The 2011 Ontario general election was held on June 7, 2011 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. All 107 seats in the legislature were contested.
Background
- The election was called by Premier Dalton McGuinty of the Ontario Liberal Party, who sought a third consecutive term for his government.
- Key issues during the campaign included the province’s electricity pricing policy, health‑care funding, education, and the provincial budget deficit.
Major parties and leaders
| Party | Leader (as of election) |
|---|---|
| Ontario Liberal Party | Dalton McGuinty (incumbent Premier) |
| Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Tim Hudspeth |
| Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) | Andrea Horwath |
| Green Party of Ontario | Mike Schreiner |
| Others/Independents | Various candidates |
Election results
| Party | Seats won | Seat change* | Popular vote | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Party | 53 | –7 | 1,625,102 | 37.6 % |
| Progressive Conservative Party | 37 | +9 | 1,540,352 | 35.6 % |
| New Democratic Party | 17 | +5 | 981,508 | 22.7 % |
| Green Party | 0 | – | 124,933 | 2.9 % |
| Others/Independents | 0 | – | — | — |
*Seat change refers to the difference compared with the previous legislature (2007 election).
The Liberal Party retained a majority government, though with a reduced margin. Voter turnout was 48.2 %, marking one of the lowest participation rates in Ontario’s provincial elections to date.
Aftermath
- Dalton McGuinty announced his intention to step down as Premier and party leader in 2012; he was succeeded by Kathleen Wynne in early 2013.
- The Progressive Conservatives, under Tim Hudspeth, remained the Official Opposition.
- The NDP, led by Andrea Horwath, increased its caucus size and continued to serve as the third‑largest party in the legislature.
The 2011 election set the stage for the subsequent 2014 Ontario general election, in which the Liberal Party again secured a majority government under Kathleen Wynne.
