# 1902 Ontario general election

The 1902 Ontario general election was the tenth general election held in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on May 29, 1902, to elect the 98 Members of the 10th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Sir George William Ross, formed the government for a ninth consecutive term, although with only a very slim, two-seat majority in the legislature.
The Ontario Conservative Party, led by Sir James P. Whitney formed the official opposition.

## Expansion of the Legislative Assembly

The number of electoral districts was increased from 93 to 97, under an Act passed in 1902. Ottawa in both cases was entitled to elect two members, and thus 98 MLAs would now be elected to the legislature. The following electoral changes were made:
   * Algoma West was divided into Fort William and Lake of the Woods and Port Arthur and Rainy River
   * Algoma East was divided into Algoma, Manitoulin and Sault Ste. Marie
   * Nipissing was divided into Nipissing East and Nipissing West
Ottawa had two seats, and plurality block voting was used. Elsewhere the first-past-the-post election system was used.

## Notable candidates

Margaret Haile, a Canadian Socialist League candidate in Toronto North, made history as the first woman ever to run for political office in Canada.

## Results

Elections to the 10th Parliament of Ontario (1902) :
| Political party | Political party | Party leader | MPPs | MPPs | MPPs | MPPs | MPPs | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Political party | Political party | Party leader | Candidates | 1898 | Dissol. | 1902 | ± | # | % | ± (pp) |
| | Liberal | George William Ross | 94 | 51 | | 50 | 1 | 206,709 | 47.54% | 0.25 |
| | Conservative | James P. Whitney | 97 | 42 | | 48 | 6 | 215,883 | 49.65% | 1.96 |
| | Independent Conservative | | 2 | 1 | | – | 1 | 1,646 | 0.38% | 0.03 |
| | Independent | | 4 | – | – | – | | 5,133 | 1.18% | 3.42 |
| | Prohibitionist | | 6 | – | – | – | | 3,126 | 0.72% | New |
| | Socialist | | 9 | – | – | – | | 1,993 | 0.46% | New |
| | Socialist Labour | | 4 | – | – | – | | 277 | 0.06% | New |
| | Labour | | 1 | – | – | – | | Did not campaign | Did not campaign | Did not campaign |
| | Vacant | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 216 | 94 | 94 | 98 | | 434,767 | 100.00% | |
| Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | Blank and invalid ballots | 4,021 | | |
| Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | 588,570 | 74.55% | 7.50 |
Seats and popular vote by party :
| Party | Seats | Votes | Change (pp) | Change (pp) |
| Liberal | 50 / 94 | 47.54% | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Conservative | 48 / 94 | 49.65% | 1.96 | 1.96 |
| Other | 0 / 94 | 2.81% | -2.21 | |

### Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1902 Ontario general election :
| Riding | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Winning party | Turnout | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Name | 1898 | 1898 | Party | Party | Votes | Share | Margin # | Margin % | Turnout | Lib | Con | I-Con | Ind | Oth | Total |
| Addington | | Con | | Con | 1,711 | 60.14% | 577 | 20.28% | 59.37% | 1,134 | 1,711 | – | – | – | 2,845 |
| Algoma | New | New | | Con | 1,753 | 53.46% | 227 | 6.92% | 53.53% | 1,526 | 1,753 | – | – | – | 3,279 |
| Brant North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,205 | 53.37% | 152 | 6.73% | 78.47% | 1,205 | 1,053 | – | – | – | 2,258 |
| Brant South | | Lib | | Lib | 2,727 | 53.32% | 340 | 6.65% | 75.97% | 2,727 | 2,387 | – | – | – | 5,114 |
| Brockville | | Lib | | Lib | 2,192 | 54.69% | 376 | 9.38% | 76.05% | 2,192 | 1,816 | – | – | – | 4,008 |
| Bruce Centre | | Lib | | Con | 1,836 | 50.07% | 5 | 0.14% | 75.19% | 1,831 | 1,836 | – | – | – | 3,667 |
| Bruce North | | Lib | | Lib | 2,477 | 52.86% | 268 | 5.72% | 76.85% | 2,477 | 2,209 | – | – | – | 4,686 |
| Bruce South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,932 | 50.84% | 64 | 1.68% | 74.67% | 1,932 | 1,868 | – | – | – | 3,800 |
| Cardwell | | Con | | Con | 2,003 | 62.63% | 808 | 25.27% | 56.50% | 1,195 | 2,003 | – | – | – | 3,198 |
| Carleton | | I-Con | | Con | 1,971 | 72.57% | 1,226 | 45.14% | 54.68% | 745 | 1,971 | – | – | – | 2,716 |
| Dufferin | | Con | | Con | 2,242 | 71.40% | 1,344 | 42.80% | 50.78% | – | 2,242 | – | – | 898 | 3,140 |
| Dundas | | Con | | Con | 2,470 | 55.68% | 504 | 11.36% | 80.83% | 1,966 | 2,470 | – | – | – | 4,436 |
| Durham East | | Con | | Con | 1,833 | 61.47% | 684 | 22.94% | 68.76% | 1,149 | 1,833 | – | – | – | 2,982 |
| Durham West | | Con | | Lib | 1,706 | 51.32% | 88 | 2.65% | 86.05% | 1,706 | 1,618 | – | – | – | 3,324 |
| Elgin East | | Con | | Con | 2,177 | 51.32% | 112 | 2.64% | 78.74% | 2,065 | 2,177 | – | – | – | 4,242 |
| Elgin West | | Con | | Con | 3,027 | 50.63% | 502 | 8.40% | 77.19% | 2,525 | 3,027 | – | – | 427 | 5,979 |
| Essex North | | Lib | | Con | 2,940 | 52.95% | 328 | 5.91% | 66.69% | 2,612 | 2,940 | – | – | – | 5,552 |
| Essex South | | Lib | | Lib | 2,847 | 54.67% | 486 | 9.33% | 72.92% | 2,847 | 2,361 | – | – | – | 5,208 |
| Fort William and Lake of the Woods | New | New | | Lib | 1,483 | 56.95% | 362 | 13.90% | 52.78% | 1,483 | 1,121 | – | – | – | 2,604 |
| Frontenac | | Con | | Con | 1,774 | 50.82% | 57 | 1.63% | 73.76% | 1,717 | 1,774 | – | – | – | 3,491 |
| Glengarry | | Con | | Con | 2,128 | 56.42% | 484 | 12.83% | 69.14% | 1,644 | 2,128 | – | – | – | 3,772 |
| Grenville | | Con | | Con | 2,261 | 61.74% | 860 | 23.48% | 61.11% | 1,401 | 2,261 | – | – | – | 3,662 |
| Grey Centre | | Con | | Con | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed | acclaimed |
| Grey North | | Con | | Lib | 2,930 | 50.04% | 5 | 0.09% | 78.08% | 2,930 | 2,925 | – | – | – | 5,855 |
| Grey South | | Con | | Con | 2,503 | 54.79% | 438 | 9.59% | 73.37% | 2,065 | 2,503 | – | – | – | 4,568 |
| Haldimand | | Lib | | Lib | 1,705 | 52.27% | 148 | 4.54% | 71.72% | 1,705 | – | 1,557 | – | – | 3,262 |
| Halton | | Lib | | Lib | 2,365 | 50.17% | 16 | 0.34% | 83.90% | 2,365 | 2,349 | – | – | – | 4,714 |
| Hamilton East | | Con | | Con | 2,576 | 47.85% | 143 | 2.66% | 77.75% | 2,433 | 2,576 | – | – | 375 | 5,384 |
| Hamilton West | | Con | | Con | 2,422 | 48.67% | 152 | 3.05% | 77.67% | 2,270 | 2,422 | 89 | – | 195 | 4,976 |
| Hastings East | | Lib | | Lib | 1,962 | 50.46% | 36 | 0.93% | 82.69% | 1,962 | 1,926 | – | – | – | 3,888 |
| Hastings North | | Con | | Con | 2,643 | 53.18% | 316 | 6.36% | 69.43% | 2,327 | 2,643 | – | – | – | 4,970 |
| Hastings West | | Con | | Con | 1,884 | 54.66% | 321 | 9.31% | 64.34% | 1,563 | 1,884 | – | – | – | 3,447 |
| Huron East | | Lib | | Lib | 2,299 | 55.63% | 465 | 11.25% | 78.18% | 2,299 | 1,834 | – | – | – | 4,133 |
| Huron South | | Con | | Con | 2,497 | 50.54% | 53 | 1.07% | 83.44% | 2,444 | 2,497 | – | – | – | 4,941 |
| Huron West | | Lib | | Lib | 2,458 | 50.21% | 21 | 0.43% | 80.84% | 2,458 | 2,437 | – | – | – | 4,895 |
| Kent East | | Lib | | Lib | 2,468 | 50.81% | 276 | 5.68% | 66.62% | 2,468 | 2,192 | – | 197 | – | 4,857 |
| Kent West | | Lib | | Lib | 3,714 | 51.63% | 235 | 3.27% | 76.49% | 3,714 | 3,479 | – | – | – | 7,193 |
| Kingston | | Lib | | Lib | 2,043 | 51.72% | 136 | 3.44% | 86.38% | 2,043 | 1,907 | – | – | – | 3,950 |
| Lambton East | | Lib | | Lib | 2,530 | 51.05% | 104 | 2.10% | 81.33% | 2,530 | 2,426 | – | – | – | 4,956 |
| Lambton West | | Lib | | Con | 3,847 | 51.01% | 152 | 2.02% | 77.13% | 3,695 | 3,847 | – | – | – | 7,542 |
| Lanark North | | Lib | | Lib | 1,811 | 51.13% | 80 | 2.26% | 81.79% | 1,811 | 1,731 | – | – | – | 3,542 |
| Lanark South | | Con | | Con | 2,098 | 63.60% | 897 | 27.19% | 83.98% | 1,201 | 2,098 | – | – | – | 3,299 |
| Leeds | | Con | | Con | 2,062 | 57.04% | 509 | 14.08% | 65.19% | 1,553 | 2,062 | – | – | – | 3,615 |
| Lennox | | Lib | | Con | 1,566 | 50.05% | 3 | 0.10% | 77.89% | 1,563 | 1,566 | – | – | – | 3,129 |
| Lincoln | | Con | | Con | 3,199 | 54.34% | 695 | 11.81% | 81.07% | 2,504 | 3,199 | – | – | 184 | 5,887 |
| London | | Lib | | Con | 3,445 | 45.06% | 131 | 1.71% | 82.15% | 3,314 | 3,445 | – | – | 887 | 7,646 |
| Manitoulin | New | New | | Con | 1,214 | 51.90% | 339 | 14.49% | 44.31% | 875 | 1,214 | – | 250 | – | 2,339 |
| Middlesex East | | Con | | Lib | 2,469 | 50.03% | 21 | 0.43% | 80.96% | 2,469 | 2,448 | – | – | 18 | 4,935 |
| Middlesex North | | Lib | | Lib | 2,173 | 52.44% | 202 | 4.87% | 79.07% | 2,173 | 1,971 | – | – | – | 4,144 |
| Middlesex West | | Lib | | Lib | 2,172 | 58.07% | 604 | 16.15% | 73.32% | 2,172 | 1,568 | – | – | – | 3,740 |
| Monck | | Lib | | Lib | 1,876 | 55.14% | 350 | 10.29% | 78.25% | 1,876 | 1,526 | – | – | – | 3,402 |
| Muskoka | | Lib | | Lib | 2,089 | 51.05% | 86 | 2.10% | 72.15% | 2,089 | 2,003 | – | – | – | 4,092 |
| Nipissing East | New | New | | Lib | 1,218 | 54.57% | 204 | 9.14% | 50.26% | 1,218 | 1,014 | – | – | – | 2,232 |
| Nipissing West | New | New | | Lib | 1,185 | 55.69% | 242 | 11.37% | 51.26% | 1,185 | 943 | – | – | – | 2,128 |
| Norfolk North | | Lib | | Con | 1,704 | 50.34% | 23 | 0.68% | 80.13% | 1,681 | 1,704 | – | – | – | 3,385 |
| Norfolk South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,723 | 51.11% | 75 | 2.22% | 83.15% | 1,723 | 1,648 | – | – | – | 3,371 |
| Northumberland East | | Lib | | Con | 2,538 | 52.95% | 283 | 5.90% | 78.02% | 2,255 | 2,538 | – | – | – | 4,793 |
| Northumberland West | | Lib | | Lib | 1,606 | 53.50% | 210 | 7.00% | 82.64% | 1,606 | 1,396 | – | – | – | 3,002 |
| Ontario North | | Con | | Con | 2,219 | 52.17% | 185 | 4.35% | 82.20% | 2,034 | 2,219 | – | – | – | 4,253 |
| Ontario South | | Con | | Lib | 2,632 | 51.29% | 132 | 2.57% | 82.99% | 2,632 | 2,500 | – | – | – | 5,132 |
| Oxford North | | Lib | | Lib | 2,254 | 50.79% | 1,124 | 25.33% | 65.26% | 2,254 | 1,054 | – | 1,130 | – | 4,438 |
| Oxford South | | Lib | | Con | 2,043 | 52.21% | 173 | 4.42% | 58.76% | 1,870 | 2,043 | – | – | – | 3,913 |
| Parry Sound | | Lib | | Lib | 2,490 | 53.40% | 317 | 6.80% | 41.45% | 2,490 | 2,173 | – | – | – | 4,663 |
| Peel | | Lib | | Lib | 2,296 | 51.38% | 123 | 2.75% | 81.64% | 2,296 | 2,173 | – | – | – | 4,469 |
| Perth North | | Lib | | Con | 3,292 | 50.02% | 2 | 0.03% | 83.90% | 3,290 | 3,292 | – | – | – | 6,582 |
| Perth South | | Lib | | Lib | 2,486 | 50.72% | 71 | 1.45% | 81.35% | 2,486 | 2,415 | – | – | – | 4,901 |
| Peterborough East | | Lib | | Lib | 2,067 | 56.00% | 443 | 12.00% | 76.07% | 2,067 | 1,624 | – | – | – | 3,691 |
| Peterborough West | | Lib | | Lib | 2,849 | 63.25% | 1,194 | 26.51% | 79.43% | 2,849 | 1,655 | – | – | – | 4,504 |
| Port Arthur and Rainy River | New | New | | Lib | 1,124 | 66.55% | 559 | 33.10% | 46.06% | 1,124 | 565 | – | – | – | 1,689 |
| Prescott | | Lib | | Lib | 2,341 | 59.51% | 748 | 19.01% | 64.13% | 2,341 | 1,593 | – | – | – | 3,934 |
| Prince Edward | | Con | | Lib | 2,273 | 51.31% | 116 | 2.62% | 82.05% | 2,273 | 2,157 | – | – | – | 4,430 |
| Renfrew North | | Con | | Lib | 2,565 | 54.91% | 459 | 9.83% | 82.46% | 2,565 | 2,106 | – | – | – | 4,671 |
| Renfrew South | | Lib | | Lib | 2,676 | 59.76% | 874 | 19.52% | 69.19% | 2,676 | 1,802 | – | – | – | 4,478 |
| Russell | | Lib | | Lib | 2,536 | 59.46% | 807 | 18.92% | 53.44% | 2,536 | 1,729 | – | – | – | 4,265 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | New | New | | Con | 1,359 | 53.95% | 199 | 7.90% | 51.69% | 1,160 | 1,359 | – | – | – | 2,519 |
| Simcoe Centre | | Con | | Lib | 1,857 | 50.60% | 44 | 1.20% | 75.49% | 1,857 | 1,813 | – | – | – | 3,670 |
| Simcoe East | | Con | | Lib | 3,365 | 53.56% | 447 | 7.11% | 78.41% | 3,365 | 2,918 | – | – | – | 6,283 |
| Simcoe West | | Con | | Con | 1,734 | 69.89% | 987 | 39.78% | 46.15% | – | 1,734 | – | – | 747 | 2,481 |
| Stormont | | Con | | Lib | 2,807 | 53.59% | 376 | 7.18% | 75.10% | 2,807 | 2,431 | – | – | – | 5,238 |
| Toronto East | | Con | | Con | 3,136 | 54.07% | 922 | 15.90% | 56.73% | 2,214 | 3,136 | – | – | 450 | 5,800 |
| Toronto North | | Con | | Con | 3,838 | 51.19% | 282 | 3.76% | 56.62% | – | 3,838 | – | 3,556 | 104 | 7,498 |
| Toronto South | | Con | | Con | 5,072 | 52.41% | 730 | 7.54% | 59.15% | 4,342 | 5,072 | – | – | 263 | 9,677 |
| Toronto West | | Con | | Con | 4,267 | 58.19% | 1,545 | 21.07% | 51.24% | 2,722 | 4,267 | – | – | 344 | 7,333 |
| Victoria East | | Con | | Con | 2,390 | 56.81% | 573 | 13.62% | 77.02% | 1,817 | 2,390 | – | – | – | 4,207 |
| Victoria West | | Con | | Con | 2,234 | 51.13% | 99 | 2.27% | 78.23% | 2,135 | 2,234 | – | – | – | 4,369 |
| Waterloo North | | Con | | Con | 2,848 | 52.45% | 266 | 4.90% | 74.34% | 2,582 | 2,848 | – | – | – | 5,430 |
| Waterloo South | | Con | | Con | 2,782 | 50.90% | 98 | 1.79% | 72.48% | 2,684 | 2,782 | – | – | – | 5,466 |
| Welland | | Lib | | Lib | 2,851 | 51.00% | 112 | 2.00% | 77.12% | 2,851 | 2,739 | – | – | – | 5,590 |
| Wellington East | | Lib | | Lib | 2,071 | 56.16% | 454 | 12.31% | 70.49% | 2,071 | 1,617 | – | – | – | 3,688 |
| Wellington South | | Lib | | Con | 2,341 | 48.09% | 227 | 4.66% | 75.87% | 2,114 | 2,341 | – | – | 413 | 4,868 |
| Wellington West | | Con | | Con | 1,786 | 51.48% | 103 | 2.97% | 74.28% | 1,683 | 1,786 | – | – | – | 3,469 |
| Wentworth North | | Con | | Lib | 1,410 | 50.87% | 48 | 1.73% | 71.32% | 1,410 | 1,362 | – | – | – | 2,772 |
| Wentworth South | | Lib | | Lib | 1,526 | 53.66% | 299 | 10.51% | 78.83% | 1,526 | 1,227 | – | – | 91 | 2,844 |
| York East | | Lib | | Lib | 1,905 | 54.62% | 322 | 9.23% | 67.28% | 1,905 | 1,583 | – | – | – | 3,488 |
| York North | | Lib | | Lib | 2,828 | 51.90% | 207 | 3.80% | 84.94% | 2,828 | 2,621 | – | – | – | 5,449 |
| York West | | Lib | | Con | 2,802 | 54.04% | 419 | 8.08% | 76.55% | 2,383 | 2,802 | – | – | – | 5,185 |
* ↑ excluding Ottawa, a multi-member constituency
* ↑ 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
Results for Ottawa (2 seats) :
| Political party | Political party | Candidate | Votes | % | Elected | Incumbent |
| | Conservative | Dennis Murphy | 5,770 | 27.15 | Y |
| | Conservative | Charles Berkeley Powell | 5,633 | 26.50 | Y | Y |
| | Liberal | S. Bingham | 5,154 | 24.25 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Lumsden | 4,698 | 22.10 | N | Y |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | 2.25 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,247 | 71.85 |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 15,653 |
* ↑ plurality for third winning candidate

### Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place :
| Party in 1st place | Party in 1st place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Party in 2nd place | Total |
| Party in 1st place | Party in 1st place | Accl | Lib | Con | I-Con | Proh | Ind | Total |
| | Liberal | | | 48 | 1 | | 1 | 50 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 42 | | | 2 | 1 | 46 |
| Total | Total | 1 | 42 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 96 |
* ↑ excluding Ottawa seats
Candidates ranked 1st to 4th place, by party :
| Parties | Accl | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| █ Liberal | | 50 | 42 | 1 | 1 |
| █ Conservative | 1 | 46 | 49 | 1 | |
| █ Prohibitionist | | | 2 | 4 | |
| █ Independent | | | 2 | 2 | |
| █ Independent Conservative | | | 1 | | 1 |
| █ Socialist | | | | 8 | 1 |
| █ Socialist Labour | | | | | 4 |
Resulting composition of the 10th Legislative Assembly of Ontario :
| Source | Source | Party | Party | Party |
| Source | Source | Lib | Con | Total |
| Seats retained | Incumbents returned | 30 | 23 | 53 |
| Seats retained | Returned by acclamation | | 1 | 1 |
| Seats retained | Open seats held | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Seats retained | Byelection losses reversed | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Seats retained | Ouster of incumbent changing allegiance | | 2 | 2 |
| Seats changing hands | Incumbents defeated | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Seats changing hands | Open seats gained | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Seats changing hands | Byelection gains held | 2 | | 2 |
| Seats changing hands | Incumbent changing allegiance | | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa seats | New MLA | | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa seats | Incumbent defeated | | 1 | 1 |
| New seats | New MLA | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| New seats | Previously incumbent in another riding | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | Total | 50 | 48 | 98 |

### MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

### Division of ridings

The newly created ridings returned the following MLAs:
| 1898 | 1898 | 1898 | 1902 |
| Riding | Party | Riding | Party |
| Algoma West | █ Liberal | Fort William and Lake of the Woods | █ Liberal |
| Algoma West | █ Liberal | Port Arthur and Rainy River | █ Liberal |
| Algoma East | █ Liberal | Algoma | █ Conservative |
| Algoma East | █ Liberal | Manitoulin | █ Conservative |
| Algoma East | █ Liberal | Sault Ste. Marie | █ Conservative |
| Nipissing | █ Liberal | Nipissing East | █ Liberal |
| Nipissing | █ Liberal | Nipissing West | █ Liberal |

### Seats that changed hands

Elections to the 8th Parliament of Ontario – unaltered seats won/lost by party, 1898–1902 :
| Party | Party | 1898 | Gain from (loss to) | Gain from (loss to) | Gain from (loss to) | Gain from (loss to) | Gain from (loss to) | Gain from (loss to) | 1902 |
| Party | Party | 1898 | Lib | Lib | Con | Con | I-Con | I-Con | | 1902 |
| | Liberal | 48 | | | 10 | (12) | | | 46 |
| | Conservative | 42 | 12 | (10) | | | 1 | | 45 |
| | Independent-Conservative | 1 | | | | (1) | | | – |
| Total | Total | 91 | 12 | (10) | 10 | (13) | 1 | – | 91 |
Of the constituencies that were not altered, there were 23 seats that changed allegiance in the election: