Login
Login

1985 Newfoundland general election

{{Short description|Canadian provincial election}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1985 Newfoundland general election

| country = Newfoundland and Labrador

| type = parliamentary

| party_colour = no

| party_name = no

| previous_election = 1982 Newfoundland general election

| previous_year = 1982

| previous_mps =

| election_date = {{Start date|1985|4|2}}

| elected_mps =

| next_election = 1989 Newfoundland general election

| next_year = 1989

| next_mps =

| seats_for_election= 52 seats of the Newfoundland House of Assembly

| majority_seats = 27

| turnout = 77.3% ({{decrease}} 0.2 pp){{cite web |title=Election Returns 1985 |url=https://www.elections.gov.nl.ca/elections/resources/pdf/electionreports/genelections/GEreport1985.pdf |website=Elections NL |access-date=31 March 2025}}

| image1 =

PC

| colour1 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|nohash}}

| leader1 = Brian Peckford

| party1 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|name}}

| leader_since1 = 17 March 1979

| leaders_seat1 = Green Bay

| last_election1 = 44

| seats_before1 =

| seats1 = 36

| seat_change1 = {{decrease}}8

| popular_vote1 = 134,893

| percentage1 = 48.6%

| swing1 = {{decrease}}12.5pp

| image2 =

LIB

| colour2 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|nohash}}

| leader2 = Leo Barry

| party2 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|name}}

| leader_since2 = 1984

| leaders_seat2 = Mount Scio

| last_election2 = 8

| seats_before2 =

| seats2 = 15

| seat_change2 = {{increase}}7

| popular_vote2 = 102,016

| percentage2 = 36.7%

| swing2 = {{increase}}1.6pp

| image3 =

NDP

| colour3 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|nohash}}

| leader3 = Peter Fenwick

| party3 = {{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|name}}

| leader_since3 = 1981

| leaders_seat3 = Menihek

| last_election3 = 0

| seats_before3 =

| seats3 = 1

| seat_change3 = {{increase}}1

| popular_vote3 = 39,954

| percentage3 = 14.4%

| swing3 = {{increase}}10.7pp

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = Premier

| before_election = Brian Peckford

| before_party = {{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|name}}

| after_election = Brian Peckford

| posttitle = Premier after election

| after_party = {{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|name}}

}}

The 1985 Newfoundland general election was held on 2 April 1985 to elect members of the 40th General Assembly of Newfoundland. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party under Premier Brian Peckford.

Results

class="wikitable"

! 

!Party

!Leader

!1982

!Seats won

!% change

!Popular vote

!(%)

{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|row-name}}

| align=left|Brian Peckford

| align=right|44

! align=right|36

| align=right

18%

| align=right|134,893

| align=right|48.6%

{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|row-name}}

| align=left|Leo Barry

| align=right|8

! align=right|15

| align=right|+88%

| align=right|102,016

| align=right|36.7%

{{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|row-name}}

|Peter Fenwick

| align=right|0

! align=right|1

| align=right|100%

| align=right|39,954

| align=right|14.4%

{{Canadian party colour|NL|Independent|row}}

| colspan="2"|Other

| align=right|0

! align=right|0

| align=right|0%

| align=right|778

| align=right|0.3%

colspan="3"|Totals

| align=right|52

! align=right|52

| align=right| -

| align=right|278,502

| align=right|100%

Results by district

  • Names in boldface type represent party leaders.
  • † indicates that the incumbent did not run again.

=St. John's=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kilbride
76.04% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Robert Aylward
3,668
56.71%

|

|Joseph Sala
1,170
18.09%

|

|Alfred Sullivan
1,630
25.20%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Robert Aylward

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Pleasantville
74.33% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jerome Dinn
3,003
47.13%

|

|Walter Noel
2,196
34.47%

|

|Paul Ring
1,172
18.40%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jerome Dinn

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's Centre
73.55% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Patrick McNicholas
3,332
50.97%

|

|Mary Philpott
2,229
34.10%

|

|Nina Patey
976
14.93%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Patrick McNicholas

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's East
72.79% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|William Marshall
2,738
50.18%

|

|Hugh Shea
738
13.52%

|

|Gene Long
1,981
36.30%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|William Marshall

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's North
72.14% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Carter
2,631
48.64%

|

|Judi Murphy
1,347
26.46%

|

|Dorothy Inglis
1,431
26.46%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Carter

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's South
64.28% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Collins
2,466
54.38%

|

|Dolores Linehan
1,145
25.25%

|

|Bob Matthews
924
20.37%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Collins

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's West
67.08% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Harold Barrett
3,382
52.15%

|

|Gerald Moore
1,595
24.60%

|

|Thomas O'Leary
1,508
23.25%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Harold Barrett

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Waterford-Kenmount
70.65% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Gerry Ottenheimer
3,251
56.98%

|

|Eric Adams
1,401
24.55%

|

|Wallace Day
1,054
18.47%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Gerry Ottenheimer

|-

|}

=St. John's suburbs=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP|Other}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Conception Bay South
73.51% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Butt
2,179
48.80%

|

|Ron Clarke
1,737
38.90%

|

|Art Dawe
353
7.91%

|

|Gordon Dawe (Independent)
196
4.39%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John Butt

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Mount Pearl
73.16% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Neil Windsor
3,365
54.97%

|

|Boyd Batten
1,432
23.40%

|

|Leo Thistle
1,324
21.63%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Neil Windsor

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Mount Scio-Bell Island
83.79% turnout

|

|James Hearn
2,879
42.19%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Leo Barry
3,321
48.67%

|

|Gerry Panting
624
9.14%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Leo Barry

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. John's East Extern
80.50% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Tom Hickey
3,489
55.66%

|

|Fred Littlejohn
1,410
22.49%

|

|Robert Anderson
1,370
21.85%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Tom Hickey

|}

=Avalon Peninsula=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Carbonear
80.91% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Milton Peach
3,203
50.58%

|

|Rod Moores
2,712
42.82%

|

|Isabelle King
418
6.60%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Milton Peach

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Ferryland
82.12% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Charlie Power
2,537
55.52%

|

|Helen Kenny
687
15.03%

|

|Adrian Sullivan
1,346
29.45%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Charlie Power

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Harbour Grace
83.50% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Haig Young
2,729
50.91%

|

|John Crane
2,498
46.61%

|

|Helen Porter
133
2.48%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Haig Young

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Harbour Main
79.27% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Norman Doyle
3,784
58.88%

|

|Jerry Lewis
398
6.19%

|

|George Flaherty
2,245
34.93%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Norman Doyle

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Placentia
83.78% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|William Patterson
2,295
50.15%

|

|Rex Murphy
2,149
46.96%

|

|Kevin Walsh
132
2.89%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|William Patterson

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Port de Grave
84.58% turnout

|

|Randy W. Collins
2,657
40.40%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|John Efford
3,614
54.96%

|

|Byron Petten
305
4.64%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Randy W. Collins

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. Mary's-The Capes
80.11% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Loyola Hearn
3,125
73.76%

|

|Marie Walsh
733
17.30%

|

|Leo Coffey
379
8.94%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Loyola Hearn

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Trinity-Bay de Verde
77.49% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|James Reid
2,369
48.21%

|

|Walter Brown
1,860
37.85%

|

|Bert Pitcher
685
13.94%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|James Reid

|}

=Eastern Newfoundland=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP|Other}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bellevue
80.27% turnout

|

|Basil Jamieson
2,852
43.91%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Wilson Callan
3,030
46.65%

|

|Mose Ingram
613
9.44%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Wilson Callan

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bonavista North
85.03% turnout

|

|George Cross
2,861
47.27%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Tom Lush
2,983
49.29%

|

|John Blackwood
150
2.48%

|

|Wayne Davis (Independent)
58
0.96%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|George Cross

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bonavista South
66.73% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jim Morgan
2,424
58.61%

|

|Ancel Johnson
1,193
28.84%

|

|Harry Faulkner
519
12.55%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jim Morgan

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Fogo
84.14% turnout

|

|Wayne Wheaton
2,580
44.21%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Beaton Tulk
3,124
53.53%

|

|Hayward Cross
132
2.26%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Beaton Tulk

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Terra Nova
74.23% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Glen Greening
2,857
56.03%

|

|Everett Cross
2,099
41.17%

|

|

|

|Gordon Genge (Independent)
143
2.80%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Glen Greening

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Trinity North
74.52% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Charlie Brett
3,137
56.90%

|

|Myra Moore
2,082
37.76%

|

|Bill Abbott
294
5.34%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Charlie Brett

|}

=Central Newfoundland=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Baie Verte-White Bay
82.42% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Tom Rideout
2,532
51.87%

|

|Harold Small
2,127
43.58%

|

|Richard Shelley
222
4.55%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Tom Rideout

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Exploits
65.70% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Hugh Twomey
2,805
53.55%

|

|Gerald Thompson
1,517
28.96%

|

|Ron Chafe
916
17.49%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Hugh Twomey

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Gander
77.25% turnout

|

|Hazel Newhook
2,319
39.51%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Winston Baker
3,309
56.38%

|

|Joe Tremblett
241
4.11%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Hazel Newhook

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Grand Falls
89.53% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Len Simms
2,208
44.25%

|

|George Anderson
615
12.32%

|

|Bryan Blackmore
2,167
43.43%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Len Simms

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Green Bay
70.36% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Brian Peckford
3,373
68.56%

|

|Renold Clarke
1,254
25.49%

|

|Mervyn Poole
293
5.95%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Brian Peckford

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Lewisporte
71.07% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|James Russell
3,035
52.40%

|

|Joy Sceviour
2,551
44.04%

|

|William Fogwill
206
3.56%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|James Russell

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Twillingate
71.51% turnout

|

|Ida Reid
1,874
44.59%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Walter Carter
2,329
55.41%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ida Reid

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Windsor-Buchans
81.18% turnout

|

|John McLennon
1,726
37.48%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Graham Flight
2,547
55.31%

|

|John Budden
332
7.21%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|John McLennon

|}

=Southern Newfoundland=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Burgeo-Bay d'Espoir
78.39% turnout

|

|Harold Andrews
2,062
47.75%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Dave Gilbert
2,256
52.25%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Harold Andrews

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Burin-Placentia West
85.16% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Glenn Tobin
3,869
53.59%

|

|Wilson Brown
2,794
38.70%

|

|Chesley Cribb
557
7.71%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Glenn Tobin

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Fortune-Hermitage
81.12% turnout

|

|Don Stewart
2,254
45.57%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Roger Simmons
2,535
51.25%

|

|Joe Edwards
157
3.18%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Don Stewart

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Grand Bank
79.89% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Bill Matthews
3,028
49.25%

|

|Maxwell Snook
2,689
43.74%

|

|Calvin Peach
431
7.01%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Bill Matthews

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|La Poile
76.22% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Cal Mitchell
2,138
40.88%

|

|Noreen Saunders
1,797
34.36%

|

|Stephen MacKenzie
1,295
24.76%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Steve Neary†

|}

=Western Newfoundland=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP|Other}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Bay of Islands
77.51% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ted Blanchard
2,419
43.24%

|

|Graham Watton
2,404
42.98%

|

|Jeanette Leitch
771
13.78%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Luke Woodrow†

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Humber East
77.87% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Lynn Verge
2,955
44.63%

|

|Keith Payne
2,670
40.33%

|

|Stuart Fraser
996
15.04%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Lynn Verge

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Humber Valley
76.40% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Rick Woodford
2,197
47.64%

|

|David Hedd
1,804
39.11%

|

|Terry Brazil
611
13.25%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Vacant|background}}|

|Vacant{{efn|Wallace House had been elected in 1982, but he died on February 3, 1985, leaving the seat vacant.}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Humber West
79.49% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ray Baird
2,195
38.90%

|

|Scott Simmons
2,112
37.43%

|

|Frank Burke
1,273
22.56%

|

|Derek Woodman (Independent)
63
1.11%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ray Baird

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Port au Port
85.25% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jim Hodder
2,429
53.33%

|

|Sandy Chisholm
1,203
26.41%

|

|Bob Cormier
923
20.26%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Jim Hodder

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. Barbe
78.83% turnout

|

|Everett Osmond
2,752
41.26%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Chuck Furey
2,768
41.50%

|

|Ed Broaders
1,150
17.24%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Everett Osmond

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|St. George's
78.77% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ron Dawe
2,729
56.03%

|

|Francis Berkshire
1,914
39.29%

|

|Ken Gould
228
4.68%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Ron Dawe

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Stephenville
78.86% turnout

|

|Frederick Stagg
1,690
40.21%

|

|Kevin Aylward
2,185
51.99%

|

|Marion McEachren
328
7.80%

|

|

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Frederick Stagg

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Strait of Belle Isle
75.92% turnout

|

|George Sutton
1,077
18.07%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Chris Decker
3,136
52.61%

|

|Max Short
1,430
23.99%

|

|Wade Reid (Independent)
318
5.33%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Edward Roberts†

|-

|}

=Labrador=

{{Canadian politics/candlist header|province=NL|PC|Liberal|NDP}}

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Eagle River
78.19% turnout

|

|Stanley Pike
781
30.94%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Eugene Hiscock
1,170
46.36%

|

|Claude Rumbolt
573
22.70%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Eugene Hiscock

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Menihek
90.82% turnout

|

|Alec Snow
2,610
45.39%

|

|Andrew Spracklin
299
5.20%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|background}}|

|Peter Fenwick
2,841
49.41%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|NDP|background}}|

|Peter Fenwick

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Naskaupi
86.06% turnout

|

|Joseph Goudie
1,454
33.28%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|Liberal|background}}|

|Jim Kelland
2,685
61.46%

|

|Barbara Maidment
230
5.26%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Joseph Goudie

|-

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Torngat Mountains
81.69% turnout

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Garfield Warren
589
51.80%

|

|Melvin Woodward
463
40.72%

|

|John Terriak
85
7.48%

|{{Canadian party colour|NL|PC|background}}|

|Garfield Warren

|-

|}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |editor1-last=Byers |editor1-first=R. B. |title=Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs, 1985 |date=1988 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |isbn=9781442671980 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadianannualre0000unse_q0z2 |url-access=registration}}

{{NL Elections}}

Category:Elections in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland general election

General election

Newfoundland general election

Category:Long stubs with short prose

{{Newfoundland-stub}}

{{Canada-election-stub}}