Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership elections, 1985
| Winner | Frank Miller |
|---|---|
| Resigning leader | Bill Davis |
| Convention |
CNE Coliseum, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario |
| Date | January 26, 1985 |
| Ballots | 3 |
| Candidates | 4 |
| Winner | Larry Grossman |
|---|---|
| Resigning leader | Frank Miller |
| Convention |
Metro Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario |
| Date | November 16, 1985 |
| Ballots | 2 |
| Candidates | 3 |
In 1985, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party held two leadership elections: one in January, and one in November.
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
The January convention was held at the CNE Coliseum at Exhibition Place in Toronto to choose a replacement for William Davis, who had served as Ontario PC leader and Premier of the province of Ontario since 1971. Davis had been expected to call an election to seek a further mandate from the voters, but surprised pundits by retiring from political life instead.
Four of Davis's cabinet ministers announced their intentions to seek the leadership: Frank Miller, Dennis Timbrell, Larry Grossman, and Roy McMurtry. Grossman and McMurtry were considered to be Red Tories who would continue in the tradition of moderate government maintained by Davis and his predecessor as leader and premier, John Robarts. Miller was supported by the right wing of the party, who believed that he would take a more aggressive approach to reducing the size of the provincial government. Timbrell was viewed as being a centrist.
In initial candidate debates, few differences in policy emerged. Instead the differences manifested in political outlook. Miller, supported by 27 members of caucus, was viewed as the candidate of small town conservatism. Grossman, with 10 supporting members was the candidate of high-powered urbanity. Timbrell with 18 supporting members was seen more along the lines of the previous leader, aping Davis's pragmatic blandness. McMurtry coming in last with 8 supporting members tried to portray a populist image with links to ethnic communities.
The voters at the convention consisted of delegates elected from PC riding associations, delegates elected from other PC associations such as those for women, campuses, youth and business groups, as well as ex-officio delegates such as party members who held elected office, and members of the party's executive bodies.
...
Wikipedia