Ontario general election, 1981

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The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.

The governing Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by William Davis, was re-elected for an eleventh consecutive term in office. The PCs finally won a majority government after winning only minorities in the 1975 and 1977 elections. The Liberal Party, led by Stuart Smith, was able to maintain its standing in the Legislature, while the New Democratic Party, led by Michael Cassidy, lost a significant number of seats, allowing the Tories to win a majority.

Results

	Party	Leader	1977	Elected	% change	Popular vote
						- bgcolor="CCCCCC"	%	change	Progressive Conservative	William Davis	58	70	+20.7%	44.4%	+4.7%	Liberal	Stuart Smith	341	34	-	33.7%	-	New Democratic	Michael Cassidy	33	21	-36.4	21.1%	-	Communist	Mel Doig	-	-	-	-	-	Libertarian	Scott Bell	-	-	-	-	-	colspan=2|Other	-	-	-	0.8%	-4.7%
Total Seats			125	125	-	100%

¹ Includes T. Patrick Reid, a Liberal MPP who was re-elected in 1977 as a Liberal-Labour candidate (he had previously been elected as Liberal-Labour in 1967 but was re-elected in 1971 and 1975 as a straight Liberal). In 1981 he again runs and is re-elected as a straight Liberal.

A number of unregistered parties also fielded candidates in this election.

There were a number of Parti Rhinocéros candidates in the Toronto area, and the party may have also fielded candidates elsewhere in the province. The Workers Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) a single candidate, Judy Darcy. Ronald G. Rodgers, founder of the Detente Party of Canada, contested a Toronto constituency.

Social Credit leader Reg Gervais announced prior to the election that he planned to run in Nickel Belt, but did not follow through. John Turmel claimed to be the leader of the Ontario Social Credit Party during the campaign, though there has never been independent confirmation of this (nor is it clear if the Ottawa-area candidacies of Turmel and his supporters were approved by the official Social Credit Party).

Constituency results

Algoma:
*(x)Bud Wildman (NDP) 7096
*Vyrn Peterson (PC) 4770
*Dan Koob (L) 1567

Algomaâ€"Manitoulin:
*(x)John Lane (PC) 7160
*Ernest Massicotte (L) 2986
*Peter Boychuk (NDP) 2336

Armourdale:
*(x)Bruce McCaffrey (PC) 15938
*Tim Rutledge (L) 8997
*Bob Hebdon (NDP) 4240

Beachesâ€"Woodbine:
*(x)Marion Bryden (NDP) 9590
*Paul Christie (PC) 9266
*Wayne Cook (L) 3140
*Rhino Flosznik (Ind [Rhinoceros]) 252

Bellwoods:
*(x)Ross McClellan (NDP) 5111
*Walter Bardyn (L) 4746
*Tina Gabriel (PC) 2186
*Sylvie Baillargeon (Comm) 246
*Ronald G. Rodgers (Ind [Detente Party]) 180

Brampton:
*(x)Bill Davis (PC) 24973
*Bob Callahan (L) 9391
*David Moulton (NDP) 6034
*Jim Bridgewood (Comm) 390

Brantford:
*Phil Gillies (PC) 12847
*(x)Mac Makarchuk (NDP) 9588
*Herb German (L) 5896

Brantâ€"Oxfordâ€"Haldimand:
*(x)Robert Nixon (L) 13067
*Ian Birnie (PC) 6034
*W.E. Jefferies (NDP) 2899

Brock:
*(x)Bob Welch (PC) 10547
*Bill Andres (L) 6882
*Heather Lee Kilty (NDP) 4204

Burlington South:
*(x)George Kerr (PC) 19037
*Pearl Cameron (L) 8953
*Michael C. Wright (NDP) 4942

Cambridge:
*Bill Barlow (PC) 12597
*(x)Monty Davidson (NDP) 11748
*John Giles (L) 4527
*George Molson Barrett 549

Carleton:
*(x)Bob Mitchell (PC) 17846
*Hans Daigeler (L) 8621
*Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) 5446
*Andrew Dana Dynowski 383

Carleton East:
*Bob MacQuarrie (PC) 15714
*Bernard Grandmaitre (L) 14028
*(x)Evelyn Gigantes (NDP) 11579

Carletonâ€"Grenville:
*(x)Norman Sterling (PC) 15202
*Paul Raina (L) 5764
*Alan White (NDP) 2391

Chathamâ€"Kent:
*(x)Andy Watson (PC) 9471
*Ron Franko (NDP) 6508
*Darcy Want (L) 6466

Cochrane North:
*René Piché (PC) 5910
*Jean-Paul Bourgeault (L) 5722
*Emil Touchette (NDP) 4426
*Richard Coatsworth (Lbt) 274

Cochrane South:
*(x)Alan Pope (PC) 12540
*John Sullivan (L) 6975
*Cliff Simpson (NDP) 2777

Cornwall:
*(x)George Samis (NDP) 9484
*Jim Kirkey (PC) 7817
*Brian Lynch (L) 5333

Don Mills:
*(x)Dennis Timbrell (PC) 17516
*Murad Velshi (L) 5368
*Michael Lee (NDP) 4487

Dovercourt:
*(x)Tony Lupusella (NDP) 5491
*Gil Gillespie (L) 5197
*John Burigana (PC) 3416
*Vince Corriero (Ind [Independent Liberal]) 258
*Mel Doig (Comm) 162

Downsview:
*(x)Odoardo Di Santo (NDP) 8644
*Joseph Volpe (L) 7991
*Ross Charles (PC) 5475

Dufferinâ€"Simcoe:
*(x)George McCague (PC) 18101
*Larry MacKenzie (L) 6702
*Ed Robinson (NDP) 4007

Durham East:
*(x)Sam Cureatz (PC) 14900
*Bruce McArthur (NDP) 8648
*Jim Potticary (L) 7226
*Jeff Hubbell 253

Durham West:
*(x)George Ashe (PC) 17029
*Norman Wei (L) 7446
*Hugh Peacock (PC) 6578
*Bill Leslie (Lbt) 1215

Durhamâ€"York:
*Ross Stevenson (PC) 14404
*Gary Adamson (L) 6330
*Margaret Wilbur (NDP) 4314

Eglinton:
*(x)Roy McMurtry (PC) 17386
*Keith Polson (L) 5606
*Eileen Elmy (NDP) 3324
*Angelo R. Cosentini (Lbt) 466

Elgin:
*(x)Ron McNeil (PC) 13119
*Maurice Dillon (L) 7306
*Gord Campbell (NDP) 3250

Erie:
*(x)Ray Haggerty (L) 8796
*Cam McKnight (PC) 5271
*Barrie MacLeod (NDP) 3586

Essex North:
*(x)Richard Ruston (L) 9187
*Marcel Lefebvre (NDP) 5911
*Ron Arkell (PC) 4812

Essex South:
*(x)Remo Mancini (L) 10454
*Wayne Patterson (PC) 5008
*Blake Sanford (NDP) 4349

Etobicoke:
*(x)Ed Philip (NDP) 10373
*Aileen Anderson (PC) 8024
*Laureano Leone (L) 7132

Fort William:
*(x)Mickey Hennessy (PC) 13038
*Paul Lannon (NDP) 7585
*Mike Burns (L) 3381

Frontenacâ€"Addington:
*(x)J. Earl McEwen (L) 10558
*Murray Gorham (PC) 10218
*Vincent Maloney (NDP) 2374
*Ross Baker 409
*Sally Hayes (Lbt) 322

Grey:
*(x)Bob McKessock (L) 13334
*John Young (PC) 8793
*Joan Stone (NDP) 1629
*Eric Biggins (Lbt) 284

Greyâ€"Bruce:
*(x)Eddie Sargent (L) 14006
*Bob Rutherford (PC) 7767
*Frank Butler (NDP) 1455

Haldimandâ€"Norfolk:
*(x)Gordon Miller (L) 16254
*Clarence Abbott (PC) 8775
*Lois Berry (NDP) 3744

Haltonâ€"Burlington:
*(x)Julian Reed (L) 13395
*Fran Baines (PC) 12877
*Chris Cutler (NDP) 3500

Hamilton Centre:
*Sheila Copps (L) 9734
*(x)Mike Davison (NDP) 6930
*Brenda Riis (PC) 4039

Hamilton East:
*(x)Robert Mackenzie (NDP) 12773
*Mike Riley (L) 8365
*Gabe Macaluso (PC) 6351

Hamilton Mountain:
*(x)Brian Charlton (NDP) 11008
*Duncan Beattie (PC) 10811
*Vince Agro (L) 8956

Hamilton West:
*(x)Stuart Smith (L) 12106
*Alec Murray (PC) 9788
*Joy Warner (NDP) 4255
*Elizabeth Rowley (Comm) 260

Hastingsâ€"Peterborough:
*Jim Pollock (PC) 11528
*Dave Hobson (L) 8741
*Elmer Buchanan (NDP) 2968

High Parkâ€"Swansea:
*Yuri Shymko (PC) 11473
*(x)Ed Zeimba (NDP) 8793
*Peter Simonelis (L) 3635
*Bob Cumming (Lbt) 507

Humber:
*Morley Kells (PC) 20844
*Jim Mills (L) 10064
*Jacquie Chic (NDP) 3583

Huronâ€"Bruce:
*Murray Elston (L) 12164
*Gary Harron (PC) 11940
*Tony McQuail (NDP) 1979

Huronâ€"Middlesex:
*(x)Jack Riddell (L) 10707
*Jim Britnell (PC) 8618
*Gwen Pemberton (NDP) 1170

Kenora:
*(x)Leo Bernier (PC) 10418
*Colin Wasacase (NDP) 4170
*Jeff Holmes (L) 2536

Kentâ€"Elgin:
*(x)Jim McGuigan (L) 10115
*Wes Thompson (PC) 9778
*Ed Cutler (NDP) 1591

Kingston and the Islands:
*(x)Keith Norton (PC) 12488
*Carl Ross (L) 8465
*Ron Murray (NDP) 3897

Kitchener:
*(x)Jim Breithaupt (L) 12592
*Morley Rosenberg (PC) 7982
*Ian MacFarlane (NDP) 4126

Kitchenerâ€"Wilmot:
*(x)John Sweeney (L) 11515
*Alan Barron (PC) 8513
*Hemi Mitic (NDP) 3686

Lake Nipigon:
*(x)Jack Stokes (NDP) 7846
*John Paziuk (PC) 1828
*John Lentowicz (L) 1714

Lambton:
*(x)Lorne Henderson (PC) 13467
*Leigh Crozier (L) 6435
*Ralph Wensley (NDP) 1276

Lanarkâ€"Renfrew:
*(x)Douglas Wiseman (PC) 10502
*Ray Matthey (L) 3864
*Cliff Bennett (NDP) 2659

Lakeshore:
*Al Kolyn (PC) 10607
*Don Sullivan (NDP) 9375
*Bill Whelton (L) 5738
*Gordon Flowers (Comm) 376

Leeds:
*Bob Runciman (PC) 13725
*John Fournell (L) 4643
*Bob Smith (NDP) 2940

Lincoln:
*Philip Andrewes (PC) 10044
*(x)Ross Hall (L) 9650
*Paavo Vuorinen (NDP) 2009

London Centre:
*(x)David Peterson (L) 12315
*Russ Monteith (PC) 8329
*Diane Risler (NDP) 3189

London North:
*(x)Ron Van Horne (L) 15444
*Ted Browne (PC) 11825
*Sam Maumur (NDP) 3864

London South:
*(x)Gordon Walker (PC) 19714
*Frank Green (L) 11116
*Dale Green (NDP) 5187

Middlesex:
*(x)Robert G. Eaton (PC) 11672
*Bob Coulthard (L) 8264
*Larry Green (NDP) 2155

Mississauga East:
*(x)Bud Gregory (PC) 15759
*Murray Schelter (L) 7716
*Doug Bennett (NDP) 4829

Mississauga North:
*(x)Terry Jones (PC) 20331
*John Brooks (L) 9130
*Sylvia Weylie (NDP) 6667

Mississauga South:
*(x)Douglas Kennedy (PC) 14165
*Basil Gerol (L) 7172
*Neil Davis (NDP) 4126

Muskoka:
*(x)Frank Miller (PC) 9029
*Ken McClellan (L) 4148
*Jim Maguire (NDP) 3214

Niagara Falls:
*(x)Vincent Kerrio (L) 12495
*Ted Salci (PC) 9295
*Dick Harrington (NDP) 4665

Nickel Belt:
*(x)Floyd Laughren (NDP) 8451
*Elmer Sopha (L) 5041
*Andre Lalande (PC) 1915

Nipissing:
*Mike Harris (PC) 15795
*(x)Mike Bolan (L) 10924
*Art Peltomaa (NDP) 1774

Northumberland:
*Howard Sheppard (PC) 14727
*William A. Wyatt (L) 11113
*Ben Burd (NDP) 2711

Oakville:
*(x)James W. Snow (PC) 16366
*Walt Elliot (L) 7286
*Zona Hollingsworth (NDP) 2562

Oakwood:
*(x)Tony Grande (NDP) 8862
*Harriet Wolman (PC) 5961
*Jean Gammage (L) 4171
*Nan McDonald (Comm) 624

Oriole:
*(x)John Williams (PC) 15644
*David Pretty (L) 11400
*Lynn McDonald (NDP) 4443

Oshawa:
*(x)Michael Breaugh (NDP) 10307
*Bob Boychyn (PC) 7836
*Ivan Wallace (L) 3311

Ottawa Centre:
*(x)Michael Cassidy (NDP) 9316
*David Small (PC) 8717
*Karl Feige (L) 6926
*John Turmel (Ind [SC?]) 376

Ottawa East:
*(x)Albert J. Roy (L) 14207
*Omer Deslauriers (PC) 4235
*Danielle Page (NDP) 1905
*Serge Girard (Ind) 177

Ottawa South:
*(x)Claude Bennett (PC) 15218
*Robert Dyck (L) 8832
*Chris Chilton (NDP) 6146
*Ray Turmel (Ind [SC?]) 259

Ottawa West:
*(x)Reuben Baetz (PC) 17418
*George Anderson (L) 9112
*Lofty MacMillan (NDP) 2348
*Dale E. Alkerton (Ind) 494

Oxford:
*Dick Treleaven (PC) 15948
*John Finlay (L) 11866
*Wayne Colbran (NDP) 3673
*Kaye Sargent (Lbt) 493

Parkdale:
*Tony Ruprecht (L) 6941
*(x)Jan Dukszta (NDP) 6020
*Verrol Whitmore (PC) 2914
*Bill McGinnis (Ind) 289
*Anna Larsen (Comm) 259

Parry Sound:
*Ernie Eves (PC) 8955
*Richard Thomas (L) 8949
*Arthur Davis (NDP) 1448

Perth:
*(x)Hugh Edighoffer (L) 16283
*Colleen Misener (PC) 7883
*Scott Wilson (NDP) 1881

Peterborough:
*(x)John Turner (PC) 17962
*Peter Adams (L) 11263
*Paul Rexe (NDP) 8756
*John Hayes (Lbt) 787
*Bruce Knapp (Ind) 286
*Kenneth T. Burgess (Ind) 59

Port Arthur:
*(x)Jim Foulds (NDP) 12258
*Allan Laakkonen (PC) 10844
*Kenneth R. Tilson (L) 3247
*Dennis Deveau (Ind) 140
*Paul Pugh (Comm) 103

Prescott and Russell:
*Don Boudria (L) 15123
*(x)J. Albert Belanger (PC) 9951
*Claude Dion (NDP) 1828

Prince Edwardâ€"Lennox:
*(x)James Taylor (PC) 11135
*Dan Brady (L) 6797
*Bob King (NDP) 1423

Quinte:
*(x)Hugh O'Neil (L) 14861
*George Mills (PC) 9517
*Reg Pearson (NDP) 1795

Rainy River:
*(x)T. Patrick Reid (L) 4575
*Jack Pierce (PC) 4149
*Alan M. Tibbetts (NDP) 2438

Renfrew North:
*(x)Sean Conway (L) 9113
*Bryan D. Hocking (PC) 7137
*Phil Chester (NDP) 1086

Renfrew South:
*(x)Paul Yakabuski (PC) 14552
*Dick Trainor (L) 10420
*Lynne Pattinson (NDP) 1174

Riverdale:
*(x)James Renwick (NDP) 6770
*Peter Hesky (PC) 4088
*Ed Schofield (L) 3237
*Thelma R. Forsyth (Ind) 233
*Anna Sideris (Comm) 158

St. Andrewâ€"St. Patrick:
*(x)Larry Grossman (PC) 10674
*Anne Johnston (L) 6839
*Stanley E. Kutz (NDP) 3709
*Judy Darcy (Ind [Workers Communist Party]) 262
*Jeanne McGuire (Comm) 148
*Sophia M. Firth (Ind) 106

St. Catharines:

{| class="wikitable"|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"