 The Ontario Legislature after the 1995 election. The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada. The writs for the election were dropped on April 28, 1995. The governing New Democratic Party, led by Premier Bob Rae, was defeated by voters, who were angry at the mistakes made by the inexperienced NDP and frustrated by the recession, rising taxes, and unemployment. The NDP had lost much of their base in organized labour, due to the unpopularity of its Social Contract legislation in 1993. Lyn McLeod's Liberals had been leading in the polls for most of the period from 1992 to 1995, and were generally favoured to benefit from the swing in support away from the NDP. However, the party hurt its credibility through a series of high-profile policy reversals in the period leading up to the election. The most notable of these occurred when McLeod withdrew Liberal support from Bill 167, a same-sex benefits package for civil unions, when it was introduced by the NDP government in 1994. Her decision was seen as cynical and opportunistic in light of the Liberals' earlier rural by-election loss in the socially conservative riding of Victoria—Haliburton. This gave the party a reputation for "flip-flopping" and inconsistency while offending its socially progressive supporters. The televised party leaders' debate is often regarded as the turning point of the campaign. During the event, McLeod further alienated many voters with an overly aggressive performance. Harris used his time to speak directly to the camera to convey his party's Common Sense Revolution platform, virtually ignoring all questions asked of him by Rae and McLeod and avoiding getting caught up in their debate. Since Liberal support was regarded by many political insiders as soft and unsteady, many voters who were previously leaning to the Liberals shifted to the Progressive Conservatives after the debate. The Progressive Conservative Party, led by Mike Harris, found success with its Common Sense Revolution campaign to cut personal income taxes, social assistance (welfare) rates, and government spending dramatically. Roughly half of his party's seats came from the more affluent regions of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), especially the suburban belt surrounding Metro Toronto, often called the '905' for its telephone area code. In addition, by presenting himself as a populist, representing "ordinary Ontarians" over "special interests", Harris was able to build Tory support among working-class voters. Although there were regional variations, many working-class voters shifted directly from the NDP to the Tories during the election, enabling the latter to win formerly NDP ridings such as Cambridge and Oshawa. Due to the above factors, voters gave the Tories a large plurality while the Liberals finished with less support than they had in the 1990 election. The NDP, despite improving their standing in some Northern Ontario ridings, were heavily defeated and reduced to third party status from which they have not yet recovered. McLeod and Rae resigned their party leadership posts not long after the campaign. One independent candidate was elected: Peter North in the riding of Elgin. North had been elected in 1990 as a New Democrat, but left the NDP and declared his intention to run as a Progressive Conservative. The PC Party did not accept him as a candidate, however. [edit] Results | Party | Party leader | # of
candidates | Seats | Popular vote | | 1990 | Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change | | | Progressive Conservative | Mike Harris | 130 | 20 | 82 | +310% | 1,870,110 | 44.8% | +21.3% | | | Liberal | Lyn McLeod | 130 | 36 | 30 | -16.7% | 1,291,326 | 31.1% | -1.3% | | | New Democratic | Bob Rae | 130 | 74 | 17 | -77.0% | 854,163 | 20.6% | -17.0% | | | Family Coalition | Donald Pennell | 55 | - | - | - | 61,657 | 1.5% | -0.1% | | | Natural Law | Ron Parker | 68 | - | - | - | 18,326 | 0.4% | +0.4% | | | Green | Frank de Jong | 37 | - | - | - | 14,108 | 0.4% | -0.3% | | | Libertarian | John Shadbolt | 18 | - | - | - | 6,085 | 0.2% | -0.4% | | | Freedom | Jack Plant | 11 | - | - | - | 4,532 | 0.1% | -0.1% | | | Confederation of Regions | | 6 | - | - | - | 3,971 | 0.1% | -1.8% | | | Communist | Darrell Rankin | 5 | - | - | - | 1,015 | 0.02% | -0.08% | | | Independent | 61 | - | 1 | - | 33,077 | 0.8% | +0.5% | | Total | 636 | 130 | 130 | - | 4,158,370 | 100% | - | Notes: At least five unregistered parties fielded candidates in this election. Candidates from the aforementioned parties appeared on the ballot as independents. It is possible that some candidates listed below as independents actually belonged to these or other parties. [edit] Riding results Algoma: Algoma—Manitoulin: Beaches—Woodbine: Brampton North: Brampton South:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Brantford edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- | Expenditures | | | Progressive Conservative | Ron Johnson | 13,745 | 41.01 | +32.55 | $36,072.31 | | | Liberal | Dave Neumann | 10,418 | 31.08 | -6.33 | $25,897.40 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Brad Ward | 8,165 | 24.36 | -24.27 | $41,119.25 | | | Family Coalition | Paul Vandervet | 762 | 2.27 | -1.60 | $775.98 | | | Green | William Darfler | 430 | 1.28 | +0.08 | 621.90 | | Total valid votes | 33,520 | 100.00 | | | | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 288 | | | | | Turnout | 33,808 | 59.90 | -6.81 | | | Electors on the lists | 56,445 | | | | Brant—Haldimand: Bruce: Burlington South: Cambridge: Carleton: Carleton East: Chatham—Kent: Cochrane North: Cochrane South: Cornwall: Don Mills: Dovercourt:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Downsview edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | | | Liberal | Annamarie Castrilli | 9,142 | 39.48 | $36,676.53 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Anthony Perruzza | 8,782 | 37.92 | $36,600.54 | | | Progressive Conservative | Frank Ellis | 4,444 | 19.19 | $8,755.28 | | | Independent | Donato De Dominicis | 572 | 2.47 | $3,816.31 | | | Green | Tiina Leivo | 217 | 0.94 | $1,046.57 | | Total valid votes | 23,157 | 100.00 | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 439 | | | | Turnout | 23,596 | 63.90 | | | Electors on the lists | 36,926 | | | Dufferin—Peel: Durham Centre: Durham East: Durham West: Durham—York: Eglinton: Elgin: Essex—Kent: Essex South: Etobicoke—Humber: Etobicoke—Lakeshore: Etobicoke—Rexdale: Etobicoke West: Fort William: Fort York: Frontenac—Addington: Grey—Owen Sound: Guelph: Halton Centre: Halton North:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Hamilton Centre edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | | | New Democratic Party | (x)David Christopherson | 8,012 | 36.81 | $40,543.33 | | | Liberal | Filomena Tassi | 7,322 | 33.64 | $34,483.85 | | | Progressive Conservative | Angie Tomasic | 5,723 | 26.30 | $18,222.88 | | | Family Coalition | Tom Wigglesworth | 376 | 1.73 | $1,548.28 | | | Natural Law | Monique Poudrette | 331 | 1.52 | $0.00 | | Total valid votes | 21,764 | 100.00 | | | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 372 | | | | Turnout | 22,136 | 54.71 | | | Electors on the lists | 40,459 | | | Hamilton East: Hamilton Mountain: Hamilton West: Hastings—Peterborough: High Park—Swansea: Huron: Kenora: Kingston and the Islands: Kitchener: Kitchener—Wilmot: Lake Nipigon: Lambton: Lanark—Renfrew: Lawrence: Leeds—Grenville:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Lincoln edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- | Expenditures | | | Progressive Conservative | Frank Sheehan | 18,709 | 50.68 | | $44,992.99 | | | Liberal | Harry Pelissero | 10,876 | 29.46 | | $36,631.91 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Ron Hansen | 5,800 | 15.71 | | $19,168.08 | | | Family Coalition | Tristan Emmanuel | 1,241 | 3.36 | | $3,872.39 | | | Natural Law | Mary Glasser | 288 | 0.78 | | $0 | | Total valid votes | 36,914 | 100.00 | | | | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 317 | | | | | Turnout | 37,231 | 68.09 | | | | Electors on the lists | 54,677 | | | | London Centre: London North: London South: Markham: Middlesex: Mississauga East: Mississauga North: Mississauga South: Mississauga West: Muskoka—Georgian Bay:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Nepean edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- | Expenditures | | | Progressive Conservative | John Baird | 17,510 | 49.66 | | $40,800.37 | | | Liberal | (x)Hans Daigeler | 13,575 | 38.50 | | $45,021.83 | | | New Democratic Party | John Sullivan | 3,274 | 9.29 | | $15,380.57 | | | Green | Frank de Jong | 390 | 1.11 | | $0.00 | | | Natural Law Party | Brian E. Jackson | 259 | 0.73 | | $0.00 | | | Freedom | Cathy Frampton | 252 | 0.71 | | $2,307.70 | | Total valid votes | 35,260 | 100.00 | | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 363 | | | | | Turnout | 35,623 | 64.97 | | | | Electors on the lists | 54,832 | | | |
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Niagara Falls edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- | Expenditures | | | Progressive Conservative | Bart Maves | 12,132 | 43.33 | | $37,908.69 | | | Liberal | Marg Germano | 8,289 | 29.60 | | $40,823.66 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Margaret Harrington | 7,034 | 25.12 | | $15,733.37 | | | Natural Law | Bill Amos | 355 | 1.27 | | $0.00 | | | Independent | Melania Gural | 189 | 0.68 | | not listed | | Total valid votes | 27,999 | 100.00 | | | | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 388 | | | | | Turnout | 28,387 | 59.48 | | | | Electors on the lists | 47,729 | | | | Niagara South: Nickel Belt: Nipissing: Norfolk: Northumberland: Oakville South: Oakwood: Oriole: Oshawa: Ottawa Centre: Ottawa East: Ottawa—Rideau: Ottawa South: Ottawa West: Oxford: Parkdale: Parry Sound: Perth: Peterborough: Port Arthur: Prescott and Russell: Prince Edward—Lennox: Quinte: Rainy River: Renfrew North: Riverdale: Sarnia: Sault Ste. Marie: Scarborough—Agincourt: Scarborough Centre: Scarborough East: Scarborough—Ellesmere: Scarborough North: Scarborough West: Simcoe Centre: Simcoe East: Simcoe West: St. Andrew—St. Patrick: | St. Catharines | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | | | Liberal | (x)Jim Bradley | 13,761 | 46.53 | | $33,835.95 | | | Progressive Conservative | Archie Heide | 11,486 | 38.84 | | $36,875.32 | | | New Democratic Party | Jeff Burch | 3,929 | 13.29 | | $12,043.92 | | | Family Coalition Party | Jon Siemens | 245 | 0.83 | | $0.00 | | | Natural Law Party | Marcy Sheremetta | 153 | 0.52 | | $0.00 | | Total valid votes | 29,574 | 100.00 | | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 227 | | | | | Turnout | 29,801 | 64.58 | | | St. Catharines—Brock: St. George—St. David: Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry & East Grenville:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Sudbury edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- | Expenditures | | | Liberal | Rick Bartolucci | 12,349 | 40.66 | | $38,419.00 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Sharon Murdock | 8,698 | 28.64 | | $45,265.43 | | | Progressive Conservative | Richard Zanibbi | 8,093 | 26.64 | | $43,588.00 | | | Ind. (Ontario Options) | Don Scott | 506 | 1.67 | | $459.00 | | | Natural Law | David Gordon | 315 | 1.04 | | $0.00 | | | Green | Lewis Poulin | 290 | 0.95 | | $69.68 | | | Independent | Ed Pokonzie | 123 | 0.40 | | $0.00 | | Total valid votes | 30,374 | 100.00 | | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 405 | | | | | Turnout | 30,779 | 62.10 | | | | Electors on the lists | 49,562 | | | | Sudbury East: Timiskaming: Victoria—Haliburton: Waterloo North: Welland—Thorold: Wellington: Wentworth East: Wentworth North: Willowdale: Wilson Heights: Windsor—Riverside:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Windsor—Sandwich edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | | | Liberal | Sandra Pupatello | 11,940 | 47.12 | $36,803.00 | | | New Democratic Party | Arlene Rousseau | 6,414 | 25.31 | $10,442.27 | | | Progressive Conservative | Joe Durocher | 5,704 | 22.51 | $27,112.47 | | | Family Coalition Party | Earl Amyotte | 610 | 2.41 | $3,426.21 | | | Independent | Christine Wilson | 410 | 1.62 | $73.28 | | | Natural Law Party | Ronald F. Bessette | 263 | 1.04 | $0.00 | | Total valid votes | 25,341 | 100.00 | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 428 | | | | Turnout | 25,769 | 50.11 | | | Electors on the lists | 51,421 | | |
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : Windsor—Walkerville edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | | | Liberal | Dwight Duncan | 10,281 | 41.28 | $45,522.32 | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Wayne Lessard | 9,901 | 39.76 | $45,615.07 | | | Progressive Conservative | Michael Rohrer | 3,610 | 14.50 | $17,463.00 | | | Family Coalition Party | Donna Halliday | 957 | 3.84 | $1,806.70 | | | Natural Law Party | Vivek Narula | 156 | 0.63 | $0.00 | | Total valid votes | 24,905 | 100.00 | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 387 | | | | Turnout | 25,292 | 52.54 | | | Turnout | 48,141 | | | York Centre: York East: York Mills: York—Mackenzie:
| 1995 Ontario provincial election : York South edit | | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | | | New Democratic Party | (x)Bob Rae | 10,442 | 41.24 | $39,100.07 | | | Progressive Conservative | Larry Edwards | 7,726 | 30.51 | $28,482.21 | | | Liberal | Hagood Hardy | 6,025 | 23.79 | $42,578.22 | | | Family Coalition | Don Pennell | 305 | 1.20 | $4,210.68 | | | Green | David James Cooper | 219 | 0.86 | $1,046.57 | | | Natural Law | Bob Hyman | 176 | 0.70 | $0.00 | | | Independent | Kevin Clarke | 170 | 0.67 | $1,164.66 | | | Libertarian | Roma Kelembet | 153 | 0.60 | $819.58 | | | Communist | Darrell Rankin | 105 | 0.41 | $59.00 | | Total valid votes | 25,321 | 100.00 | | | Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 388 | | | | Turnout | 25,709 | 69.13 | | | Electors on the lists | 37,192 | | | Yorkview: post-election changes: Bob Rae (NDP) resigned his seat on February 29, 1996. A by-election was called for May 23, 1996.
Oriole (res. Elinor Caplan, May 5, 1997), September 4, 1997: Ottawa West (res. Bob Chiarelli, May 5, 1997), September 4, 1997: (Alex Cullen left the Liberal Party on November 15, 1998, and joined the NDP on November 23, 1998.) Windsor—Riverside (res. David Cooke, May 5, 1997), September 4, 1997: Nickel Belt (res. Floyd Laughren, February 28, 1998), October 1, 1998: [edit] See also |
