December 1950 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on December 4, 1950. It was the second time the elections were held in December (the first was in 1936); traditionally elections occurred on New Year's Day. Incumbent mayor Hiram E. McCallum narrowly defeated Allan Lamport. The defeat of Norman Freed and the failure of Charles Sims to regain his seat would bring to a close the communist Labor-Progressive Party's presence on Toronto's City Council though the party, and its successor, the Communist Party of Canada would continue to elect members as school trustees for several decades.

December 1950 Toronto mayoral election

← 1950 December 4, 1950 1951 →
 
Candidate Hiram E. McCallum Allan Lamport
Popular vote 86,491 84,987
Percentage 50.4% 49.5%

Mayor of Toronto before election

Hiram E. McCallum

Elected Mayor of Toronto

Hiram E. McCallum

Toronto mayor

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McCallum, running for his fourth one-year term, was challenged by Controller Lamport. McCallum had faced only token opposition in his previous elections, but Lamport came surprisingly close to defeating him. For much of election night it looked as though Lamport would win, but it was swung by McCallum's ten thousand vote margin in the North Toronto Ward 9.

Results
Hiram E. McCallum - 86,491
Allan Lamport - 84,987

Board of Control

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Lamport's decision to run for mayor left one vacancy on the Board of Control. This opening was won by Alderman Louis Shannon, with Ford Brand, secretary of the Toronto and District Labour Council finishing fifth and Alderman W.H. Collings in sixth. Former Controller and communist Stewart Smith made another attempt to return to the board, but finished seventh.

Results
John Innes (incumbent) - 93,656
David Balfour (incumbent) - 81,577
Leslie Saunders (incumbent) - 80,703
Louis Shannon - 74,859
Ford Brand - 66,235
W.H. Collings - 59,380
Stewart Smith - 28,309
Charles Henry Mahoney - 8,210
Frederick Vacher - 7,653

City council

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Ward boundaries used in the 1950 election
Ward 1 (Riverdale)
John McMechan (incumbent) - 12,381
William Allen (incumbent) - 12,294
Titchener-Smith - 4,794
Ward 2 (Cabbagetown and Rosedale)
Joseph Cornish (incumbent) - 8,310
Beverley Sparling (incumbent) - 8,061
Sylvester Perry - 3,710
Ward 3 (West Downtown and Summerhill)
Harold Fishleigh (incumbent) - 6,294
Howard Phillips (incumbent) - 8,767
Massey Edwards - 1,938
Probert - 1,440
Ward 4 (The Annex, Kensington Market and Garment District)
Nathan Phillips (incumbent) - 8,767
Francis Chambers - 7,403
Norman Freed (incumbent) - 4,611
Friedman - 2,088
McConnell - 788
Francis Love - 437
Ward 5 (Trinity-Bellwoods)
Arthur Frost (incumbent) - 12,479
Joseph Gould (incumbent) - 12,362
Charles Sims - 5,646
Midanik - 1,585
Haddrall - 784
Ward 6 (Davenport and Parkdale)
Robert Colucci - 15,282
George Granell (incumbent) - 14,609
Lester Nelson (incumbent) - 14,129
Dewar Ferguson - 4,801
Ward 7 (West Toronto Junction)
Alfred Cowling (incumbent) - 8,971
William Davidson (incumbent) - 8,878
David Sanderson - 5,189
Ward 8 (The Beaches)
Ross Lipsett (incumbent) - 17,323
Alex Hodgins - 15,310
William Probert - 4,601
Maurice Punshon - 4,205
John Square - 1,443
Ward 9 (North Toronto)
Frank Nash (incumbent) - 19,493
Roy E. Belyea (incumbent) - 19,488
Lewis - 4,328

Results taken from the December 5, 1950 Toronto Star and might not exactly match final tallies.

Changes

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Controller John Innes died July 16, 1951; Ward 7 Alderman Alfred Cowling was appointed Controller September 5 and David Sanderson was appointed Alderman September 17.

References

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  • Election Coverage. Toronto Star. December 5, 1950