The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. This election ended 42 years of Progressive Conservative Party rule in Ontario with David Peterson's Liberals eventually forming a government with the support of Bob Rae's NDP.
Near Thanksgiving of 1984, longstanding Premier Bill Davis announced that he would be stepping down as Premier and leader of the Ontario PCs. Davis, in office since 1971, had rung up a string of electoral victories by pursuing a moderate agenda and relying on the skill of the Big Blue Machine team of advisors. Davis, who remained generally popular throughout his term in office, would unveil a surprise legacy project: Full funding for Ontario's separate Catholic school system, which would become known as Bill 30. This decision was supported by both other parties, but was generally unpopular, especially amongst the Tory base.
The subsequent leadership race saw the PC party divide into two rough camps. The moderate and mainly urban wing was represented by second-place finisher Larry Grossman. The more strongly conservative rural faction backed eventual victor Frank Miller. After Miller's victory at the convention the party factions failed to reconcile; especially important was that a number of the mainly moderate members of the Big Blue Machine were pushed aside.
Despite these problems, the PCs remained far ahead in the polls, and when Miller called an election just six weeks after becoming premier, he was some twenty percentage points ahead of the Liberals. Over the campaign the Tory lead began to shrink as the Liberals waged a highly effective campaign. Partway into the campaign, the separate schools question re-emerged when the Anglican prelate of Toronto, Archbishop Lewis Garnsworthy, held a news conference on the issue where he compared Bill Davis' methods in pushing through the reform to Adolf Hitler: "This is how Hitler changed education in Germany, by exactly the same process, by decree. I won't take that back.". Garnsworthy was much criticized for his remarks, but the issue was revived, alienating the conservative base, some of whom chose to stay home on election day.
The election held May 2, 1985 ended in a stalemate. The PCs emerged with a much-reduced caucus of 52 seats. The Liberals won 48 seats, but won slightly more of the popular vote. The NDP held the balance of power with 25 seats.
Despite taking 14 seats from the PCs, the result was something of a disappointment for the Liberals, as they felt they had their first realistic chance of winning government in recent memory. The NDP was also disappointed by the election result. It had been nearly tied with the Liberals for popular support for several years, and had hoped to surpass them.
As the incumbent party, the PCs intended to remain in power with a minority government, as they had done on two occasions under Davis's leadership. Rae and the NDP had little interest in supporting a continuation of PC rule, and began negotiations to reach a supply agreement with the Liberals. Rae and Peterson signed a deal that would see a number of NDP priorities put into law in exchange for an NDP motion of non-confidence in Miller's government, and the NDP's support of the Liberals. The NDP agreed to support a Liberal minority government for two years, and the Liberals agreed not to call an election during that time.
Miller, apprised of negotiations, sounded out a plan to address the province on television two days before the throne speech, disown funding for Catholic schools, and announce he was meeting with the Lieutenant Governor to request an election before a confidence vote could take place. While believing that the Lieutenant Governor would have to call an election if requested before the confidence vote, Miller refused, believing the party's finances to be too fragile for a second campaign, and that repudiating Davis would tear the party apart.
On June 18, 1985, the PCs were defeated on a motion of no confidence introduced by Rae. Lieutenant-Governor John Black Aird then asked Peterson to form a government. Miller resigned eight days later, and Peterson's minority government was sworn in the same day.
The Revolutionary Workers League fielded one candidate.
Algoma:
(x)Bud Wildman (NDP) 7575
Jim Thibert (PC) 3694
Bryan McDougall (L) 2995
Algoma—Manitoulin:
(x)John Lane (PC) 7174
Tom Farquhar (L) 4704
Len Hembruf (NDP) 3309
Armourdale:
(x)Bruce McCaffrey (PC) 13394
Gino Matrundola (L) 13182
Bob Hebdon (NDP) 5429
Simon Srdarev (Lbt) 456
Beaches—Woodbine:
(x)Marion Bryden (NDP) 12672
Paul Christie (PC) 7301
Sally Kelly (L) 5065
Steve Thistle (Lbt) 396
Bellwoods:
(x)Ross McClellan (NDP) 8088
Walter Bardyn (L) 6655
Bento de Sao Jose (PC) 1964
Ronald Rodgers 324
Brampton:
Bob Callahan (L) 25656
Jeff Rice (PC) 21239
Terry Gorman (NDP) 8313
Jim Bridgewood (Comm) 531
Dave Duqette 500
Brantford:
(x)Phil Gillies (PC) 13444
Jack Tubman (NDP) 12303
Herb German (L) 6533
Brant—Oxford—Haldimand:
(x)Robert Nixon (L) 15317
Ian Birnie (PC) 5817
Irene Heltner (NDP) 3487
Brock:
Peter Partington (PC) 9741
Bill Andres (L) 9081
Robert Woolston (NDP) 3867
Brian Dolby (G) 755
Burlington South:
Cam Jackson (PC) 16479
Doug Redfearn (L) 11822
Walter Mukewich (NDP) 10820
Cambridge:
(x)Bill Barlow (PC) 12888
Alec Dufresne (NDP) 11985
Bob Jeffrey (L) 7083
Carleton:
(x)Bob Mitchell (PC) 17732
Hans Daigeler (L) 15093
Bea Murray (NDP) 7165
Carleton East:
Gilles Morin (L) 23221
(x)Bob MacQuarrie (PC) 16188
Joan Gullen (NDP) 8829
Carleton-Grenville:
(x)Norm Sterling (PC) 15524
Dan Maxwell (L) 8019
Alan White (NDP) 3468
Chatham—Kent:
Maurice Bossy (L) 10340
(x)Andy Watson (PC) 9206
Ron Franko (NDP) 5535
Cochrane North:
René Fontaine (L) 8793
(x)René Piché (PC) 6883
Andre Philippe (NDP) 2878
Cochrane South:
(x)Alan Pope (PC) 13935
Roger Loiselle (NDP) 5662
Jim Martin (L) 4002
Cornwall:
Luc Guindon (PC) 9430
Claude Poirier (L) 6384
Steve Corrie (NDP) 5828
Don Mills:
(x)Dennis Timbrell (PC) 15481
John Atkin (L) 7504
Michael Wyatt (NDP) 6153
Gary Watson (Ind [RWL]) 1382
Dovercourt:
(x)Tony Lupusella (NDP) 6677
Gil Gillespie (L) 6600
Joe Palozzi (PC) 3564
Gordon Massie (Comm) 298
Downsview:
Joseph Cordiano (L) 11234
(x)Odoardo Di Santo (NDP) 11013
Vincent Stabile (PC) 3329
Dufferin—Simcoe:
(x)George McCague (PC) 16198
Gary Johnson (L) 11822
Jeff Koechlin (NDP) 4316
Durham East:
(x)Sam Cureatz (PC) 15193
Doug Smith (NDP) 9832
Steve Ryan (L) 7584
Durham West:
(x)George Ashe (PC) 18684
Brian Evans (L) 14348
Don Stewart (NDP) 8495
Eugene Gmitrowicz (Lbt) 911
Durham—York:
(x)Ross Stevenson (PC) 14343
Don Hadden (L) 9760
Margaret Wilbur (NDP) 5440
Eglinton:
David McFadden (PC) 13503
Dianne Poole (L) 12589
John Goodfellow (NDP) 4880
Elgin:
(x)Ron McNeil (PC) 11816
Peter Charlton (L) 8619
Gord Campbell (NDP) 5315
Erie:
(x)Ray Haggerty (L) 10926
Stan Pettit (PC) 5904
Shirley Summers (NDP) 3191
Essex North:
Pat Hayes (NDP) 7901
Jack Morris (L) 6615
Jack Menard (PC) 6105
Ray Boggs 2925
Essex South:
(x)Remo Mancini (L) 11382
Paul Setterington (PC) 5098
Jeff Totten 4947
Paul Hertel (NDP) 267
Etobicoke:
(x)Ed Philip (NDP) 16792
John Smith (PC) 7573
John Genser (L) 6544
Fort William:
(x)Mickey Hennessy (PC) 14452
Don Smith (NDP) 7071
Norris Badanai (L) 4629
John MacLennan (Comm) 289
Frontenac—Addington:
Larry South (L) 11684
(x)J. Earl McEwen (PC) 9297
Lars Thompson (NDP) 3723
Ross Baker 941
Grey:
(x)Bob McKessock (L) 16061
Case Vanderham (PC) 5875
Rhonda Green (NDP) 2402
Eric Biggins (Lbt) 306
Grey—Bruce:
(x)Eddie Sargent (L) 14883
Arlene Wright (PC) 7595
Joanne Shaw (NDP) 2340
Haldimand—Norfolk:
(x)Gordon Miller (L) 17456
Barbara Martindale (PC) 9863
Wayne Pierce (NDP) 3821
Halton—Burlington:
Don Knight (L) 14991
Peter Pomeroy (PC) 14777
Doug Hamilton (NDP) 4871
Neil Sivertson 665
Hamilton Centre:
Lily Oddie Munro (L) 9184
(x)Mike Davison (NDP) 8800
John Ankers (PC) 2883
Hamilton East:
(x)Robert W. Mackenzie (NDP) 13774
Shirley Collins (L) 12174
Fred Lombardo (PC) 5268
Kerry Wilson (Comm) 234
Hamilton Mountain:
(x)Brian Charlton (NDP) 13871
Steve Oneschuk (PC) 9729
Dominic Agostino (L) 7757
Hamilton West:
(x)Richard Allen (NDP) 10182
Paul Hanover (L) 9732
Anne Jones (PC) 6705
Ron Crawford 496
Val Hache 97
Hastings—Peterborough:
(x)Jim Pollock (PC) 12272
Paul Ockenden (L) 5586
Elmer Buchanan (NDP) 4492
High Park—Swansea:
(x)Yuri Shymko (PC) 9960
Elaine Ziemba (NDP) 9630
John Rudnicki (L) 5578
Bob Cumming (Lbt) 498
Robert Seajkowski 244
Andrew Scorer (G) 209
Humber:
Jim Henderson (L) 18057
(x)Morley Kells (PC) 16106
Peter Sutherland (NDP) 5160
Huron—Bruce:
(x)Murray Elston (L) 17159
Mike Snobelen (PC) 8550
Norma Peterson (NDP) 1992
Huron—Middlesex:
(x)Jack Riddell (L) 13820
Bryan Smith (PC) 7381
Paul Klopp (NDP) 1148
Carmen Dawson 229
Kenora:
(x)Leo Bernier (PC) 12574
Colin Wasacase (NDP) 4025
Mark Ducharme (L) 2254
Kent—Elgin:
(x)Jim McGuigan (L) 11616
Shirley McHardy (PC) 7838
Donald Alexander (NDP) 1916
Kingston and the Islands:
Ken Keyes (L) 11924
(x)Keith Norton (PC) 9637
Pamela Cross (NDP) 3892
Don Irvine (G) 285
Kitchener:
David Cooke (L) 14066
Don Travers (PC) 9684
Tim Little (NDP) 5654
Ed Halbach (Ind [Humanist]) 453
Albert Norris 157
Kitchener—Wilmot:
(x)John Sweeney (L) 15987
Jim Ziegler (PC) 8737
Mike Cooper (NDP) 4673
Lake Nipigon:
Gilles Pouliot (NDP) 5708
Jim Files (PC) 4532
Michael Power (L) 3448
Lambton:
David Smith (L) 10816
Bob Boyd (PC) 9956
Grant Reynolds (NDP) 1987
Lanark—Renfrew:
(x)Douglas Wiseman (PC) 10916
John Carley (L) 5146
Don Page (NDP) 3297
Lakeshore:
Ruth Grier (NDP) 11539
Frank Sgarlata (L) 9502
(x)Al Kolyn (PC) 7886
Leeds:
(x)Robert Runciman (PC) 11809
Dolores Wing (L) 6748
Bob Smith (NDP) 3583
Mackie Morrison 741
Lincoln:
(x)Philip Andrewes (PC) 12226
Gladys Huffman (L) 9004
Barbara Mersereau (NDP) 2264
Ken Lee 1036
London Centre:
(x)David Peterson (L) 13890
Bill Rudd (PC) 6714
Peter Cassidy (NDP) 4340
Michelle McColm (F) 403
London North:
(x)Ron Van Horne (L) 20536
George Auold (PC) 11433
Marion Boyd (NDP) 5191
Robert Smink (F) 566
London South:
Joan Smith (L) 24522
(x)Gord Walker (PC) 17839
David Winninger (NDP) 5080
Robert Metz (F) 614
Middlesex:
Doug Reycraft (L) 11292
(x)Bob Eaton (PC) 10482
Larry Green (NDP) 2169
Mississauga East:
(x)Bud Gregory (PC) 14900
Victor Maida (L) 12334
Larry Taylor (NDP) 12015
Mississauga North:
Steve Offer (L) 21369
(x)Terry Jones (PC) 19945
Sylvia Weylie (NDP) 9943
Mississauga South:
Margaret Marland (PC) 13186
Carolynne Siller (L) 11623
Barry Stevens (NDP) 4770
Muskoka:
(x)Frank Miller (PC) 12723
Kenneth McClellan (L) 3036
Bob Maguire (NDP) 2836
Niagara Falls:
(x)Vince Kerrio (L) 14658
Ted Salci (PC) 8616
Deloris Skilton (NDP) 6778
Nickel Belt:
(x)Floyd Laughren (NDP) 8912
Evelyn Dutrisac (PC) 5849
Trudy Bolduc (L) 2255
Nipissing:
(x)Mike Harris (PC) 14900
Mike Gauthier (L) 11002
Lynne Bennett (NDP) 3984
Northumberland:
(x)Howard Sheppard (PC) 14296
Joan Fawcett (L) 12446
Judi Armstrong (NDP) 3247
Oakville:
Terry O'Connor (PC) 14265
Doug Carrothers (L) 13578
Kevin Flynn (NDP) 4390
Chris Kowalchuk (G) 2008
Oakwood:
(x)Tony Grande (NDP) 10407
Joe Ricciuti (L) 9631
Harriet Wolman (PC) 4636
Mike Sterling (Comm) 327
Oriole:
Elinor Caplan (L) 17641
(x)John Williams (PC) 13557
Lorne Strachan (NDP) 3660
George Graham (Lbt) 1106
Oshawa:
(x)Mike Breaugh (NDP) 12686
Bob Boychyn (PC) 7528
Joe Neal (L) 5034
Ottawa Centre:
(x)Evelyn Gigantes (NDP) 11890
Graham Bird (PC) 8005
Pat Legris (L) 7103
John Turmel 364
Ottawa East:
(x)Bernard Grandmaitre (L) 14601
Kathryn Barnard (NDP) 3971
Paul St. Georges (PC) 2257
Serge Girard (politician)|Serge Girard 518
Ottawa South:
(x)Claude Bennett (PC) 12971
Andrew Caddell (L) 11634
John Smart (NDP) 8311
Ottawa West:
(x)Reuben Baetz (PC) 15089
Alex Cullen (L) 12141
Greg Ross (NDP) 4427
Gregory Vezina (G) 701
Oxford:
(x)Dick Treleaven (PC) 15507
Charlotte Sutherland (L) 10656
Wayne Colburn (NDP) 5660
Kaye Sargent (Lbt) 729
Rick Spurgeon 577
Parkdale:
(x)Tony Ruprecht (L) 12065
Richard Gilbert (NDP) 5176
Tessie Jew (PC) 2052
Parry Sound:
(x)Ernie Eves (PC) 10904
Richard Thomas (L) 9544
Leo Gagne (NDP) 1130
Perth:
(x)Hugh Edighoffer (L) 20040
Glynn Coghlin (PC) 6076
Warren Ham (NDP) 2796
Peterborough:
(x)John Turner (PC) 16878
Linda Slavin (NDP) 11941
Bill Ayotte (L) 9734
John Conlin (Lbt) 461
George K. Kerr (G) 212
Port Arthur:
(x)Jim Foulds (NDP) 13084
Swede Johnson (PC) 9826
John Ranta (L) 6169
Prescott and Russell:
(x)Jean Poirier (L) 18833
Guy Genier (PC) 11038
Maurice Landry (NDP) 2625
Prince Edward—Lennox:
(x)James Taylor (PC) 10170
Gordon Mylks (L) 6918
Harry Plummer (NDP) 2307
Quinte:
(x)Hugh O’Neil (L) 18988
Neil Robertson (PC) 9287
Gene Morosan (NDP) 1817
Rainy River:
Jack Pierce (PC) 5053
Howard Hampton (NDP) 4775
Ron King (L) 2944
Renfrew North:
(x)Sean Conway (L) 12849
Bryan Hocking (PC) 5748
Robert Cottingham (NDP) 740
Renfrew South:
(x)Paul Yakabuski (PC) 14182
Dermott Calver (L) 9687
Ish Theilheimer (NDP) 3420
Riverdale:
David Reville (NDP) 9869
Bret Snider (PC) 4590
Doug DeMille (L) 3949
Maggie Bizzell (Comm) 322
Michael Tegtmeyer (G) 192
St. Andrew—St. Patrick:
(x)Larry Grossman (PC) 10332
Meg Griffiths (NDP) 8373
Jim DaCosta (L) 6330
Cathy Laurier (Comm) 264
Judy Hannon (G) 232
St. Catharines:
St. David:
Ian Scott (L) 13120
Julian Porter (PC) 9702
Barbara Hall (NDP) 4878
Earl Epstein (Lbt) 227
St. George:
(x)Susan Fish (PC) 11378
Diana Hunt (NDP) 10543
Joseph Mifsud (L) 9361
Michael Beech (Lbt) 1007
Karol Siroky (Ind [New Tories]) 186
Sarnia:
(x)Andy Brandt (PC) 18651
Michael Robb (L) 7438
Duncan Longwell (NDP) 3572
Margaret Coe (Lbt) 792
Sault Ste. Marie:
Karl Morin-Strom (NDP) 16362
(x)Russ Ramsay (PC) 15293
Roy Youngson (L) 4830
Scarborough Centre:
William C. Davis (PC) 8890
Gerald Lennon (L) 8531
Barry Christensen (NDP) 7577
Scarborough East:
Ed Fulton (L) 15855
Verla Fiveash (PC) 11245
Alawi Mohideen (NDP) 4381
Jim McIntosh (Lbt) 1402
Scarborough—Ellesmere:
David Warner (NDP) 10119
(x)Alan Robinson (PC) 9900
Carole Lidgold (L) 6674
George Dance (Lbt) 348
Scarborough North:
Alvin Curling (L) 30504
Carole Noble (PC) 22644
Jerry Daca (NDP) 9072
R.J. Austin 1972
Scarborough West:
(x)Richard Johnston (NDP) 12889
Kurt Christensen (PC) 5994
Anthony Judd (L) 4806
John MacMillan 544
Simcoe Centre:
Earl W. Rowe (PC) 15379
Ross Whiteside (L) 14845
Paul Wessenger (NDP) 9639
Steve Kaasgaard 566
Simcoe East:
(x)Al McLean (PC) 13371
Fayne Bullen (NDP) 11002
George MacDonald (L) 7566
Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry & East Grenville:
(x)Noble Villeneuve (PC) 13119
Bill Dillabough (L) 7036
Rudi Derstroff (NDP) 1700
Sudbury:
(x)Jim Gordon (PC) 12591
Ernie St-Jean (NDP) 7010
Chris Nash (L) 6302
Sudbury East:
(x)Elie Martel (NDP) 17241
George McDonald (PC) 9576
Edelgard Mahant (L) 4726
Timiskaming:
David Ramsay (NDP) 10765
(x)Ed Havrot (PC) 7941
Dale Woods (L) 2026
George Yeates 464
Victoria—Haliburton:
(x)John Eakins (L) 15340
Murray Fearrey (PC) 11570
Art Field (NDP) 3209
Waterloo North:
(x)Herbert Epp (L) 16458
Lynne Woolstencroft (PC) 9149
Richard Gerson (NDP) 4534
Welland—Thorold:
(x)Mel Swart (NDP) 17065
Roy Smith (L) 6027
Ed Minchin (PC) 5618
Wellington—Dufferin—Peel:
(x)Jack Johnson (PC) 14845
Bruce Whiteside (L) 10401
Sandy Young (NDP) 6395
Wellington South:
Rick Ferraro (L) 17995
Marilyn Robinson (PC) 12989
Derek Fletcher (NDP) 6641
Wentworth:
(x)Gordon Dean (PC) 12322
June Peace (L) 10337
Sharon Lehnert (NDP) 8571
Albert Papazian 947
Wentworth North:
Chris Ward (L) 18328
(x)Ann Sloat (PC) 13160
Lynn Spencer (NDP) 6158
George Grinnell (G) 751
Wilson Heights:
Monte Kwinter (L) 12363
(x)David Rotenberg (PC) 10175
Howard Moscoe (NDP) 7793
Windsor—Riverside:
(x)Dave Cooke (NDP) 17883
Ron Burgoyne (PC) 6719
Ferguson Jenkins (L) 4418
Windsor—Sandwich:
(x)Bill Wrye (L) 10730
Paul Forder (NDP) 7583
Ron Arkell (PC) 3681
Mike Longmoore (Comm) 197
Windsor—Walkerville:
(x)Bernard Newman (L) 9130
Jane Boyd (PC) 6980
Gay Parent (NDP) 6698
York Centre:
(x)Don Cousens (PC) 25022
Ron Maheu (L) 19776
Diane Meaghan (NDP) 7171
Stewart Cole 2644
York East:
(x)Robert Elgie (PC) 11459
Gord Crann (NDP) 9183
Omar Chaudhery (L) 6629
Ed McDonald (Comm) 929
Kathy Sorensen (Lbt) 410
York Mills:
(x)Bette Stephenson (PC) 17943
Gunnar Tannis (L) 10078
Gord Doctorow (NDP) 6872
Scott Bell (Lbt) 2339
York North:
Greg Sorbara (L) 21291
(x)William Hodgson (PC) 17196
Keith Munro (NDP) 7026
York South:
(x)Bob Rae (NDP) 16373
Horace Hale (L) 6807
Toomas Dunapuu (PC) 5321
Paul Schulze 1063
Lucille Boikoff 402
Dusan Kubias (Lbt) 343
York West:
(x)Nick Leluk (PC) 14595
Leonard Braithwaite (L) 13880
Phil Jones (NDP) 6980
Bob Dunk (Lbt) 1099
Yorkview:
Claudio Polsinelli (L) 15986
Mike Foster (NDP) 12658
Leslie Soobrian (PC) 3431
York East (res. Robert Elgie, September 26, 1985), April 17, 1986:
Christine Hart (L) 9347
Gina Brannan (PC) 7956
Gord Crann (NDP) 7928
Jim McIntosh (Lbt) 243
John MacLennan (Comm) 100
Mark Adair (G) 60
John Turmel (SC) 44
Jack Arshawsky 27
Cochrane North (res. René Fontaine, 1986), August 14, 1986:
René Fontaine (L) 8463
Bertrand Proulx 766
Judy Cole 606
Graham McCready 185
Kaye Sargent (Lbt) 99
John Turmel 75
David Ramsay, elected as a New Democrat, joined the Liberal Party on October 6, 1986. Tony Lupusella, also elected as a New Democrat, joined the Liberal Party on December 17, 1986. After Lupusella's defection, the Liberals held as many seats in the legislative assembly as the Progressive Conservatives, at 51, (if the Speaker of the Legislature is included as a Liberal).
Paul Yakabuski, PC MPP for Renfrew South died July 31, 1987
