1945 Ontario general election

The 1945 Ontario general election was held on June 4, 1945, to elect the 90 members of the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the province of Ontario.^[1]

1945 Ontario general election

← 1943 June 4, 1945 1948 →
90 seats in the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario 46 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader George Drew Mitchell Hepburn Party Progressive Conservative Liberal Leader since December 9, 1938 April 2, 1945 Leader's seat High Park Elgin (lost re-election) Last election 38 15 Seats won 66 14 Seat change 28 1 Percentage 44.3% 29.8% Swing 8.6pp 1.4pp   Third party Fourth party   LP Leader Ted Jolliffe Leslie Morris Party Co-operative Commonwealth Labor-Progressive Leader since April 3, 1942 1945 Leader's seat York South (lost re-election) Ran in Bracondale (Lost) Last election 34 2 Seats won 8 2 Seat change 26 ±0 Percentage 22.4% 2.4% Swing 9.3pp 1.5pp
Premier before election George Drew Progressive Conservative Premier after election George Drew Progressive Conservative

Background

The Legislature was dissolved on March 24, 1945, upon the government's failure to defeat a non-confidence motion. The election call was delayed in order to implement new legislation relating to the collection of votes from servicemen and women overseas,^[2] but the date was later fixed for June 11. When the 1945 Canadian federal election was set for the same date, the Ontario date was accelerated by one week to June 4,^[3] in order to separate the two campaigns.

The Drew government called the election in an attempt to get a majority government. By exploiting increasing Cold War tensions, the PC Party was able to defeat Jolliffe's CCF by stoking fears about communism. Jolliffe replied by giving a radio speech (written by Lister Sinclair) that accused Drew of running a political gestapo in Ontario, alleging that a secret department of the Ontario Provincial Police was acting as a political police spying on the opposition and the media. This accusation led to a backlash, and loss of support for the CCF, including the loss of Jolliffe's own seat of York South. This probably helped Drew win his majority, although in the 1970s, archival evidence was discovered proving the charge.^[4]

Campaign

Of the 90 ridings, only 8 had two-way races; 47 were three-way contests, and the Labor-Progressives forced 30 four way races:

Riding contests, by number of candidates (1945)

Candidates	PC	CCF	Lib	LL	Lab	Lab-Pr	Soc-Lab	I-Lib	I-PC	Ind	SC	Soldier	Total
2	4	3	1										8
3	47	47	43	3	1								141
4	30	30	27	3	3	23	1			3			120
5	7	7	7			7	2		1	1	2	1	35
6	1	1	1			1	1			1			6
7	1	1	1					2			1	1	7
Total	90	89	80	6	4	31	4	2	1	5	3	2	317

Outcome

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by George Drew, won a second consecutive term in office, winning a solid majority of seats in the legislature—66, up from 38 in the previous election.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by former premier Mitchell Hepburn, was returned to the role of official opposition with 11 seats, plus 3 Liberal-Labour seats that it won, out of 6 contested, in coalition with the Labor-Progressive Party (which was, in fact, the Communist Party), in an effort to marginalize the CCF. The three new Liberal-Labour MPPs were James Newman of Rainy River, Joseph Meinzinger of Waterloo North and Alexander Parent of Essex North.

The social democratic Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), led by Ted Jolliffe, was reduced from 34 seats to 8.

Two seats were won by the Labor-Progressive Party on its own with the re-election of A.A. MacLeod and J.B. Salsberg. The LPP contested a total of 31 ridings under the leadership of Leslie Morris who was defeated in the Toronto riding of Bracondale.

Results

^[1][5][6]

Elections to the 22nd Parliament of Ontario (1945)

Political party		Party leader	MPPs					Votes
			Candidates	1943	Dissol.	1945	±	#	%	± (pp)
	Progressive Conservative	George Drew	90	38	38	66	28	781,345	44.25	8.50
	Liberal	Mitchell Hepburn	80	15	15	11	1	479,253	27.14	2.50
	Liberal–Labour		6	–	–	3		34,879	1.98
	Co-operative Commonwealth	Ted Jolliffe	89	34	34	8	26	395,708	22.41	9.21
	Labor–Progressive[a 1]	Leslie Morris	31	2	2	2		46,418	2.63	1.73
	Independent Liberal[a 2]		2	1	1	–	1	6,359	0.36	0.41
	Labour[a 3]		4	–	–	–	–	10,805	0.61	0.44
	Independent		5	–	–	–	–	6,995	0.40	0.21
	Soldier[a 4]		2	–	–	–	–	1,875	0.11	0.07
	Socialist Labour		4	–	–	–	–	976	0.06	–
	Social Credit		3	–	–	–	–	852	0.05	Returned
	Independent PC		1	–	–	–	–	328	0.02	0.02
Total			317	90	90	90		1,765,793	100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots								17,597
Registered voters / turnout								2,469,960	72.20%	13.84

1. A. A. MacLeod (Bellwoods) and J. B. Salsberg (St. Andrew) were the only candidates nominated and elected under the Labour ticket in 1943, but switched to the new Labor-Progressive Party on its formation shortly after the election.
2. Mitchell Hepburn (Elgin) opted not to run as a Liberal candidate in 1943, and returned to the Liberals to once again become their leader.
3. compared with Independent Labour 1943 results
4. George Barker (York East) was an Independent-Soldier candidate, and John Beauchamp (Ottawa East) ran under the Veterans' Reform ticket.

Seats and popular vote by party

Party	Seats	Votes	Change (pp)
█ Progressive Conservative	66 / 90	44.25%	8.50
█ Liberal/Liberal-Labour	14 / 90	29.12%	-2.50
█ Co-operative Commonwealth	8 / 90	22.41%	-9.21
█ Labor–Progressive	2 / 90	2.63%	1.73
█ Other	0 / 90	1.59%	1.48

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1945 Ontario general election^[1][5][6]

Riding	Winning party								Turnout [a 1]	Votes
Name[a 2]	1943		Party		Votes	Share	Margin #	Margin %		PC	Lib	LL	CCF	Lab-Pr	Lab	I-Lib	I-Oth	Other	Total
Addington		PC		PC	6,992	54.15%	2,113	16.36%	80.65%	6,992	4,879	–	1,042	–	–	–	–	–	12,913
Algoma—Manitoulin		Lib		PC	4,336	37.42%	168	1.45%	77.98%	4,336	4,168	–	3,083	–	–	–	–	–	11,587
Brant		Lib		Lib	7,151	47.68%	1,191	7.94%	70.12%	5,960	7,151	–	1,886	–	–	–	–	–	14,997
Brantford		CCF		PC	6,581	36.91%	26	0.15%	74.69%	6,581	6,555	–	4,266	426	–	–	–	–	17,828
Bruce		Lib		PC	7,229	46.16%	449	2.87%	76.77%	7,229	6,780	–	1,651	–	–	–	–	–	15,660
Carleton		PC		PC	9,495	59.80%	5,253	33.08%	72.09%	9,495	4,242	–	2,141	–	–	–	–	–	15,878
Cochrane North		CCF		Lib	3,573	39.07%	313	3.42%	80.91%	1,918	3,573	–	3,260	395	–	–	–	–	9,146
Cochrane South		CCF		CCF	10,521	40.29%	2,822	10.81%	79.48%	6,126	7,699	–	10,521	1,764	–	–	–	–	26,110
Dufferin—Simcoe		PC		PC	9,216	74.30%	6,028	48.60%	62.38%	9,216	–	–	3,188	–	–	–	–	–	12,404
Durham		PC		PC	7,027	53.36%	2,585	19.63%	77.00%	7,027	4,442	–	1,700	–	–	–	–	–	13,169
Elgin		Ind-Lib		PC	10,278	52.29%	2,402	12.22%	76.50%	10,278	7,876	–	1,500	–	–	–	–	–	19,654
Essex North		CCF		LL	6,801	36.41%	685	3.67%	69.28%	6,116	–	6,801	5,762	–	–	–	–	–	18,679
Essex South		PC		PC	7,688	51.99%	1,825	12.34%	74.42%	7,688	5,863	–	1,237	–	–	–	–	–	14,788
Fort William		CCF		CCF	8,197	41.88%	2,590	13.23%	74.29%	5,607	4,598	–	8,197	1,171	–	–	–	–	19,573
Glengarry		Lib		Lib	5,594	54.90%	1,613	15.83%	74.30%	3,981	5,594	–	615	–	–	–	–	–	10,190
Grenville—Dundas		PC		PC	8,843	62.17%	4,593	32.29%	65.50%	8,843	4,250	–	1,130	–	–	–	–	–	14,223
Grey North		Lib		PC	7,275	45.63%	592	3.71%	74.17%	7,275	6,683	–	1,987	–	–	–	–	–	15,945
Grey South		Lib		Lib	6,584	52.66%	1,541	12.33%	72.17%	5,043	6,584	–	876	–	–	–	–	–	12,503
Haldimand—Norfolk		PC		PC	11,943	53.64%	4,622	20.76%	71.55%	11,943	7,321	–	3,003	–	–	–	–	–	22,267
Halton		PC		PC	6,914	44.77%	1,189	7.70%	74.31%	6,914	5,725	–	2,806	–	–	–	–	–	15,445
Hamilton East		CCF		PC	10,561	41.70%	2,739	10.81%	73.12%	10,561	4,445	–	7,822	2,291	–	–	–	207	25,326
Hamilton Centre		CCF		PC	9,091	36.23%	640	2.55%	74.18%	9,091	5,633	–	8,451	1,919	–	–	–	–	25,094
Hamilton—Wentworth		CCF		PC	10,102	44.00%	3,850	16.77%	78.49%	10,102	6,252	–	6,047	556	–	–	–	–	22,957
Hastings East*		PC		PC	5,928	56.90%	2,489	23.89%	72.02%	5,928	3,439	–	1,052	–	–	–	–	–	10,419
Hastings West		PC		PC	9,351	50.83%	2,910	15.82%	69.35%	9,351	6,441	–	2,604	–	–	–	–	–	18,396
Huron		PC		PC	7,081	52.67%	1,929	14.35%	74.90%	7,081	5,152	–	1,211	–	–	–	–	–	13,444
Huron—Bruce		PC		PC	7,188	52.57%	2,169	15.86%	76.53%	7,188	5,019	–	1,465	–	–	–	–	–	13,672
Kenora		CCF		CCF	3,461	33.92%	190	1.86%	73.80%	3,271	–	2,998	3,461	474	–	–	–	–	10,204
Kent East		PC		PC	7,000	53.20%	841	6.39%	78.53%	7,000	6,159	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13,159
Kent West		Lib		PC	10,691	51.68%	2,555	12.35%	71.20%	10,691	8,136	–	1,861	–	–	–	–	–	20,688
Kingston*		PC		PC	9,275	52.71%	2,907	16.52%	73.63%	9,275	6,368	–	1,631	322	–	–	–	–	17,596
Lambton East		Lib		PC	5,693	45.96%	86	0.69%	71.90%	5,693	5,607	–	1,087	–	–	–	–	–	12,387
Lambton West		CCF		PC	7,255	42.61%	975	5.73%	77.16%	7,255	6,280	–	3,490	–	–	–	–	–	17,025
Lanark		PC		PC	12,483	87.26%	10,660	74.51%	63.59%	12,483	–	–	1,823	–	–	–	–	–	14,306
Leeds		PC		PC	10,192	58.05%	4,229	24.09%	75.89%	10,192	5,963	–	1,403	–	–	–	–	–	17,558
Lincoln		PC		PC	16,344	49.91%	8,293	25.32%	76.03%	16,344	8,051	–	6,791	–	1,563	–	–	–	32,749
London		PC		PC	16,649	46.03%	5,390	14.90%	77.55%	16,649	11,259	–	7,863	402	–	–	–	–	36,173
Middlesex North		PC		PC	7,123	45.85%	1,764	11.35%	71.76%	7,123	5,359	–	3,055	–	–	–	–	–	15,537
Middlesex South		PC		PC	6,251	44.57%	135	0.96%	71.08%	6,251	6,116	–	1,659	–	–	–	–	–	14,026
Muskoka—Ontario		Lib		PC	8,073	47.71%	1,902	11.24%	73.95%	8,073	6,171	–	2,676	–	–	–	–	–	16,920
Niagara Falls		CCF		PC	7,014	33.39%	192	0.91%	70.22%	7,014	6,822	–	6,560	611	–	–	–	–	21,007
Nipissing		CCF		Lib	5,988	35.45%	1,123	6.65%	74.59%	4,512	5,988	–	4,865	–	–	–	1,525	–	16,890
Northumberland		PC		PC	8,674	55.70%	2,911	18.69%	76.85%	8,674	5,763	–	1,135	–	–	–	–	–	15,572
Ontario		CCF		PC	9,130	35.49%	1,079	4.19%	74.38%	9,130	8,051	–	7,693	–	852	–	–	–	25,726
Ottawa East		Lib		Lib	10,725	42.36%	4,708	18.60%	66.34%	5,287	10,725	–	2,234	–	–	6,359	–	711	25,316
Ottawa South		PC		PC	23,616	53.50%	9,167	20.77%	69.93%	23,616	14,449	–	5,571	–	–	–	–	503	44,139
Oxford		PC		PC	11,402	50.05%	3,408	14.96%	72.53%	11,402	7,994	–	3,386	–	–	–	–	–	22,782
Parry Sound		CCF		Lib	4,289	36.81%	124	1.06%	73.35%	4,165	4,289	–	3,199	–	–	–	–	–	11,653
Peel		PC		PC	9,923	56.19%	5,511	31.21%	69.10%	9,923	–	4,412	3,325	–	–	–	–	–	17,660
Perth		Lib		PC	12,302	48.24%	1,935	7.59%	72.34%	12,302	10,367	–	2,835	–	–	–	–	–	25,504
Peterborough		PC		PC	12,398	50.94%	4,684	19.25%	81.29%	12,398	7,714	–	4,225	–	–	–	–	–	24,337
Port Arthur		CCF		CCF	6,403	34.90%	2,028	11.05%	73.01%	3,254	4,375	–	6,403	1,486	–	–	2,828	–	18,346
Prescott		Lib		Lib	6,037	51.31%	2,255	19.17%	75.06%	1,946	6,037	–	3,782	–	–	–	–	–	11,765
Prince Edward—Lennox		PC		PC	7,583	57.46%	2,878	21.81%	71.84%	7,583	4,705	–	909	–	–	–	–	–	13,197
Rainy River		CCF		LL	2,583	34.59%	251	3.36%	78.63%	2,332	–	2,583	2,186	366	–	–	–	–	7,467
Renfrew North		PC		PC	6,118	45.97%	1,570	11.80%	80.89%	6,118	4,548	–	2,643	–	–	–	–	–	13,309
Renfrew South		Lib		PC	5,864	48.39%	774	6.39%	75.09%	5,864	5,090	–	1,164	–	–	–	–	–	12,118
Russell		Lib		Lib	5,925	49.94%	1,511	12.74%	65.82%	4,414	5,925	–	997	–	–	–	528	–	11,864
Sault Ste. Marie		CCF		CCF	5,623	34.69%	176	1.09%	81.51%	5,447	5,138	–	5,623	–	–	–	–	–	16,208
Simcoe Centre		PC		PC	6,229	45.22%	1,613	11.71%	77.39%	6,229	4,616	–	1,754	–	–	–	1,176	–	13,775
Simcoe East		PC		PC	7,433	50.05%	3,265	21.99%	60.10%	7,433	4,168	–	3,249	–	–	–	–	–	14,850
Stormont		PC		Lib	8,701	49.43%	2,057	11.69%	59.26%	6,644	8,701	–	1,664	594	–	–	–	–	17,603
Sudbury		CCF		CCF	13,627	47.33%	6,075	21.10%	74.80%	5,920	7,552	–	13,627	1,692	–	–	–	–	28,791
Temiskaming		CCF		CCF	4,327	39.66%	1,176	10.78%	78.17%	3,151	3,150	–	4,327	282	–	–	–	–	10,910
Victoria		PC		PC	9,732	61.39%	5,098	32.16%	75.66%	9,732	4,634	–	1,487	–	–	–	–	–	15,853
Waterloo North		CCF		LL	11,104	41.24%	1,165	4.33%	69.96%	9,939	–	11,104	5,135	745	–	–	–	–	26,923
Waterloo South		CCF		PC	8,289	42.32%	2,035	10.39%	72.64%	8,289	5,043	–	6,254	–	–	–	–	–	19,586
Welland		CCF		PC	8,161	34.55%	244	1.03%	78.35%	8,161	7,917	–	5,440	–	2,106	–	–	–	23,624
Wellington North		Lib		Lib	6,821	46.89%	24	0.16%	72.58%	6,797	6,821	–	928	–	–	–	–	–	14,546
Wellington South		CCF		PC	7,608	43.40%	1,598	9.12%	74.29%	7,608	6,010	–	3,910	–	–	–	–	–	17,528
Wentworth		CCF		CCF	9,612	39.08%	591	2.40%	70.03%	9,021	4,254	–	9,612	1,325	–	–	–	385	24,597
Windsor—Walkerville		CCF		PC	7,880	40.27%	1,596	8.16%	69.21%	7,880	–	–	5,402	–	6,284	–	–	–	19,566
Windsor—Sandwich		CCF		PC	8,487	40.59%	1,506	7.20%	67.54%	8,487	–	6,981	5,439	–	–	–	–	–	20,907
York East		CCF		PC	20,741	46.95%	5,628	12.74%	68.66%	20,741	6,163	–	15,113	753	–	–	–	1,411	44,181
York North		CCF		PC	10,348	42.16%	3,042	12.39%	72.23%	10,348	7,306	–	6,889	–	–	–	–	–	24,543
York South		CCF		PC	14,893	40.53%	768	2.09%	68.39%	14,893	6,486	–	14,125	1,024	–	–	–	220	36,748
York West		CCF		PC	16,408	43.95%	4,422	11.85%	68.84%	16,408	8,016	–	11,986	922	–	–	–	–	37,332
Beaches		PC		PC	11,676	52.38%	4,854	21.77%	70.60%	11,676	3,794	–	6,822	–	–	–	–	–	22,292
Bellwoods		Lab		Lab-Pr	6,799	33.62%	816	4.03%	70.28%	5,983	3,301	–	4,142	6,799	–	–	–	–	20,225
Bracondale		CCF		PC	6,600	35.61%	1,622	8.75%	70.77%	6,600	4,019	–	4,978	2,607	–	–	328	–	18,532
Dovercourt		PC		PC	12,236	45.67%	4,704	17.56%	68.84%	12,236	5,788	–	7,532	1,237	–	–	–	–	26,793
Eglinton		PC		PC	26,115	63.72%	18,830	45.95%	78.93%	26,115	6,450	–	7,285	1,132	–	–	–	–	40,982
High Park		PC		PC	15,238	57.19%	3,830	14.37%	72.87%	15,238	–	–	11,408	–	–	–	–	–	26,646
Parkdale		PC		PC	13,875	46.71%	6,159	20.73%	71.44%	13,875	7,716	–	6,812	1,304	–	–	–	–	29,707
Riverdale		CCF		PC	12,620	47.53%	3,871	14.58%	67.06%	12,620	4,302	–	8,749	683	–	–	–	197	26,551
St. Andrew		Lab		Lab-Pr	10,010	51.80%	5,985	30.97%	68.22%	4,025	2,505	–	2,786	10,010	–	–	–	–	19,326
St. David		CCF		PC	8,535	42.24%	2,973	14.71%	66.38%	8,535	4,924	–	5,562	1,183	–	–	–	–	20,204
St. George		PC		PC	13,153	55.34%	6,982	29.38%	65.87%	13,153	4,442	–	6,171	–	–	–	–	–	23,766
St. Patrick		PC		PC	7,974	50.21%	4,713	29.68%	68.02%	7,974	3,163	–	3,261	1,484	–	–	–	–	15,882
Woodbine		CCF		PC	12,083	43.83%	2,262	8.20%	67.78%	12,083	4,199	–	9,821	459	–	–	938	69	27,569

1. including spoilt ballots
2. order is as given in EO reports

  = open seat

  = turnout is above provincial average

  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature

  = incumbent had switched allegiance

  = incumbency arose from byelection gain

  = previously incumbent in another riding

  = other incumbents renominated

  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature

  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada

  = multiple candidates

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place

Party in 1st place		Party in 2nd place						Total
		PC	Lib	LL	CCF	Lab	I-Lib
	Progressive Conservative		45	2	18	1		66
	Liberal	7			3		1	11
	Liberal–Labour	3						3
	Co-operative Commonwealth	5	3					8
	Labor–Progressive	2						2
Total		17	48	2	21	1	1	90

Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party

Parties	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
█ Progressive Conservative	66	17	7			90
█ Liberal	11	48	19	2		80
█ Co-operative Commonwealth	8	21	59	1		89
█ Liberal–Labour	3	2	1			6
█ Labor–Progressive	2			26	3	31
█ Labour		1		3		4
█ Independent Liberal		1				1
█ Independent				5		5
█ Socialist Labour				1	2	3
█ Soldier				1	1	2
█ Social Credit					2	2
█ Independent PC					1	1

Resulting composition of the 22nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Source		Party
		PC	Lib	L-L	CCF	Lab-Pr	Total
Seats retained	Incumbents returned	35	6		8	2	51
	Open seats held	2	1				3
Seats changing hands	Incumbents defeated	25	2	2			29
	Open seats gained	3		1			4
	Return of members previously elected	1	2				3
Total		66	11	3	8	2	90

Seats that changed hands

Elections to the 22nd Parliament of Ontario – seats won/lost by party, 1943–1945

Party		1943	Gain from (loss to)												1945
			PC		Lib		CCF		L-L		Lbr-P		I-Lib
	Progressive Conservative	38			8	(1)	20						1		66
	Liberal	15	1	(8)			3								11
	Co-operative Commonwealth	34		(20)		(3)				(3)					8
	Liberal–Labour	–					3								3
	Labor–Progressive	2													2
	Independent-Liberal[a 1]	1		(1)											–
Total		90	1	(29)	8	(4)	26	–	–	(3)	–	–	1	–	90

1. Mitchell Hepburn (Elgin) campaigned as a Liberal and lost.

There were 36 seats that changed allegiance in the election.

PC to Liberal Stormont Liberal to PC Algoma—Manitoulin Bruce Grey North Kent West Lambton East Muskoka—Ontario Perth Renfrew South

CCF to PC Bracondale Brantford Hamilton Centre Hamilton East Hamilton—Wentworth Lambton West Niagara Falls Ontario Riverdale St. David Waterloo South Welland Wellington South Windsor—Sandwich Windsor—Walkerville Woodbine York East York North York South York West

CCF to Liberal Cochrane North Nipissing Parry Sound CCF to Liberal-Labour Essex North Rainy River Waterloo North Independent-Liberal to PC Elgin

Notable group of candidates

Ten candidates who were not incumbents had served as MPPs prior to 1943:

Riding	Candidate		Votes	Placed
Cochrane North	█ Liberal	Joseph-Anaclet Habel	3,573	1st
Hamilton Centre	█ Liberal	John Newlands	5,633	3rd
Hamilton—Wentworth	█ Liberal	Thomas Baker McQuesten	6,252	2nd
Lambton West	█ Liberal	William Guthrie	6,280	2nd
Niagara Falls	█ Liberal	William Houck	6,822	2nd
Parry Sound	█ Liberal	Milton Taylor Armstrong	4,289	1st
Temiskaming	█ Liberal	William Glennie Nixon	3,150	3rd
Welland	█ Liberal	Edward James Anderson	7,917	2nd
Bracondale	█ Liberal	Lionel Pretoria Conacher	4,019	3rd
Woodbine	█ Progressive Conservative	Goldwin Corlett Elgie	12,083	1st

See also

• Politics of Ontario
• List of Ontario political parties
• Premier of Ontario
• Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)