1990 Ontario general election

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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[edit]

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

Opinion polls[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

See also: Results of the 1990 Ontario general election by riding
Elections to the 35th Parliament of Ontario (1990)[1]
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
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[edit]

Results by riding - 1990 Ontario general election[1]
Riding Winning party Turnout
[a 1] 		Votes[a 2]
Name[a 3][a 4] 1987 Party Votes Share Margin
# 		Margin
% 		NDP Lib PC FCP CoR Ind Other Total
 
Algoma NDP NDP 8,221 58.65% 4,648 33.16% 65.62% 8,221 3,573 433 – 1,790 – – 14,017
Algoma—Manitoulin Lib Lib 5,961 38.86% 207 1.35% 61.25% 5,754 5,961 2,163 – 1,114 347 – 15,339
Beaches—Woodbine NDP NDP 14,381 58.35% 8,052 32.67% 65.95% 14,381 6,329 3,535 – – 400 – 24,645
Brampton North Lib Lib 11,686 34.92% 98 0.29% 58.35% 11,588 11,686 7,619 1,466 – 434 669 33,462
Brampton South Lib Lib 12,918 32.31% 424 1.06% 59.36% 12,494 12,918 11,395 2,511 – – 667 39,985
Brantford Lib NDP 17,736 48.63% 4,092 11.22% 66.71% 17,736 13,644 3,087 1,413 – – 594 36,474
Brant—Haldimand Lib Lib 10,751 37.35% 1,469 5.10% 61.18% 9,282 10,751 6,228 1,520 – – 1,004 28,785
Bruce Lib Lib 11,476 37.71% 3,511 11.54% 68.92% 7,965 11,476 7,349 3,639 – – – 30,429
Burlington South PC PC 17,084 52.53% 8,899 27.36% 69.48% 8,185 5,544 17,084 1,707 – – – 32,520
Cambridge NDP NDP 21,806 60.28% 14,249 39.39% 64.84% 21,806 7,557 4,449 2,364 – – – 36,176
Carleton PC PC 17,860 46.91% 7,717 20.27% 65.15% 10,071 10,143 17,860 – – – – 38,074
Carleton East Lib Lib 19,059 53.88% 9,083 25.68% 63.52% 9,976 19,059 5,117 1,224 – – – 35,376
Chatham—Kent Lib NDP 13,930 44.74% 3,967 12.74% 63.01% 13,930 9,963 5,619 1,626 – – – 31,138
Cochrane North Lib NDP 6,618 40.47% 143 0.87% 62.16% 6,618 6,475 3,261 – – – – 16,354
Cochrane South PC NDP 11,460 47.61% 2,099 8.72% 62.95% 11,460 9,361 1,019 – 2,229 – – 24,069
Cornwall Lib Lib 12,725 46.53% 5,681 20.77% 63.79% 7,044 12,725 3,169 – 4,409 – – 27,347
Don Mills Lib NDP 9,740 34.20% 954 3.35% 64.23% 9,740 8,786 7,631 – – 562 1,764 28,483
Dovercourt Lib NDP 10,604 54.25% 3,989 20.41% 66.27% 10,604 6,615 1,239 – – – 1,090 19,548
Downsview Lib NDP 13,440 56.58% 5,221 21.98% 66.08% 13,440 8,219 1,477 – – – 619 23,755
Dufferin—Peel Lib PC 10,899 34.66% 572 1.82% 66.56% 8,627 10,327 10,899 – – – 1,594 31,447
Durham Centre Lib NDP 12,594 35.88% 2,348 6.69% 61.23% 12,594 10,246 9,126 1,186 1,087 – 857 35,096
Durham East PC NDP 10,960 32.74% 53 0.16% 63.43% 10,960 7,836 10,907 2,487 1,286 – – 33,476
Durham West Lib NDP 16,366 37.47% 1,982 4.54% 62.36% 16,366 14,384 11,167 1,761 – – – 43,678
Durham—York Lib NDP 12,297 33.89% 1,230 3.39% 61.90% 12,297 11,067 10,904 2,016 – – – 36,284
Eglinton Lib Lib 12,032 35.97% 173 0.52% 69.98% 7,772 12,032 11,859 – – – 1,788 33,451
Elgin Lib NDP 14,189 41.67% 4,466 13.12% 66.51% 14,189 9,723 9,031 – – – 1,104 34,047
Essex-Kent Lib NDP 15,858 52.66% 5,890 19.56% 67.52% 15,858 9,968 2,739 1,551 – – – 30,116
Essex South Lib Lib 10,575 36.02% 212 0.72% 59.40% 10,363 10,575 6,335 2,085 – – – 29,358
Etobicoke—Humber Lib Lib 13,582 38.61% 3,533 10.04% 70.29% 10,049 13,582 9,289 1,292 – – 966 35,178
Etobicoke—Lakeshore NDP NDP 18,118 57.23% 11,112 35.10% 66.15% 18,118 7,006 4,854 1,053 – – 629 31,660
Etobicoke—Rexdale NDP NDP 17,620 67.07% 13,035 49.62% 61.42% 17,620 4,585 3,243 – – – 822 26,270
Etobicoke West Lib PC 13,713 40.56% 3,631 10.74% 69.86% 7,992 10,082 13,713 1,045 – 304 674 33,810
Fort William Lib Lib 11,798 44.44% 1,345 5.07% 62.74% 10,453 11,798 4,300 – – – – 26,551
Fort York Lib NDP 11,023 46.30% 1,367 5.74% 63.48% 11,023 9,656 2,258 – – 330 539 23,806
Frontenac—Addington Lib NDP 9,696 33.24% 1,470 5.04% 65.15% 9,696 8,226 8,211 2,020 – 1,021 – 29,174
Grey Lib PC 13,742 36.11% 2,462 6.47% 65.20% 11,280 10,257 13,742 2,157 – – 620 38,056
Guelph Lib NDP 15,051 37.91% 3,107 7.83% 69.48% 15,051 11,944 10,184 1,602 – – 920 39,701
Halton Centre Lib Lib 13,494 35.03% 1,215 3.15% 63.12% 10,163 13,494 12,279 1,232 – – 1,355 38,523
Halton North Lib NDP 8,510 30.94% 548 1.99% 64.50% 8,510 7,962 7,499 2,489 – – 1,043 27,503
Hamilton Centre Lib NDP 14,029 55.32% 6,215 24.51% 59.78% 14,029 7,814 2,116 365 – – 1,034 25,358
Hamilton East NDP NDP 20,289 71.60% 14,764 52.10% 61.70% 20,289 5,525 1,676 846 – – – 28,336
Hamilton Mountain NDP NDP 22,488 59.76% 14,779 39.28% 66.55% 22,488 7,432 7,709 – – – – 37,629
Hamilton West NDP NDP 18,550 56.59% 11,314 34.52% 67.90% 18,550 7,236 4,361 2,324 – – 306 32,777
Hastings—Peterborough PC NDP 11,283 39.89% 896 3.17% 68.76% 11,283 4,285 10,387 1,199 1,128 – – 28,282
High Park—Swansea Lib NDP 11,432 45.12% 3,273 12.92% 64.83% 11,432 8,159 4,674 409 – – 663 25,337
Huron Lib NDP 10,020 34.47% 954 3.28% 71.47% 10,020 6,653 9,066 2,931 – – 400 29,070
Kenora Lib Lib 8,152 40.55% 331 1.65% 61.67% 7,821 8,152 1,776 – – 2,357 – 20,106
Kingston and the Islands Lib NDP 10,184 37.99% 2,092 7.80% 57.00% 10,184 8,092 7,079 1,452 – – – 26,807
Kitchener Lib NDP 15,750 46.82% 6,019 17.89% 62.90% 15,750 9,731 6,157 2,002 – – – 33,640
Kitchener—Wilmot Lib NDP 16,056 43.94% 5,187 14.20% 60.09% 16,056 10,869 7,342 2,270 – – – 36,537
Lake Nipigon NDP NDP 8,335 65.19% 5,252 41.08% 59.98% 8,335 3,083 735 632 – – – 12,785
Lambton Lib NDP 8,691 31.40% 1,026 3.71% 68.17% 8,691 7,291 7,665 3,557 471 – – 27,675
Lanark—Renfrew PC PC 11,063 32.48% 1,398 4.10% 60.37% 8,541 9,665 11,063 1,853 2,938 – – 34,060
Lawrence Lib Lib 11,786 44.70% 1,607 6.10% 65.68% 10,179 11,786 3,557 – – – 842 26,364
Leeds—Grenville PC PC 16,846 49.07% 7,674 22.35% 66.18% 8,312 9,172 16,846 – – – – 34,330
Lincoln Lib NDP 12,117 35.49% 1,062 3.11% 68.07% 12,117 11,055 9,407 – 1,562 – – 34,141
London Centre Lib NDP 17,837 51.31% 8,166 23.49% 66.05% 17,837 9,671 5,348 982 – 345 582 34,765
London North Lib PC 18,079 41.30% 4,074 9.31% 67.80% 14,005 9,990 18,079 1,095 – – 601 43,770
London South Lib NDP 17,438 42.41% 5,651 13.74% 65.61% 17,438 11,787 9,828 1,427 – – 635 41,115
Markham PC PC 25,595 49.97% 10,467 20.43% 64.39% 8,459 15,128 25,595 1,086 – 311 642 51,221
Middlesex Lib NDP 12,522 32.62% 520 1.35% 68.80% 12,522 12,002 8,957 4,007 – – 894 38,382
Mississauga East Lib Lib 12,448 39.29% 3,271 10.32% 61.61% 9,177 12,448 8,285 – – 1,363 411 31,684
Mississauga North Lib Lib 12,658 37.85% 1,442 4.31% 57.77% 11,216 12,658 7,990 – – 632 946 33,442
Mississauga South PC PC 17,126 52.45% 9,547 29.24% 65.68% 7,579 6,624 17,126 – – – 1,323 32,652
Mississauga West Lib Lib 20,038 42.11% 6,100 12.82% 59.59% 13,938 20,038 11,945 – – 771 892 47,584
Muskoka—Georgian Bay Lib NDP 13,422 40.63% 2,918 8.83% 67.65% 13,422 9,105 10,504 – – – – 33,031
Nepean Lib Lib 13,723 42.45% 3,853 11.92% 62.91% 7,453 13,723 9,870 – – – 1,282 32,328
Niagara Falls Lib NDP 13,884 46.37% 5,905 19.72% 63.38% 13,884 7,979 3,896 674 3,141 – 365 29,939
Niagara South Lib NDP 11,161 46.56% 3,929 16.39% 65.10% 11,161 7,232 4,032 – 1,547 – – 23,972
Nickel Belt NDP NDP 9,925 58.54% 6,658 39.27% 69.07% 9,925 3,267 967 – 2,796 – – 16,955
Nipissing PC PC 15,469 45.85% 4,724 14.00% 70.16% 7,039 10,745 15,469 488 – – – 33,741
Norfolk Lib NDP 14,850 41.03% 3,879 10.72% 67.95% 14,850 10,971 10,374 – – – – 36,195
Northumberland Lib Lib 11,984 33.53% 1,094 3.06% 66.93% 9,581 11,984 10,890 1,213 1,677 – 395 35,740
Oakville South Lib PC 10,949 34.98% 108 0.35% 66.73% 6,423 10,841 10,949 996 1,057 – 1,038 31,304
Oakwood Lib NDP 10,423 48.74% 2,280 10.66% 67.69% 10,423 8,143 1,671 – – – 1,147 21,384
Oriole Lib Lib 10,655 41.86% 2,214 8.70% 66.13% 8,441 10,655 5,435 – – – 923 25,454
Oshawa NDP NDP 16,601 61.09% 11,485 42.27% 51.99% 16,601 5,116 3,871 – 1,585 – – 27,173
Ottawa Centre Lib NDP 14,522 47.70% 2,866 9.41% 67.17% 14,522 11,656 2,723 809 – 160 576 30,446
Ottawa East Lib Lib 16,363 62.41% 10,260 39.13% 55.23% 6,103 16,363 2,203 826 – – 723 26,218
Ottawa—Rideau Lib Lib 13,454 45.31% 4,609 15.52% 59.96% 8,845 13,454 5,234 1,049 – 861 252 29,695
Ottawa South Lib Lib 13,845 45.87% 6,019 19.94% 68.56% 7,826 13,845 7,399 503 – – 612 30,185
Ottawa West Lib Lib 13,908 41.61% 4,840 14.48% 65.68% 8,391 13,908 9,068 – 1,044 – 1,011 33,422
Oxford Lib NDP 12,684 34.75% 2,824 7.74% 67.65% 12,684 9,802 9,860 3,182 – – 976 36,504
Parkdale Lib Lib 8,080 46.39% 523 3.00% 61.22% 7,557 8,080 941 – – 273 566 17,417
Parry Sound PC PC 10,078 43.78% 4,953 21.52% 65.09% 2,993 5,125 10,078 763 – – 4,061 23,020
Perth Lib NDP 11,712 36.83% 2,991 9.41% 66.24% 11,712 8,721 8,600 2,769 – – – 31,802
Peterborough Lib NDP 13,813 32.98% 185 0.44% 66.65% 13,813 13,628 8,884 3,652 1,586 – 325 41,888
Port Arthur Lib NDP 11,919 42.88% 1,034 3.72% 62.22% 11,919 10,885 3,854 1,140 – – – 27,798
Prescott and Russell Lib Lib 25,879 64.97% 16,510 41.45% 59.27% 9,369 25,879 2,848 1,119 – – 618 39,833
Prince Edward—Lennox—South Hastings Lib NDP 9,204 33.17% 905 3.26% 61.45% 9,204 8,188 8,299 – 2,061 – – 27,752
Quinte Lib Lib 11,114 37.43% 4,104 13.82% 59.41% 7,010 11,114 5,825 2,331 3,411 – – 29,691
Rainy River NDP NDP 7,838 61.47% 3,960 31.06% 66.34% 7,838 3,878 1,035 – – – – 12,751
Renfrew North Lib Lib 13,082 43.32% 7,166 23.73% 65.62% 5,916 13,082 4,586 1,104 5,510 – – 30,198
Riverdale NDP NDP 14,086 61.97% 8,514 37.46% 62.45% 14,086 5,572 1,578 – – – 1,493 22,729
St. Andrew—St. Patrick Lib NDP 10,321 34.45% 1,080 3.61% 66.89% 10,321 8,938 9,241 – – – 1,456 29,956
St. Catharines Lib Lib 11,565 38.76% 936 3.14% 66.77% 10,629 11,565 3,926 1,331 2,384 – – 29,835
St. Catharines—Brock Lib NDP 9,538 34.71% 1,159 4.22% 65.85% 9,538 8,379 6,969 873 1,449 – 270 27,478
St. George—St. David Lib Lib 10,718 36.08% 72 0.24% 64.63% 10,646 10,718 6,955 932 – – 455 29,706
Sarnia PC NDP 10,860 36.71% 2,320 7.84% 64.84% 10,860 8,540 6,269 2,691 652 – 574 29,586
Sault Ste. Marie NDP NDP 14,036 36.26% 697 1.80% 68.26% 14,036 13,339 3,347 – 7,991 – – 38,713
Scarborough—Agincourt Lib Lib 13,347 44.32% 4,707 15.63% 63.54% 6,763 13,347 8,640 – – – 1,368 30,118
Scarborough Centre Lib NDP 12,324 45.21% 3,068 11.25% 64.45% 12,324 9,256 5,682 – – – – 27,262
Scarborough East Lib NDP 11,700 35.55% 1,774 5.39% 63.47% 11,700 9,926 9,890 – – 368 1,031 32,915
Scarborough—Ellesmere Lib NDP 14,036 48.20% 4,619 15.86% 66.79% 14,036 9,417 4,855 – – – 811 29,119
Scarborough North Lib Lib 13,393 44.56% 3,916 13.03% 57.86% 9,477 13,393 5,367 1,199 – – 620 30,056
Scarborough West NDP NDP 14,340 51.16% 7,819 27.90% 65.21% 14,340 6,521 5,769 996 – – 401 28,027
Simcoe Centre Lib NDP 15,711 37.79% 2,842 6.84% 62.46% 15,711 12,869 10,013 – 2,979 – – 41,572
Simcoe East PC PC 14,828 39.65% 740 1.98% 67.46% 14,088 7,219 14,828 – – – 1,263 37,398
Simcoe West PC PC 11,710 36.49% 1,840 5.73% 63.84% 9,870 7,765 11,710 2,744 – – – 32,089
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry PC PC 11,887 40.87% 3,501 12.04% 65.77% 5,357 8,386 11,887 – 3,452 – – 29,082
Sudbury Lib NDP 13,407 41.21% 3,397 10.44% 66.57% 13,407 10,010 3,318 – 5,795 – – 32,530
Sudbury East NDP NDP 17,536 58.00% 10,052 33.25% 70.87% 17,536 7,484 1,458 – 3,754 – – 30,232
Timiskaming Lib Lib 8,364 42.29% 2,173 10.99% 67.57% 6,191 8,364 2,261 – 2,250 – 713 19,779
Victoria—Haliburton Lib NDP 15,467 44.33% 6,520 18.69% 69.10% 15,467 7,668 8,947 1,419 – 971 417 34,889
Waterloo North Lib PC 14,552 37.43% 3,254 8.37% 62.03% 11,298 9,441 14,552 2,946 – – 646 38,883
Welland-Thorold NDP NDP 20,488 63.62% 12,931 40.16% 69.80% 20,488 7,557 2,893 – 878 – 386 32,202
Wellington PC PC 12,141 39.62% 1,304 4.26% 66.44% 10,837 7,668 12,141 – – – – 30,646
Wentworth East Lib NDP 15,224 44.63% 3,147 9.23% 66.82% 15,224 12,077 5,609 – – 533 668 34,111
Wentworth North Lib NDP 11,472 34.05% 88 0.26% 69.63% 11,472 11,384 8,740 1,236 860 – – 33,692
Willowdale Lib PC 11,957 35.20% 834 2.46% 63.33% 9,125 11,123 11,957 1,074 – – 688 33,967
Wilson Heights Lib Lib 12,272 44.26% 2,654 9.57% 62.99% 9,618 12,272 4,913 – – – 922 27,725
Windsor—Riverside NDP NDP 21,144 71.03% 14,504 48.72% 62.16% 21,144 6,640 1,096 889 – – – 29,769
Windsor—Sandwich Lib NDP 15,952 54.45% 4,145 14.15% 58.96% 15,952 11,807 1,186 – – 353 – 29,298
Windsor—Walkerville Lib NDP 15,899 55.19% 4,318 14.99% 59.74% 15,899 11,581 1,327 – – – – 28,807
York Centre Lib Lib 28,056 45.57% 9,206 14.95% 61.85% 18,850 28,056 14,656 – – – – 61,562
York East Lib NDP 10,689 35.81% 789 2.64% 68.03% 10,689 9,900 8,021 – – 380 858 29,848
York Mills Lib PC 13,037 44.64% 2,647 9.06% 68.30% 4,830 10,390 13,037 – – – 950 29,207
York North Lib Lib 11,452 34.25% 148 0.44% 63.14% 10,681 11,452 11,304 – – – – 33,437
York South NDP NDP 16,642 66.70% 12,108 48.53% 66.80% 16,642 4,534 2,561 – – – 1,212 24,949
Yorkview Lib NDP 9,945 49.58% 1,619 8.07% 61.11% 9,945 8,326 1,254 – – 231 303 20,059
  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

MPPs elected by region and riding[edit]

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[edit]

Party candidates in 2nd place[1]
Party in 1st place Party in 2nd place Total
NDP Liberal PC
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]
Parties Seats
█ New Democratic █ Liberal 93
█ New Democratic █ Progressive Conservative 18
█ Progressive Conservative █ Liberal 19
Total 130
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
Parties 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total
█ New Democratic 74 37 18 1 130
█ Liberal 36 76 18 130
█ Progressive Conservative 20 17 84 9 130
█ Confederation of Regions 8 17 7 32
█ Green 1 15 21 37
█ Independent 1 4 10 15
█ Family Coalition 57 9 66
█ Libertarian 13 19 32
█ Freedom 1 7 8
█ Communist 1 1

Seats changing hands[edit]

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 19 51 4 74
Liberal 95 (51) (8) 36
Progressive Conservative 16 (4) 8 20
Total 130 – (55) 59 – 4 (8) 130

The following seats changed allegiance from 1987:

Resulting composition of the 35th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Source Party
NDP Lib PC Total
Seats retained Incumbents returned 14 35 9 58
Open seats held 5 1 3 9
Seats changing hands Incumbents defeated 45 6 51
Open seats gained 10 1 11
Byelection gains held 1 1
Total 74 36 20 130

Significant results among independent and minor party candidates[edit]

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

Riding Party Candidates Votes Placed
Dufferin—Peel █ Libertarian Bob Shapton 1,594 4th
Frontenac—Addington █ Independent Ross Baker 1,021 5th
Kenora █ Independent Henry Wetelainen 2,357 3rd
Mississauga East █ Independent Peter Sesek 1,363 4th
Mississauga South █ Green Scott McWhinnie 1,323 4th
Oakville South █ Green Josef Petriska 1,038 5th
Ottawa West █ Green Ian Whyte 1,011 5th
Parry Sound █ Green Richard Thomas 4,061 3rd
St. Andrew—St. Patrick █ Green James Harris 1,112 4th
Scarborough—Agincourt █ Libertarian William Galster 1,368 4th
Simcoe East █ Libertarian John McLean 1,263 4th

Post-election changes[edit]

Party affiliation switches[edit]

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[edit]

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


Electoral district Candidates Incumbent
Liberal PC NDP Other
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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.
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