3rd Parliament of Ontario

The 3rd Parliament of Ontario was in session from 18 January 1875 until 25 April 1879, following the 1875 general election in which the Liberal Party was returned as the majority party. Oliver Mowat was again the province's Premier.

The Ontario Liquor Licence Act, 1876 (often referred to as the Crooks Act),[verification needed] which transferred control of licenses for the sale of alcohol from individual municipalities to commissioners appointed by the province, was passed.

Rupert Mearse Wells served as speaker for the assembly.

Members of the Assembly

Riding Member Party First elected / previously elected No. of terms Comments
  Addington Hammel Madden Deroche Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Algoma Simon James Dawson Liberal 1875 1st term Member until 26 August 1878. Resigned to enter federal politics.
  Robert Adam Lyon (1878) Liberal 1878 1st term Won byelection, was member from 16 September 1878.
  Brant Hugh Finlayson Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Brant South Arthur Sturgis Hardy Liberal 1873 2nd term Provincial Secretary and Registrar in Mowat ministry after March 19, 1877
  Brockville Wilmot Howard Cole Liberal 1875 1st term
  Bruce North Donald Sinclair Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Bruce South Rupert Mearse Wells Liberal 1872 2nd term Speaker
  Cardwell John Flesher Conservative 1875 1st term
  Carleton George William Monk Conservative 1871 2nd term
  Cornwall Alexander Fraser McIntyre Conservative 1875 1st term Served 18 January 1875 – 18 June 1875. Election disqualified on 8 June 1875
  John Goodall Snetsinger (1875) Liberal 1872, 1875 2nd term* Defeated McIntyre in byelection 17 July 1875 and served to end of Parliament session.
  Dufferin John Barr Conservative 1875 1st term
  Dundas Andrew Broder Conservative 1875 1st term
  Durham East John Rosevear Conservative 1875 1st term
  Durham West John McLeod Liberal 1867, 1872 3rd term*
  Elgin East John Henry Wilson Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Elgin West M.G. Munroe Conservative 1875 1st term Member until June 1875 when he was unseated in election trial.
  Thomas Hodgins (1875) Liberal 1871, 1875 2nd term* As opponent of Munroe, he won the seat upon conclusion of an election trial. Resigned in 1878 to become a candidate for federal politics.
  David McLaws (1878) Liberal 1878 1st term Won byelection and served from September 1878 until end of Parliament session.
  Essex North James Colebrooke Patterson Conservative 1875 1st term Member until September 1878 when he resigned to enter federal politics.
  Solomon White (1878) Conservative 1878 1st term Won byelection and was member after September 1878.
  Essex South Lewis Wigle Conservative 1875 1st term
  Frontenac Peter Graham Conservative 1875 1st term Died in office in January 1877.
  Delino Dexter Calvin (1877) Conservative 1868, 1877 3rd term* Won byelection in 1877 and served to end of Parliament session.
  Glengarry Alexander James Grant Independent-Liberal 1875 1st term
  Grenville South Christopher Finlay Fraser Liberal 1872 2nd term Provincial Secretary and Registrar in Mowat ministry until July 23, 1875?
Commissioner of Public Works in Mowat ministry after March 24, 1874
  Grey East Abram William Lauder Conservative 1867 3rd term
  Grey North Thomas Scott Conservative 1867 3rd term Disqualified in September 1875.
  David Creighton (1875) Conservative 1875 1st term Won byelection and was member from 1 November 1875.
  Grey South James Hill Hunter Liberal 1875 1st term
  Haldimand Jacob Baxter Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Halton William Barber Liberal 1867 3rd term Member until 30 June 1875 after he was unseated in election trial.
  William Durie Lyon (1875) Liberal 1875 1st term Won byelection and was member from 15 November 1875 until end of Parliament session.
  Hamilton James Miller Williams Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Hastings East Nathaniel Stephen Appleby Independent-Conservative 1875 1st term
  Hastings North George Henry Boulter Conservative 1867 3rd term
  Hastings West Thomas Wills Conservative 1875 1st term
  Huron East Thomas Gibson Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Huron South Archibald Bishop Liberal 1873 2nd term
  Huron West Alexander McLagan Ross Liberal 1875 1st term
  Kent East Archibald McKellar Liberal 1867 3rd term Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works in Mowat ministry until 25 July 1875 when he retired from politics.
  Daniel McCraney (1875) Liberal 1875 1st term Won byelection in 1875 and was member until end of Parliament session.
  Kent West Alexander Coutts Conservative 1875 1st term
  Kingston William Robinson Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Lambton East Peter Graham Liberal 1875 1st term
  Lambton West Timothy Blair Pardee Liberal 1867 3rd term Commissioner of Crown Lands in Mowat ministry
  Lanark North William Mostyn Conservative 1875 1st term
  Lanark South Abraham Code Conservative 1869 3rd term
  Leeds North and Grenville North Henry Merrick Conservative 1871 2nd term
  Leeds South Robert Henry Preston Conservative 1875 1st term
  Lennox John Thomas Grange Conservative 1871 2nd term
  Lincoln Sylvester Neelon Liberal 1875 1st term
  London William Ralph Meredith Conservative 1872 2nd term Leader of Opposition after c. October 1878
  Middlesex East Richard Tooley Conservative 1871 2nd term
  Middlesex North John McDougall Conservative 1875 1st term
  Middlesex West John Watterworth Liberal 1872 2nd term
  Monck Henry Ryan Haney Liberal 1872 2nd term Member until 18 November 1878, having died in office.
  Richard Harcourt (1878) Liberal 1878 1st term Won byelection and was in the Legislature as of January 1879 until the end of the Parliament session.
  Muskoka and Parry Sound John Classon Miller Liberal 1875 1st term
  Norfolk North John Fitzgerald Clarke Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Norfolk South Richard Richardson Conservative 1875 1st term
  Northumberland East James Marshall Ferris Liberal 1875 1st term
  Northumberland West William Hargraft Liberal 1875 1st term
  Ontario North Thomas Paxton Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Ontario South Nicholas W. Brown Conservative 1875 1st term
  Ottawa Daniel John O'Donoghue Liberal 1874 2nd term
  Oxford North Oliver Mowat Liberal 1872 2nd term Premier and Attorney General in Mowat ministry
  Oxford South Adam Oliver Liberal 1867 3rd term Member until 15 July 1875 after he was unseated by election trial.
  Adam Crooks (1875) Liberal 1871, 1875 2nd term* Won byelection in 1875 and was in the Legislature as of December 1875. He served until the end of the Parliament session.
Treasurer in Mowat ministry until March 19, 1877;
Minister of Education in Mowat ministry after February 19, 1876
  Peel Kenneth Chisholm Liberal 1873 2nd term
  Perth North David Davidson Hay Liberal 1875 1st term
  Perth South Thomas Ballantyne Liberal 1875 1st term
  Peterborough East John C. O'Sullivan Conservative 1875 1st term Although unseated by election trial on 2 August 1875, he retained this riding.
  Peterborough West George Albertus Cox Liberal 1875 1st term Unseated in election trial 2 August 1875.
  William Hepburn Scott (1875) Conservative 1874, 1875 2nd term* Won byelection and was member from December 1875.
  Prescott William Harkin Conservative 1875 1st term
  Prince Edward Gideon Striker Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Renfrew North Thomas Deacon Conservative 1871 2nd term
  Renfrew South James Bonfield Liberal 1875 1st term
  Russell Adam Jacob Baker Conservative 1875 1st term
  Simcoe East John Kean Conservative 1875 1st term
  Simcoe South D'Arcy Edward Boulton Conservative 1873 2nd term Died in office 16 February 1875.
  William McDougall (1875) Independent-Liberal 1875 1st term Won byelection and was member from 1 June 1875 to 9 September 1878. Resigned early to seek seat in federal House of Commons.
  William James Parkhill (1878) Conservative 1878 1st term Won by-election and was member from 1 October 1878.
  Simcoe West Thomas Long Conservative 1875 1st term
  Stormont James Bethune Liberal 1872 2nd term
  Toronto East Matthew Crooks Cameron Conservative 1867 3rd term Leader of the Opposition until c. 1878. Served as member of legislative assembly until 9 January 1879 when he retired from politics.
  Alexander Morris (1878) Conservative 1878 1st term Won byelection and was member from January 1879 until the end of Parliament session.
  Toronto West Robert Bell Conservative 1875 1st term
  Victoria North John David Smith Liberal 1875 1st term Was member until 27 August 1875, after being unseated in election trial.
  Duncan McRae (1875) Conservative 1875 1st term Won byelection.
  Victoria South Samuel Casey Wood Liberal 1871 2nd term Retained seat in August 1875 byelection.
Commissioner of Agriculture in Mowat ministry after July 23, 1875:
Treasurer in Mowat ministry after March 19, 1877
  Waterloo North Moses Springer Liberal 1867 3rd term
  Waterloo South John Fleming Liberal 1875 1st term Died in office 21 January 1877.
  Isaac Master (1877) Liberal 1877 1st term Won byelection after recount and was member from March 1877.
  Welland James George Currie Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Wellington Centre Charles Clarke Liberal 1871 2nd term
  Wellington South Peter Gow Liberal 1867 3rd term Member until 1876 when he resigned.
  James Massie (1876) Liberal 1876 1st term Won byelection and was in the Legislature as of January 1877 until the end of the Parliament session.
  Wellington West John McGowan Liberal-Conservative 1874 2nd term
  Wentworth North Thomas Stock Conservative 1875 1st term Disqualified in September 1875. Was Conservative member until 30 June 1875.
  James McMahon (1875) Liberal 1875 1st term Won byelection and was in the Legislature as of December 1875 until the end of the Parliament session.
  Wentworth South William Sexton Liberal 1867 3rd term
  York East John Lane Liberal 1875 1st term
  York North Joseph Henry Widdifield Liberal 1875 1st term
  York West Peter Patterson Liberal 1871 2nd term

Election trials

The early months of this Parliament were marred by election trials in many ridings. Most of these cases challenged the validity of the election results on such charges as bribery or corruption. A common accusation was that of "treating", where candidates or their agents would buy potential electors alcohol or other favours.

The following ridings and candidates were affected:

Riding Original Candidate Comment
Cardwell Flesher Retained seat.
Cornwall McIntyre Unseated - election voided 8 June 1875, then defeated by Snetsinger in byelection.
Dundas Broder Retained seat.
Elgin East Wilson Retained seat - charges dropped 13 May 1875.
Essex South Wigle Retained seat - originally unseated, but appealed.
Elgin West M.G. Munroe Unseated - Hodgins declared the proper member of Legislature after 16 votes declared invalid, leaving Hodgins with a majority of 6 votes.
Grey North Scott Unseated - original petition dismissed, but reversed on appeal, therefore Scott disqualified. 8-year ban from office.
Grey South Hunter Retained seat - charges dismissed 2 July 1875.
Halton Barber Unseated.
Hastings West Wills Retained seat - charges dismissed.
Lincoln Neelon Retained seat - initially unseated, but regained seat.
London Meredith Retained seat.
Middlesex North McDougall Retained seat - charges dismissed.
Monck Haney Retained seat - election initially voided, byelection called which Haney won.
Muskoka Miller Retained seat - initially unseated, but appeals on some aspects of the election trial were still in progress through November 1875.
Northumberland East Ferris Retained seat.
Ontario North Paxton Retained seat - charges dismissed, upheld on appeal, although the original election was still void and required byelection.
Ontario South Brown Retained seat - charges dismissed, case appealed, seat retained.
Oxford South Oliver Unseated - lost byelection 25 August 1875
Peel Chisholm Retained seat.
Perth North Hay Retained seat.
Peterborough East O'Sullivan Retained seat - although initially unseated in election trial on 2 August 1875.
Peterborough West Cox Unseated - 2 August 1875.
Russell Baker Retained seat - charges dismissed, byelection called in which Russell won.
Simcoe East Kean Retained seat.
Simcoe West Long Retained seat.
Toronto East Cameron Retained seat.
Toronto West Bell Retained seat.
Victoria North Smith Unseated.
Welland Currie Retained seat - Currie won byelection.
Wellington West McGowan Unseated - byelection called, McGowan regained seat.
Wentworth North Stock Unseated - 8-year ban from office.

Source: "What have they gained by it? / Election appeals". The Globe. Toronto, Ontario. 27 September 1875. p. 2..

Notes

  1. ↑ Toronto West

References

  1. ↑ 39 Victoria, 3. 26; R.S.O. 1877, c. 181
  2. ↑ "Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Cornwall Election Case / The Election Voided Through Bribery by Agents". The Globe. 9 June 1875. p. 1., courts ordered byelection
  4. ↑ ""News Summary" and "The Cornwall Election / Mr. Snetsinger Returned"". The Globe. 19 July 1875. p. 1.
  5. ↑ Scott was banned for 8 years from holding any municipal or provincial office, or from voting in a provincial election. "North Wentworth and North Grey". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 2.
  6. 1 2 "The Halton Election Trial". The Globe. 17 May 1875. p. 2.
  7. ↑ Lyon was voted Reform candidate for this riding on 4 October 1875."Halton Reform Convention". The Globe. 11 October 1875. p. 3.
  8. ↑ "South Oxford Election Trial / Mr Oliver Unseated". The Globe. 16 July 1875. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "South Oxford". The Globe. 12 August 1875. p. 2.; new election called in August 1875.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "The Peterborough Election Trials / Dr O'Sullivan unseated in the East and Mr Cox in the West". The Globe. 3 August 1875. p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Ontario Legislature". The Globe. 1 October 1878. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "North Victoria Election Case / Conclusion of the Judgment". The Globe. 20 August 1875. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "South Victoria / Triumphant return of Hon. S.C. Wood". The Globe. 16 August 1875. p. 2.
  14. ↑ "Galt / Death of Mr. Fleming MPP". The Globe. 22 January 1877. p. 1.
  15. ↑ "South Waterloo Election / Recount of the Vote". The Globe. 7 March 1877. p. 1.
  16. 1 2 3 Stock was banned for 8 years from holding any municipal or provincial office, or from voting in a provincial election. "North Wentworth and North Grey". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 2.
  17. ↑ "East Elgin Petition". The Globe. 13 May 1875. p. 2.
  18. ↑ "Legal Intelligence ... Before the Chancellor". The Globe. 14 July 1875. p. 2.
  19. ↑ "South Essex Election Trial / Respondent Unseated for Corrupt Practice of an Agent". The Globe. 14 July 1875. p. 4.
  20. ↑ "Windsor". The Globe. 15 July 1875. p. 1., noting Wigle's appeal
  21. ↑ "West Elgin". The Globe. 28 June 1875. p. 4.
  22. ↑ "West Elgin Election Case". The Globe. 9 June 1875. p. 2., reporting the judgement leaving Hodgins with majority of 6 votes.
  23. ↑ "South Grey Election Trial / Petition Dismissed". The Globe. 3 July 1875. p. 8.
  24. ↑ "The West Hastings Election Trial". The Globe. 19 June 1875. p. 8.
  25. 1 2 "Election Trials - Muskoka and Lincoln". The Globe. 18 September 1875. p. 4.
  26. ↑ "Legal Intelligence... Election Trial". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 2.
  27. ↑ "Monck Election Trial / Dr Haney Unseated". The Globe. 14 May 1875. p. 4.
  28. ↑ "Monck Elections". The Globe. 23 June 1875. p. 2., Dr Haney (Reform) re-elected.
  29. ↑ "Muskoka / Mr. Miller Called on to take his Seat". The Globe. 29 November 1875. p. 1.
  30. ↑ "The Muskoka Election Trial". The Globe. 12 August 1875. p. 2., reporting that 12 of 15 charges in the election trial were dismissed at that point.
  31. ↑ "South Ontario Election Court / Third Day". The Globe. 14 May 1875. p. 4.
  32. ↑ "Russel Election". The Globe. 5 June 1875. p. 1.
  33. ↑ "Russel Election". The Globe. 13 August 1875. p. 1.
  34. ↑ "Local Elections (editorial)". The Globe. 5 July 1875. p. 2.
  35. ↑ "West Wellington Election Case". The Globe. 28 June 1875. p. 4.
  36. ↑ "North Wellington / Return of Mr. McGowan". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 1., despite the title (Ontario had no North Wellington riding), the article referred to the byelection in which McGowan won.