1908 Ontario general election

1908 Ontario general election

June 8, 1908

106 seats in the 12th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
54 seats were needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
 
LeaderJames P. WhitneyAlexander Grant MacKay
PartyConservativeLiberal
Leader since18961907
Leader's seatDundasGrey North
Last election6928
Seats won8619
Seat changeIncrease 17Decrease 9
Popular vote246,324177,719
Percentage54.68%39.45%
SwingIncrease 1.31 ppDecrease 5.16 pp


Premier before election

James P. Whitney
Conservative

Premier after election

James P. Whitney
Conservative

The 1908 Ontario general election was the 12th general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 8, 1908, to elect the 106 Members of the 12th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1]

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by Sir James P. Whitney, was elected for a second term in government, increasing its majority in the Legislature significantly.

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Alexander Grant MacKay, continued to lose seats.

Allan Studholme became the province's first Labour MLA as the result of a 1906 Hamilton East by-election. He was re-elected in the 1908 general election and would remain in the legislature until his death in 1919.

The four Toronto districts each elected two members in this election. Each seat was contested separately, with each voter in the district allowed to vote for a candidate in each contest.

Expansion of the Legislative Assembly

The number of electoral districts was increased from 97 to 102, under an Act passed in 1902, returning a total of 106 MLAs.[2] The following electoral changes were made:

Electoral system

The eight Toronto MPPs were elected in two-seat districts, with each seat determined by a separate First-past-the-post voting contest.

The other 94 MPPs were elected through First-past-the-post voting in single-member districts.

Results

Elections to the 12th Parliament of Ontario (1908)[1]
Political partyParty leaderMLAsVotes
Candidates19051908±#±%± (pp)
ConservativeJames P. Whitney105698617Increase246,3248,712Increase54.68%1.31Increase
LiberalAlexander Grant MacKay9028199Decrease177,71920,876Decrease39.45%5.16Decrease
Labour811Increase7,5557,555Increase1.68%New
Independent Liberal211Decrease1,4703,892Decrease0.33%0.87Decrease
Independent Conservative67,9777,882Increase1.77%1.75Increase
Socialist133,1291,856Increase0.69%0.40Increase
Independent63,0912,991Increase0.69%0.67Increase
Prohibitionist12,187281Increase0.49%0.06Increase
Liberal-Temperance11,0171,017Increase0.23%New
Total23298106450,469100.00%
Voter turnout457,20910,006Increase73.420.54Decrease
Registered electors622,75118,085Increase
Acclamations Conservative6
Seats and popular vote by party
PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
Conservative
86 / 106
54.68%
1.31
 
Liberal
19 / 106
39.45%
-5.16
 
Labour
1 / 106
1.68%
1.68
 
Other
0 / 106
4.19%
2.17
 

Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1908 Ontario general election[1]
RidingWinning partyTurnoutVotes
Name[a 1]1905PartyVotesShareMargin
#
Margin
%
ConLibLabI-ConI-LibSocProhL-TmpIndTotal
 
AddingtonConConacclaimed
AlgomaConCon2,13460.95%76721.91%80.70%2,1341,3673,501
Brant NorthConCon1,85054.69%3179.37%89.15%1,8501,5333,383
Brant SouthLibCon2,81551.83%1993.66%86.91%2,8152,6165,431
BrockvilleLibCon2,19556.59%51113.17%85.09%2,1951,6843,879
Bruce CentreConCon1,94055.05%35610.10%88.48%1,9401,5843,524
Bruce NorthLibLib2,28253.99%3377.97%80.85%1,9452,2824,227
Bruce SouthConLib1,77451.39%962.78%86.02%1,6781,7743,452
CarletonConCon1,35262.22%53124.44%51.67%1,3528212,173
DufferinConCon2,22950.48%420.95%84.37%2,2292,1874,416
DundasConCon2,26062.67%91425.35%75.78%2,2601,3463,606
Durham EastConConacclaimed
Durham WestConCon1,57551.04%642.07%85.30%1,5751,5113,086
Elgin EastConCon2,28956.09%49712.18%86.70%2,2891,7924,081
Elgin WestConCon3,34755.00%60910.01%76.88%3,3472,7386,085
Essex NorthConCon2,98863.63%1,28027.26%51.74%2,9881,7084,696
Essex SouthLibCon2,61850.76%781.51%83.62%2,6182,5405,158
Fort WilliamNewCon1,31761.06%47722.11%67.38%1,3178402,157
FrontenacConCon1,57653.05%1816.09%67.46%1,5761,3952,971
GlengarryLibCon2,17053.07%2516.14%77.41%2,1701,9194,089
GrenvilleConCon1,92350.30%230.60%75.72%1,9231,9003,823
Grey CentreConCon2,25364.54%1,01529.07%62.54%2,2531,2383,491
Grey NorthLibLib3,02650.59%711.19%70.93%2,9553,0265,981
Grey SouthConCon2,18753.04%2516.09%73.16%2,1871,9364,123
HaldimandLibLib1,97754.81%3479.62%96.22%1,6301,9773,607
HaltonConCon2,44953.86%3517.72%86.86%2,4492,0984,547
Hamilton EastConLab2,71740.91%751.13%72.45%2,6421,2582,717246,641
Hamilton WestConCon3,12163.22%1,55831.56%69.65%3,1211,5632534,937
Hastings EastI-LibCon2,20161.76%83823.51%75.90%2,2011,3633,564
Hastings NorthConCon2,22565.42%1,04930.84%64.19%2,2251,1763,401
Hastings WestConCon1,88252.41%1734.82%81.15%1,8821,7093,591
Huron CentreLibLib2,05152.11%1664.22%78.68%1,8852,0513,936
Huron NorthLibCon2,29251.94%1713.87%93.11%2,2922,1214,413
Huron SouthConCon2,36554.41%3838.81%89.97%2,3651,9824,347
KenoraNewCon1,07856.00%23112.00%41.23%1,0788471,925
Kent EastConCon2,52450.83%821.65%78.54%2,5242,4424,966
Kent WestLibCon3,92652.98%4415.95%83.47%3,9263,4857,411
KingstonLibCon2,21554.48%3939.67%96.27%2,2151,822294,066
Lambton EastConLib2,40452.57%2355.14%93.46%2,1692,4044,573
Lambton WestConCon3,84154.45%6288.90%79.98%3,8413,2137,054
Lanark NorthConCon2,01756.61%47113.22%90.11%2,0171,5463,563
Lanark SouthConConacclaimed
LeedsConCon2,10252.35%1894.71%89.98%2,1021,9134,015
LennoxConCon1,47750.29%170.58%89.40%1,4771,4602,937
LincolnConCon3,46359.56%1,11219.13%78.67%3,4632,3515,814
LondonConCon5,08458.00%1,40316.01%78.42%5,0843,6818,765
ManitoulinConCon1,41466.73%70933.46%58.48%1,4147052,119
Middlesex EastConCon2,36356.44%53912.87%79.28%2,3631,8244,187
Middlesex NorthConLib2,17251.29%1092.57%91.10%2,0632,1724,235
Middlesex WestLibLib1,77560.29%60620.58%82.91%1,7751,1692,944
MonckLibCon1,81650.49%350.97%90.23%1,8161,7813,597
MuskokaConConacclaimed
NipissingNewCon1,65459.09%50918.19%67.63%1,6541,1452,799
Norfolk NorthLibCon1,72051.08%732.17%94.01%1,7201,6473,367
Norfolk SouthConCon1,49052.04%1174.09%92.48%1,4901,3732,863
Northumberland EastConCon2,58256.30%57812.60%82.12%2,5822,0044,586
Northumberland WestLibLib1,59153.44%2056.89%92.38%1,3861,5912,977
Ontario NorthConCon2,23055.62%45111.25%85.39%2,2301,7794,009
Ontario SouthConCon2,77352.90%3045.80%85.46%2,7732,4695,242
Ottawa EastNewLib2,79854.54%4669.08%78.11%2,3322,7985,130
Ottawa WestNewCon4,80655.04%88010.08%71.86%4,8063,9268,732
Oxford NorthLibLib2,89354.03%4328.07%81.25%2,4612,8935,354
Oxford SouthConLib2,67150.42%440.83%88.55%2,6272,6715,298
Parry SoundConCon2,87962.05%1,26327.22%53.88%2,8791,6161454,640
PeelLibCon2,85254.78%4989.57%87.79%2,8522,3545,206
Perth NorthConCon3,68851.87%2663.74%88.65%3,6883,4227,110
Perth SouthConLib2,45350.58%561.15%93.18%2,3972,4534,850
Peterborough EastLibCon1,97861.14%72122.29%78.99%1,9781,2573,235
Peterborough WestConCon2,56154.56%4289.12%76.14%2,5612,1334,694
Port ArthurNewCon1,24155.16%38016.89%71.64%1,2418611482,250
PrescottLibCon1,94450.09%70.18%66.02%1,9441,9373,881
Prince EdwardLibCon2,22151.53%1323.06%86.70%2,2212,0894,310
Rainy RiverNewCon94454.95%1709.90%78.65%9447741,718
Renfrew NorthConLib2,27452.28%1984.55%86.47%2,0762,2744,350
Renfrew SouthConCon2,62352.39%2394.77%77.82%2,6232,3845,007
RussellLibLib2,64258.72%78517.45%59.61%1,8572,6424,499
Sault Ste. MarieLibCon1,40654.69%2419.37%61.43%1,4061,1652,571
Simcoe CentreConCon1,97255.08%36410.17%75.97%1,9721,6083,580
Simcoe EastLibLib3,10551.49%1802.99%75.37%2,9253,1056,030
Simcoe SouthConConacclaimed
Simcoe WestConCon1,92165.38%90430.77%61.18%1,9211,0172,938
StormontConLib2,32750.09%80.17%70.96%2,3192,3274,646
Sturgeon FallsNewCon95952.92%1065.85%82.42%9598531,812
SudburyNewCon1,49262.69%60425.38%64.29%1,4928882,380
TimiskamingNewCon1,64955.00%54918.31%48.21%1,6491,1002492,998
Toronto East - AConCon4,39376.51%1,98834.62%48.59%4,3931,0033465,742
Toronto East – BNewCon2,69543.03%2904.63%53.00%2,6959751882,4056,263
Toronto North - AConCon6,78988.44%2,91938.03%53.92%6,7895443437,676
Toronto North – BNewCon4,50252.40%6327.36%60.40%4,5023,8702208,592
Toronto South - AConCon5,20274.69%3,10344.55%47.61%5,2021,4732906,965
Toronto South – BNewCon4,94767.67%2,84838.95%49.94%4,9472,0992657,311
Toronto West - AConCon6,19070.58%3,97545.32%47.86%6,1901,87756301297498,770
Toronto West – BNewCon4,16047.41%1,94522.17%47.88%4,1602,2153801,8701508,775
Victoria EastConConacclaimed
Victoria WestConCon2,06150.50%982.40%94.00%2,0611,963574,081
Waterloo NorthConCon3,06349.42%3325.36%76.73%3,0632,7314046,198
Waterloo SouthConCon2,35363.49%1,00026.98%54.01%2,3531,3533,706
WellandConCon3,72956.57%86613.14%77.32%3,7292,8636,592
Wellington EastConCon1,89853.06%2196.12%82.09%1,8981,6793,577
Wellington SouthConCon2,78752.12%3997.46%78.67%2,7872,3881725,347
Wellington WestConLib1,66550.53%351.06%83.14%1,6301,6653,295
Wentworth NorthLibCon1,60050.60%1193.76%90.98%1,6001,481813,162
Wentworth SouthLibLib1,58253.72%2197.44%85.19%1,3631,5822,945
York EastConCon2,99856.84%72213.69%65.47%2,9982,2765,274
York NorthConCon2,91854.00%4327.99%92.95%2,9182,4865,404
York WestConCon3,24161.80%1,45327.71%54.81%3,2411,7882155,244
  1. ^ order is as given in EO reports
  = 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

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place[1][a 1]
Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
AcclConLibLabI-ConI-LibIndL-TmpProh
Conservative6694411186
Liberal18119
Labour11
Total61969441111106
  1. ^ excluding Ottawa seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
PartiesAccl1st2nd3rd4th5th
 Conservative68019
 Liberal19692
 Labour14111
 Independent Conservative42
 Independent131
 Independent Liberal11
 Prohibitionist1
 Liberal-Temperance1
 Socialist1021
Resulting composition of the 10th Legislative Assembly of Ontario[1]
SourceParty
ConLibLabTotal
Seats retainedIncumbents returned49756
Acclamations66
Open seats held235
Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated6612
Open seats gained9211
Byelection gains held112
New seatsNew MLAs99
Previously incumbent in the Legislature415
Total86191106

MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Conservative
  Liberal
  Labour

Division and reorganization of ridings

The newly created ridings returned the following MLAs:

19051908
RidingPartyRidingParty
Fort William and Lake of the Woods ConservativeFort William Conservative
Kenora Conservative
Port Arthur and Rainy River LiberalPort Arthur Conservative
Rainy River Conservative
Nipissing East ConservativeNipissing Conservative
Timiskaming Conservative
Nipissing West ConservativeSudbury Conservative
Sturgeon Falls Conservative
Ottawa Liberal
(2 MLAs)
Ottawa East Liberal
Ottawa West Conservative
Toronto East ConservativeSeat A Conservative
Seat B Conservative
Toronto North ConservativeSeat A Conservative
Seat B Conservative
Toronto South ConservativeSeat A Conservative
Seat B Conservative
Toronto West ConservativeSeat A Conservative
Seat B Conservative
Huron East LiberalHuron North Conservative
Huron West LiberalHuron Centre Liberal

Seats that changed hands

Elections to the 12th Parliament of Ontario – unaltered seats won/lost by party, 1905–1908
Party1905Gain from (loss to)1908
ConLibI-LibLab
Conservative6214(8)1(1)68
Liberal238(14)17
Independent-Liberal1(1)
Labour11
Total869(15)14(8)1(1)86

Of the unaltered seats, there were 24 that changed allegiance in the election:

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Resigned before the opening of the first session, in order to stand and win in Algoma East in the 1908 federal election. Albert Grigg (Conservative) won the subsequent byelection.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "1908 General Election". Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ The Representation Act, 1908, S.O. 1908, c. 2

Further reading

  • Hopkins, J. Castell (1909). The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1908. Toronto: The Annual Review Publishing Company.
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