The 3rd Parliament of Ontario was in session from 18 January 1875 until 25 April 1879, following the 1875 general election in which the Liberal Party was returned as the majority party. Oliver Mowat was again the province's Premier.
The Ontario Liquor Licence Act, 1876 (often referred to as the Crooks Act),[1][verification needed] which transferred control of licenses for the sale of alcohol from individual municipalities to commissioners appointed by the province, was passed.
The early months of this Parliament were marred by election trials in many
ridings. Most of these cases challenged the validity of the election results
on such charges as bribery or corruption. A common accusation was that of
"treating", where candidates or their agents would buy potential electors
alcohol or other favours.
The following ridings and candidates were affected:
Riding
Original Candidate
Comment
Cardwell
Flesher
Retained seat.
Cornwall
McIntyre
Unseated - election voided 8 June 1875, then defeated by Snetsinger in byelection.
^Scott was banned for 8 years from holding any municipal or provincial office, or from voting in a provincial election. "North Wentworth and North Grey". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 2.
^"South Oxford Election Trial / Mr Oliver Unseated". The Globe. 16 July 1875. p. 1.
^"South Oxford". The Globe. 12 August 1875. p. 2.; new election called in August 1875.
^"Galt / Death of Mr. Fleming MPP". The Globe. 22 January 1877. p. 1.
^"South Waterloo Election / Recount of the Vote". The Globe. 7 March 1877. p. 1.
^ ab"The Halton Election Trial". The Globe. 17 May 1875. p. 2.
^Lyon was voted Reform candidate for this riding on 4 October 1875."Halton Reform Convention". The Globe. 11 October 1875. p. 3.
^ abcd"The Peterborough Election Trials / Dr O'Sullivan unseated in the East and Mr Cox in the West". The Globe. 3 August 1875. p. 1.
^"Ontario Legislature". The Globe. 1 October 1878. p. 2.
^"North Victoria Election Case / Conclusion of the Judgment". The Globe. 20 August 1875. p. 1.
^"South Victoria / Triumphant return of Hon. S.C. Wood". The Globe. 16 August 1875. p. 2.
^ abcStock was banned for 8 years from holding any municipal or provincial office, or from voting in a provincial election. "North Wentworth and North Grey". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 2.
^"Cornwall Election Case / The Election Voided Through Bribery by Agents". The Globe. 9 June 1875. p. 1., courts ordered byelection
^""News Summary" and "The Cornwall Election / Mr. Snetsinger Returned"". The Globe. 19 July 1875. p. 1.
^"East Elgin Petition". The Globe. 13 May 1875. p. 2.
^"Legal Intelligence ... Before the Chancellor". The Globe. 14 July 1875. p. 2.
^"South Essex Election Trial / Respondent Unseated for Corrupt Practice of an Agent". The Globe. 14 July 1875. p. 4.
^"Windsor". The Globe. 15 July 1875. p. 1., noting Wigle's appeal
^"Russel Election". The Globe. 13 August 1875. p. 1.
^"Local Elections (editorial)". The Globe. 5 July 1875. p. 2.
^"West Wellington Election Case". The Globe. 28 June 1875. p. 4.
^"North Wellington / Return of Mr. McGowan". The Globe. 28 September 1875. p. 1., despite the title (Ontario had no North Wellington riding), the article referred to the byelection in which McGowan won.