1929 Ontario general election

1929 Ontario general election
← 1926 October 30, 1929 1934 →
112 seats in the 18th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
57 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  LIB
Leader George Howard Ferguson W.E.N. Sinclair
Party Conservative Liberal
Leader since December 2, 1920 1923
Leader's seat Grenville Ontario South
Last election 72 15
Seats won 90 13
Seat change Increase18 Decrease2
Percentage 56.7% 32.2%
Swing Increase1.3pp Increase15.0pp
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader John Giles Lethbridge Leslie Oke
Party Progressive United Farmers
Leader since 1927 -
Leader's seat Middlesex West (lost re-election) Lambton East (lost re-election)
Last election 10 3
Seats won 4 1
Seat change Decrease6 Decrease2
Percentage 3.4% 1.3%
Swing Decrease2.9pp -
Premier before election

G. Howard Ferguson
Conservative

Premier after election

G. Howard Ferguson
Conservative

The 1929 Ontario general election was the 18th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on October 30, 1929, to elect the 112 Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1]

Campaign

Every party, including the Ontario Prohibition Union and the English Language School League, issued their own manifesto during the campaign, to the extent that the Press called it the "battle of the manifestos".[2]

The Liberals continued to use their strategy from the previous election of coordinating their efforts with other pro-temperance forces in order to minimize vote splits.

Only the Conservatives fielded candidates in all ridings, and eight of them were returned by acclamation. In 21 two-way contests, the Liberals declined to field a candidate in favour of an ally considered more likely to gain votes. There were only 16 three-cornered races and 2 four-way battles.

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1929)
Candidates Con Lib Prog L-P UFO Lab I-Con Comm Ind Proh Total
1 8 8
2 86 65 4 4 2 2 3 6 172
3 16 16 5 1 1 2 4 1 2 48
4 2 2 2 1 1 8
Total 112 83 9 4 3 3 7 5 2 8 236

Outcome

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by George Howard Ferguson, was elected for a third consecutive term in government with an increased majority in the Legislature.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by W.E.N. Sinclair, lost one seat, but continued to form the official opposition.

Conservative gains came at the expense of the Progressive Party and the United Farmers of Ontario.

Earl Hutchinson of Kenora is the sole Labour MLA elected.

Results

Elections to the 18th Parliament of Ontario (1929)
Political party Party leader MPPs Votes
Candidates 1926 Dissol. 1929 ± # % ± (pp)
Conservative Howard Ferguson 112 73 72 90 17Increase 574,730 56.66% 0.79Increase
Liberal W.E.N. Sinclair 83 13 14 11 2Decrease 319,487 31.50% 14.33Increase
Progressive William Raney 9 10 8 4 6Decrease 30,795 3.04% 3.26Decrease
Liberal–Progressive 4 5 4 3 2Decrease 17,966 1.77% 2.47Decrease
United Farmers Leslie Oke 3 3 3 1 2Decrease 12,752 1.26% 0.08Decrease
Labour 3 1 1 1 Steady 8,664 0.85% 0.44Decrease
Independent Conservative 7 1 2 2 1Increase 21,950 2.16% 0.40Increase
Independent Liberal – 4 3 – 4Decrease Did not campaign
Independent Progressive – 1 1 – 1Decrease Did not campaign
  Liberal-Prohibitionist – 1 1 – 1Decrease Did not campaign
Prohibitionist 8 – – – – 25,807 2.54% 5.52Decrease
Communist 5 – – – – 1,542 0.15% New
Independent 2 – – – 587 0.06% New
  Liberal-Labour – – – – Did not campaign
  Progressive-Liberal – – – – Did not campaign
  Liberal-Labour-Prohibitionist – – – – Did not campaign
Vacant 3
Total 236 112 112 112 1,014,310 100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots 7,720
Registered voters / turnout 1,804,932 56.62% 7.33Decrease
Seats and popular vote by party
Party Seats Votes Change (pp)
█ Conservative
90 / 112
56.66%
 0.79 0.79
 
█ Liberal
11 / 112
31.50%
 14.33 14.33
 
█ Progressive
4 / 112
3.04%
 -3.26
 
█ Liberal–Progressive
3 / 112
1.77%
 -2.47
 
█ United Farmers
1 / 112
1.26%
 -0.08
 
█ Labour
1 / 112
0.85%
 -0.44
 
█ Independent-Conservative
2 / 112
2.16%
 0.40 0.4
 
█ Prohibitionist
0 / 112
2.54%
 -5.52
 
█ Other
0 / 112
0.22%
 -3.75
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1929 Ontario general election
Riding Winning party Turnout
[a 1] 		Votes
# Name 1926 Party Votes Share Margin
# 		Margin
% 		Con Lib Prog Proh I-Con L-Prog UFO Labour Comm Ind Total
 
001 Addington Con Con 4,273 67.47% 2,213 34.94% 61.09% 4,273 2,060 – – – – – – – – 6,333
002 Algoma Con Con 4,565 67.49% 2,366 34.98% 63.45% 4,565 2,199 – – – – – – – – 6,764
003 Brant County Prog Prog 3,831 53.42% 490 6.83% 71.65% 3,341 – 3,831 – – – – – – – 7,172
004 Brantford Con Con 7,740 57.93% 2,119 15.86% 65.98% 7,740 5,621 – – – – – – – – 13,361
005 Brockville Con Con 4,633 60.73% 1,637 21.46% 61.22% 4,633 2,996 – – – – – – – – 7,629
006 Bruce North Lib Lib 4,520 52.09% 362 4.17% 70.52% 4,158 4,520 – – – – – – – – 8,678
007 Bruce South Prog Lib 4,983 53.04% 571 6.08% 69.43% 4,412 4,983 – – – – – – – – 9,395
008 Carleton Con Con 3,781 67.16% 1,932 34.32% 47.76% 3,781 – – 1,849 – – – – – – 5,630
009 Cochrane North Con Con 3,121 43.60% 587 8.20% 63.76% 3,121 1,298 – – 2,534 – – – – 205 7,158
010 Cochrane South Con Con 5,686 52.76% 594 5.51% 57.02% 5,686 5,092 – – – – – – – – 10,778
011 Dufferin Prog Prog 3,778 50.30% 45 0.60% 76.42% 3,733 – 3,778 – – – – – – – 7,511
012 Dundas L-Proh Con 3,362 44.31% 999 13.17% 73.23% 3,362 1,862 – 2,363 – – – – – – 7,587
013 Durham Lib Lib 5,860 50.04% 10 0.09% 71.73% 5,850 5,860 – – – – – – – – 11,710
014 Elgin East Lib Con 4,068 51.83% 288 3.67% 76.56% 4,068 3,780 – – – – – – – – 7,848
015 Elgin West Con Con 6,579 56.17% 1,445 12.34% 63.29% 6,579 5,134 – – – – – – – – 11,713
016 Essex North Con Con 8,043 55.97% 1,715 11.93% 63.61% 8,043 6,328 – – – – – – – – 14,371
017 Essex South Lib Con 4,548 53.09% 529 6.17% 65.84% 4,548 4,019 – – – – – – – – 8,567
018 Fort William Con Con 5,467 58.73% 1,626 17.47% 62.52% 5,467 3,841 – – – – – – – – 9,308
019 Frontenac—Lennox Lib Con 4,419 54.77% 769 9.53% 66.19% 4,419 3,650 – – – – – – – – 8,069
020 Glengarry Con Lib 3,290 50.34% 45 0.69% 61.20% 3,245 3,290 – – – – – – – – 6,535
021 Grenville Con Con 4,452 64.81% 2,035 29.63% 65.93% 4,452 – – 2,417 – – – – – – 6,869
022 Grey North Prog Prog 6,912 52.15% 571 4.31% 68.85% 6,341 – 6,912 – – – – – – – 13,253
023 Grey South UFO UFO 6,607 53.07% 764 6.14% 71.06% 5,843 – – – – – 6,607 – – – 12,450
024 Haldimand Lib Con 4,993 50.14% 28 0.28% 74.85% 4,993 4,965 – – – – – – – – 9,958
025 Halton Con L-Prog 5,696 50.32% 72 0.64% 68.70% 5,624 – – – – 5,696 – – – – 11,320
026 Hamilton Centre Con Con 7,568 75.54% 5,117 51.07% 46.44% 7,568 2,451 – – – – – – – – 10,019
027 Hamilton East Con Con 8,287 62.64% 3,818 28.86% 53.20% 8,287 4,469 – – – – – – 473 – 13,229
028 Hamilton West Con Con 6,974 75.93% 4,763 51.86% 51.54% 6,974 2,211 – – – – – – – – 9,185
029 Hastings East Con Con acclaimed
030 Hastings North Con Con acclaimed
031 Hastings West Con Con 5,304 66.20% 2,596 32.40% 56.13% 5,304 2,708 – – – – – – – – 8,012
032 Huron North Lib Lib 5,795 57.18% 1,455 14.36% 69.69% 4,340 5,795 – – – – – – – – 10,135
033 Huron South Prog Prog 4,785 50.17% 32 0.34% 66.20% 4,753 – 4,785 – – – – – – – 9,538
034 Kent East Prog Con 3,157 38.56% 435 5.31% 69.32% 3,157 2,722 2,309 – – – – – – – 8,188
035 Kent West Con Con 6,911 50.81% 221 1.62% 58.71% 6,911 6,690 – – – – – – – – 13,601
036 Kenora Con Lab 3,528 53.04% 404 6.07% 68.32% 3,124 – – – – – – 3,528 – – 6,652
037 Kingston Con Con acclaimed
038 Lambton East UFO Con 4,632 43.93% 775 7.35% 68.67% 4,632 2,056 – – – – 3,857 – – – 10,545
039 Lambton West Con Con 5,724 54.97% 1,035 9.94% 61.88% 5,724 4,689 – – – – – – – – 10,413
040 Lanark North Con Con 4,038 56.64% 947 13.28% 73.69% 4,038 3,091 – – – – – – – – 7,129
041 Lanark South Con Con 4,308 57.40% 1,111 14.80% 67.06% 4,308 3,197 – – – – – – – – 7,505
042 Leeds Con Con 3,755 49.27% 1,550 20.34% 73.69% 3,755 2,205 – 1,661 – – – – – – 7,621
043 Lincoln Prog Con 3,557 43.42% 668 8.15% 71.09% 3,557 2,889 1,746 – – – – – – – 8,192
044 London North Con Con 6,221 68.04% 3,299 36.08% 47.12% 6,221 – – 2,922 – – – – – – 9,143
045 London South Con Con 6,801 58.48% 1,972 16.96% 52.76% 6,801 – – – – – – 4,829 – – 11,630
046 Manitoulin UFO Con 2,291 50.03% 3 0.07% 74.57% 2,291 – – – – – 2,288 – – – 4,579
047 Middlesex North I-Prog Con 5,288 50.80% 167 1.60% 70.40% 5,288 5,121 – – – – – – – – 10,409
048 Middlesex West Prog Con 3,371 34.81% 186 1.92% 72.71% 3,371 3,129 3,185 – – – – – – – 9,685
049 Muskoka Con Con acclaimed
050 Niagara Falls Con Con 6,713 64.94% 3,088 29.87% 45.50% 6,713 3,625 – – – – – – – – 10,338
051 Nipissing Con Con 4,859 57.99% 1,339 15.98% 62.41% 4,859 3,520 – – – – – – – – 8,379
052 Norfolk Con Con 7,206 55.39% 1,403 10.78% 78.42% 7,206 5,803 – – – – – – – – 13,009
053 Northumberland Lib Con 7,108 52.52% 683 5.05% 70.09% 7,108 6,425 – – – – – – – – 13,533
054 Ontario North Prog Con 3,072 47.33% 876 13.50% 71.69% 3,072 1,222 2,196 – – – – – – – 6,490
055 Ontario South Lib Lib 9,791 53.80% 1,383 7.60% 65.35% 8,408 9,791 – – – – – – – – 18,199
056 Ottawa East I-Lib Con 7,813 57.72% 2,089 15.43% 50.47% 7,813 5,724 – – – – – – – – 13,537
057 Ottawa North Con Con 5,198 67.64% 2,711 35.28% 29.30% 5,198 2,487 – – – – – – – – 7,685
058 Ottawa South Con Con acclaimed
059 Oxford North L-Prog L-Prog 5,449 50.47% 102 0.94% 70.82% 5,347 – – – – 5,449 – – – – 10,796
060 Oxford South L-Prog Lib 5,217 52.49% 495 4.98% 72.03% 4,722 5,217 – – – – – – – – 9,939
061 Parry Sound Con Con 4,507 56.48% 1,034 12.96% 61.37% 4,507 3,473 – – – – – – – – 7,980
062 Peel Con Con 6,737 54.27% 1,060 8.54% 69.65% 6,737 5,677 – – – – – – – – 12,414
063 Perth North Con Con 7,273 53.04% 834 6.08% 66.36% 7,273 6,439 – – – – – – – – 13,712
064 Perth South Lib Con 3,428 44.73% 1,246 16.26% 71.07% 3,428 2,182 2,053 – – – – – – – 7,663
065 Peterborough City Con Con 5,931 51.97% 450 3.94% 69.89% 5,931 5,481 – – – – – – – – 11,412
066 Peterborough County Lib Con 3,117 50.23% 29 0.47% 70.71% 3,117 3,088 – – – – – – – – 6,205
067 Port Arthur Con Con acclaimed
068 Prescott I-Lib I-Con 3,996 43.15% 968 10.45% 76.93% 3,028 2,236 – – 3,996 – – – – – 9,260
069 Prince Edward Prog Con 4,457 53.72% 617 7.44% 80.37% 4,457 – – 3,840 – – – – – – 8,297
070 Rainy River Con I-Con 3,142 51.96% 237 3.92% 78.05% 2,905 – – – 3,142 – – – – – 6,047
071 Renfrew North Con Con acclaimed
072 Renfrew South Con Lib 4,990 50.44% 87 0.88% 67.43% 4,903 4,990 – – – – – – – – 9,893
073 Russell I-Lib Con 6,190 51.20% 291 2.41% 65.03% 6,190 5,899 – – – – – – – – 12,089
074 St. Catharines I-Con Con 5,562 53.99% 822 7.98% 49.54% 5,562 – – – 4,740 – – – – – 10,302
075 Sault Ste. Marie Con Con 6,216 77.52% 4,413 55.03% 51.55% 6,216 1,803 – – – – – – – – 8,019
076 Simcoe Centre Con Lib 5,199 51.08% 220 2.16% 77.06% 4,979 5,199 – – – – – – – – 10,178
077 Simcoe East Con Con 7,980 61.63% 3,011 23.25% 70.75% 7,980 4,969 – – – – – – – – 12,949
078 Simcoe Southwest L-Prog Con 6,213 54.44% 1,013 8.88% 69.56% 6,213 5,200 – – – – – – – – 11,413
079 Stormont Con Con 6,546 76.82% 4,571 53.64% 52.29% 6,546 – – – 1,975 – – – – – 8,521
080 Sturgeon Falls I-Lib Con 3,051 58.92% 924 17.84% 67.64% 3,051 2,127 – – – – – – – – 5,178
081 Sudbury Con Con acclaimed
082 Temiskaming Con Con 4,888 58.21% 1,379 16.42% 62.70% 4,888 3,509 – – – – – – – – 8,397
083 Victoria North L-Prog L-Prog 3,139 50.25% 31 0.50% 72.72% 3,108 – – – – 3,139 – – – – 6,247
084 Victoria South L-Prog Con 4,607 55.38% 895 10.76% 72.91% 4,607 – – – – 3,712 – – – – 8,319
085 Waterloo North Con Lib 6,080 36.92% 395 2.40% 56.76% 5,685 6,080 – – 4,704 – – – – – 16,469
086 Waterloo South Lab Con 7,707 55.77% 1,595 11.54% 62.88% 7,707 6,112 – – – – – – – – 13,819
087 Welland Con Con 6,663 71.54% 4,012 43.07% 52.08% 6,663 2,651 – – – – – – – – 9,314
088 Wellington Northeast Lib Lib 6,288 63.95% 2,744 27.91% 71.75% 3,544 6,288 – – – – – – – – 9,832
089 Wellington South Con Con 7,554 55.39% 1,471 10.79% 67.84% 7,554 – – 6,083 – – – – – – 13,637
090 Wentworth North Con Con 4,750 56.31% 1,372 16.27% 31.83% 4,750 3,378 – – – – – 307 – – 8,435
091 Wentworth South Con Con 8,460 71.59% 5,102 43.17% 51.49% 8,460 3,358 – – – – – – – – 11,818
092 Windsor East Con Con 6,224 65.25% 3,247 34.84% 36.98% 6,224 2,977 – – – – – – 337 – 9,538
093 Windsor West Con Con 6,419 64.11% 2,825 38.94% 37.71% 6,419 3,594 – – – – – – – – 10,013
094 Beaches Con Con 8,034 75.55% 5,434 51.10% 40.40% 8,034 2,600 – – – – – – – – 10,634
095 Woodbine Con Con 6,839 79.56% 5,082 59.12% 35.55% 6,839 1,757 – – – – – – – – 8,596
096 Greenwood Con Con 5,783 79.04% 4,249 58.07% 35.97% 5,783 1,534 – – – – – – – – 7,317
097 Riverdale Con Con 5,604 72.70% 3,500 45.41% 36.98% 5,604 2,104 – – – – – – – – 7,708
098 Eglinton Con Con 10,009 59.30% 3,140 18.60% 47.39% 10,009 6,869 – – – – – – – – 16,878
099 St. David Con Con 7,199 74.60% 4,748 49.20% 36.97% 7,199 2,451 – – – – – – – – 9,650
100 St. George Con Con 6,450 68.76% 3,520 37.53% 33.04% 6,450 2,930 – – – – – – – – 9,380
101 St. Patrick Con Con 4,473 66.77% 3,231 48.23% 46.22% 4,473 1,242 – – 859 – – – 125 – 6,699
102 St. Andrews Con Con 3,436 63.64% 1,473 27.28% 37.71% 3,436 1,963 – – – – – – – – 5,399
103 Bellwoods Con Con 5,114 74.40% 3,749 54.54% 35.11% 5,114 1,365 – – – – – – 395 – 6,874
104 Bracondale Con Con 7,108 70.54% 4,352 43.19% 42.79% 7,108 2,756 – – – – – – 212 – 10,076
105 Dovercourt Con Con 4,316 66.94% 2,184 33.87% 43.98% 4,316 2,132 – – – – – – – – 6,448
106 Brockton Con Con 8,731 71.06% 5,176 42.13% 40.42% 8,731 3,555 – – – – – – – – 12,286
107 Parkdale Con Con 6,203 70.48% 3,987 45.30% 45.52% 6,203 2,216 – – – – – – – 382 8,801
108 High Park Con Con 8,447 64.39% 3,775 28.78% 48.30% 8,447 – – 4,672 – – – – – – 13,119
109 York East Con Con 9,619 64.42% 4,307 28.85% 42.86% 9,619 5,312 – – – – – – – – 14,931
110 York North Lib Con 5,448 50.91% 195 1.82% 75.67% 5,448 5,253 – – – – – – – – 10,701
111 York South Con Con 7,862 68.64% 4,270 37.28% 36.85% 7,862 3,592 – – – – – – – – 11,454
112 York West Con Con 8,296 65.29% 3,885 30.57% 44.67% 8,296 4,411 – – – – – – – – 12,707
  1. ^ including spoilt ballots
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = incumbent re-elected under the same party banner
  = incumbent switched allegiance for the election
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = other incumbents renominated
Resulting composition of the 18th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Source Party
Con Lib Prog L-P UFO Lab I-Con Total
Seats retained Incumbents returned 47 4 4 2 1 58
Open seats held 11 1 12
Acclamation 8 8
Seats changing hands Incumbents defeated 18 2 1 1 1 23
Open seats gained 3 3 1 7
Byelection gain held 1 1
Ouster of byelection gain by third party 1 1
Change in affiliation 2 2
Total 90 11 4 3 1 1 2 112

Seats that changed hands

Elections to the 18th Parliament of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1926–1929
Party 1926 Gain from (loss to) 1929
Con Lib Pro L-Pro UFO Lab I-Lib I-Con I-Pro L-Prb
Conservative 73 8 (4) 5 2 (1) 2 1 (1) 3 1 (1) 1 1 90
Liberal 13 4 (8) 1 1 11
Progressive 10 (5) (1) 4
Liberal–Progressive 5 1 (2) (1) 3
United Farmers 3 (2) 1
Labour 1 1 (1) 1
Independent-Liberal 4 (3) (1) –
Independent-Conservative 1 1 (1) 1 2
Independent-Progressive 1 (1) –
Liberal-Prohibitionist 1 (1) –
Total 112 7 (24) 8 (6) 6 – 3 (1) 2 – 1 (1) 4 – 1 (2) 1 – 1 – 112

There were 35 seats that changed allegiance in the election:

Notes

References

  1. ^ "1929 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Canadian Annual Review 1930, p. 358.

See also

Further reading