1985 Ontario municipal elections explained

The 1985 Ontario municipal elections were held on November 12, 1985, to elect mayors, municipal councils, school boards, and hydro commissions in cities, towns and other incorporated communities throughout the Canadian province of Ontario.

It was the first time that judges, psychiatric patients and prisoners awaiting trial could vote. In one notable result, psychiatric patients in a maximum security institution in Tay Township voted in favour of a plebiscite to bring back capital punishment.

The most closely watched contests occurred in Metropolitan Toronto. Art Eggleton was re-elected as Mayor of Toronto, while Mel Lastman was returned as Mayor of North York.

Peter Wong was re-elected two a second term as mayor of Sudbury and Dave Neumann was re-elected to a third term as mayor of Brantford.

Elected mayors

Ken Whillans

Dave Neumann (details)

Roly Bird[1]

Claudette Millar

Brian Lynch[2]

David Johnson (details)

Bruce Sinclair (details)

Harry Allen (details)

John Counsell[3]

Robert Morrow (details)

John Gerretsen

Dom Cardillo

Tom Gosnell

Carole Bell[4]

Hazel McCallion[5]

Ben Franklin (details)

Bill Smeaton[5]

Stan Lawlor[6]

Mel Lastman[5] (details)

Bill Perras[1]

Allan Pilkey

Jim Durrell[5] (details)

Sylvia Sutherland[5]

Marceil Saddy

Joe Fratesi[5]

Gus Harris[5] (details)

Joe McCaffery[5]

Peter Wong[5]

Jack Masters[5]

Vic Power[5]

Art Eggleton[5] (details)

Marjorie Carroll

Roland Hardy[7]

David Burr[5]

Alan Tonks[5] (details)

Brantford

See main article: 1985 Brantford municipal election.

Sudbury

Sudbury also held a referendum on a proposal that the city be declared a nuclear-free zone, which passed by a two-to-one margin.[8]

Toronto

See main article: 1985 Toronto municipal election.

Notes and References

  1. News: Lawyer Perras, 35, replaces Barrett as Oakville mayor. November 13, 1985. 20. Toronto Star. December 28, 2023.
  2. News: Samis loses Cornwall race. November 13, 1985. 64. Kingston Whig-Strandard. December 28, 2023.
  3. News: Retired bank manager wins Guelph mayoralty. November 13, 1985. 42. Waterloo Region Record. December 28, 2023.
  4. News: 2 mayoralty upsets in York region but most incumbents back in ffice. November 13, 1985. 111. Toronto Star. December 28, 2023.
  5. News: Ontario election roundup. November 13, 1985. 3. Niagara Falls Review. December 28, 2023.
  6. News: Landslide for Lawlor. November 13, 1985. 1. North Bay Nugget. December 28, 2023.
  7. News: Across Ontario, predicted defeats turn to narrow wins. November 13, 1985. 4. Toronto Star. December 28, 2023.
  8. Rudy Platiel, "Leaders defeated all over the province", Globe and Mail, 13 November 1985, A1.