
34.92-15.90
 
Brampton South  Lib Hold 59.364.11
 
32.31-20.27
 
Brantford  NDP Gain 66.71-2.18
 
48.6315.11
 
Brant—Haldimand  Lib Hold 61.184.35
 
37.35-22.00
 
Bruce  Lib Hold 68.921.24
 
37.71-23.02
 
Burlington South  PC Hold 69.481.78
 
52.5311.21
 
Cambridge  NDP Hold 64.841.91
 
60.2825.79
 
Carleton  PC Hold 65.15-0.07
 
46.913.30
 
Carleton East  Lib Hold 63.522.61
 
53.88-10.21
 
Chatham—Kent  NDP Gain 63.013.41
 
44.7418.28
 
Cochrane North  NDP Gain 62.16-1.03
 
40.475.68
 
Cochrane South  NDP Gain 62.950.59
 
47.6121.73
 
Cornwall  Lib Hold 63.79-0.54
 
46.536.30
 
Don Mills  NDP Gain 64.235.10
 
34.2010.61
 
Dovercourt  NDP Gain 66.27-1.75
 
54.259.27
 
Downsview  NDP Gain 66.082.90
 
56.5810.46
 
Dufferin—Peel  PC Gain 66.563.58
 
34.663.36
 
Durham Centre  NDP Gain 61.23-0.22
 
35.884.94
 
Durham East  NDP Gain 63.432.72
 
32.748.41
 
Durham West  NDP Gain 62.363.20
 
37.4720.62
 
Durham—York  NDP Gain 61.903.19
 
33.8915.92
 
Eglinton  Lib Hold 69.982.25
 
35.97-8.77
 
Elgin  NDP Gain 66.51-0.26
 
41.6717.99
 
Essex-Kent  NDP Gain 67.522.21
 
52.6611.67
 
Essex South  Lib Hold 59.404.16
 
36.02-22.92
 
Etobicoke—Humber  Lib Hold 70.293.70
 
38.61-22.44
 
Etobicoke—Lakeshore  NDP Hold 66.150.27
 
57.2312.64
 
Etobicoke—Rexdale  NDP Hold 61.421.41
 
67.0715.03
 
Etobicoke West  PC Gain 69.863.88
 
40.5611.79
 
Fort William  Lib Hold 62.74-4.95
 
44.445.97
 
Fort York  NDP Gain 63.485.04
 
46.303.95
 
Frontenac—Addington  NDP Gain 65.154.02
 
33.2413.01
 
Grey  PC Gain 65.200.96
 
36.110.31
 
Guelph  NDP Gain 69.487.25
 
37.9110.70
 
Halton Centre  Lib Hold 63.123.72
 
35.03-18.00
 
Halton North  NDP Gain 64.506.96
 
30.947.15
 
Hamilton Centre  NDP Gain 59.781.02
 
55.3216.43
 
Hamilton East  NDP Hold 61.701.45
 
71.6014.78
 
Hamilton Mountain  NDP Hold 66.550.64
 
59.7616.95
 
Hamilton West  NDP Hold 67.902.95
 
56.5914.13
 
Hastings—Peterborough  NDP Gain 68.762.61
 
39.8913.78
 
High Park—Swansea  NDP Gain 64.83-0.11
 
45.1213.69
 
Huron  NDP Gain 71.473.90
 
34.4720.06
 
Kenora  Lib Hold 61.67-0.48
 
40.550.04
 
Kingston and the Islands  NDP Gain 57.000.69
 
37.9913.33
 
Kitchener  NDP Gain 62.906.31
 
46.8218.29
 
Kitchener—Wilmot  NDP Gain 60.094.59
 
43.9419.64
 
Lake Nipigon  NDP Hold 59.98-4.55
 
65.191.12
 
Lambton  NDP Gain 68.171.46
 
31.4019.99
 
Lanark—Renfrew  PC Hold 60.37-0.50
 
32.48-10.26
 
Lawrence  Lib Hold 65.68-1.34
 
44.70-8.32
 
Leeds—Grenville  PC Hold 66.18-2.33
 
49.075.89
 
Lincoln  NDP Gain 68.072.73
 
35.4914.67
 
London Centre  NDP Gain 66.059.37
 
51.3123.21
 
London North  PC Gain 67.804.02
 
41.3022.78
 
London South  NDP Gain 65.613.06
 
42.4122.84
 
Markham  PC Hold 64.393.78
 
49.975.77
 
Middlesex  NDP Gain 68.802.91
 
32.6215.89
 
Mississauga East  Lib Hold 61.611.74
 
39.29-11.10
 
Mississauga North  Lib Hold 57.773.79
 
37.85-18.18
 
Mississauga South  PC Hold 65.680.78
 
52.4510.21
 
Mississauga West  Lib Hold 59.592.91
 
42.11-18.25
 
Muskoka—Georgian Bay  NDP Gain 67.652.49
 
40.6316.38
 
Nepean  Lib Hold 62.910.43
 
42.45-6.01
 
Niagara Falls  NDP Gain 63.385.40
 
46.3716.54
 
Niagara South  NDP Gain 65.108.91
 
46.5625.40
 
Nickel Belt  NDP Hold 69.07-1.15
 
58.540.33
 
Nipissing  PC Hold 70.161.35
 
45.85-4.83
 
Norfolk  NDP Gain 67.954.92
 
41.0314.45
 
Northumberland  Lib Hold 66.93-0.04
 
33.53-10.29
 
Oakville South  PC Gain 66.731.91
 
34.98-5.36
 
Oakwood  NDP Gain 67.690.40
 
48.746.20
 
Oriole  Lib Hold 66.131.12
 
41.86-17.82
 
Oshawa  NDP Hold 51.99-2.08
 
61.0915.24
 
Ottawa Centre  NDP Gain 67.174.00
 
47.707.63
 
Ottawa East  Lib Hold 55.232.17
 
62.41-11.85
 
Ottawa—Rideau  Lib Hold 59.960.54
 
45.31-4.89
 
Ottawa South  Lib Hold 68.560.91
 
45.87-5.01
 
Ottawa West  Lib Hold 65.684.08
 
41.61-8.85
 
Oxford  NDP Gain 67.65-0.59
 
34.7516.13
 
Parkdale  Lib Hold 61.22-1.31
 
46.39-23.07
 
Parry Sound  PC Hold 65.090.84
 
43.78-9.81
 
Perth  NDP Gain 66.243.09
 
36.8316.20
 
Peterborough  NDP Gain 66.652.91
 
32.984.69
 
Port Arthur  NDP Gain 62.22-5.63
 
42.883.44
 
Prescott and Russell  Lib Hold 59.27-0.79
 
64.97-10.83
 
Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings  NDP Gain 61.450.22
 
33.1715.38
 
Quinte  Lib Hold 59.412.19
 
37.43-24.65
 
Rainy River  NDP Hold 66.34-5.20
 
61.4720.92
 
Renfrew North  Lib Hold 65.62-1.54
 
43.32-19.41
 
Riverdale  NDP Hold 62.451.42
 
61.9717.08
 
St. Andrew—St. Patrick  NDP Gain 66.892.38
 
34.4516.37
 
St. Catharines  Lib Hold 66.774.28
 
38.76-24.54
 
St. Catharines—Brock  NDP Gain 65.852.44
 
34.719.81
 
St. George—St. David  Lib Hold 64.632.74
 
36.08-15.07
 
Sarnia  NDP Gain 64.84-0.83
 
36.7121.46
 
Sault Ste. Marie  NDP Hold 68.26-2.15
 
36.26-12.74
 
Scarborough—Agincourt  Lib Hold 63.540.12
 
44.32-13.22
 
Scarborough Centre  NDP Gain 64.45-0.14
 
45.2115.85
 
Scarborough East  NDP Gain 63.474.23
 
35.5512.50
 
Scarborough—Ellesmere  NDP Gain 66.793.08
 
48.208.14
 
Scarborough North  Lib Hold 57.86-1.99
 
44.56-18.47
 
Scarborough West  NDP Hold 65.213.61
 
51.164.92
 
Simcoe Centre  NDP Gain 62.46-0.01
 
37.7917.45
 
Simcoe East  PC Hold 67.460.49
 
39.652.74
 
Simcoe West  PC Hold 63.842.79
 
36.49-5.46
 
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry  PC Hold 65.77-1.26
 
40.872.49
 
Sudbury  NDP Gain 66.57-0.84
 
41.2112.71
 
Sudbury East  NDP Hold 70.872.62
 
58.003.03
 
Timiskaming  Lib Hold 67.57-2.42
 
42.29-6.58
 
Victoria—Haliburton  NDP Gain 69.106.13
 
44.3329.57
 
Waterloo North  PC Gain 62.035.10
 
37.4310.36
 
Welland-Thorold  NDP Hold 69.801.12
 
63.625.74
 
Wellington  PC Hold 66.443.91
 
39.62-1.45
 
Wentworth East  NDP Gain 66.822.50
 
44.6316.54
 
Wentworth North  NDP Gain 69.634.63
 
34.0511.84
 
Willowdale  PC Gain 63.330.0035.201.16
 
Wilson Heights  Lib Hold 62.99-0.17
 
44.26-13.23
 
Windsor—Riverside  NDP Hold 62.16-3.05
 
71.0313.38
 
Windsor—Sandwich  NDP Gain 58.960.04
 
54.4511.79
 
Windsor—Walkerville  NDP Gain 59.74-3.62
 
55.199.97
 
York Centre  Lib Hold 61.856.26
 
45.57-16.87
 
York East  NDP Gain 68.033.37
 
35.8112.77
 
York Mills  PC Gain 68.300.53
 
44.644.75
 
York North  Lib Hold 63.143.11
 
34.25-14.20
 
York South  NDP Hold 66.80-3.66
 
66.7019.60
 
Yorkview  NDP Gain 61.11-0.23
 
49.5821.40
 
  1. Summarized from "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved December 15, 2022.

MPPs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal
  NDP
  PC

Two-tone colour boxes indicate ridings that turned over from the 1987 election, eg:

   (Liberal in 1987 and NDP in 1990)

Summary analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place[1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
NDPLiberalPC
New Democratic 64 10 74
Liberal 29 7 36
Progressive Conservative 8 12 20
Total 37 76 17 130
Principal races, according to 1st and 2nd-place results[1]
PartiesSeats
 New Democratic  Liberal 93
 New Democratic  Progressive Conservative 18
 Progressive Conservative  Liberal 19
Total 130
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
Parties1st2nd3rd4th5thTotal
 New Democratic 7437181130
 Liberal 367618130
 Progressive Conservative 2017849130
 Confederation of Regions 817732
 Green 1152137
 Independent 141015
 Family Coalition 57966
 Libertarian 131932
 Freedom 178
 Communist 11

Seats changing hands

Of the 130 seats, 20 were open because of MPPs who chose not to stand for reelection, and voters in 63 seats changed allegiance from the previous election in 1987.

Elections to the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1987–1990
Party 1987 Gain from (loss to) 1990
NDP Lib PC
New Democratic 1951474
Liberal 95(51)(8)36
Progressive Conservative 16(4)820
Total130(55)594(8)130

The following seats changed allegiance from 1987:

Resulting composition of the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
SourceParty
NDP Lib PC Total
Seats retainedIncumbents returned1435958
Open seats held5139
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated45651
Open seats gained10111
Byelection gains held11
Total743620130

Significant results among independent and minor party candidates

Those candidates not belonging to a major party, receiving more than 1,000 votes in the election, are listed below:

RidingPartyCandidatesVotesPlaced
Dufferin—Peel Libertarian Bob Shapton1,5944th
Frontenac—Addington Independent Ross Baker1,0215th
Kenora Independent Henry Wetelainen2,3573rd
Mississauga East Independent Peter Sesek1,3634th
Mississauga South Green Scott McWhinnie1,3234th
Oakville South Green Josef Petriska1,0385th
Ottawa West Green Ian Whyte1,0115th
Parry Sound Green Richard Thomas4,0613rd
St. Andrew—St. Patrick Green James Harris1,1124th
Scarborough—Agincourt Libertarian William Galster1,3684th
Simcoe East Libertarian John McLean1,2634th

Post-election changes

Party affiliation switches

Tony Rizzo (NDP) became an independent MPP on October 10, 1990, after questions were raised about labour practices in his bricklaying firms. He would later rejoin the NDP caucus.

Dennis Drainville (NDP) became an independent MPP on April 28, 1993, as a protest against the Rae government's plans to introduce casinos to the province. He later resigned his seat in the legislature, resulting in a by-election.

Will Ferguson (NDP) became an independent MPP on April 30, 1993, following accusations relating to the Grandview scandal. He later rejoined the NDP caucus on June 21, 1994, having been cleared of all charges.

John Sola (L) became an independent MPP on May 11, 1993, after making comments about Canadian Serbs that most regarded as racist.

Peter North (NDP) became an independent MPP on October 27, 1993, claiming he had lost confidence in the Rae government. He tried to join the Progressive Conservatives, but was rebuffed.

Byelections

Due to resignations, five by-elections were held between the 1990 and 1995 elections.

Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
LiberalPCNDPOther
Brant—Haldimand
March 5, 1992
Ronald Eddy
9,565
David Timms
4,758
Christopher Stanek
2,895
Donald Pennell (FCP)
2,056
Ella Haley (G)
759
Janice Wilson (Ind)
250
Robert Nixon
resigned July 31, 1991
Don Mills
April 1, 1993
Murad Velshi
5,583
David Johnson
9,143
Chandran Mylvaganam
1,513
Diane Johnston (Ind Renewal)
498
Denise Mountenay (FCP)
383
Bernadette Michael (Ind)
206
David Pengelly (F)
161
Sat Khalsa (G)
141
Margery Ward
died January 22, 1993
St. George—St. David
April 1, 1993
Tim Murphy
8,750
Nancy Jackman
6,518
George Lamony
1,451
Louis Di Rocco (FCP)
347
Phil Sarazen (G)
209
Judith Snow (Ind Renewal)
119
Ed Fortune (Ind)
107
Robert Smith (Ind)
72
John Steele (Comm League)
57
Ian Scott
resigned September 8, 1992
Essex South
December 2, 1993
Bruce Crozier
12,736
Joan Flood
3,295
David Maris
1,100
Joyce Ann Cherry (FCP)
1,060
Michael Green (G)
132
John Turmel (Ind)
84
Remo Mancini
resigned May 10, 1993
Victoria—Haliburton
March 17, 1994
Sharon McCrae
9,571
Chris Hodgson
11,941
Art Field
1,378
Ron Hawkrigg (Lbt)
252
Bradley Bradamore (Ind)
217
John Turmel (Ind)
123
Dennis Drainville
resigned September 27, 1993

Vacancies

In addition, four seats were vacant in the final months of the legislature, as the sitting members resigned and by-elections were not held to replace them before the 1995 election:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1990 General Election". elections.on.ca. Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  2. Mackie, Richard (July 14, 1990). "Buoyant Liberals gather in Toronto for election talks". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
  3. Representation Amendment Act, 1990, S.O. 1990, c. 1
  4. "Ontario NDP ahead of governing Liberals, poll finds". The Gazette. September 1, 1990. p. A1.
  5. "Ontario Liberal support plunges 10 points, poll shows". The Gazette. August 28, 1990. p. B1.
  6. Trickey, Mike (August 18, 1990). "TV debate likely to turn election heat up in Ontario". The Vancouver Sun. p. B3.
  7. "Leaders hone rhetoric to razor's edge for TV debate; Even smallest gaffes could be politically costly". The Ottawa Citizen. August 20, 1990. p. A4.
  8. Hall, Chris (September 1, 1990). "Ontario votes Sept. 6". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 1.
  9. "No summer of love for Ontario's NDP". The Globe and Mail. July 26, 1991. p. A12.
  10. Mackie, Richard (July 14, 1990). "Buoyant Liberals gather in Toronto for election talks: Meetings, polls fuel speculation about Ontario vote in September". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
  11. Wood, Nancy (June 29, 1990). "Ontario party leaders gearing up as signs point to summer election". The Toronto Star. p. A17.
  12. 1 2 Mackie, Richard (January 27, 1990). "Peterson becoming like Wile E. Coyote". The Globe and Mail. p. D1.
  13. "Ontario Grits grinning over lead". The Edmonton Journal. July 12, 1989. p. A3.
  14. Gooderman, Mary (January 18, 1989). "Ontario Liberals, New Democrats lose ground in post-election poll". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
  15. Trickey, Mike (December 17, 1988). "Grit support dips, PCs pick up slack in new opinion poll". The Ottawa Citizen. p. B4.
  16. 1 2 Fox, Brian (June 17, 1988). "Some of premier's lustre gone". The Windsor Star. p. A6.
  17. Walker, William (June 4, 1988). "Peterson rated more popular than policies". The Windsor Star. p. A8.
  18. French, Orland (March 4, 1999). "For whom the poll tolls". The Globe and Mail. p. A3.
  19. Sheppard, Robert (December 3, 1987). "Peterson's Liberals gaining popularity, latest figures show". The Globe and Mail. p. A19.