General elections were held on February 27, 2025, to elect the 124 members of the 44th Parliament of Ontario. Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives were re-elected to a third consecutive majority government, the first time a party has done so since 1959. The PCs increased their vote share to 43%, however lost three seats compared to 2022. The New Democratic Party led by Marit Stiles retained its status as the Official Opposition, albeit with four fewer seats than in 2022 and while finishing a distant third in the popular vote. The Ontario Liberal Party finished second in the popular vote but won just fourteen seats, remaining in third place in terms of seat count since 2018, although this five-seat increase was enough for the Liberals to regain official party status in the legislature for the first time since 2018. Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie however failed to win her seat in Mississauga East—Cooksville, losing to the PC candidate.
The Greens held their two seats, including leader Mike Schreiner, although suffering a slight drop in popularity. Incumbent independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady held her seat in Haldimand-Norfolk, winning the second-largest margin in the province.
Background Under the Ontario Elections Act, general elections must be held on the first Thursday in June in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election. As the previous election was held on June 2, 2022, this election was anticipated to be held on June 4, 2026. However, it had been speculated since early 2024 that Premier Doug Ford would call a snap election to take advantage of a lead in the polls and fundraising, as well as a desire to hold the election before the next federal election, which, at that time, the federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre was considered extremely likely to win. This speculation was fueled in May 2024, when Ford refused to commit to the June 2026 date when asked by reporters at multiple press conferences for confirmation.
On January 23, 2025, multiple news outlets reported that Ford would visit Edith Dumont, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, on January 29 to ask for the 43rd Provincial Parliament to be dissolved, triggering an election to be held on February 27. This speculation was confirmed by Ford at a press conference on January 24. On January 28, he met with Dumont; the Provincial Parliament was formally dissolved, with a writ of election issued the next day. The election cost approximately $189 million.
Electoral districts The Electoral Boundaries Act, 2015 increased the number of electoral districts from 107 to 122, following the boundaries set out by the federal 2013 Representation Order for Ontario, while preserving the special boundaries of the 11 seats in Northern Ontario set out in the 1996 redistribution.
The Far North Electoral Boundaries Commission, appointed in 2016,as a result of the recommended the creation of the additional districts of Kiiwetinoong and Mushkegowuk—James Bay, carved out from the existing Kenora—Rainy River and Timmins—James Bay ridings, which accordingly raised the total number of seats to 124. This was implemented through the Representation Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017.
With the 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution, Ontario was allotted 1 additional seat in the House of Commons. On August 1, 2024, Premier Ford announced that Ontario would break with recent tradition and not adopt the federal electoral boundary changes for the next provincial election. As Northern Ontario lost a seat in the federal process, further adjustments would have been needed to maintain their extra provincial representation, which would have resulted in an extra additional riding.
Timeline
2022 June 2: The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario under Doug Ford won a second majority government in the 43rd Ontario general election. New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath and Liberal leader Steven Del Duca both announced their resignation on election night. June 28: Toronto—Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns was named interim leader of the NDP, becoming Leader of the Official Opposition. August 3: Ottawa South MPP John Fraser was named interim leader of the Liberals.
2023 February 4: Marit Stiles was declared leader of the NDP, and became Leader of the Official Opposition. December 2: Bonnie Crombie was elected leader of the Liberals.
2025 January 28: The lieutenant governor dissolves the Legislature. January 29: Writs of election are issued, officially starting the campaign. February 13: Nominations close. February 14: First leaders' debate, organized by Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities. February 17: Second leaders' debate, organized by Broadcast Consortium. February 27: Election day.
Seat changes + 43rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario - Movement in seats held up to the election (2022–2025)Party2022Gain/(loss) due to2025 Resignationas MPP Resignationfrom caucus Expulsion Byelectiongain Byelectionhold83 (4) (2) (1) 3 7931 (2) (2) 1 288 (1) 1 1 91 1 21 2 3 6Total 124 (7) – – 2 5 124
+ Changes in seats held since June 2, 2022 Seat Before Change Date Member Party Reason Date Member PartyHamilton CentreAugust 15, 2022Andrea HorwathResignation from legislature.to run for Mayor of Hamilton.March 16, 2023Sarah Jama Don Valley NorthMarch 10, 2023Vincent KeResignation from caucus.due to allegations that he was involved in the 2019 Canadian Parliament infiltration plot.Kanata—CarletonMarch 24, 2023Merrilee FullertonResignation from legislature.July 27, 2023Karen McCrimmonAlgoma—ManitoulinMarch 31, 2023Michael ManthaExpelled from caucus.over workplace misconduct allegations.Scarborough—GuildwoodMay 10, 2023Mitzie HunterResignation from legislature.to run for Mayor of Toronto.July 27, 2023Andrea HazellKitchener CentreJuly 13, 2023Laura Mae LindoResignation from legislature.to accept position at the University of WaterlooNovember 30, 2023Aislinn ClancyMississauga East—CooksvilleSeptember 20, 2023Kaleed RasheedResignation from caucus.after contradictory claims were made regarding a Las Vegas business trip.Lambton—Kent—MiddlesexSeptember 22, 2023Monte McNaughtonResignation from legislatureto accept position in the private sectorMay 2, 2024Steve PinsonneaultHamilton CentreOctober 23, 2023Sarah JamaExpelled from caucus.over comments made regarding the Gaza warMiltonJanuary 25, 2024Parm GillResignation from legislature.to run in the next federal electionMay 2, 2024Zee HamidCarletonJune 28, 2024Goldie GhamariExpelled from caucus.after meeting with far-right activist Tommy RobinsonBay of QuinteAugust 16, 2024Todd SmithResignation from legislature.September 19, 2024Tyler Allsopp
By-election results
+ Analysis of byelections by turnout and vote share for winning candidate (vs 2022)Riding and winning partyTurnoutVote share for winning candidate % Change (pp) % Change (pp)Hamilton CentreHold 21.97 54.28 Kanata—CarletonGain 35.14 34.53 Scarborough—GuildwoodHold 21.84 36.55 Kitchener CentreGain 27.28 47.99 Lambton—Kent—MiddlesexHold 30.25 56.85 MiltonHold 27.72 47.04 Bay of QuinteHold 38.45 38.69
Candidates
Incumbents not standing for re-election As of the candidate nomination deadline, 12 incumbent MPPs chose not to run in the 2025 Ontario election:
Electoral districtIncumbent at dissolutionDate announcedBruce—Grey—Owen Sound Rick ByersSeptember 10, 2024Carleton Goldie GhamariPreviously elected as Progressive ConservativeJanuary 31, 2025Eglinton—Lawrence Robin MartinNovember 1, 2024Hamilton Mountain Monique TaylorSeptember 9, 2024Mississauga East—Cooksville Kaleed RasheedOctober 11, 2024Nepean Lisa MacLeodSeptember 13, 2024Ottawa Centre Joel HardenMarch 15, 2024Parkdale—High Park Bhutila KarpocheSeptember 29, 2024Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke John YakabuskiNovember 20, 2024Sault Ste. Marie Ross RomanoDecember 12, 2024Wellington—Halton Hills Ted ArnottOctober 15, 2024York South—Weston Michael FordJanuary 24, 2025
Campaign Ford's PCs launched their campaign in Windsor, in front of the Ambassador Bridge. Stiles' NDP launched their campaign in Toronto, while Crombie's Liberals launched their campaign in Barrie. Schreiner's Greens launched their campaign with a speech in Queen's Park.
Contests + Candidate contests in the ridingsCandidates nominated Ridings PartyPCGreenNDPLibIndOthTotals 3 1 1 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 20 5 30 30 30 30 30 24 1 1 1 3 150 6 44 44 44 44 43 40 17 9 5 4 4 10 264 7 24 24 24 24 24 24 13 18 2 4 3 8 168 8 17 17 17 17 17 17 11 9 8 4 3 16 136 9 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 2 1 2 27 Total 124 124 124 123 123 108 44 41 17 13 12 39 768
Issues In January 2025, Ford began to state that he would need a "clear mandate" from voters to respond to the tariffs on Canadian imports to the United States threatened by the newly re-elected President Donald Trump. A video taken on the day of the 2024 US presidential election was later released showing Ford stating that he was "100% happy" that Trump won, until Trump threatened tariffs on Canada.
+ 2025 Ontario election – issues and respective party platformsIssuePCNDPLiberalGreenEducationInvest an additional $830 million a year to clear the repair backlog within 10 years while keeping up with school maintenance needs. Create a universal School Food Program and use fresh food prepared and grown in Ontario. End the practice of streaming. Invest in Francophone education in French school boards and French immersion programs in the English system. More school transportation funding.Clearing the backlog in school repairs, supporting students with special needs, and extending OHIP to cover mental health care.Energy and EnvironmentPermanently cutting the provincial tax on gas by 5.7 cents per litre and on diesel by 5.3 cents.Working with Indigenous communities to conserve 30% of natural areas by 2030. End reliance on fossil fuels, invest in low-cost renewables and build climate-friendly transit options.HealthcareInvesting $1.8 billion more to connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care.Hiring of at least 15,000 nurses over the next three years to ensure safe staffing ratios and end the reliance on private agencies. Expand healthcare in Northern Ontario by hiring 350 doctors, including 200 family physicians and 150 specialists. Establish a Northern Command Centre to manage capacity across the North. Fast-track solutions in the first 100 days—more family health teams, shorter specialist wait times, and flexible care options. Clear the path for 13,000 internationally trained doctors and increase residency spots province-wide.Guarantee a Family Doctor for all Ontarians by 2029.Two new hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge.HousingCreate 60,000 new supportive housing units. Double the supply of permanently affordable homes, legalize fourplexes and increase density around transit, and provide funding for non-profit and co-op housing providers. Reintroduce rent control, stopping unethical evictions. Upload shelter funding to the provincial government.Eliminating the provincial Land Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers, seniors downsizing, and non-profit home builders. Scrapping Development Charges on new middle-class housing, which can add up to $170,000 on the price of a new home, and replacing them with a Better Communities Fund to ensure that the province invests in and benefits from sustainable municipal growth. Introducing fair, phased-in rent control similar to Manitoba, resolving Landlord-Tenant Board disputes within two months, and establishing the Rental Emergency Support for Tenants (REST) Fund to help vulnerable renters avoid eviction during financial emergencies. Allowing for the construction of fourplexes and four-storey buildings as of right across the province and sixplexes in cities over 500,000, and midrise buildings of up to 6-11 storeys on transit corridors and main streets.