Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions, 1985
Encyclopedia
In 1985, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party held two leadership elections
: one in January, and one in November.
in Toronto
to choose a replacement for William Davis
, who had served as Ontario PC leader and Premier
of the province of Ontario
since 1971. Davis had been expected to call an election to seek a further mandate from the voters, but surprised pundits by retiring from political life instead.
Four of Davis's cabinet ministers announced their intentions to seek the leadership: Frank Miller
, Dennis Timbrell
, Larry Grossman
, and Roy McMurtry
. Grossman and McMurtry were considered to be Red Tories who would continue in the tradition of moderate government maintained by Davis and his predecessor as leader and premier, John Robarts
. Miller was supported by the right wing of the party, who believed that he would take a more aggressive approach to reducing the size of the provincial government. Timbrell was viewed as being a centrist.
The voters at the convention consisted of delegates elected from PC riding association
, delegates elected from other PC associations such as those for women, campuses, youth and business groups, as well as ex officio delegates such as party members who held elected office, and members of the party's executive bodies.
On the first ballot, Miller held a significant lead, followed by Timbrell, Grossman, and then McMurtry. McMurtry won significantly more votes than had been expected, but still placed last. McMurtry was dropped from the ballot, and his organization threw its support behind Grossman. This enabled Grossman to win second place on the second ballot, a scant six votes ahead of Timbrell. While McMurtry's vote had rallied to Grossman, Timbrell's supporters were more divided on the third and final ballot, and enough of them voted for Miller to enable him to win the convention.
First ballot:
Second ballot (McMurtry supports Grossman):
(Note: These figures were confirmed by a recount.)
Third ballot (Timbrell supports Grossman):
, the party lost power. Although the Tories had won the largest number of seats in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, the Ontario Liberal Party
gained the support of the third party, the Ontario New Democratic Party
, and formed the government, putting the Conservatives into opposition for the first time in 44 years. Miller resigned as leader, and a new convention was called, to be held again in Toronto.
Timbrell and Grossman announced their intentions to run, along with Alan Pope
, who had been Minister of Natural Resources in the Davis government. This time, Grossman had a clear lead going into the convention. Pope was dropped after the first ballot, and Grossman a narrow victory on the second ballot.
, Toronto on November 16, 1985.)
First ballot:
Second ballot:
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
: one in January, and one in November.
The January Convention
The January convention was held at Maple Leaf GardensMaple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to choose a replacement for William Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
, who had served as Ontario PC leader and Premier
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
of the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
since 1971. Davis had been expected to call an election to seek a further mandate from the voters, but surprised pundits by retiring from political life instead.
Four of Davis's cabinet ministers announced their intentions to seek the leadership: Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
, Dennis Timbrell
Dennis Timbrell
Dennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
, Larry Grossman
Larry Grossman
Lawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
, and Roy McMurtry
Roy McMurtry
Roland "Roy" McMurtry, OC, OOnt is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada and the current Chancellor of York University.-Early life:McMurtry was born in Toronto and educated at St. Andrew's College, graduating in 1950...
. Grossman and McMurtry were considered to be Red Tories who would continue in the tradition of moderate government maintained by Davis and his predecessor as leader and premier, John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
. Miller was supported by the right wing of the party, who believed that he would take a more aggressive approach to reducing the size of the provincial government. Timbrell was viewed as being a centrist.
The voters at the convention consisted of delegates elected from PC riding association
Riding association
In Canadian politics a riding association , officially called an electoral district association is the basic unit of a political party, that is it is the party's organization at the level of the electoral district, or "riding"...
, delegates elected from other PC associations such as those for women, campuses, youth and business groups, as well as ex officio delegates such as party members who held elected office, and members of the party's executive bodies.
On the first ballot, Miller held a significant lead, followed by Timbrell, Grossman, and then McMurtry. McMurtry won significantly more votes than had been expected, but still placed last. McMurtry was dropped from the ballot, and his organization threw its support behind Grossman. This enabled Grossman to win second place on the second ballot, a scant six votes ahead of Timbrell. While McMurtry's vote had rallied to Grossman, Timbrell's supporters were more divided on the third and final ballot, and enough of them voted for Miller to enable him to win the convention.
January 1985 Progressive Conservative leadership convention results
(Held in Toronto on January 26, 1985.)First ballot:
- MILLER, FrankFrank Miller (politician)Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
591 - TIMBRELL, DennisDennis TimbrellDennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
421 - GROSSMAN, LarryLarry GrossmanLawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
378 - MCMURTRY, RoyRoy McMurtryRoland "Roy" McMurtry, OC, OOnt is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada and the current Chancellor of York University.-Early life:McMurtry was born in Toronto and educated at St. Andrew's College, graduating in 1950...
300
Second ballot (McMurtry supports Grossman):
- MILLER, FrankFrank Miller (politician)Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
659 - GROSSMAN, LarryLarry GrossmanLawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
514 - TIMBRELL, DennisDennis TimbrellDennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
508
(Note: These figures were confirmed by a recount.)
Third ballot (Timbrell supports Grossman):
- MILLER, FrankFrank Miller (politician)Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
869 - GROSSMAN, LarryLarry GrossmanLawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
792
The November Convention
Following the party's poor showing in the 1985 electionOntario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
, the party lost power. Although the Tories had won the largest number of seats in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
gained the support of the third party, the Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
, and formed the government, putting the Conservatives into opposition for the first time in 44 years. Miller resigned as leader, and a new convention was called, to be held again in Toronto.
Timbrell and Grossman announced their intentions to run, along with Alan Pope
Alan Pope
Alan William Pope is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1977 to 1990, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.-Early years:Pope was raised in Northern Ontario, and...
, who had been Minister of Natural Resources in the Davis government. This time, Grossman had a clear lead going into the convention. Pope was dropped after the first ballot, and Grossman a narrow victory on the second ballot.
November 1985 Progressive Conservative leadership convention results
(Held at the Coliseum, CNE GroundsCanadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
, Toronto on November 16, 1985.)
First ballot:
- GROSSMAN, LarryLarry GrossmanLawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
752 - TIMBRELL, DennisDennis TimbrellDennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
661 - POPE, AlanAlan PopeAlan William Pope is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1977 to 1990, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.-Early years:Pope was raised in Northern Ontario, and...
271
Second ballot:
- GROSSMAN, LarryLarry GrossmanLawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
848 - TIMBRELL, DennisDennis TimbrellDennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
829
See also
- 2002 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election
- 2004 Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership election
- Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventionsOntario Progressive Conservative leadership conventionsThis page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario .Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus...