1886 Ontario general election
← 1883 December 28, 1886 1890 →
90 seats in the 6th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
46 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Oliver Mowat William Ralph Meredith
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader since 1872 1879
Leader's seat Oxford North London
Last election 48 37
Seats won 57 32
Seat change Increase9 Decrease5
Premier before election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

Premier after election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

The 1886 Ontario general election was the sixth general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on December 28, 1886, to elect the 90 Members of the 6th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1] The election results were characterized a "crushing defeat for the Conservatives.[2]

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Oliver Mowat, won a fifth consecutive term in government and an increased majority in the Legislature.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by William Ralph Meredith lost five of its seats.

In Toronto, this and the next election (1890) were held under the Limited Vote system wherein Toronto voters had two votes for the three MPPs in their district. This allowed a degree of minority representation.[3]

Redistribution of ridings

The Assembly was increased from 88 to 90 members,[4] through the following changes:

Abolished ridings New ridings
Divisions of ridings
Mergers of ridings
Reorganization of ridings
  1. ^ Returning three members. Each elector had two votes to cast.

Results

Elections to the 6th Parliament of Ontario (1886)[1]
Political party Party leader MPPs Votes
Candidates 1883 Dissol. 1886 ± # % ± (pp)
Liberal Oliver Mowat 88 48 57 9Increase 153,282 48.41% 0.21Increase
Conservative William Ralph Meredith 83 37 32 5Decrease 148,969 47.05% 0.46Increase
Independent 5 1 1 Steady 2,145 0.68% 0.85Decrease
Independent-Liberal 2 – 2Decrease Did not campaign
Labour 5 – – – 12,196 3.85% 2.32Increase
Temperance 1 – – – 14 – New
Independent-Conservative – – – Did not campaign
Vacant
Total 182 88 88 90 316,606 100.00%
Blank and invalid ballots 3,622
Registered voters / turnout 459,495 69.69% 6.23Increase
Seats and popular vote by party
Party Seats Votes Change (pp)
Liberal
57 / 90
48.41%
 0.21 0.21
 
Conservative
32 / 90
47.05%
 0.46 0.46
 
Labour
0 / 90
3.85%
 2.32 2.32
 
Other
1 / 90
0.69%
 -2.99
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1886 Ontario general election[1]
Riding[a 1] Winning party Turnout Votes
Name[a 2] 1883 Party Votes Share Margin
# 		Margin
% 		Lib Con Lab Tmp Ind Total
 
Addington Con Con 1,712 53.42% 219 6.83% 70.69% 1,493 1,712 – – – 3,205
Algoma East New Lib acclaimed
Algoma West New Lib acclaimed
Brant North Lib Lib 1,025 60.87% 366 21.73% 55.41% 1,025 659 – – – 1,684
Brant South Lib Lib 1,881 60.58% 657 21.16% 57.84% 1,881 1,224 – – – 3,105
Brockville Lib Lib 1,844 54.19% 285 8.37% 71.33% 1,844 1,559 – – – 3,403
Bruce Centre New Lib 1,753 50.45% 31 0.89% 71.55% 1,753 1,722 – – – 3,475
Bruce North I-Lib Con 1,738 51.77% 119 3.54% 68.33% 1,619 1,738 – – – 3,357
Bruce South Lib Lib 2,024 54.69% 347 9.38% 74.63% 2,024 1,677 – – – 3,701
Cardwell Con Con 1,805 59.71% 587 19.42% 57.66% 1,218 1,805 – – – 3,023
Carleton Con Con 1,824 75.40% 1,229 50.81% 45.79% 595 1,824 – – – 2,419
Cornwall and Stormont New Lib 2,068 54.48% 340 8.96% 69.39% 2,068 1,728 – – – 3,796
Dufferin Con Con acclaimed
Dundas Con Lib 1,977 50.32% 25 0.64% 81.54% 1,977 1,952 – – – 3,929
Durham East Con Con 1,696 56.36% 383 12.73% 63.53% 1,313 1,696 – – – 3,009
Durham West Lib Lib 1,672 50.04% 3 0.09% 73.78% 1,672 1,669 – – – 3,341
Elgin East Con Lib 1,873 51.23% 90 2.46% 67.51% 1,873 1,783 – – – 3,656
Elgin West Lib Con 2,315 50.47% 43 0.94% 69.49% 2,272 2,315 – – – 4,587
Essex North Con Lib 1,729 51.17% 79 2.34% 58.70% 1,729 1,650 – – – 3,379
Essex South Lib Lib 2,497 53.80% 353 7.61% 77.51% 2,497 2,144 – – – 4,641
Frontenac Con Con 1,218 58.53% 355 17.06% 58.79% 863 1,218 – – – 2,081
Glengarry Lib Lib 1,723 50.47% 32 0.94% 76.91% 1,723 1,691 – – – 3,414
Grenville New Con 1,978 57.84% 550 16.08% 63.64% 1,428 1,978 – 14 – 3,420
Grey Centre Con Con 1,485 44.29% 112 3.34% 59.07% 1,373 1,980[a 3] – – – 3,353
Grey North Con Con 2,076 50.22% 18 0.44% 67.75% 2,058 2,076 – – – 4,134
Grey South Con Con 2,087 53.23% 253 6.45% 71.17% 1,834 2,087 – – – 3,921
Haldimand Lib Lib 1,936 53.67% 265 7.35% 72.77% 1,936 1,671 – – – 3,607
Halton Con Con 2,277 51.38% 122 2.75% 73.07% 2,155 2,277 – – – 4,432
Hamilton Lib Lib 3,068 44.53% 435 6.31% 63.12% 3,068 2,633 1,188 – – 6,889
Hastings East Con Con 1,784 51.53% 106 3.06% 84.87% 1,678 1,784 – – – 3,462
Hastings North Con Con 1,863 62.88% 763 25.75% 63.71% 1,100 1,863 – – – 2,963
Hastings West Lib Con 1,681 51.83% 119 3.67% 64.50% 1,562 1,681 – – – 3,243
Huron East Lib Lib 2,306 55.31% 443 10.63% 73.33% 2,306 1,863 – – – 4,169
Huron South Lib Lib 2,313 56.15% 507 12.31% 66.45% 2,313 1,806 – – – 4,119
Huron West Lib Lib 2,358 53.85% 337 7.70% 68.25% 2,358 2,021 – – – 4,379
Kent East Lib Lib 2,302 57.21% 580 14.41% 58.00% 2,302 1,722 – – – 4,024
Kent West Con Con 2,208 50.17% 15 0.34% 57.03% 2,193 2,208 – – – 4,401
Kingston Con Con 1,853 53.57% 247 7.14% 66.03% 1,606 1,853 – – – 3,459
Lambton East Lib Lib 2,270 52.78% 239 5.56% 70.43% 2,270 2,031 – – – 4,301
Lambton West Lib Lib 2,541 54.88% 452 9.76% 60.90% 2,541 – 2,089 – – 4,630
Lanark North Lib Lib 1,392 51.71% 92 3.42% 67.24% 1,392 1,300 – – – 2,692
Lanark South Ind Con 1,836 56.44% 419 12.88% 72.99% 1,417 1,836 – – – 3,253
Leeds New Con 1,964 54.86% 348 9.72% 70.27% 1,616 1,964 – – – 3,580
Lennox Con Con 1,627 51.63% 103 3.27% 74.89% 1,524 1,627 – – – 3,151
Lincoln Lib Lib 2,242 50.17% 15 0.34% 63.58% 2,242 2,227 – – – 4,469
London Con Con 1,679 53.56% 223 7.11% 40.48% – 1,679 1,456 – – 3,135
Middlesex East Lib Con 2,621 51.04% 107 2.08% 70.38% 2,514 2,621 – – – 5,135
Middlesex North Lib Lib 2,044 50.88% 71 1.77% 74.22% 2,044 1,973 – – – 4,017
Middlesex West Con Lib 2,021 52.53% 195 5.07% 72.05% 2,021 1,826 – – – 3,847
Monck Lib Lib 1,643 51.78% 113 3.56% 72.06% 1,643 1,530 – – – 3,173
Muskoka New Con 1,565 53.84% 223 7.67% 72.90% 1,342 1,565 – – – 2,907
Norfolk North Lib Lib 1,640 56.51% 378 13.03% 70.14% 1,640 1,262 – – – 2,902
Norfolk South Con Con 1,528 52.11% 124 4.23% 78.29% 1,404 1,528 – – – 2,932
Northumberland East Lib Con 2,204 50.59% 51 1.17% 72.55% 2,153 2,204 – – – 4,357
Northumberland West Con Lib 1,710 58.06% 475 16.13% 69.90% 1,710 1,235 – – – 2,945
Ontario North Lib Lib 2,006 51.86% 144 3.72% 72.89% 2,006 1,862 – – – 3,868
Ontario South Lib Lib 2,651 52.30% 233 4.60% 69.31% 2,651 2,418 – – – 5,069
Ottawa Con Lib 1,815 53.97% 277 8.24% 53.32% 1,815 1,538 – – 10 3,363
Oxford North Lib Lib 1,981 63.31% 833 26.62% 49.29% 1,981 1,148 – – – 3,129
Oxford South Lib Lib 2,216 54.23% 590 14.44% 65.85% 2,460[a 4] 1,626 – – – 4,086
Parry Sound New Ind 1,199 51.88% 87 3.76% 58.48% – 1,112 – – 1,199 2,311
Peel Lib Lib 2,102 52.76% 220 5.52% 73.63% 2,102 1,882 – – – 3,984
Perth North Con Con 2,445 50.43% 42 0.87% 69.96% 2,403 2,445 – – – 4,848
Perth South Lib Lib 2,385 55.26% 454 10.52% 72.27% 2,385 1,931 – – – 4,316
Peterborough East Lib Lib 1,438 56.15% 340 13.28% 67.49% 1,438 1,098 – – 25 2,561
Peterborough West Con Lib 1,555 50.54% 33 1.07% 73.94% 1,555 1,522 – – – 3,077
Prescott Lib Lib 1,665 52.24% 143 4.49% 69.25% 3,187[a 5] – – – – 3,187
Prince Edward I-Lib Lib 2,155 50.96% 81 1.92% 72.58% 2,155 2,074 – – – 4,229
Renfrew North Lib Lib 1,515 51.46% 86 2.92% 72.90% 1,515 1,429 – – – 2,944
Renfrew South Lib Lib 1,050 45.85% 9 0.39% 59.20% 2,091[a 6] 199 – – – 2,290
Russell Con Lib 1,908 51.41% 148 3.99% 61.05% 1,908 1,760 – – 43 3,711
Simcoe Centre New Lib 1,366 54.10% 207 8.20% 62.48% 1,366 1,159 – – – 2,525
Simcoe East Lib Lib 1,805 53.15% 214 6.30% 62.16% 1,805 1,591 – – – 3,396
Simcoe West Lib Con 1,498 56.70% 354 13.40% 56.82% 1,144 1,498 – – – 2,642
Victoria East New Con 1,733 55.16% 324 10.31% 67.66% 1,409 1,733 – – – 3,142
Victoria West New Con 1,438 50.17% 10 0.35% 65.49% 1,428 1,438 – – – 2,866
Waterloo North Lib Lib acclaimed
Waterloo South Lib Lib 2,353 55.27% 449 10.55% n/a 2,353 1,904 – – – 4,257
Welland Lib Lib 2,462 53.16% 293 6.33% 68.00% 2,462 2,169 – – – 4,631
Wellington East Lib Lib acclaimed
Wellington South Lib Lib 2,120 59.40% 671 18.80% 62.34% 2,120 1,449 – – – 3,569
Wellington West Lib Lib 1,633 55.00% 297 10.00% 62.08% 1,633 1,336 – – – 2,969
Wentworth North Lib Lib 1,480 59.82% 486 19.64% 67.13% 1,480 994 – – – 2,474
Wentworth South Lib Lib 1,476 51.92% 109 3.83% 82.48% 1,476 1,367 – – – 2,843
York East Lib Lib 1,633 65.29% 765 30.59% 56.51% 1,633 – – – 868 2,501
York North Lib Lib 2,220 62.41% 883 24.82% 56.54% 2,220 1,337 – – – 3,557
York West Con Lib 1,539 53.12% 181 6.25% 62.51% 1,539 1,358 – – – 2,897
  1. ^ excluding Toronto, a multi-member constituency
  2. ^ order is as given in EO reports
  3. ^ the incumbent Neil McColman received 495 votes
  4. ^ the incumbent George Atwell Cooke received 244 votes
  5. ^ Alfred Évanturel was the winning candidate
  6. ^ the incumbent John Francis Dowling received 1,041 votes
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = incumbency arose from prior election result being overturned by the court
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates
Results for Toronto (3 seats)[5]
Political party Candidate Votes % Elected Incumbent
Conservative Edward Frederick Clarke 7,032 26.28 Green tickY
Conservative Henry Edward Clarke 6,883 25.72 Green tickY Green tickY
Liberal John Leys 5,380 20.11 Green tickY
Labour Charles March 4,055 15.15
Labour John Roney 3,408 12.74
Majority[a 1] 1,325 4.96
Turnout[a 2] 14,916 44.80
Registered voters 33,296
  1. ^ plurality for third winning candidate
  2. ^ actual number of voters per returns

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place[1][a 1]
Party in 1st place Party in 2nd place Total
Accl Lib Con Lab Ind
Liberal 4 2 48 1 1 56
Conservative 1 28 1 30
Independent 1 1
Total 5 30 49 2 1 87
  1. ^ excluding Toronto seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
Parties Accl 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
█ Liberal 4 52 30 2
█ Conservative 1 30 50 2
█ Independent 1 1 3
█ Labour 2 1 1 1
█ Temperance 1
Resulting composition of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario[1]
Source Party
Lib Con Ind Total
Seats retained Incumbents returned 30 13 44
Returned by acclamation 2 1 3
Open seats held 7 2 9
Byelection loss reversed 1 1
Defeated by same-party candidate 2 1 3
Seats changing hands Incumbents defeated 3 3 6
Open seats gained 6 3 9
Byelection gains held 1 1
Incumbent changed allegiance 1 1
New seats Acclaimed 2 2
New MLAs 2 2 1 5
Previously incumbent in another riding 1 3 4
Toronto seats MLA returned 1 1
New MLAs 1 1 2
Total 57 32 1 90

MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal
  Conservative
  Independent

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. James Pliny Whitney (Conservative) was elected in the subsequent byelection.[6]
  2. ^ Election declared void because of corrupt practices. Writ for new election issued. Richard Clark (Liberal) was elected in the subsequent byelection.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "1886 general election results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Rambaut, Thomas D. (1887). "The Hudson's Bay Half-Breeds and Louis Riel's Rebellions". Political Science Quarterly. 2 (1): 135–167. doi:10.2307/2139321. JSTOR 2139321.
  3. ^ 1921 Special House of Commons Committee on pro-rep. report, p. 12
  4. ^ The Franchise and Representation Act, 1885, S.O. 1885, c. 2, s. 8, 10
  5. ^ "Sessional Paper No. 13". Sessional Papers (Vol. XIX–Part III). Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1887. pp. 82–83.
  6. ^ a b Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Vol. XXI. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1888. pp. 4–6, 31, 33.
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