1929 Ontario general election

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").

1929 Ontario general election

October 30, 1929
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 18 2 Percentage 56.7% 32.2% Swing 1.3pp 15.0pp   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 6 2 Percentage 3.4% 1.3% Swing 2.9pp -
Premier before election G. Howard Ferguson Conservative Premier after election G. Howard Ferguson Conservative

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".

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	17	574,730	56.66%	0.79
	Liberal	W.E.N. Sinclair	83	13	14	11	2	319,487	31.50%	14.33
	Progressive	William Raney	9	10	8	4	6	30,795	3.04%	3.26
	Liberal–Progressive		4	5	4	3	2	17,966	1.77%	2.47
	United Farmers	Leslie Oke	3	3	3	1	2	12,752	1.26%	0.08
	Labour		3	1	1	1		8,664	0.85%	0.44
	Independent Conservative		7	1	2	2	1	21,950	2.16%	0.40
	Independent Liberal		–	4	3	–	4	Did not campaign
	Independent Progressive		–	1	1	–	1	Did not campaign
	Liberal-Prohibitionist		–	1	1	–	1	Did not campaign
	Prohibitionist		8	–	–	–	–	25,807	2.54%	5.52
	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%	7.33

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	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

  = 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:

Conservative to Liberal

• Glengarry
• Renfrew South
• Simcoe Centre
• Waterloo North

Conservative to Liberal-Progressive

• Halton

Conservative to Labour

• Kenora

Conservative to Independent-Conservative

• Rainy River

Liberal to Conservative

• Elgin East
• Essex South
• Frontenac—Lennox
• Haldimand
• Northumberland
• Perth South
• Peterborough County
• York North

Progressive to Conservative

• Kent East
• Lincoln
• Middlesex West
• Ontario North
• Prince Edward

Progressive to Liberal

• Bruce South

Liberal-Progressive to Conservative

• Simcoe Southwest
• Victoria South

Liberal-Progressive to Liberal

• Oxford South

UFO to Conservative

• Lambton East
• Manitoulin

Labour to Conservative

• Waterloo South

Independent-Liberal to Conservative

• Ottawa East
• Russell
• Sturgeon Falls

Independent-Liberal to Independent-Conservative

• Prescott

Independent-Conservative to Conservative

• St. Catharines

Independent-Progressive to Conservative

• Middlesex North

Liberal-Prohibitionist to Conservative

• Dundas

See also

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

Further reading

• The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1929–30. Toronto: The Annual Review Company. 1930.