Ontario provincial election results 2011

The polls have just closed in the GTA, with the exception of Toronto-Centre and Trinity-Spadina, where the polling stations encountered significant enough technical difficulties that they've decided to keep them open until 9:30 p.m. We'll be updating this post over the course of the night as the results from the Ontario provincial election roll in. A close race is predicted, with 54 seats required to win a majority.

UPDATES

7:45am

This is what it looks like this morning. Prior to the inevitable recounts in close ridings, the Liberals have won a minority government, coming just shy of the 54 seats required for a majority. Dalton McGuinty did, however, rule out any "deals" with other parties, saying he would work with the NDP and the PCs on a "case by case" basis.

1:45am

Well,

somebody had to say it.

12:55am

Here's, once again, where it stands now:

LIB: 53 PC: 37 NDP: 17 GPO: 0

Should these results hold, just to be clear, the Liberals would hold a minority government (54 is needed for a majority). Should this remain the case, the big question to sign off on is who's the real winner tonight?

12:30am

Last map of the night - this is the Toronto breakdown as it stands at the outset of October 7th.

The Liberals and NDP retain a stronghold on pre-amalgamation Toronto.

Holding strong at:

LIB: 53 PC: 37 NDP: 17 GPO: 0

12:10am

Citytv declares a Liberal Minority Government. They are alone so far (I think).

12:07am

Hghlights from Dalton McGunity's victory speech:

• "While we may not know what the results will be in all the ridings, we will have succeeded in a goal of forming a Liberal government."
• Forward together is the motif of McGuinty's speech

11:58pm

Horwath calls it a victory in Hamilton (though, not technicaly).

11:55pm

Waiting on McGuinty. And! Waiting on the majority.minority question. Still not officially resolved with the Liberals at 53 electoral districts/seats. Here's the whole picture:

LIB: 53 PC: 37 NDP: 17 GPO: O

11:20pm

So, yeah, the GTA has been kind of important, no? Map via the CBC.

10:57pm

Tim Hudak on the mike. "My friends, let me tell you, it's good to be back home again."

Other highlights:

• "Although the result is not the one we hoped for, we do accept it."
• "We don't know if it'll be minority or majority government, but it is clear that the people of Ontario have shown they want a change in direction."
• "The people of Ontario have put Dalton McGuinity on a much shorter leash."

10:47pm

Polls reporting right now:

LIB: 53 PC: 37 NDP: 17 GPO: 0

10:42pm

Rosario Marchese just took back the lead in Trinity-Spadina, though it is still *very* tight. 70 polls left to report.

10:39pm

Here is Andrea Horwath's, untouched, cake. Not a terrible night for them, but hopes were higher.

10:30pm

Hmmm.

10:23pm

The Toronto Star likes CTV (I wonder why). "McGuinty's Liberals victorious and in majority territory"

10:20pm

Question: What of Ford Nation?

10:07pm

Jonah Schein leads Cristina Martins by a a narrow margin in Davenport. Same deal in Trinity-Spadina, where somehow Sarah Thomson is also narrowly leading (over Rosario Marchese).

10:00pm

The majority question is the question. Libs hang around 53/54 seats right now.

9:53pm

The scene at the NDP party in Hamilton as supporters wait for results. The party is currently projected at 17 seats.

9:49pm

Rocco Rossi looks like he's going to lose again. Time to hang 'em up R.R.?

9:40pm

Everyone is still projecting a Liberal win, but here's the polls as it stands now:

LIB: 50 PC: 38 NDP: 19 GPO: 0

9:34pm

CP24 and CTV declare Liberal win. The key question remains whether or not it's a majority. Here's the results, as reporting right now (via CBC):

LIB: 52 PC: 38 NDP: 15 GPO: 0

9:22pm

Huge update early in the night! Here are the projected results as reported by CP24 at 9:20pm or so.

LIB: 50 PC: 35: NDP: 13 GPO: 0

That's majority territory. The Liberals are leading in 49 ridings, while the PCs are leading in 25.

9:16pm

Not that it really matters at this point, but this is who some of the TO-based media folks endorsed:

• Toronto Star (McGuinty)
• The Globe and Mail (McGuinty)
• National Post (Hudak)
• Toronto Sun (no one, really)
• Torontoist (anyone but the Tories)

9:14pm

Oh hey, it's 2-0 Leafs. In case you care...

9:07pm

Just kidding! The stupid-early results have it as follows (N.B. this is irrelevant):

PC: 7 LIB: 4 NDP: 0 GPO: 0

9:05pm

I'm actually watching the hockey game right now, so I don't have an update to offer.

9:00pm

The polls just closed! Maybe if I use enough exclamation points, this election will become exciting!

Photo by Amir Syed in the blogTO Flickr pool