1937 Ontario general election

The 1937 Ontario general election was held on October 6, 1937, to elect the 90 Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs"). It was the 20th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada.

1937 Ontario general election

October 6, 1937
90 seats in the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario 46 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   CON Leader Mitchell Hepburn William Earl Rowe John Mitchell as party president Party Liberal Conservative Co-operative Commonwealth Leader since December 17, 1930 May 28, 1936 April 14, 1934 Leader's seat Elgin Ran in Simcoe Centre (Lost) Ran in Waterloo South (Lost) Last election 65 17 1 Seats won 63 23 0 Seat change 2 6 1 Percentage 51.6% 40.0% 5.6% Swing 1.2 0.2% 1.4%
Premier before election Mitchell Hepburn Liberal Premier after election Mitchell Hepburn Liberal

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Mitchell Hepburn, was re-elected for a second term in government, with a slightly reduced majority in the Legislature.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by William Earl Rowe, was able to win six additional seats, and continued to form the official opposition.

Meanwhile, the fledgling democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) ran 37 candidates out of a possible 90, led by party president John Mitchell running in Waterloo South, who also campaigned throughout the province on the party's behalf.[1] The election, however, resulted in a modest decline in popular vote and the loss of the party's sole MLA, Sam Lawrence in Hamilton East.

Incumbent MLA Farquhar Oliver was the last remaining United Farmers of Ontario MLA and ran as the party's sole candidate in the election. In practice, however, he had been a supporter of the Liberal government and would join Hepburn's cabinet in 1940, formally joining the Liberal Party.

In 1938, MLAs voted to adopt the title "Member of Provincial Parliament", and became known as "MPPs".

This Ontario election was the last to date in which the winning party has won an absolute majority of the popular vote.

Results

	Party	Leader	1934	Elected	% change	Popular vote
%	change
	Liberal	Mitchell Hepburn	65	63	-3.1%	51.6%	+1.2%
	Liberal–Progressive^1		4	2	-50.0%
	Conservative	William Earl Rowe	17	23	+35.3%	40.0%	0.2%
	United Farmers^2	Farquhar Oliver	1	1	-
	Co-operative Commonwealth	John Mitchell as party president[2]	1	-	-100%	5.6%	-1.4%
	Liberal Independent		-	1
	Labour		1	-	-
	Independent		1	-
Total			90	90	-	100%

¹Liberal-Progressive MLAs supported the Hepburn government since its election in 1934. Liberal-Progressive MLA Harry Nixon sitting in Hepburn's cabinet from the beginning and formally became a Liberal in 1937.

²United Farmers MLA Farquhar Oliver was a supporter of the Hepburn Liberal government and joined Hepburn's cabinet in 1940.

Popular vote Liberal   51.60% Conservative   40.00% CCF   5.60% Others   2.80%

Seats summary Liberal   72.22% Conservative   25.56% Others   2.22%

See also

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

References

1. "266 to contest Ontario seats". Montreal Gazette. 30 September 1937. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
2. "Total of 266 Candidates Nominated for Oct. 6 Ontario Election: 86 Liberals in Fight And 89 Conservatives; Others of Varied Hue Nominees in Four Ridings Not Being Contested by Party in Power Regarded as Friendly TWO WOMEN RUNNING". Globe and Mail. 30 September 1937.