Ontario Liberal Party leadership elections

This is a list of results of leadership elections for the Ontario Liberal Party, a political party in Ontario, Canada.

Note: Before 1919, the leaders of the Ontario Liberal Party were chosen by its elected Members of the Legislative Assembly. There were calls for a more open process as early as 1907.

1919 leadership convention

[edit]

(Held on June 26, 1919 at the Foresters' Hall, 22 College Street, Toronto.)[1]

First ballot:

Second ballot:

Charles Martin Bowman, MPP for Bruce North; W.T.R. Preston, editor of the Port Hope Evening Guide, Rev. W. G. Charlton of Aylmer, and A. J. Young of Toronto were nominated but declined. Frederick Forsyth Pardee, Member of Parliament for Lambton West was to be nominated but sent a message to the convention declining.[2]

1922 leadership convention

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(Held on March 3, 1922 at the Foresters' Hall, 22 College Street, Toronto.)[3]

(Note: The vote totals do not appear to have been announced.)

1930 leadership convention

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(Held on December 16–17, 1930 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.)[4]

W.E.N. Sinclair and Sydney Tweed both withdrew from the race before balloting.

1943 leadership convention

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(Held on April 30, 1943 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.)

There were 8 spoiled ballots. Premier Gordon Conant had also been a candidate but collapsed the morning of the leadership vote and withdrew.

1945 leadership election

[edit]

(Held on April 2, 1945 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.)

Harry Nixon resigned as Liberal leader on December 10, 1944 and nominated Hepburn to succeed him as parliamentary leader until a leadership convention could be held.[5] Following the defeat of George Drew's Conservative government in a non-confidence motion, Hepburn was elected Acting Leader on April 2, 1945, at a joint meeting held at the King Edward Hotel of Ontario Liberal MPPs, federal Ontario Liberal MPs the party executive and other party officials in order to lead the party into the election. The move was to be affirmed by a party convention to be held on May 1, but this was cancelled due to the 1945 provincial election being underway.[6][7][8] Hepburn was defeated in the 1945 provincial election, and Farquhar Oliver was chosen as the Ontario Liberal Party's parliamentary leader on July 4, 1945.

1947 leadership convention

[edit]

(Held on May 16, 1947 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto)[9][10]

(Note: Complete vote totals were not reported. Oliver received 492 of 661 votes cast)[10]

1950 leadership convention

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(Held on November 10, 1950 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)[11]

First ballot:

Second ballot (Sullivan eliminated; Hicks, Cox and Hipel withdrew):

Third ballot (Calder eliminated):

1954 leadership convention

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(Held on April 9, 1954 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)[12]

1958 leadership convention

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(Held on April 20, 1958 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.)[13]

First ballot:

Wren eliminated and endorsed Wintermeyer; Whicher and Reaume withdrew and endorsed Wintermeyer.[14]

Second ballot:

Singer eliminated.

Third ballot:

1964 leadership convention

[edit]

(Held on September 19–20, 1964 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)

Delegate support by ballot
Candidate 1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot 4th ballot 5th ballot 6th ballot
Name Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast %
Andy Thompson 379 27.7 408 29.7 462 33.6 520 38.1 539 39.9 772 58.8
Charles Templeton 317 23.1 356 25.9 396 28.8 422 30.9 419 31.0 540 41.2
Robert Nixon 313 22.8 351 25.6 356 25.9 387 28.3 392 29.0
Joe Greene 236 17.2 211 15.4 149 10.9 37 2.7
Victor Copps 61 4.5 27 2.0 10 0.7
Eddie Sargent 51 3.7 20 1.5
Joseph Gould 13 0.9
Total 1,370 100.0 1,373 100.0 1,373 100.0 1,366 100.0 1,350 100.0 1,312 100.0

1967 leadership convention

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(Held on January 6, 1967 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto)[15]

(Nixon was elected interim leader by the caucus on November 16, 1966 following the resignation of Andrew Thompson. Nixon had suggested that Charles Templeton may become permanent leader but members of his caucus spoke in opposition and Templeton decline to run. Nixon was acclaimed as permanent leader at the party's 1967 convention. He announced his resignation as party leader in 1972, but subsequently entered the race to succeed himself in 1973.)

1973 leadership convention

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(Held on October 28, 1973 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.)

Delegate support by ballot
Candidate 1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot
Name Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast %
Robert Nixon 730 42.5 768 45.3 922 57.7
Norman Cafik 574 33.4 613 36.1 675 42.3
Donald Deacon 402 23.4 316 18.6 Endorsed Nixon
Michael Houlton 11 0.6 No endorsement
Total 1,717 100.0 1,697 100.0 1,597 100.0

1976 leadership convention

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(Held on January 24–25, 1976 at the Four Seasons Sheraton Hotel, Toronto)

Delegate support by ballot
Candidate 1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot
Name Votes cast % Votes cast % Votes cast %
Stuart Smith 629 32.0 742 38.5 998 51.2
David Peterson 518 26.4 673 34.9 953 48.8
Albert Roy 469 23.9 513 26.6 No Endorsement
Mark MacGuigan 308 15.7 No Endorsement
Larry Condon 37 1.9 No Endorsement
Michael Houlton 4 0.2 No endorsement
Total 1,965 100.0 1,928 100.0 1,951 100.0

1982 leadership convention

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(Held on February 21, 1982 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto).

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Withdrew nomination
  = Winner
Delegate support by ballot
Candidate 1st Ballot 2nd Ballot
Name Votes % Votes %
David Peterson 966 46.3 1136 55.2
Sheila Copps 636 30.5 774 37.6
Richard Thomas 234 11.2 148 7.2
Jim Breithaupt 130 6.2
John Sweeney 122 5.8
Votes cast by ballot
Total 2088 100.0 2058 100.0

1992 leadership convention

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(Held February 8–9, 1992 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.)

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Withdrew nomination
  = Winner
Delegate support by ballot
Candidate 1st Ballot 2nd Ballot 3rd Ballot 4th Ballot 5th Ballot [A]
Name Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Murray Elston 740 30.2 767 31.8 865 35.6 988 41.6 1153 49.8
Lyn McLeod 667 27.2 744 30.9 873 35.9 1049 44.1 1162 50.2
Greg Sorbara 345 14.1 380 15.8 402 16.6 341 14.3 Released delegates
Charles Beer 247 10.1 307 12.7 289 11.9 Released delegates
Steve Mahoney 236 9.6 213 8.8 Supported McLeod
David Ramsay 216 8.8 Released delegates
Votes cast by ballot
Total 2451 100.0 2411 100.0 2429 100.0 2378 100.0 2315 100.0
A There were 21 spoiled ballots on the final count.

1996 leadership convention

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(Held November 30 – December 1, 1996 at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto)

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Withdrew nomination
  = Winner
Delegate support by ballot
Candidate elected delegates 1st Ballot
(7:31pm)
2nd Ballot
(10:25pm)[A]
3rd Ballot
(12:39am)
4th Ballot
(2:35am)
5th Ballot
(4:25am)
Name Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Gerard Kennedy 703 29.5 770 30.1 775 30.9 803 31.9 968 40.1 1065 46.9
Joseph Cordiano 497 20.8 557 21.8 570 22.7 601 23.9 696 28.8 Supported McGuinty
Dwight Duncan 393 16.5 464 18.1 474 18.9 509 20.3 Supported Kennedy
Dalton McGuinty 410 17.2 450 17.6 440 17.6 601 23.9 750 31.1 1205 53.1
John Gerretsen 129 5.4 152 6.0 124 5.0 Supported McGuinty
Anna-Marie Castrilli 110 4.6 141 5.5 122 4.9 Supported McGuinty
Greg Kells 17 0.7 24 0.9 Released delegates
Independent 127 5.3
Total 2386 100.0 2558 100.0 2505 100.0 2514 100.0 2414 100.0 2270 100.0
A Castrilli initially withdrew from the 2nd ballot but subsequently returned, causing a delay in voting

2013 leadership election

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(Held January 26, 2013 at the Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto)

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Withdrew nomination
  = Winner
Delegate support by ballot
Candidate Committed[16] Ballot 1 Ballot 2 Ballot 3
Name Votes Votes Votes +/- (pp) Votes +/- (pp)
Sandra Pupatello 509
27.4%
599
28.7%
817
39.4%
+10.7 866
43.0%
+5.8%
Kathleen Wynne 468
25.2%
597
28.6%
750
36.2%
+7.6 1,150
57.0%
+20.8
Gerard Kennedy 260
14.0%
281
13.5%
285
13.7%
+0.2 Endorsed Wynne
Harinder Takhar 244
13.1%
235
11.3%
18
0.9%
-10.4 Endorsed Pupatello[A]
Charles Sousa 204
11.0%
222
10.7%
203
9.8%
-0.9 Endorsed Wynne
Eric Hoskins 105
5.7%
150
7.2%
Endorsed Wynne
Independent 67
3.6%
Glen Murray Endorsed Wynne
Votes cast and net change by ballot
Total 1,857 2,084 2,073 -11 2,016 -57
A Takhar endorsed Pupatello before the second ballot voting took place, but after the deadline to drop off the ballot.

2020 leadership election

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(Held March 6–7, 2020 at the International Centre, Mississauga)

Candidate Delegate Elected[17] First (final) ballot
Steven Del Duca 1,172 56.2% 1,258 58.8%
Michael Coteau 370 17.8% 363 16.9%
Kate Graham 273 13.1% 299 13.9%
Mitzie Hunter 130 6.2% 122 5.7%
Alvin Tedjo 72 3.4% 74 3.5%
Brenda Hollingsworth 25 1.2% 24 1.1%
Independent 42 2.0%
Total 2084 2140

There was one spoiled ballot.[18]

2023 leadership election

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(Results announced December 2, 2023 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre)

A leadership election was held December 2, 2023 due to the June 2, 2022 resignation of Steven Del Duca as party leader following his party's poor result in the 2022 Ontario general election.

  = Winner
Results by round
Candidate 1st round 2nd round 3rd round
Votes cast % Points allocated % Votes cast % Points allocated % Votes cast % Points allocated %
Bonnie Crombie 5,559 42.96% 6,047 46.73% 6,911 53.40%
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith 3,320 25.66% 3,792 29.30% 6,029 46.59%
Yasir Naqvi 2,760 21.33% 3,101 23.96% Eliminated
Ted Hsu 1,300 10.05% Eliminated
Total 100% 12,939 100% 100% 12,940 100% 100% 12,940 100%

According to the party, 22,827 party members cast ballots[19] out of a total membership of over 100,000.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "ONTARIO LIBERALS TO SELECT NEW LEADER AT ELEVEN TO-DAY: Four Now in Field, and Name of F. F. Pardee, M. P., May Also Be in Nomination ADVANCED POLICY TALK IS HEARD IN CONVENTION Likely to be Important Stand Taken on Labor Question-- To-day Momentous One for Party". The Globe. June 26, 1919.
  2. ^ "H. HARTLEY DEWART NEW LEADER; ELECTED ON THE SECOND BALLOT BY ONTARIO LIBERAL CONVENTION: Major Tolmie of Windsor Runs Second, and Mr. Elliott Third Progressive Policies for Party Are Determined Upon OVER THREE HUNDRED BALLOTS ARE MARKED Mr. Proudfoot Expostulates With Some Heat That No Man Who Voted Union Has Chance at Any Liberal Convention". The Globe. June 27, 1919.
  3. ^ "ONTARIO LIBERALISM KNOWS NO COALITION UNDER U.F.O. BANNER: Convention Today Will Demonstrate That "Class Political Movement" Has No Friends in Historic Party--All Farmers By No Means "Morrisonites" RECENT ELECTION STRENGTHENS CAUSE". The Globe. March 1, 1922.
  4. ^ "Race for Leadership, A People's Platform, To Enthuse Liberals: Three, Maybe Four, Aspire to High Office-- Sinclair's Intentions Not Definitely Known, But His Friends Say He Is "No Quitter" 1,200 DELEGATES AT GREAT RALLY Hon. Peter Heenan Said to Be Preparing a "Bill of Rights" for Labor-Tory Strongholds in Cities to Be Assailed". The Globe. December 15, 1930.
  5. ^ "Nixon Quits as Leader Of Ontario Liberals". Globe and Mail. December 11, 1944.
  6. ^ "A Sign of Party Bankruptcy". Globe and Mail. April 4, 1945.
  7. ^ "Hepburn Named Ontario Leader; Is Given Backing". Globe and Mail. April 3, 1945.
  8. ^ "Ontario Liberal Convention MAY I". Globe and Mail. April 4, 1945.
  9. ^ "Liberal Leadership Race Won By Oliver", Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 1947
  10. ^ a b "Name Oliver Leader By Almost 7 to 1 Margin". Toronto Daily Star. May 17, 1947.
  11. ^ "Brown Strongly Backed In Race Among Eight For Liberal Leadership". Globe and Mail. November 10, 1950.
  12. ^ "Only Half of Delegates Hear 3 Liberals Speak for Leadership: Call Rally Colorless". Globe and Mail. April 9, 1954.
  13. ^ "By-election Fight Wintermeyer Plan In Liberal Rebirth". Toronto Daily Star. April 21, 1958.
  14. ^ "Albert Wren: MRP for 10 Years In Northern Riding". Globe and Mail. November 2, 1961.
  15. ^ "Nixon pledges home owners tax relief". Toronto Daily Star. January 7, 1967.
  16. ^ Leadership Election Meeting Results 2013 Archived March 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. pantone201.ca
  17. ^ "Ontario Liberal News | Ontario Liberal Party". Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
  18. ^ Gibson, Victoria (March 7, 2020). "Steven Del Duca named Ontario Liberal leader in first-ballot victory". iPolitics. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  19. ^ "Ontario Liberal Leadership Second Ballot Results". Liberal Party of Ontario. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "Ontario Liberal Leadership First Round Results". Liber. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.