1987 Ontario general election
September 10, 1987
130 seats in the 34th Legislative Assembly of Ontario
66 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  PC
Leader David Peterson Bob Rae Larry Grossman
Party Liberal New Democratic Progressive Conservative
Leader since February 21, 1982 February 7, 1982 November 16, 1985
Leader's seat London Centre York South St. Andrew—St. Patrick (lost re-election)
Last election 48 25 52
Seats won 95 19 16
Seat change Increase47 Decrease6 Decrease36
Popular vote 1,788,214 970,813 931,476
Percentage 47.3% 25.7% 24.7%
Swing Increase9.4pp Increase1.9pp Decrease12.3pp
Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding. Click the map for more details.
Premier before election

David Peterson
Liberal

 Premier after election

David Peterson
Liberal

The 1987 Ontario general election was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by Premier David Peterson, was returned to power with their first majority government in half a century, and the second-largest majority government in the province's history. Peterson had successfully managed to govern with a minority in the Legislature by obtaining the co-operation of the Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Bob Rae, in a confidence and supply agreement. It was through the NDP's support that Peterson was able to form a government, even though the Progressive Conservative Party had won a slightly larger number of seats in the previous election.

The PC Party, led by Larry Grossman, campaigned on a platform of tax cuts to stimulate the economy. Its support continued to slide, as voters opted for the change that the Liberal-NDP arrangement provided, with Grossman losing his own seat. The PCs fell to 16 seats and third place in the legislature, their worst showing in an election in half a century.

The NDP was unable to convince the bulk of voters that it should be given credit for the success of the Liberal government that it had supported. It nevertheless did receive more votes and a larger proportion of the vote than in the previous election, although the party lost six seats due to the first-past-the-post electoral system. The party became the Official Opposition for the fourth time in its history.

Expansion of the Legislature

An Act was passed in 1986, providing for the Legislative Assembly to increase from 125 members to 130.[1] The following changes were made:

Abolished ridingsNew ridings
New ridings
Merger of ridings
Reorganization of ridings
Division of ridings
Renaming of ridings
  1. ↑ from parts of Durham East and Durham West
  2. ↑ from parts of York South, Downsview, Wilson Heights and Armourdale
  3. ↑ from part of Mississauga North
  4. ↑ formed from Muskoka and part of Simcoe East
  5. ↑ from part of Carleton
  6. ↑ from parts of Carleton and Carleton East
  7. ↑ from part of Scarborough North
  8. ↑ Whitchurch-Stouffville transferred from York North
  9. ↑ withdrawn from York North
  10. ↑ consolidation of part of Vaughan formerly in York North

Opinion polls

During campaign period

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey		 Source OLP ONDP PCO Other ME Sample
Election 1987 September 10, 1987 47.3 25.7 24.7 2.3
Angus Reid September 2, 1987 [2] 48 27 23 — 3.5 810
Environics August 20, 1987 [3] 48 28 24 1 — 612
Leader's debate held (August 17, 1987)[3]
Environics August 17, 1987 [3] 55 26 19 1 — 604
Angus Reid August 11, 1987 [4] 54 27 17 — 4 606
Election called (August 1, 1987)[5]

During the 33th Parliament of Ontario

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey		 Source OLP ONDP PCO Other ME Sample
Environics June 21, 1987 [6] 49 23 28 1[3] 3.2 1,007
Environics March 16, 1987 [7] 50 24 26 0[3] 3.2 1,008
Angus Reid March 4, 1987 [8] 57 21 22 — 4.5 597
Environics November 1986 [9] 47 21 30 2[3] 2 1,001
Environics November 5, 1985 [10] 47 23 30 1[3] — 1,007
Environics August 11, 1985 [11] 47 23 29 1[3] — 1,007
Election 1985 May 2, 1985 37.9 23.6 37.1 1.4


Results

[12]

Elections to the 34th Parliament of Ontario (1987)
Political party Party leader MPPs Votes
Candidates 1985 1987 ± # ± % ± (pp)
Liberal David Peterson 130489547Increase1,788,214410,249Increase47.34%9.44Increase
New Democratic Bob Rae 13025196Decrease970,813105,306Increase25.70%1.90Increase
Progressive Conservative Larry Grossman 130521636Decrease931,473411,571Decrease24.66%12.28Decrease
Family Coalition Donald Pennell 36–––48,11048,110Increase1.27%New
Independent 19–––13,63212,096Decrease0.36%0.35Decrease
Libertarian Kaye Sargent 25–––13,514683Increase0.36%–
Freedom Robert Metz 9–––4,7353,152Increase0.13%0.08Increase
Communist Gordon Massie 9–––3,422274Decrease0.09%0.01Decrease
Green 7–––3,3981,947Decrease0.09%0.06Decrease
Total 495125 130 3,777,311 100.00%
Rejected ballots 26,658 224Increase
Voter turnout 3,803,969 141,836Increase 62.70 1.15Increase
Registered electors 6,067,378 117,083Increase
    Seats and popular vote by party
    PartySeatsVotesChange (pp)
    █ Liberal
    95 / 130
    47.34%
    		9.44 9.44
     
    █ New Democratic
    19 / 130
    25.70%
    		1.90 1.9
     
    █ Progressive Conservative
    16 / 130
    24.66%
    		-12.28
     
    █ Family Coalition
    0 / 130
    1.27%
    		1.27 1.27
     
    █ Independent
    0 / 130
    0.36%
    		-0.35
     
    █ Other
    0 / 130
    0.67%
    		0.02 0.02
     

    Synopsis of results

    Results by riding - 1987 Ontario general election[12]
    Riding Winning party Turnout
    [a 1]    		 Votes[a 2]
    Name[a 3][a 4] 1985 Party Votes Share Margin
    #    		 Margin
    %    		 Lib NDP PC FCP Ind Other Total
     
    Algoma NDP NDP 8,56260.90%4,26730.35%68.81%4,2958,5621,202–––14,059
    Algoma—Manitoulin PC Lib 7,15746.05%2,77217.84%62.14%7,1574,3853,999–––15,541
    Beaches—Woodbine NDP NDP 11,94849.74%3,42914.27%61.83%8,51911,9483,022––53324,022
    Brampton North New Lib 14,29850.82%7,12825.33%54.14%14,2986,6677,170–––28,135
    Brampton South New Lib 17,91352.58%11,14132.70%55.25%17,9135,7866,7722,94615849334,068
    Brantford PC Lib 14,91941.29%2,8077.77%68.88%14,91912,1129,104–––36,135
    Brant—Haldimand New Lib 14,98159.34%9,98939.57%56.83%14,9814,9924,578–693–25,244
    Bruce New Lib 17,22760.74%12,08242.60%67.68%17,2273,9865,1452,006––28,364
    Burlington South PC PC 12,96841.33%6051.93%67.70%12,3634,69412,9681,125–22831,378
    Cambridge PC NDP 11,28434.49%1010.31%62.94%11,18311,2848,7521,500––32,719
    Carleton PC PC 14,05743.61%4671.45%65.21%13,5904,59014,057–––32,237
    Carleton East Lib Lib 20,70664.09%14,60145.19%60.91%20,7066,1054,572926––32,309
    Chatham—Kent Lib Lib 13,37046.41%5,74719.95%59.60%13,3707,6236,669806341–28,809
    Cochrane North Lib Lib 9,43657.84%3,76123.05%63.19%9,4365,6751,203–––16,314
    Cochrane South PC PC 9,73541.92%2,2569.71%62.36%7,4796,0109,735–––23,224
    Cornwall PC Lib 10,65340.24%1,5865.99%64.33%10,6536,7569,067–––26,476
    Don Mills PC Lib 11,08340.70%2,4178.87%59.14%11,0836,4248,666–58647527,234
    Dovercourt NDP Lib 10,63449.17%9074.19%68.02%10,6349,727926––34221,629
    Downsview Lib Lib 11,83246.81%1740.69%63.18%11,83211,6581,788–––25,278
    Dufferin—Peel New Lib 14,23153.06%5,83821.77%62.98%14,2314,1958,393–––26,819
    Durham Centre New Lib 12,88540.35%3,0049.41%61.45%12,8859,8818,790––37831,934
    Durham East PC PC 11,30140.40%1,4355.13%60.71%9,8666,80511,301–––27,972
    Durham West PC Lib 16,73348.78%5,84317.03%59.16%16,7335,77910,890898––34,300
    Durham—York PC Lib 12,36940.06%4821.56%58.71%12,3695,54911,8871,070––30,875
    Eglinton PC Lib 15,10644.74%6952.06%67.73%15,1063,78914,411–13732433,767
    Elgin PC Lib 13,31041.08%2,4377.52%66.77%13,3107,67410,873––54632,403
    Essex-Kent NDP Lib 12,54144.78%1,0633.80%65.31%12,54111,4782,7581,229––28,006
    Essex South Lib Lib 15,29258.94%7,98030.76%55.24%15,2927,3123,339–––25,943
    Etobicoke—Humber Lib Lib 21,64461.05%13,58238.31%66.60%21,6444,5118,0621,237––35,454
    Etobicoke—Lakeshore NDP NDP 14,82144.59%2,3677.12%65.88%12,45414,8214,7601,203––33,238
    Etobicoke—Rexdale New NDP 13,89252.04%4,21515.79%60.01%9,67713,8923,127–––26,696
    Etobicoke West New Lib 15,75446.90%6,09018.13%65.98%15,7545,7849,6641,890–49833,590
    Fort William PC Lib 11,16838.47%1,4635.04%67.69%11,1687,8619,705––30029,034
    Fort York New Lib 9,59342.97%1370.61%58.44%9,5939,4562,084–33585622,324
    Frontenac—Addington Lib Lib 11,62847.08%4,22117.09%61.12%11,6284,9967,407–667–24,698
    Grey Lib Lib 14,29841.41%1,9345.60%64.24%14,2985,92412,3641,946––34,532
    Guelph New Lib 18,44555.04%9,32627.83%62.23%18,4459,1195,383–562–33,509
    Halton Centre New Lib 15,83353.03%6,29421.08%59.40%15,8334,4879,539–––29,859
    Halton North New Lib 11,64447.80%4,72419.39%57.54%11,6445,7966,920–––24,360
    Hamilton Centre Lib Lib 13,63651.32%3,30312.43%58.76%13,63610,3332,600–––26,569
    Hamilton East NDP NDP 16,42156.82%6,53122.60%60.25%9,89016,4211,915––67328,899
    Hamilton Mountain NDP NDP 14,74342.82%1,6324.74%65.91%13,11114,7436,580–––34,434
    Hamilton West NDP NDP 13,43042.46%1,0943.46%64.95%12,33613,4305,862–––31,628
    Hastings—Peterborough PC PC 9,91039.33%1,2054.78%66.16%8,7056,5799,910–––25,194
    High Park—Swansea PC Lib 9,63734.56%8142.92%64.94%9,6378,7648,823––66027,884
    Huron New Lib 16,09960.38%9,37435.15%67.57%16,0993,8416,725–––26,665
    Kenora PC Lib 7,94340.50%1,0985.60%62.15%7,9436,8454,824–––19,612
    Kingston and the Islands Lib Lib 13,14150.61%6,73925.96%56.30%13,1416,4025,910––51125,964
    Kitchener Lib Lib 15,37352.35%6,99423.82%56.59%15,3738,3794,2261,100290–29,368
    Kitchener—Wilmot Lib Lib 18,15158.79%10,64834.49%55.50%18,1517,5035,218–––30,872
    Lake Nipigon NDP NDP 8,44664.08%4,84036.72%64.53%3,6068,4461,129–––13,181
    Lambton Lib Lib 11,38544.61%2,55910.03%66.71%11,3852,9148,8262,399––25,524
    Lanark—Renfrew New PC 13,90242.74%7612.34%60.87%13,1415,48613,902–––32,529
    Lawrence New Lib 15,33253.03%7,13124.66%67.02%15,3328,2015,379–––28,912
    Leeds—Grenville New PC 14,78743.18%1980.58%68.52%14,5894,86914,787–––34,245
    Lincoln PC Lib 12,32041.33%1,0363.48%65.34%12,3206,20711,284–––29,811
    London Centre Lib Lib 18,19455.16%8,92827.07%56.68%18,1949,2663,86469537558932,983
    London North Lib Lib 22,45257.96%14,49137.41%63.78%22,4527,9617,177611–53738,738
    London South Lib Lib 20,04655.48%12,32334.10%62.55%20,0467,0747,723861–43036,134
    Markham New PC 19,22444.20%6811.57%60.62%18,5434,32319,2241,403––43,493
    Middlesex Lib Lib 17,60051.50%9,91129.00%65.90%17,6005,7207,6892,664–49934,172
    Mississauga East PC Lib 16,24550.38%5,87318.22%59.87%16,2454,86410,372––76132,242
    Mississauga North Lib Lib 14,60456.03%8,45132.42%53.97%14,6046,1535,309–––26,066
    Mississauga South PC PC 13,85442.24%5991.83%64.91%13,2554,97613,854––71232,797
    Mississauga West New Lib 23,48260.37%14,34436.87%56.68%23,4826,2809,138–––38,900
    Muskoka—Georgian Bay New Lib 12,64543.45%3,24911.16%65.17%12,6457,0599,396–––29,100
    Nepean New Lib 13,95148.45%3,63612.63%62.48%13,9514,52610,315–––28,792
    Niagara Falls Lib Lib 13,60051.12%5,66421.29%57.97%13,6007,9365,066–––26,602
    Niagara South Lib Lib 11,74056.49%7,09534.14%56.19%11,7404,3964,645–––20,781
    Nickel Belt NDP NDP 9,84958.21%5,98635.38%70.23%3,8639,8493,208–––16,920
    Nipissing PC PC 15,74450.68%4,05413.05%68.81%11,6902,96115,744672––31,067
    Norfolk New Lib 17,31355.14%8,96728.56%63.03%17,3138,3465,742–––31,401
    Northumberland PC Lib 14,45143.82%1,3764.17%66.97%14,4514,37213,075836–24232,976
    Oakville South New Lib 13,24144.69%1,2914.36%64.82%13,2413,08011,950––1,35729,628
    Oakwood NDP Lib 11,19248.28%1,3315.74%67.29%11,1929,8611,573––55623,182
    Oriole Lib Lib 16,20659.68%10,54738.84%65.01%16,2064,4705,659––82227,157
    Oshawa NDP NDP 12,95745.85%2,91610.32%54.07%10,04112,9574,0761,184––28,258
    Ottawa Centre NDP Lib 13,86747.16%2,0877.10%63.17%13,86711,7803,159–598–29,404
    Ottawa East Lib Lib 18,95974.26%14,82258.05%53.07%18,9594,1372,435–––25,531
    Ottawa—Rideau New Lib 14,17950.20%6,11121.63%59.42%14,1796,0008,068–––28,247
    Ottawa South PC Lib 15,95250.88%6,58721.01%67.65%15,9526,0389,365–––31,355
    Ottawa West PC Lib 16,34350.46%6,39219.74%61.61%16,3434,4039,9511,689––32,386
    Oxford PC Lib 14,93942.10%2,8748.10%68.24%14,9396,60612,0651,410–46635,486
    Parkdale Lib Lib 13,43069.46%9,46948.98%62.53%13,4303,96179838928946719,334
    Parry Sound PC PC 11,33253.59%4,39720.79%64.25%6,9352,23111,332647––21,145
    Perth Lib Lib 18,03761.20%11,95740.57%63.15%18,0376,0805,357–––29,474
    Peterborough PC Lib 15,09840.13%4,45711.85%63.74%15,09810,6418,4803,057–34437,620
    Port Arthur NDP Lib 13,74745.83%1,9196.40%67.85%13,74711,8284,419–––29,994
    Prescott and Russell Lib Lib 26,81175.80%22,35163.19%60.06%26,8114,4604,100–––35,371
    Prince Edward—Lennox PC Lib 11,96145.02%2,0797.83%61.23%11,9614,7249,882–––26,567
    Quinte Lib Lib 17,15162.08%10,60838.40%57.23%17,1513,5206,543––41327,627
    Rainy River PC NDP 5,53840.55%9076.64%71.54%4,6315,5383,487–––13,656
    Renfrew North Lib Lib 18,50762.73%12,85543.57%67.16%18,5073,9585,6521,385––29,502
    Riverdale NDP NDP 10,32144.89%1,7697.69%61.03%8,55210,3213,285––83222,990
    St. Andrew—St. Patrick PC Lib 14,15945.66%3,67611.85%64.52%14,1595,60810,483––76131,011
    St. Catharines Lib Lib 17,58463.30%12,01843.27%62.49%17,5845,5664,258––36927,777
    St. Catharines—Brock PC Lib 10,82241.37%2,0017.65%63.41%10,8226,5148,821–––26,157
    St. George—St. David New Lib 15,05151.15%7,05523.98%61.88%15,0515,6587,996––72129,426
    Sarnia PC PC 12,96443.43%2,6618.91%65.67%10,3034,55212,9641,475–55929,853
    Sault Ste. Marie NDP NDP 19,06449.00%2,6836.90%70.41%16,38119,0643,464–––38,909
    Scarborough—Agincourt New Lib 19,10157.53%12,08036.39%63.42%19,1017,0216,284––79433,200
    Scarborough Centre PC Lib 11,92141.05%3,39611.69%64.59%11,9218,5257,217827550–29,040
    Scarborough East Lib Lib 16,94455.39%9,89632.35%59.24%16,9447,0485,390––1,20630,588
    Scarborough—Ellesmere NDP Lib 12,42241.67%4811.61%63.71%12,42211,9415,445–––29,808
    Scarborough North Lib Lib 20,02163.03%14,16044.58%59.85%20,0214,5095,8611,371––31,762
    Scarborough West NDP NDP 13,33046.25%3,23611.23%61.61%10,09413,3303,8811,035–48328,823
    Simcoe Centre PC Lib 15,47443.32%2,4926.98%62.47%15,4747,26512,982–––35,721
    Simcoe East PC PC 12,54336.91%8062.37%66.97%11,7379,69912,543–––33,979
    Simcoe West New PC 11,67841.95%3061.10%61.05%11,3724,78811,678–––27,838
    Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry PC PC 10,77138.38%6072.16%67.03%10,1642,34510,771–4,784–28,064
    Sudbury PC Lib 12,78839.36%2,6308.09%67.41%12,7889,26010,158–285–32,491
    Sudbury East NDP NDP 15,17954.98%5,63920.42%68.25%9,54015,1792,890–––27,609
    Timiskaming NDP Lib 10,21848.87%4,34720.79%69.99%10,2185,8714,820–––20,909
    Victoria—Haliburton Lib Lib 16,28756.56%10,43136.22%62.96%16,2874,2515,8562,403––28,797
    Waterloo North Lib Lib 16,79252.35%8,11125.29%56.92%16,7925,7858,681––81832,076
    Welland-Thorold NDP NDP 17,49057.88%7,63525.27%68.68%9,85517,4902,167706––30,218
    Wellington New PC 10,79741.07%4631.76%62.53%10,3345,15910,797–––26,290
    Wentworth East PC Lib 16,15352.31%7,47724.21%64.32%16,1538,6765,577–475–30,881
    Wentworth North Lib Lib 16,15054.02%9,04330.25%65.00%16,1506,6417,107–––29,898
    Willowdale New Lib 15,54345.97%4,03411.93%63.33%15,5435,77411,509––98533,811
    Wilson Heights Lib Lib 17,00757.49%10,31034.85%63.16%17,0076,6975,879–––29,583
    Windsor—Riverside NDP NDP 17,16257.65%5,90519.84%65.20%11,25717,162842509––29,770
    Windsor—Sandwich Lib Lib 14,88850.66%2,3538.01%58.92%14,88812,5351,965–––29,388
    Windsor—Walkerville Lib Lib 14,36148.41%9463.19%63.36%14,36113,4151,553––33529,664
    York Centre PC Lib 27,09662.44%18,49142.61%55.59%27,0967,6928,605–––43,393
    York East PC Lib 15,68351.22%8,33127.21%64.66%15,6837,0567,352––52730,618
    York Mills PC Lib 14,27247.54%2,2977.65%67.77%14,2723,19511,975––58230,024
    York North Lib Lib 14,17748.45%5,18517.72%60.03%14,1776,0928,992–––29,261
    York South NDP NDP 13,19047.10%3331.19%70.46%12,85713,1901,544––41128,002
    Yorkview Lib Lib 11,44952.48%5,30124.30%61.33%11,4496,1481,037–2,50767421,815
    1. ↑ including spoilt ballots
    2. ↑ minor political parties receiving less than 1% of the popular vote are aggregated under "Other"; independent candidates are aggregated separately
    3. ↑ order is as given in EO reports
    4. ↑ Names are as specified in 1976 Act - EO file has errors
      = open seat
      = turnout is above provincial average
      = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
      = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
      = incumbent had switched allegiance
      = incumbency arose from byelection gain
      = previously incumbent in another riding
      = other incumbents renominated
      = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
      = multiple candidates

    Analysis

    Party candidates in 2nd place[12]
    Party in 1st placeParty in 2nd placeTotal
    LibNDPPC
    Liberal 435295
    New Democratic 1919
    Progressive Conservative 1616
    Total 354352130
    Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[12]
    Parties1st2nd3rd4th5th
    █ Liberal 9535
    █ New Democratic 1943671
    █ Progressive Conservative 1652611
    █ Independent 274
    █ Family Coalition 36
    █ Libertarian 159
    █ Communist 61
    █ Green 43
    █ Freedom 35
    Resulting composition of the 28th Legislative Assembly[12]
    SourceParty
    Lib NDP PC Total
    Seats retainedIncumbents returned 35151060
    Open seats held 4116
    Seats changing handsIncumbents defeated 21223
    Open seats gained 1111
    Byelection gain held 11
    Incumbent changing allegiance 11
    New seatsNew MPPs 155
    Previously incumbent 71513
    Total 951916130

    Significant results among independent and minor party candidates

    Those candidates not belonging to a major party, receiving more than 1,000 votes in the election, are listed below:[12]

    RidingPartyCandidatesVotesPlaced
    Oakville South█ GreenChristopher Kowalchuk1,3574th
    Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry█ IndependentGordon McGregor4,7843rd
    Yorkview█ IndependentTony Marzilli2,5073rd

    MPPs elected by region and riding

    Party designations are as follows:

      Liberal
      NDP
      PC


    See also

    References

    1. ↑ Representation Act, 1986, S.O. 1986, c. 30
    2. ↑ Hickl-Szabo, Regina (September 7, 1987). "Grossman puts best face on latest bad news from polls". The Globe and Mail. p. A10.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Adams, Michael; Dasko, Donna (August 22, 1987). "Peterson support drops 7 points since TV debate". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
    4. ↑ "Ontario Tories in cellar could sink lower: poll". The Gazette. August 14, 1987. p. D13.
    5. ↑ "Election fever". The Globe and Mail. September 1, 1990. p. D6.
    6. ↑ Sheppard, Robert (June 25, 1987). "Ontario Liberals poised for big win, new poll indicates". The Globe and Mail. p. A8.
    7. ↑ Oziewicz, Stanley (March 20, 1987). "Trails his own party: Grossman places third in popularity, poll says". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
    8. ↑ Oziewicz, Stanley (March 18, 1987). "Poll predicts landslide win for Liberals: Peterson's popularity responsible for results of survey, MPP says". The Globe and Mail. p. A8.
    9. ↑ Sheppard, Robert (January 29, 1987). "Ontario's Liberals retain popularity, opinion poll shows". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
    10. ↑ Sheppard, Robert (November 14, 1985). "Poll shows Liberal honeymoon still on". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
    11. ↑ Adams, Michael (August 15, 1985). "Ontario Liberals gain support needed for majority, poll says". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1987 general election results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
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