The 16th Legislative Assembly of Ontario was in session from June 25, 1923, until October 18, 1926, just prior to the 1926 general election. The majority party was the

Ontario Conservative Party The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (french: Parti progressiste-conservateur de l'Ontario), often shortened to the Ontario PC Party or simply the PCs, colloquially known as the Tories, is a centre-right political party in Ontario, Canada ...

led by

George Howard Ferguson George Howard Ferguson, PC (June 18, 1870 – February 21, 1946) was the ninth premier of Ontario, from 1923 to 1930. He was a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1905 to 1930 who represented the eastern provinc ...

. The

United Farmers of Ontario The United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) was an agrarian and populist provincial political party in Ontario, Canada. It was the Ontario provincial branch of the United Farmers movement of the early part of the 20th century. History Foundation and r ...

party, who had held the balance of power in the preceding assembly, lost most of their seats to Conservatives. The Liberals led by

Wellington Hay Francis Wellington Hay (November 17, 1864 – April 1, 1932) was a grain merchant and Canadian politician. Hay was born in Listowel, Canada West, the son of William G. Hay. He worked for the Federal Bank for three years before entering the famil ...

were recognized as the Official Opposition following the 1923 election by the governing Conservatives, despite the fact that the

had more seats. According to historian Peter Oliver, this was an arbitrary decision without basis in precedent or law. Conservative Premier G. Howard Ferguson used as justification an announcement by UFO general secretary

James J. Morrison James J. (J.J.) Morrison (1861–1936) was a Canadian farm leader in Ontario, Canada, a founder of the United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) in 1914, and a leader of the co-operative movement. He was the UFO's sometimes controversial general secretary, ...

that the UFO would be withdrawing from party politics, though Oliver argues that this was facetious logic. UFO parliamentary leader Manning Doherty protested the decision, but to no avail. In the course of the parliament, most UFO MLAs reorganized themselves as the Progressive Party under the leadership of first Manning Doherty and then William Raney, with only

Beniah Bowman Beniah Bowman (March 14, 1886 – April 13, 1941) was an Ontario farmer and political figure. He represented Manitoulin in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from October 24, 1918 to October 18, 1926 and Algoma East in the House of Commons ...

and

Leslie Warner Oke Leslie Warner Oke (June 18, 1877 – 1955) was an Ontario farmer and political figure. He represented Lambton East in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1919 to 1929 as a United Farmers member. Oke defeated John Burton Martyn to win ...

continuing as UFO MLAs. Joseph Elijah Thompson served as speaker for the assembly.

Members elected to the Assembly

Listing reflects the UFO/Progressive split in 1924. Italicized names indicate members returned by

acclamation An acclamation is a form of election that does not use a ballot. It derives from the ancient Roman word ''acclamatio'', a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval towards imperial officials in certain social contexts. Voting Voice vot ...

Timeline

External links

Members in Parliament 16

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:16th Legislative Assembly Of Ontario Terms of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario 1923 establishments in Ontario 1926 disestablishments in Ontario