Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, 1976
| Date | January 24–25, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Convention | Four Seasons Sheraton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario |
| Resigning leader | Robert Nixon |
| Won by | Stuart Smith |
| Ballots | 3 |
| Candidates | 6 (7) |
Ontario Liberal Party leadership conventions
The Ontario Liberal Party held a leadership election in 1976 on January 24–25 to replace Robert Nixon. Nixon had announced his retirement after the 1975 election in which the Liberal Party was reduced from Official Opposition status in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to being the third party. Stuart Smith was elected as the party's new leader.
After the disappointing results of the 1975 provincial election, Robert Nixon announced his resignation on September 30, 1975. He said, "the best interests of our party will be served if we contest the next election under new leadership."
Potential candidates began announcing their candidacy soon after. First to announce was Larry Condon, a member of the federal parliament (MP) from Middlesex—London—Lambton. Condon, who had served as mayor of Strathroy, Ontario, said that he empathized with the working man and would seek grassroots support. Next to join the campaign was Edward Culp, a Toronto teacher who had also run in the 1973 Liberal leadership election. Culp told reporters that he had "earned the right to be treated as a serious candidate". He described himself as a 'left-nationalist'. He was the first to drop out of the race in early January 1976. Third to announce on November 11 was Michael Houlton, another fringe candidate from the 1973 race. Houlton, who worked in advertising decided to try again although his main goal seemed to be to promote his advertising business.
On November 14, the first serious candidate to enter the race was Stuart Smith, a 37-year-old Montreal-born psychiatrist. Smith, who was elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Hamilton West in 1975 was well-spoken and articulate. Provincial Liberals thought that Smith reminded them of Pierre Trudeau.David Peterson announced his candidacy on December 12 but he had been campaigning for at least a month before that. The 31-year-old businessman who had been elected in London Centre in 1975 said that he had support from ten caucus members including Edward Sargent, John Riddell and Sean Conway. Rounding out the candidates were Mark MacGuigan, a 44-year-old federal MP from Windsor and Albert Roy, a 36-year-old MPP from Ottawa.
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