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((Short description|History of politics in Ontario, Canada))
((More citations needed|date=September 2010))
((Politics of Ontario))
The [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]] of [[Ontario]] is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Parliament of Ontario, composed of the [[Lieutenant Governor of Ontario|Lieutenant Governor]] and the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Legislative Assembly]], which operates in the [[Westminster system]] of government. The political party that wins the largest number of seats in the legislature normally forms the government, and the party's leader becomes [[Premier of Ontario|premier]] of the province, i.e., the [[Head of government|head of the government]].

Ontario's current primary political parties are the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] (PC), the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] (NDP), the [[Ontario Liberal Party]] and the [[Green Party of Ontario]].

== Crown ==
((Canadian monarch, current|name&title=1)), as monarch of Canada is also the King in Right of Ontario. As a Commonwealth realm, the Canadian monarch is [[Personal union|shared]] with 14 other independent countries within the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].((refn|<ref>((cite web| url=https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/jugement_succession_trone.pdf| title=Jugement No. 200-17-018455-139| publisher=Cour supérieure du Québec| via=[[Le Devoir]]| date=16 February 2016| access-date=17 February 2016| author=Claude Bouchard| language=fr| pages=16| archive-date=31 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531153132/https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/jugement_succession_trone.pdf| url-status=live))</ref><ref name=evolve>((cite journal| title=Canada's Evolving Crown: From a British Crown to a "Crown of Maples"| last1=Romaniuk| first1=Scott Nicholas| last2=Wasylciw| first2=Joshua K.| journal=American, British and Canadian Studies Journal| date=February 2015| volume=23| issue=1| pages=108–125| doi=10.1515/abcsj-2014-0030| doi-access=free))</ref><ref>((cite web| url=http://canadiancrown.gc.ca/DAMAssetPub/DAM-CRN-jblDmt-dmdJbl/STAGING/texte-text/crnMpls_1336157759317_eng.pdf?WT.contentAuthority=4.4.4| title=Crown of Maples: Constitutional Monarchy in Canada| publisher=Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada| date=2015| access-date=16 February 2016| author=Department of Canadian Heritage| pages=3| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110140303/http://canadiancrown.gc.ca/DAMAssetPub/DAM-CRN-jblDmt-dmdJbl/STAGING/texte-text/crnMpls_1336157759317_eng.pdf?WT.contentAuthority=4.4.4| archive-date=10 November 2012| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all))</ref><ref>((cite web| url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Canada/TheQueensroleinCanada.aspx| title=Queen and Canada| publisher=The Royal Household| access-date=16 February 2016| archive-date=20 February 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220102227/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Canada/TheQueensroleinCanada.aspx| url-status=live))</ref><ref>((cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444999464289| title=The Queen of Canada| publisher=Government of Canada| access-date=16 February 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224135322/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444999464289| archive-date=24 February 2016| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all))</ref>)) Within Canada, the monarch exercises power individually on behalf of the [[Government of Canada|federal government]], and the 10 provinces.

The powers of the Crown are vested in the monarch and are exercised by the lieutenant governor. The [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the premier and Executive Council is typically binding; the ''Constitution Act, 1867'' requires executive power to be exercised only "by and with the Advice of the Executive Council".<ref>((Cite web |last=Branch |first=Legislative Services |date=2020-08-07 |title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, THE CONSTITUTION ACTS, 1867 to 1982 |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-2.html#h-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605145518/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-2.html#h-11 |archive-date=5 June 2022 |access-date=2021-04-03 |website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca))</ref>

The lieutenant governor is appointed by the [[Governor General of Canada|governor general]], on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister of Canada]].((refn|<ref>((cite journal| url=http://www.revparl.ca/35/2/35n2_12e_Hicks.pdf| title=The Westminster Approach to Prorogation, Dissolution and Fixed Date Elections| last=Hicks| first=Bruce| journal=Canadian Parliamentary Review| year=2012| volume=35| issue=2| page=20| access-date=31 March 2021| archive-date=31 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531123140/http://www.revparl.ca/35/2/35n2_12e_Hicks.pdf| url-status=live))</ref><ref>((Harvnb|MacLeod|2008|p=36))</ref><ref>((cite web| url=http://speech.gc.ca/en/content/faq#Q3| title=Why does the Governor General give the Speech?| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| date=4 December 2015| access-date=17 December 2015| author=Government of Canada| archive-date=26 April 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426135912/http://speech.gc.ca/en/content/faq#Q3| url-status=dead))</ref>)) Thus, it is typically the lieutenant governor whom the premier and ministers advise, exercising much of the [[royal prerogative]] and granting [[royal assent]].

While the advice of the premier and Executive Council is typically binding on the lieutenant governor, there are occasions when the lieutenant governor has refused advice. This usually occurs if the premier does not clearly command the confidence of the elected Legislative Assembly.

In 2017 following the [[2017 British Columbia general election|provincial election]] in [[British Columbia]], Premier [[Christy Clark]] met with Lieutenant Governor [[Judith Guichon]] and advised dissolution of the Legislature. Guichon declined the Clark's request. Clark then offered her resignation as Premier, and the leader of the Official Opposition, John Horgan, who was able to [[Confidence and supply|command the confidence]] of the elected Legislature, was invited to form government.<ref>((Cite web |title=Lieutenant Governor |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca:443/dyl/Pages/Lieutenant-Governor-2.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321000941/http://www.leg.bc.ca/dyl/Pages/Lieutenant-Governor-2.aspx |archive-date=21 March 2022 |access-date=2021-03-29 |website=www.leg.bc.ca |language=en))</ref>

== Legislative power ==
[[File:June_2012_Ontario_Legislature_Toronto.jpg|thumb|The [[Ontario Legislative Building]], the seat of the [[Provincial Parliament]].]]
The [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] 124-member Legislative Assembly of Ontario (((Lang-fr|Assemblée législative de l'Ontario|links=no))), and the [[Queen-in-Parliament|Crown-in-Parliament]] (represented by the lieutenant governor) comprise the [[Parliament of Ontario|Provincial Parliament of Ontario]]. As government power is vested in the Crown, the role of the lieutenant governor is to grant [[royal assent]] on behalf of the monarch to legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly. The Crown does not participate in the legislative process save for signifying approval to a bill passed by the Assembly.

=== Membership ===
Officeholders, known as members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) are elected using the [[First-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post system]].

=== Government ===
The legislature plays a role in the election of governments, as the premier and Cabinet hold office by virtue of commanding the body's confidence. Per the tenets of [[responsible government]], Cabinet ministers are almost always elected MPPs, and account to the Legislative Assembly.

=== Opposition ===
The second largest party of [[Parliamentary group|parliamentary caucus]] is known as the [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Ontario)|Official Opposition]], who typically appoint MPPs as critics to [[Shadow Cabinet|shadow ministers]], and scrutinize the work of the government.

The Official Opposition is formally termed [[Loyal opposition|((ucfirst:((Canadian monarch, current|genderp=1)))) Majesty's ''Loyal Opposition'']], to signify that, though they may be opposed to the premier and Cabinet of the day's policies, they remain loyal to Canada, which is personified and represented by the ((Canadian monarch, current|title=1)).<ref>((Citation |last=Schmitz |first=Gerald |title=The Opposition in a Parliamentary System |date=December 1988 |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/bp47-e.htm |access-date=21 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425171259/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/bp47-e.htm |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead |place=Ottawa |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada))</ref>

== Executive power ==
The executive power is vested in the Crown and exercised "in-Council", meaning on the advice of the Executive Council; conventionally, this is the Cabinet, which is chaired by the premier and comprises [[Minister of the Crown|ministers of the Crown]].

The term ''Government of Ontario'', or more formally, ''[[Her Majesty's Government (term)|((ucfirst:((Canadian monarch, current|genderp=1)))) Majesty's Government]]'' refers to the activities of the ''Lieutenant Governor-in-Council''. The day-to-day operation and activities of the Government of Ontario are performed by the provincial departments and agencies, staffed by the [[Nonpartisanism|non-partisan]] Ontario Public Service and directed by the elected government.

The premier of Ontario is the [[First minister|first]] [[minister of the Crown]]. The premier acts as the [[head of government]] for the province, chairs and selects the membership of the [[Executive Council of Ontario|Cabinet]], and [[Advice (constitutional)|advises]] the Crown on the exercise of [[Executive (government)|executive power]] and much of the [[Royal prerogative#Canada|royal prerogative]]. As premiers hold office by virtue of their ability to [[Confidence and supply|command the confidence]] of the elected [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Legislative Assembly]], they typically sit as a MPP and lead the largest party or a [[Coalition government|coalition]] in the Assembly. Once sworn in, the premier holds office until their resignation or removal by the lieutenant governor after either a [[motion of no confidence]] or defeat in a [[Elections in Canada|general election]].

== Judicial power ==
((Further|Court system of Canada))
{| class="wikitable"
|+Courts in Ontario<ref>((Cite web |last=Ontario Courts |first=maintained by the Judges' Library |title=Introduction to Ontario's Courts ((!)) Ontario Court of Justice |url=https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/general-public/introduction-to-ontario-courts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404055955/https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/general-public/introduction-to-ontario-courts/ |archive-date=4 April 2021 |access-date=2021-03-31))</ref><ref>((Cite web |last=Ontario Courts |first=maintained by the Judges' Library |title=Canada's Court System ((!)) Ontario Court of Justice |url=https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/general-public/canada-court-system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404060214/https://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocj/general-public/canada-court-system/ |archive-date=4 April 2021 |access-date=2021-03-31))</ref><ref>((Cite web |title=What is the court system in Ontario? |url=https://settlement.org/ontario/legal-services/courts/courts-in-ontario/what-is-the-court-system-in-ontario/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518081733/https://settlement.org/ontario/legal-services/courts/courts-in-ontario/what-is-the-court-system-in-ontario/ |archive-date=18 May 2021 |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=settlement.org |language=en))</ref><ref>((Cite web |title=The Courts in Ontario – Ministry of the Attorney General |url=https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/cjr/firstreport/courts.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404194533/http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/cjr/firstreport/courts.php |archive-date=4 April 2021 |access-date=2021-03-31 |website=www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca))</ref>
!Court
!Type
!Composition method
!Notes
|-
|[[Court of Appeal for Ontario]]
|[[Appellate court]]
|Selected federally
|Appeals to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]
|-
|''[[Court of Ontario]]''
((Indent|1))[[Ontario Superior Court of Justice]]

((Indent|1))[[Ontario Court of Justice]]
|[[Trial court]]
((Indent|1))[[Superior court]]

((Indent|1))[[Court of record]]
|Selected federally (Superior Court of Justice)
Selected provincially (Court of Justice)
|The Court of Ontario comprises the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Justice
|-
|Provincial boards, commissions and tribunals
|[[Tribunal]]
|Selected provincially
|For example: [[Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario|Ontario Human Rights Tribunal]], or [[Social Justice Tribunals Ontario]] (SJTO), which comprises eight bodies including the [[Landlord and Tenant Board]], Child and Family Services Review Board, and others
|}

== Political history ==

=== Liberal hegemony before 1905 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (1867–1902) - seats won by party
|-
|'''Government'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) |'''Conservative'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="center" colspan=9|'''Liberal'''
|- 
! Party !! 1867 !! 1871 !! 1875 !! 1879 !! 1883 !! 1886 !! 1890 !! 1894 !! 1898 !! 1902
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]''' || 41|| 43|| 50|| 57|| 48|| 57|| 53|| 45|| 51||50
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-[[Equal Rights Party (Canada)|Equal Rights]]''' || || || || || || || 2|| || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-[[Patrons of Industry|Patron]]''' || || || || || || || || 12|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-[[Protestant Protective Association|P.P.A.]]''' || || || || || || || || 1|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]]''' || 41|| 38|| 34|| 29|| 37|| 32|| 34|| 23|| 42||48
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Liberal-Conservative]]''' || || || 1|| || || || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]]-[[Equal Rights Party (Canada)|Equal Rights]]''' || || || || || || || 2|| || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]]-[[Protestant Protective Association|P.P.A.]]''' || || || || || || || || 6|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]]-[[Patrons of Industry|Patron]]''' || || || || || || || || 1|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Patrons of Industry|background)) align="left"|'''[[Patrons of Industry]]''' || || || || || || || || 3|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''[[Protestant Protective Association]]''' || || || || || || || || 2|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Conservative - Liberal''' || || 1|| || || || || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Conservative - Independent''' || || || 2|| 2|| || || || || 1||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Liberal - Independent''' || || || 1|| || 2|| || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Independent''' || || || || || 1|| 1|| || 1|| ||
|- align = "right"
| align="left"|'''Total''' || 82|| 82|| 88|| 88|| 88|| 90||91 || 94|| 94||98
|}
[[File:Oliver Mowat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Oliver Mowat]]]]
After the Province's indecisive first election in [[1867 Ontario general election|1867]], in which the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]] [[John Sandfield Macdonald]] became the first Premier of Ontario, the Liberals under [[Edward Blake]] gained power in [[1871 Ontario general election|1871]] which they would hold until [[1905 Ontario general election|1905.]] Blake left for federal politics in 1872, and [[Oliver Mowat]] would then serve as Premier until 1896.

Secure in its predominance in the rural parts of [[Southwestern Ontario]], the Liberals also received support through their friendship with the Roman Catholic hierarchy, their use of patronage for political ends, and their dealings with the liquor trade.<ref name = "MowatDCB">((Cite DCB |ID=6944 |name=Mowat, Sir Oliver |first=Paul |last=Romney |volume=13))</ref> Mowat's success was buttressed by [[Arthur Sturgis Hardy]]'s activity as a hard-nosed and down-to-earth politician in his service, as noted by ''[[Grip Ltd.|Grip]]'':

((cquote|
The more wickeder he is, playing [[euchre]] and swearing and entertaining thirsty strangers, the brighter does the virtue of Mowat shine by contrast.<ref name = "HardyDCB">((Cite DCB |ID=6766 |name=Hardy, Arthur Sturgis |first=David G. |last=Burley |volume=13))</ref>
))

Acting as his own [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorney General]], Mowat successfully promoted the cause of provincial sovereignty before the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]], winning key controversies over Provincial boundaries,<ref>((cite web|year = 1884|title = Ontario-Manitoba Boundary Case|url = http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/lab5/labvol5_2148.html|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121004212921/http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/lab5/labvol5_2148.html|archive-date = 2012-10-04))</ref> jurisdiction over liquor licenses,<ref>((cite BAILII|litigants=Hodge v The Queen (Canada)|link=Hodge v. The Queen|court=UKPC|year=1883|num=59|date=15 December 1883|parallelcite =9 App Cas 117|courtname=[[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|P.C.]]|juris=Ontario|format = 1))</ref> trade and commerce,<ref>((cite BAILII|litigants=The Citizens Insurance Company of Canada and The Queen Insurance Company v Parsons|link=Citizen's Insurance Co. v. Parsons|court=UKPC|year=1881|num=49|parallelcite=(1881) 7 A.C. 96|date=26 November 1881|courtname=[[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|P.C.]]|juris=Canada|format = 1))</ref> rivers and streams,<ref>((cite BAILII|litigants=Caldwell and another v McLaren|link=McLaren v. Caldwell|court=UKPC|year=1884|num=21|parallelcite=(1884) 9 A.C. 392|date=7 April 1884|courtname=[[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|P.C.]]|juris=Canada|format = 1))</ref> timber,<ref>((cite BAILII|litigants=St. Catherines Milling and Lumber Company v The Queen|link=St. Catherines Milling v. The Queen|court=UKPC|year=1888|num=70|para=|format=1|parallelcite=[1888] 14 AC 46|date=12 December 1888|courtname=[[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|P.C.]]|juris=Canada))</ref> mineral rights<ref>((cite BAILII|litigants=The Attorney General of Ontario v Mercer|link=|court=UKPC|year=1883|num=42|para=|format=1|parallelcite=[1883] 8 AC 767|date=18 July 1883|courtname=[[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|P.C.]]|juris=Canada))</ref> and other matters.

Mowat was cautious in his approach to reform, preferring to do so by instalments.<ref name = "MowatDCB"/> As [[George William Ross]] observed later, it reflected Mowat's cunning:

((cquote|
His sagacity in judging how far he could advance on any question without alarming the public mind was remarkable. Naturally conservative, when the psychological moment arrived, however, he would cast his idols to the moles and bats and lead a procession of the most advanced radicals with all the enthusiasm of a new convert.<ref name = "MowatDCB"/>
))

The agrarian revolt and anti-Catholic sentiment in [[1894 Ontario general election|1894]], exemplified by the rise of the [[Patrons of Industry]] and the [[Protestant Protective Association]], was deftly handled by the Liberals and Conservatives declining to nominate a full bank of candidates in that election and fielding candidates that were nominated by these protest groups.<ref name = "MowatDCB"/> The Patrons and PPA ceased to exist by [[1898 Ontario general election|1898]].

After Mowat left for federal politics in 1896, the premiership was passed to Hardy, who promoted the development of [[Northern Ontario|New Ontario]] with measures for colonization and incentives for the development of lumber and mining operations.<ref name = "HardyDCB"/> He was followed by Ross in 1899, but a series of scandals in Ross' term of office would lead to his defeat in 1905.

=== Early 20th century, 1905-1943 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (1905–1937) - seats won by party
|-
|'''Government'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="center" colspan=4|'''Conservative'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Coalition|background)) align="center" |'''UFO-Labour'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="center" colspan=3|'''Conservative'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="center" colspan=2|'''Liberal'''
|- 
! Party !! 1905 !! 1908 !! 1911 !! 1914 !! 1919 !! 1923 !! 1926 !! 1929 !! 1934 !! 1937
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Conservative]]''' || 69|| 86|| 82|| 84|| 25|| 75|| 72|| 90|| 17||23
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Conservative|background)) align="left"|'''[[Liberal-Conservative]]''' || || || 1|| || || || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]''' || 28|| 19|| 22|| 24|| 27|| 14|| 14|| 13|| 65||63
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-[[Temperance movement|Temperance]]''' || || || || 1|| || || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-Prohibitionist''' || || || || || || || 1|| || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|United Farmers|background)) align="left"|'''[[United Farmers of Ontario]]''' || || || || || 44|| 17|| 3|| 1|| 1||1
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Progressive|background)) align="left"|'''[[Progressive Party of Canada|Progressive]]''' || || || || || || || 10|| 4|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal-Progressive|background)) align="left"|'''[[Liberal-Progressive]]''' || || || || || || || 4|| 1|| 4||2
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Labor|background)) align="left"|'''[[Labour Party of Canada|Labour]]''' || || 1|| 1|| 1|| 11|| 4|| 1|| 1|| 1||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|CCF|background)) align="left"|'''[[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Ontario Section)|Co-operative Commonwealth Federation]]''' || || || || || || || || || 1||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]-[[United Farmers of Ontario|United Farmers]]''' || || || || || 1|| || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''[[Labour Party of Canada|Labour]]-[[United Farmers of Ontario|United Farmers]]''' || || || || || 1|| || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Soldier|background)) align="left"|'''[[Soldier (party)|Soldier]]''' || || || || || 1|| || || || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Liberal Independent''' || 1|| || || 1|| 1|| || 4|| || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Conservative Independent''' || || || || || || || 2|| 2|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Progressive Independent''' || || || || || || || 1|| || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Independent''' || || || || || || 1|| || || 1||
|- align = "right"
| align="left"|'''Total''' || 98|| 106|| 106|| 111|| 111|| 111|| 112|| 112|| 90||90
|}

Through reforming the Conservatives by establishing the Ontario Liberal-Conservative Association, reaching out to Catholics, and distancing the party from its federal counterpart, [[James Pliny Whitney]] was able to win the election of [[1905 Ontario general election|1905]].<ref name = "WhitneyDCB">((Cite DCB |ID=7769 |name=Whitney, Sir James Pliny |first=Charles W.|last=Humphries |volume=14))</ref> In that campaign, he stressed the necessity of public ownership of electrical development, saying, "The water power of Niagara should be as free as the air."<ref>((cite book |author= Howard Hampton|author-link= Howard Hampton|title= Public power: The fight for publicly owned electricity|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Ln_KiVbe_9QC&pg=PP1|year= 2003|publisher= [[Insomniac Press]]|location= Toronto|isbn= 1-894663-44-6|page=37))</ref> In office, he worked to promote Ontario's industrial development through the creation of the [[Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario]], and also promoted social welfare through the passage of the first [[workmen's compensation]] law.<ref name = "WhitneyDCB"/> He also maintained the party's support from the [[Orange Order]] by suppressing French-language instruction in schools through the issue of [[Regulation 17]].<ref name = "WhitneyDCB"/> He continued as Premier until his death in 1914. [[William Howard Hearst]] then took over as Premier, and served until his defeat in 1919.

The era was known for aggressive exploitation of the Province's natural resources. In 1919, [[Howard Ferguson]] (then Minister of Lands and Forests) declared, "My ambition has been to see the largest paper industry in the world established in the Province, and my attitude towards the pulp and paper industry has been directed towards assisting in bringing this about."((sfn|Nelles|2005|p=388))

The rise of activism amongst farmers and workers following [[World War I]] resulted in the [[United Farmers of Ontario]] - [[Labour candidates and parties in Canada|Labour]] [[coalition government]] headed by [[E.C. Drury]], which was in power from 1919 to 1923. The Conservatives then returned, and would retain control until the onset of the [[Great Depression]], at which time the Liberals returned under [[Mitchell Hepburn]], who would pursue aggressive policies in promoting Ontario's interests until 1943.

=== The Big Blue Machine, 1943-1985 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (1943–1981) - seats won by party
|-
|'''Government'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background)) align="center" colspan=12|'''Progressive Conservative'''
|- 
! Party !! 1943 !! 1945 !! 1948 !! 1951 !! 1955 !! 1959 !! 1963 !! 1967 !! 1971 !! 1975 !! 1977 !! 1981
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Progressive Conservative]]''' || 38|| 66|| 53|| 79|| 83|| 71|| 77|| 69|| 78||  51|| 58||70
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|CCF|background)) align="left"|'''[[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Ontario Section)|Co-operative Commonwealth Federation]]''' || 34|| 8|| 21|| 2|| 3|| 5|| || || ||  || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]]''' || || || || || || || 7|| 20|| 19||  38|| 33||21
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]''' || 15|| 11|| 13|| 7|| 10|| 21|| 23|| 27|| 20||  35|| 34||34
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal-Labour|background)) align="left"|'''[[Liberal-Labour (Canada)|Liberal-Labour]]''' || || 3|| 1|| 1|| 1|| 1|| 1|| 1|| ||  1|| ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Labor-Progressive|background)) align="left"|'''[[Communist Party of Ontario|Labour-Progressive]]''' || 2|| 2|| 2|| 1|| || || || || ||  || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''Liberal Independent''' || 1|| || || || || || || || ||  || ||
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Independent|background)) align="left"|'''PC Independent''' || || || || || 1|| || || || ||  || ||

|- align = "right"
| align="left"|'''Total''' || 90|| 90|| 90|| 90|| 98|| 98|| 108|| 117||117 || 125|| 125||125
|}
((quote box|width=20%|“Bland works.”<br />((right|((emdash))[[Bill Davis]] explaining his success in politics.<ref>((cite news|title = Bill Davis' politics were anything but 'bland' |url = http://www.torontosun.com/comment/2009/06/30/9977906-sun.html|newspaper = [[Toronto Sun]]|date = June 30, 2009))</ref>))))
The Progressive Conservative Party dominated Ontario's political system from 1943 to 1985 and earned the nickname of the [[Big Blue Machine]]. During this period the party was led by [[Red Tory]] premiers: [[George A. Drew|George Drew]], [[Leslie Frost]], [[John Robarts]] and [[Bill Davis]]. These governments were responsible for some of the province's most progressive social legislation (including the Ontario Code of Human Rights), the creation of most of Ontario's welfare state and social programs, the creation of many Crown Corporations, and strong economic growth. Though the Conservatives were reduced to a minority government in 1975 and 1977, they stayed in power as they moved to the left of the rural-based Liberals. In addition, the Liberal and NDP opposition parties had been unwilling to cooperate. The Conservatives' were returned with a majority government in 1981.
((quote box|width=20%|align=left|“In the Maritimes, politics is a disease, in Quebec a religion, in Ontario a business, on the Prairies a protest and in British Columbia ((emdash)) entertainment.”<br />((right|((emdash))[[Allan Fotheringham]], ''Malice in Blunderland'' (1982)))))
However, in 1985, the party came back to the right, electing [[Frank Miller (politician)|Frank Miller]] as leader at a [[Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions, 1985|leadership convention]], following the retirement of popular longtime Red Tory Premier Bill Davis. This shift in policy did not help the party's fortunes, nor did Davis' announcement to extend full funding for Catholic schools, the latter which alienated the Conservatives' rural supporters. After 42 years of governing Ontario, the [[1985 Ontario general election|1985 election]] reduced the Tories to a minority in the Legislature, with only four seats more than the opposition Liberals. The Tories won fewer votes overall than the Liberals. Miller attempted to forge an alliance with the NDP, as Bill Davis did during his minority terms (1975–1981), but they were unable to come to an agreement. The Liberals of [[David Peterson]] and the New Democrats of [[Bob Rae]] signed an accord (not a formal coalition), ousting Frank Miller, and ending one of the longest political dynasties in Canadian history.

=== After the Machine's collapse ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (1985–2018) - seats won by party
|-
|'''Government'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="center" colspan=2|'''Liberal'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background)) align="center" |'''NDP'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background)) align="center" colspan=2|'''PC'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="center" colspan=4|'''Liberal'''
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background)) align="center" colspan=2|'''PC'''
|- 
! Party !! 1985 !! 1987 !! 1990 !! 1995 !! 1999 !! 2003 !! 2007 !! 2011 !! 2014 !! 2018 !! 2022
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party|Progressive Conservative]]''' || 52|| 16|| 20|| 82|| 59|| 24|| 26|| 37 ||28 || 76 || 83
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]''' || 25|| 19|| 74|| 17|| 9|| 7|| 10|| 17|| 21|| 40 || 31
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]''' || 48|| 95|| 36|| 30|| 35|| 72|| 71|| 53|| 58 || 7 || 8
|- align = "right"
| ((Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background)) align="left"|'''[[Ontario Green Party|Green]]''' || || || || || || || || || || 1 || 1
|- align = "right"
| align="left"|'''Total''' || 125|| 130|| 130|| 130|| 103|| 103||107 || 107|| 107 || 124 || 124
|}

==== Liberal governments under Peterson, 1985-1990 ====
David Peterson was able to re-energize his party and lead them back into office. The Liberal-NDP [[confidence and supply]] agreement of 1985-1987 allowed Peterson's Liberals to form a minority government. In exchange for supporting certain Liberal policies and not defeating Peterson's government in the Legislature, the Liberals agreed to pass certain NDP policies to which Miller had previously been unwilling to agree.

In the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 election]], Peterson's Liberals won a substantial [[majority government|majority]] in the Legislature. Peterson's record in office was a mixed one. During his five years in power, Ontario recorded some of its best economic times; however towards the end of his tenure government spending increased. Although his government predicted a surplus, Ontario's debt was over $3 billion by the end of the year 1990.<ref>((cite web|last1=Artuso|first1=Antonella|title=Is Ontario Headed For A Debt Crisis|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/02/is-ontario-headed-for-a-debt-crisis|website=torontosun.com|publisher=Toronto Sun|access-date=5 August 2016))</ref>

==== Bob Rae and the "Social Contract", 1990-1995 ====
((See also|Social Contract (Ontario)))

The Liberals paid dearly by calling a [[snap election]] three years into their mandate in [[1990 Ontario general election|1990]]. Before Peterson called the election, his government stood at a 54% approval rating in the polls. However, the early election call turned out to be his undoing as the public interpreted it as arrogance. Several scandals also broke out after the election call and some suspected the Liberals of calling an election just to dodge the upcoming recession. In the most surprising election results in Ontario's history, the NDP was able to win a majority government, however with only 37% of the vote. This government was Ontario's second social democratic government (after the United Farmers government of [[Ernest Drury]] 1919–1923), and its track record would keep the NDP out of serious contention for power in Ontario until the present.

The NDP took power in the midst of one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. Though they campaigned predominantly on the promise of a public [[auto insurance]] system, they backtracked on this policy, causing a split between Premier Rae and his more left-wing ministers. They increased spending in the public sector to stimulate employment and productivity. However, due to the unforeseen severity of the recession, the federal government cutbacks, the NDP was faced with lower revenues and higher expenses leading to an increasing deficit.

To combat the growing deficit, New Democrats introduced cutbacks to social spending, and the [[Social Contract (Ontario)|Social Contract]], which forced public-sector workers to take unpaid "holidays" or "Rae Days" every year. They also introduced wage freezes<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/11/06/no_regrets_about_days_that_bear_his_name_rae_says.html|title='No regrets' about days that bear his name, Rae says ((!)) The Star|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=6 November 2009 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-16))</ref> The Social Contract led to most of the labour movement, especially longtime NDP ally [[Buzz Hargrove]] and his [[Canadian Auto Workers]] union (CAW), the [[Ontario Public Service Employees Union]] (OPSEU), and other public sector unions turning its backs on Bob Rae. Many union members vowed to bring his government down. Rae also introduced unpopular revenue-raising taxes and operations that hurt his election prospects. Thousands of party members resigned from the NDP and it became evident that the party was headed for a defeat in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 election]].

=== The "Common Sense Revolution", 1995-2003 ===
((See also|Common Sense Revolution))
By 1995, Ontario's unemployment rate was skyrocketing and the deficit was growing bigger, leaving most people convinced that the government of Bob Rae had become ineffective after four and one-half years of an international recession. Commentators predicted an easy win for [[Lyn McLeod]]'s Liberals, but the resurgent Progressive Conservative Party of [[Mike Harris]], which had been reduced to third-party status since the 1987 election, made a comeback and won a majority. Macleod alienated voters by flip-flopping on campaign issues such as [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|civil unions for same-sex couples]]. Towards the end of the campaign, the Liberals attempted to copy many Tory policies. Mike Harris, on the other hand, campaigned on a controversial agenda known as the [[Common Sense Revolution]], promising to solve Ontario's economic woes and problems with lower taxation, smaller government and pro-business policies to create jobs. He also campaigned as a populist, which gave him the support of several working-class ridings that normally voted NDP. The 1995 election gave the PC Party a large majority, bringing the Tories back into power, however not under their traditional centrist or Red Tory agenda.

The new conservative government of Mike Harris implemented a programme of cuts to social spending and taxes (the "Common Sense Revolution") that lowered taxes for most Ontarians((citation needed|date=December 2010)) and especially businesses. However, it also drew controversy for "downloading" or transferring the cost of programs and responsibilities to municipalities, without supplying finances to do so.

==== Teachers' strike ====
((Main|1997 Ontario teachers' strike))
In 1997, the teachers' union protested with a province-wide two-week strike against the Harris government's education initiatives. It was the largest teachers' strike in North American history. The teachers had a contract so the government determined that the strike was illegal.<ref name=" NYT1997">((cite news |author= Anthony DePalma|date= October 28, 1997|title= Teachers Strike in Ontario, Closing Thousands of Schools|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/28/world/teachers-strike-in-ontario-closing-thousands-of-schools.html|newspaper= [[The New York Times]]))</ref>
126,000 teachers went on strike which affected 2.1 million students in the province. The strike was over the contentious issue of who holds the power to set education policy in the province. Bill 160 put control of the education system in the hands of the provincial government. It eliminated the ability of school boards and teachers' unions to set classroom and teaching conditions through [[collective bargaining]]. The bill also allowed the government to regulate class sizes, education property tax rates, teachers preparations time, the amount of time teachers and student spend in class and the use of non-certified instructors.<ref name=" NYT1997"/>

That year, the Harris government also amalgamated [[Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Toronto]] and its six cities into the new "Megacity" of [[Toronto]] despite their opposition.

Mike Harris was re-elected with a majority, despite a loss of 23 seats in the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 election]], defeating [[Dalton McGuinty]]'s Liberals, which gained 5 seats (27 seats were eliminated from legislature from the 1995 election). Harris' victory was largely due to a strong campaign by the NDP, as McGuinty's Liberals were able to gain only 8.8% of the popular vote to finish at 39.9% vs. the Tory 45.1%.  In addition, the emergence of the Canadian economy from the recession led to many jobs in Ontario since the time Harris had taken office, and Harris' record on tax and deficit reduction all were positive features to Harris campaign.  Negative campaigning by the Tories, which featured ads claiming that McGuinty was "not up to the job" also helped Harris's re-election bid.

Afterwards, the government's critics alleged that the government's cuts to the Ministry of the Environment and privatization of water-testing laboratories led to the lack of oversight that resulted in six deaths during a [[Walkerton E. coli outbreak|2000 ''E. coli'' outbreak]] in the public water system of [[Walkerton, Ontario]]. Harris first balanced budget was also revealed to have occurred because the government leased the province's [[Ontario Highway 407|407 ETR toll highway]] to a private-sector consortium for 99 years.  Harris stepped down as leader in 2002 and was replaced by [[Ernie Eves]] following a [[2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election|leadership election]]. Eves's government was chiefly notable for stopping Harris's unpopular plan to privatize the public electricity system, but not before some parts of the utility had been sold to private interests such as [[Bruce Power]].

=== The Liberals return to power, 2003-2018 ===
In the October [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 election]], Dalton McGuinty led the Liberals to victory against Ernie Eves and his controversy-plagued Tories, coming in with a solid majority. McGuinty's major promises revolved around increasing health care funding, unraveling Mike Harris's education reforms, and not raising taxes.

Shortly after the election, however, the former provincial auditor undertook a study that revealed that the Harris-Eves Tories had hidden a deficit of at least $5.6 billion. Minister of Finance [[Greg Sorbara]] released a budget introducing tax increases on commodities and businesses, the introduction of a new income tax called the "Ontario Health Premium" for all but low-income Ontarians, the de-listing of health-care services from [[Ontario Health Insurance Plan]] (OHIP). The budget, along with the failure to prevent construction on the environmentally sensitive [[Oak Ridges Moraine]] after his election made the McGuinty government unpopular during its first few months. During his second month in office, McGuinty had an approval rating of only 8%, a record low.  Somewhat surprisingly, even though the new Liberal government were viewed to have broken some of their promises, on December 14, 2003, 60% of Ontarians in an Ipsos-Reid Poll (on behalf of Globe and Mail/CFTO/CFRB) said they were better off governed by the Liberals now than the Conservatives under Ernie Eves.

However, things improved after his first year in office for the public opinion of the Liberals. The Ontario government was able to negotiate a national health accord with the federal government and the other provinces. Free immunizations against chicken pox and meningitis were added to the list of OHIP-covered immunizations for children. McGuinty announced plans for the creation of the "Green Belt" in the Greater Toronto Area to help control urban sprawl, and plans for the creation of a "[[Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)|Citizen's Assembly]]" to research electoral reform were also announced. The Tories on the other hand took a shift back to the centre and elected [[John Tory]], a former aide of Bill Davis, to lead the party. John Tory stated he opposed the privatization that was advocated by Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, and supported the elimination of health premiums.

The McGuinty government also brought forward a number of regulatory initiatives including legislation to allow patrons to bring their own wine to restaurants, banning junk food in public schools, restricting smoking in public places (especially where minors are present), and requiring students to stay in school until age 18. The government also enacted changes to the ''[[Ontario Heritage Act]]'' in 2005.  Following a series of high-profile maulings, the government also moved to ban [[Pit Bull]]s; a move which has generated mixed support.

In the summer of 2003, a [[Court of Appeal for Ontario]] rulings resulted in Ontario becoming the first of Canada's provinces and territories to legalize [[same-sex marriage]]. (''See [[Same-sex marriage in Ontario]].'') In response to the court decision, the McGuinty Liberals updated the province's legislation relating to married couples to include same-sex couples.

In 2007 it was announced that the [[Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)|Ontario Citizen's Assembly on Electoral Reform]] had recommended that Ontario switch to a new electoral system known as [[mixed-member proportional representation]]. As a result, the Government of Ontario set the date for a [[2007 Ontario electoral reform referendum|referendum]] on the issue to be October 10, 2007, which was also the date set for the provincial election. The Government also set a "super majority" requirement that requires the support of at least 60% of voters and majority support in 60%<ref>((cite journal |last1= Perrella|first1= Andrea M.L.|last2= Brown|first2= Steven D.|last3= Kay|first3= Barry J.|last4= Docherty|first4= David C.|year= 2008|title= The 2007 Provincial Election and Electoral System Referendum in Ontario|url= http://ojs.unbc.ca/index.php/cpsr/article/download/42/78|journal= Canadian Political Science Review|volume= 2|issue= 1|pages= 78((en dash))87|access-date=October 25, 2013))</ref> of all Ontario ridings for the proposal to be adopted.  The MMP system was rejected by Ontario voters.

In 2012, Dalton McGuinty announced his intention to resign from his post as Premier, which left the legislature hung for six months and the Liberal Leadership open.  On Saturday, January 26, 2013, [[Kathleen Wynne]] prevailed at the party's convention. She became the first female Premier of Ontario and she became the first lesbian premier of any province. Wynne would win the [[2014 Ontario general election|2014 election]], holding on to a majority. Wynne campaigned on a platform that was considered further left, and included policies that had been also proposed by the NDP.

Wynne's government would continue its progressive agenda during her term as Premier, including a minimum-wage hike, an updated sex education curriculum, safe-injection sites, affordable housing, increased investment in public transit, reduced tuition for students and increased spending on health care, including free drug prescriptions for persons under 25. The Wynne government sold a majority interest in Hydro One, the electricity distribution system in Ontario, the proceeds enabling the government to balance the budget. After signing a number of contracts with renewable energy producers for electricity, electricity rates to consumers increased substantially and the Wynne government controversially moved to lower rates by renegotiating debt until the 2020s. By the end of her term in 2018, the Liberals were trailing badly in opinion polls.

=== Liberal decline, Progressive Conservatives return (2018-present) ===
The results of the [[2018 Ontario general election|2018 Ontario General Election]] saw a number of significant changes in the distribution of seats among all three major parties, in some cases unprecedented in the province's history. The Liberal Party of Ontario lost the greatest number of seats, falling to just 7/126 seats, with roughly 19% of the popular vote, and losing [[Official party status|Official Party Status]] for the first time in their history. The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, in contrast, saw a large increase in seats (and a modest increase in votes) obtaining 76/124 possible seats and roughly 41% of the popular vote. The New Democratic Party of Ontario, considered the main opponents to the PC's this election, saw a significant increase in both votes and seats in the Legislature, obtaining 40/124 seats and roughly 34% of the popular vote. The result between these two parties saw the Progressive Conservatives form a majority government, while the New Democratic Party became the Official Opposition for only the third time in its history (last seen in the Ontario general election of 1987). Finally, the 2018 Ontario Election also saw the [[Green Party of Ontario]] obtain its first-ever seat in the legislature, no less won by the party leader, [[Mike Schreiner]], in the district of Guelph, with roughly 5% of the popular vote, province-wide.<ref>((cite web |url=https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/onvotes/results/ |title = Ontario Election Results ((!)) CBC News))</ref>

Following the election results, there remains significant uncertainty as to the goals and agenda under the Progressive Conservatives (PC), led by [[Doug Ford]] as Premier. This was in part due to the party's last-minute abandoning of the official party platform, set off by a sudden change in leadership several months before the election due to the resignation of PC leader [[Patrick Brown (Canadian politician)|Patrick Brown]], and the subsequent nomination battle which saw Ford elected Premier, by a narrow margin.<ref>((cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4075601/doug-ford-ontario-pc-party-leader/ | title=Doug Ford declared Ontario PC Party leader after chaotic convention &#124; Globalnews.ca ))</ref> The new "platform" under Ford's PC party was composed of a series of promises, with anticipated costs, rather than a fully costed platform as the other major parties had developed.<ref>((cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-pcs-platform-cost-fiscal-1.4684590| title = Doug Ford's PCs reveal 'final' campaign platform that has no fiscal outlook ((!)) CBC News))</ref> Prior to his nomination for PCs, Ford had intended to run for the Mayoral seat in the City of Toronto (previously held by his brother, [[Rob Ford]]), moving from the role as city councillor, in opposition to the current Mayor seeking re-election, [[John Tory]], who himself was Leader of the PC party previously, from 2004 to 2009.<ref>[[Doug Ford Jr]]</ref>((Circular reference|date=June 2018))

==Overview of federal politics==
[[Image:Ontario2006.PNG|thumb|Map of Southern Ontario with the ridings shaded based on how they voted in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]].]]
Ontario's federal political trends vary despite the fact that the [[Liberal Party of Canada|federal Liberals]] dominated the province from [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993]] to [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004]] against a "divided right" between the centrist [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] and strongly conservative [[Canadian Alliance]]. However, the merger of these two right-wing parties into the new, right-wing [[Conservative Party of Canada]] in 2003 has reduced this Liberal dominance.

* [[Central Ontario|Central]] and [[Eastern Ontario]] are more conservative. The exceptions are in [[Ottawa]] and [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], where there is a large Liberal and NDP support. Most of the region tends to vote solidly for the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] on the provincial level and for the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] on the federal level.
* The [[Greater Toronto Area]] tends to be split between Conservative and Liberal support. The inner "[[Area codes 416, 647 and 437|416]]" ridings (i.e., those inside [[Toronto]]) are usually Liberal and NDP, while the surrounding region "[[Area codes 905, 289 and 365|905 belt]]" is split between Conservatives and Liberals.
* Most of [[Northern Ontario]] is a hotbed for Liberal and NDP support. The southern border areas are more conservative than the northern areas, however, both fiscally and socially. This is most notable in the [[Parry Sound District, Ontario|Parry Sound]] and [[Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario|Muskoka]], [[Nipissing District, Ontario|Nipissing]] Districts.
* [[Southwestern Ontario]] is similar to the adjacent [[US Midwest]], with the urban areas generally leaning left (especially [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], which is a [[labor union|union]] bastion and thus an NDP stronghold), and the rural areas being far more conservative.

==Further reading==
* ((cite book |first= H.V.|last=Nelles|title= Politics of Development: Forests, Mines, and Hydro-Electric Power in Ontario, 1849((en dash))1941|edition=2nd|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=N9DRjjxZRPQC&pg=PP1|year= 2005|publisher= [[McGill-Queen's University Press]]|isbn= 0-7735-2758-3))
* ((cite book |editor= Graham White|title= The Government and Politics of Ontario|edition=5th|url= https://archive.org/details/governmentpoliti00whit|url-access= registration|year= 1997|publisher= [[University of Toronto Press]]|isbn= 0-8020-7873-7))

==See also==
((Portal|Canada|Politics))
((Commons category|Politics of Ontario))
*[[Lieutenant Governor of Ontario]]
*[[Premier of Ontario]]
*[[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
*[[List of Ontario general elections]]
*[[List of Canadian political parties#Ontario|Political parties of Ontario]]
*[[Government of Ontario]]
*[[Executive Council of Ontario]]
*[[Council of the Federation]]
*[[Politics of Canada]]
*[[Political culture of Canada]]

==References==
((Reflist|2))

==External links==
* [https://www.thestar.com/comment/article/649474 While MPPs Squabble, Ontario Patients Suffer due to lack of Electronic Health Records] by Michael Rachlis, ''The Star'', June 12, 2009

((Canada topic|Politics of))
((Politics of Canadian provinces))
((Ontario politics))
((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Ontario))
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