1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election

1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election Ontario presidential no 1961 1978 1978 October 4, 1970 Riding Final ballot First ballot Stephen Lewis - photo by Gordon Griffiths - 17 April 2009 crop.JPG f4a460 Stephen Lewis Scarborough West 1,188(64.18%) f4a460 Walter Pitman Peterborough 642(34.68%) f4a460 Douglas Campbell None 21(1.13%) Leader Donald C. MacDonald Stephen Lewis Ontario New Democratic Party ON NDP 1970 October 4, 1970 Royal York HotelToronto, Ontario Stephen Lewis Donald C. MacDonald 3 1 The 1970 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election was held in Toronto, Ontario, on October 4, 1970, to elect a successor to Donald C. MacDonald as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). The election was necessary because MacDonald announced he would not seek re-election as leader at the party's 1970 convention. Stephen Lewis won on the first ballot, defeating Walter Pitman.Lewis to lead NDP in fight against U.S. influence Toronto Daily Star 1970-10-05 Background Outgoing ONDP leader Donald C. MacDonald was officially neutral, but quietly favoured Pitman.MacDonald Donald The Happy Warrior: Political Memoirs 2 Dundurn Press 1998 Toronto https://books.google.com/books?id=pj1Ddn4HJM8C 1-55002-307-1 Lewis was perceived to be the more left-wing of the two candidates. His victory was attributable to strong support from unions, particularly the United Steelworkers, as well as from younger party members.Morley John Secular Socialists the CCF/NDP in Ontario, a Biography McGill-Queen's University 1984 1st https://archive.org/details/secularsocialist00morl 0-7735-0390-0 Candidates Douglas Campbell Douglas Campbell was a perennial candidate from Toronto. He was previously an independent candidate for St. Paul's in the 1962 federal election. Campbell worked as a teacher. Stephen Lewis Stephen Lewis was the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Scarborough West. He was first elected in the 1963 provincial election. Walter Pitman Walter Pitman was the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Peterborough. He was first elected in the 1967 provincial election. Before entering politics, he was a teacher.Kovach Joelle 2018-06-14 Walter Pitman was Peterborough’s NDP MP, MPP https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news/peterborough-region/walter-pitman-was-peterboroughs-ndp-mp-mpp/article_a4713659-95c1-52e2-96de-29ff1d364132.html?#.WyOp2Df-tgU.twitter Peterborough Peterborough Examiner 2025-02-27 EndorsementsPitman almost certain candidate for NDP leadership, group says Globe and Mail 22 July 1970 3 1970-08-26 Shulman Supports Pitman https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=filvidandsou&IdNumber=531954&q_type_1=q&q_1=Morton%20Shulman%20Pitman library-archives.canada.ca CHUM News 2025-02-28 MPPs: (1) Morton Shulman (High Park) Municipal politicians: (1) Ruth Grier (Etobicoke Councillor) Voting results CandidateVotesPercentageStephen Lewis 1,188 64.18 Walter Pitman 642 34.68 Douglas Campbell 21 1.13Total 1,851 100 References 30em Category:1970 elections in Canada Category:October 1970 in Canada New Democratic Party leadership election 1970 Category:1970 political party leadership elections