1894 Ontario general election
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]
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
Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario (1894)[ 1]
Political party
Party leader
MPPs
Votes
Candidates
1890
Dissol.
1894
±
#
%
± (pp)
Liberal
Oliver Mowat
80
53
45
8
153,826
40.99%
8.64
Conservative
William Ralph Meredith
56
34
23
11
104,369
27.81%
12.07
Liberal -Patrons
26
–
–
12
12
44,029
11.73%
New
Conservative –P.P.A.
13
–
–
5
5
24,616
6.56%
New
Patrons of Industry
Joseph Longford Haycock
7
–
–
3
3
10,465
2.79%
New
Conservative -Patrons
7
–
–
2
2
11,608
3.09%
New
Liberal -P.P.A.
2
–
–
2
2
3,649
0.97%
New
Protestant Protective Association
8
–
–
1
1
11,015
2.94%
New
Independent-Conservative-PPA
1
–
–
1
1
2,326
0.62%
New
Independent
9
–
–
–
9,374
2.50%
New
Liberal -Equal Rights
2
–
–
2
Did not campaign
Conservative -Equal Rights
2
–
–
2
Did not campaign
Vacant
Total
209
91
91
94
375,277
100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots
3,886
Registered voters / turnout
539,358
70.30%
0.70
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 party
Turnout
Votes
Name[ a 2]
1890
Party
Votes
Share
Margin #
Margin %
Lib
Con
POI
PPA
Ind
Total
Addington
Con
Con
1,849
52.89%
202
5.78%
75.79%
1,647
1,849
–
–
–
3,496
Algoma East
Con
Lib
1,982
50.85%
66
1.69%
50.48%
1,982
1,916
–
–
–
3,898
Algoma West
Lib
Con
1,137
50.13%
6
0.26%
52.42%
1,131
1,137
–
–
–
2,268
Brant North
Lib
Lib
1,192
61.44%
444
22.89%
77.41%
1,192
–
748
–
–
1,940
Brant South
Lib
Lib
2,597
56.74%
617
13.48%
79.56%
2,597
–
–
1,980
–
4,577
Brockville
Lib
Lib
2,045
53.49%
267
6.98%
71.43%
2,045
1,778
–
–
–
3,823
Bruce Centre
Lib
L-PI
1,932
57.97%
531
15.93%
69.91%
1,401
–
1,932
–
–
3,333
Bruce North
Con
L-PP
1,369
39.35%
246
7.07%
63.61%
1,123
987
–
1,369[ a 3]
–
3,479
Bruce South
Lib
Lib
1,913
52.05%
151
4.11%
68.91%
1,913
–
1,762
–
–
3,675
Cardwell
Con
C-PI
1,888
54.93%
345
10.04%
65.18%
6
–
3,431[ a 4]
–
–
3,437
Carleton
Con
C-PI
1,986
63.61%
850
27.23%
68.07%
–
1,136
1,986
–
–
3,122
Dufferin
C-ER
PI
2,465
57.05%
609
14.09%
71.28%
–
1,856
2,465
–
–
4,321
Dundas
Con
Con
2,010
52.44%
187
4.88%
77.22%
–
2,010
1,823
–
–
3,833
Durham East
C-ER
Con
1,746
56.49%
401
12.97%
66.84%
–
1,746
–
1,345
–
3,091
Durham West
Lib
C-PP
1,646
50.94%
61
1.89%
84.42%
1,585
–
–
1,646
–
3,231
Elgin East
Con
Con
1,700
43.72%
366
9.41%
74.35%
1,334
1,700
854
–
–
3,888
Elgin West
Con
L-PI
2,851
51.55%
171
3.09%
80.82%
–
2,680
2,851
–
–
5,531
Essex North
Con
Lib
1,843
42.46%
246
5.67%
54.60%
1,843
901
1,597
–
–
4,341
Essex South
Lib
Lib
2,521
52.82%
789
16.53%
79.15%
2,521
–
520
1,732
–
4,773
Frontenac
Con
L-PI
1,517
52.26%
131
4.51%
61.94%
–
1,386
1,517
–
–
2,903
Glengarry
Lib
L-PI
2,030
55.22%
384
10.45%
70.96%
–
–
2,030
–
1,646
3,676
Grenville
Con
Con
1,826
47.88%
492
12.90%
64.99%
1,334
1,826
–
654
–
3,814
Grey Centre
Con
PPA
1,735
42.67%
542
13.33%
67.33%
1,138
–
–
2,928[ a 5]
–
4,066
Grey North
Lib
Lib
1,646
38.09%
213
4.93%
66.04%
1,646
1,242
–
1,433
–
4,321
Grey South
Con
PI
2,401
59.83%
789
19.66%
69.29%
1,612
–
2,401
–
–
4,013
Haldimand
Lib
Con
1,693
50.22%
15
0.44%
76.00%
1,678
1,693
–
–
–
3,371
Halton
Con
Con
2,269
51.25%
111
2.51%
77.10%
2,158
2,269
–
–
–
4,427
Hamilton East
New
Lib
2,348
51.09%
100
2.18%
78.01%
2,348
–
–
2,248
–
4,596
Hamilton West
New
Lib
2,468
55.10%
457
10.20%
78.80%
2,468
–
–
2,011
–
4,479
Hastings East
Con
L-PI
1,574
52.70%
161
5.39%
63.32%
1,413
–
1,574
–
–
2,987
Hastings North
Con
PI
1,782
50.71%
50
1.42%
61.37%
–
1,732
1,782
–
–
3,514
Hastings West
Lib
Lib
1,473
51.41%
81
2.83%
56.05%
1,473
–
–
–
1,392
2,865
Huron East
Lib
Lib
2,129
55.95%
453
11.91%
74.44%
2,129
–
1,676
–
–
3,805
Huron South
Lib
Lib
2,335
50.24%
22
0.47%
79.03%
2,335
2,313
–
–
–
4,648
Huron West
Lib
Lib
2,263
50.85%
76
1.71%
73.39%
2,263
–
2,187
–
–
4,450
Kent East
Lib
Lib
2,365
55.03%
432
10.05%
61.62%
2,365
–
1,933
–
–
4,298
Kent West
Con
L-PI
3,106
54.52%
515
9.04%
71.59%
–
2,591
3,106
–
–
5,697
Kingston
Con
Con
1,710
50.01%
1
0.03%
80.89%
1,709
1,710
–
–
–
3,419
Lambton East
Lib
IC-PP
2,326
52.06%
184
4.12%
78.15%
2,142
–
–
2,326[ a 6]
–
4,468
Lambton West
Lib
C-PP
3,044
50.73%
88
1.47%
63.63%
2,956
–
–
3,044
–
6,000
Lanark North
L-ER
Con
1,499
50.44%
26
0.87%
75.08%
1,473
1,499
–
–
–
2,972
Lanark South
Con
Con
1,830
53.03%
623
18.05%
69.08%
1,207
1,830
–
414
–
3,451
Leeds
Con
Con
1,999
55.14%
373
10.29%
65.02%
–
1,999
1,626
–
–
3,625
Lennox
Con
Con
1,089
39.09%
112
4.02%
67.24%
977
1,089
720
–
–
2,786
Lincoln
Con
Con
2,548
51.23%
122
2.45%
76.62%
–
2,548
–
–
2,426
4,974
London
Con
Con
3,273
51.07%
137
2.14%
86.29%
3,136
3,273
–
–
–
6,409
Middlesex East
Con
L-PP
2,280
54.79%
399
9.59%
69.27%
1,881
–
–
2,280
–
4,161
Middlesex North
Lib
L-PI
2,015
51.64%
128
3.28%
75.79%
–
–
2,015
1,887
–
3,902
Middlesex West
Lib
Lib
1,970
51.46%
112
2.93%
79.59%
1,970
1,858
–
–
–
3,828
Monck
Lib
Lib
1,519
51.13%
67
2.26%
72.61%
1,519
–
–
1,452
–
2,971
Muskoka
Con
C-PP
1,803
52.44%
168
4.89%
75.02%
1,635
–
–
1,803
–
3,438
Nipissing
Lib
Lib
1,345
65.83%
647
31.67%
56.12%
1,345
–
–
–
698
2,043
Norfolk North
Lib
Lib
1,690
54.64%
287
9.28%
76.63%
1,690
–
–
1,403
–
3,093
Norfolk South
Lib
Lib
1,424
50.37%
21
0.74%
73.06%
1,424
–
1,403
–
–
2,827
Northumberland East
Con
Con
1,701
38.76%
179
4.08%
74.35%
1,522
2,867[ a 7]
–
–
–
4,389
Northumberland West
Lib
Lib
1,402
52.27%
146
5.44%
73.18%
1,402
1,256
–
–
24
2,682
Ontario North
Con
Lib
2,114
50.90%
75
1.81%
79.45%
2,114
2,039
–
–
–
4,153
Ontario South
Lib
Lib
2,884
52.94%
320
5.87%
82.45%
2,884
2,564
–
–
–
5,448
Oxford North
Lib
Lib
2,197
58.40%
632
16.80%
64.35%
2,197
–
–
1,565
–
3,762
Oxford South
Lib
Lib
2,454
54.21%
381
8.42%
71.16%
2,454
–
2,073
–
–
4,527
Parry Sound
Lib
L-PI
1,968
56.94%
480
13.89%
42.89%
1,488
–
1,968
–
–
3,456
Peel
Lib
Lib
2,273
54.78%
397
9.57%
75.59%
2,273
–
–
1,876
–
4,149
Perth North
Lib
Con
2,957
50.93%
108
1.86%
81.23%
2,849
2,957
–
–
–
5,806
Perth South
Lib
L-PI
2,232
50.26%
23
0.52%
75.32%
2,209
–
2,232
–
–
4,441
Peterborough East
Lib
Lib
1,621
58.37%
465
16.74%
62.43%
1,621
1,156
–
–
–
2,777
Peterborough West
Lib
Lib
2,280
60.00%
760
20.00%
75.10%
2,280
1,520
–
–
–
3,800
Prescott
Lib
Lib
2,038
71.06%
1,208
42.12%
58.42%
2,038
–
830
–
–
2,868
Prince Edward
Lib
L-PI
2,149
53.35%
667
16.56%
71.00%
–
1,482
2,149
–
397
4,028
Renfrew North
Con
Lib
1,978
54.40%
320
8.80%
75.46%
1,978
1,658
–
–
–
3,636
Renfrew South
Lib
Lib
1,802
53.41%
231
6.85%
69.55%
3,373[ a 8]
1
–
–
–
3,374
Russell
Lib
Lib
1,976
62.47%
789
24.94%
48.17%
1,976
1,187
–
–
–
3,163
Simcoe Centre
Lib
Lib
1,170
36.76%
79
2.48%
67.88%
1,170
922
–
1,091
–
3,183
Simcoe East
Con
Con
2,021
43.21%
124
2.65%
67.07%
1,897
2,021
759
–
–
4,677
Simcoe West
Con
L-PI
1,509
51.48%
87
2.97%
58.38%
–
–
2,931[ a 9]
–
–
2,931
Stormont
Lib
L-PI
1,809
47.02%
404
10.50%
62.89%
1,405
633
1,809
–
–
3,847
Toronto East
New
C-PP
3,401
66.12%
1,658
32.23%
62.00%
–
–
1,743
3,401[ a 10]
–
5,144
Toronto North
New
Con
4,007
55.58%
805
11.17%
71.21%
3,202
4,007
–
–
–
7,209
Toronto South
New
Con
6,073
60.31%
2,077
20.63%
71.35%
3,996
6,073
–
–
–
10,069
Toronto West
New
Con
4,366
60.53%
1,519
21.06%
68.31%
2,847
4,366
–
–
–
7,213
Victoria East
Con
Con
1,688
54.40%
273
8.80%
60.24%
–
1,688
1,415
–
–
3,103
Victoria West
L-ER
Lib
1,785
48.64%
470
12.81%
70.62%
1,785
1,315
570
–
–
3,670
Waterloo North
Lib
Lib
2,042
51.11%
918
22.98%
64.48%
2,042
–
1,124
–
829
3,995
Waterloo South
Lib
Lib
2,212
55.63%
448
11.27%
65.85%
3,976[ a 11]
–
–
–
–
3,976
Welland
Con
Lib
2,579
50.90%
91
1.80%
78.16%
2,579
2,488
–
–
–
5,067
Wellington East
Lib
Lib
1,308
36.90%
55
1.55%
71.66%
1,308
984
1,253
–
–
3,545
Wellington South
Lib
Lib
1,993
60.39%
686
20.79%
59.46%
1,993
–
1,307
–
–
3,300
Wellington West
Lib
C-PP
1,718
54.49%
283
8.98%
65.91%
1,435
–
–
1,718
–
3,153
Wentworth North
Lib
Lib
1,449
51.31%
74
2.62%
78.75%
1,449
1,375
–
–
–
2,824
Wentworth South
Lib
Lib
1,551
55.37%
301
10.75%
83.84%
1,551
1,250
–
–
–
2,801
York East
Lib
Lib
1,959
56.23%
434
12.46%
67.24%
1,959
1,525
–
–
–
3,484
York North
Lib
Lib
2,035
54.28%
321
8.56%
61.07%
2,035
1,714
–
–
–
3,749
York West
Lib
Con
2,151
50.62%
53
1.25%
72.41%
2,098
2,151
–
–
–
4,249
= 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
^ plurality for third winning candidate
Analysis
Party candidates in 2nd place[ 1] [ a 1]
Party in 1st place
Party in 2nd place
Total
Lib
Con
L-PI
C-PP
POI
C-PI
PPA
Ind
Lab-PI
█ Liberal
2
17
9
5
2
1
5
2
43
█ Conservative
18
2
1
1
1
23
█ Liberal-PI
5
4
1
1
1
12
█ Conservative-PPA
4
1
5
█ Patrons of Industry
1
2
3
█ Conservative-PI
1
1
2
█ Liberal-PP
2
2
█ PPA
1
1
█ Independent Conservative-PPA
1
1
Total
33
24
11
7
2
4
6
4
1
92
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[ 1]
Parties
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
█ Liberal
44
34
2
█ Conservative
23
24
9
█ Liberal-PI
12
11
2
█ Conservative-PPA
5
7
1
█ Patrons of Industry
3
2
2
█ Conservative-PI
2
4
1
█ Liberal-PP
2
█ PPA
1
6
1
█ Independent Conservative-PPA
1
█ Independent
4
3
1
1
█ Labour-PI
1
Resulting composition of the 8th Legislative Assembly of Ontario[ 1]
Source
Party
Total
Lib
Con
POI
L-PI
C-PI
PPA
L-PP
C-PP
IC-PP
Seats retained
Incumbents returned
26
9
35
Open seats held
8
4
12
Byelection loss reversed
1
1
Defeated by same-party candidate
1
1
Seats changing hands
Incumbents defeated
3
4
3
6
1
1
3
21
Open seats gained
1
1
6
1
1
1
11
Byelection gains held
1
1
2
Incumbent changed allegiance
1
1
Incumbent from 3rd-party byelection gain changed allegiance
1
1
2
New seat
New MLAs
1
2
3
Previously incumbent in the Legislature
1
1
1
3
Ottawa seats
MLA returned
1
1
New MLAs
1
1
Total
45
23
3
12
2
1
2
5
1
94
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
Northern Ontario
Ottawa Valley
Saint Lawrence Valley
Central Ontario
Georgian Bay
Wentworth/Halton/Niagara
Midwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario
Peel/York/Ontario
Division of ridings
The newly created ridings returned the following MLAs:
Seats that changed hands
Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario – unaltered seats won/lost by party, 1890–1894
Party
1890
Gain from (loss to)
1894
Lib
Con
Lib-P
C-PPA
POI
Con-P
L-PPA
PPA
ICP
L-ER
C-ER
Liberal
50
6
(4)
(7)
(3)
(1)
(1)
1
41
Conservative
32
4
(6)
(5)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(1)
1
1
20
Liberal -Patrons
–
7
5
12
Conservative –P.P.A.
–
3
1
4
Patrons of Industry
–
1
1
1
3
Conservative -Patrons
–
2
2
Liberal -P.P.A.
–
2
2
Protestant Protective Association
–
1
1
Independent-Conservative-PPA
–
1
1
Liberal-Equal Rights
2
(1)
(1)
–
Conservative-Equal Rights
2
(1)
(1)
–
Total
86
16
(7)
18
(6)
–
(12)
–
(4)
–
(3)
–
(2)
–
(2)
–
(1)
–
(1)
2
–
2
–
86
Of the constituencies that were not altered, there were 38 seats that changed allegiance in the election:
Liberal to Conservative
Liberal to Liberal/Patrons of Industry
Liberal to Conservative/PPA
Liberal to Patrons of Industry
Liberal to Independent-Conservative/PPA
Conservative to Liberal
Conservative to Liberal/Patrons of Industry
Conservative to Conservative/PPA
Conservative to Patrons of Industry
Conservative to Conservative/Patrons of Industry
Conservative to Liberal/PPA
Conservative to PPA
Liberal/Equal Rights to Liberal
Liberal/Equal Rights to Conservative
Conservative/Equal Rights to Conservative
Conservative/Equal Rights to Patrons of Industry
See also
Notes and references
Notes
^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. James Conmee (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.[ 5]
^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. William Harty (Liberal) won the subsequent byelection.[ 5]
^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Jacob Baxter (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection.[ 5]
^ 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
^ a b c d e f g "1894 General Election" . Elections Ontario . Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021 .
^ Janet B. Kerr, "Sir Oliver Mowat and the Campaign of 1894," Ontario History, March 1963, Vol. 55 Issue 1, pp 1-13
^ An Act respecting Representation of certain Cities in the Legislative Assembly , S.O. 1894, c. 2
^ 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 .
^ 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.
^ Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario . Vol. XXIX. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1896. pp. 5–6.