Ontario general election, 1971
The
Ontario general election of 1971 was held on
October 21,
1971, to elect the 117 members of the
Legislative Assembly (Members of Provincial Parliament, or "MPPs") of the Province of
Ontario,
Canada.
The
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, led by
Bill Davis, who had replaced
John Robarts as PC leader and premier earlier in the year, won an eighth consecutive term in office, and maintained its majority in the legislature, increasing its caucus in the legislature by eight seats from its result in the
previous election.
The
Ontario Liberal Party, led by
Robert Nixon, lost seven seats, but continued in the role of
official opposition.
The
social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party, led by
Stephen Lewis, lost one seat.
This election marked the first time that the provincial election was held on a Thursday. Subsequently, every provincial election since this one has also been held on a Thursday.
1 Includes
T. Patrick Reid of
Rainy River who was elected in 1967 as "
Liberal-Labour" but was re-elected in 1971 as a Liberal.